The storyspinner

In a land where stories may be more than mere tales woven by artful Storyspinners, the search is on for the missing heiress to the kingdom, which was violently ripped apart in a war that ended with the death of the royal family. The enchanted border that protects the kingdom is weakening, leaving it vulnerable to attack from magical outsiders. A group of Keepers is racing against time to find the presumed-dead heiress and protect her before evil elements discover her first. In the meantime, Johanna, the ward of two Performers, struggles to support her family as a Storyspinner, following the tragic death of her father-like guardian. The two stories converge, and the life that Johanna has known is forever altered. The stories are uneven in their development, with Johanna's tale more richly told, while that of the Keepers is less well wrought. As the first in a series, the Keepers' story has potential to develop more deeply in subsequent installments. Readers will enjoy the quick pace of the tale.--Gaus, Eve Copyright 2015 Booklist

Political games meet magical intrigue in this Portuguese-flavored fantasy debut, first in a planned series. After Johanna Von Arlo's father dies during a high-wire act, her family tries to scrape by in their home of Santarem. When Lord Rafael DeSilva mistakes Johanna for a (male) poacher and attacks her, he incurs a debt of honor and offers her employment as a Storyspinner. Meanwhile, in the neighboring mage-run nation of Olinda, Jacaré of the Elite Guard realizes that the heir of Santarem is in danger and that, without her, the magical barrier that separates these two lands will collapse. Jacaré crosses into Santarem in search of the lost princess, a search made all the more urgent when he discovers that girls who resemble the heiress are being murdered. Chapters shift among several viewpoints, keeping the action lively but diluting the narrative, and readers are asked too readily to accept a relationship between Johanna and a man who beat her into unconsciousness and, even when he's trying to make amends, "itched to slap the smug grin off her face." Ages 14-up. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 7 Up-Santarem and Olinda are two lands divided by a magical wall. Those with powers live on the north side while the non-magical people live in Santarem, south of the wall. King Wilhelm of Santarem is murdered and his heir is allegedly dead as well, which jeopardizes the safety of everyone on both sides of the wall. Johanna Von Arlo, a 16-year-old Performer who specializes in the art of spinning stories, travels with her family to perform throughout Santarem, until her dad dies from a mysterious fall and the entire Von Arlo family is exiled from the Performers community. To make ends meet, Johanna takes employment at the DeSilva's estate, performing for nobility, including the honor-bound, handsome, and frustratingly stubborn Duke-to-be, Rafael. Jo finds herself at the center of an age-old story-one she has told many times-and discovers the magic of her tales may be more real than she could ever have imagined. In this beautifully constructed first installment of a new fantasy series, Wallace creates a lush environment, interweaving unique characters. The chapters vary among five different character's points of view, all told in the third-person narrative. The chapters are brief, aiding the novel's quick pacing. Wallace's magical world is populated with clear-cut "good guys" as well as characters with varying and questionable motives. The many layers (political, magical, historical, and romantic) and multiple characters may prove difficult to keep track of for less confident readers. Violence is kept at a minimum and romance is tame. VERDICT Recommended for fans of classic fantasy (J.R.R. Tolkien) as well as more modern fantasy adventures by Melina Marchetta, Kristin Cashore, and Sarah J. Maas.-Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

After her father's death, Johanna spins stories to support her family, unaware that she's the lost princess in her tales (and heir to the throne). Action quickly unfolds from various vantage points, revealing secrets as disparate subplots merge, including magical Keepers from across the wall, an honor-bound duke, and deadly assassins. There's a lot going on, but the fast pace will keep readers engaged. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A circus girl attempts a balancing act when she gets involved in feudal politics and ancient magic.Johanna Von Arlo grew up with Performers, trained to fight and wanted to be a Storyspinner like her father. After his mysterious death, Johanna tries to eke out an existence for her three brothers and now-alcoholic mother. But when Johanna encounters young Lord Rafael Santiago DeSilva, she ends up Performing at his court, attracting the attention of other, less honorable nobles and an assassin hunting the lost Princess Adriana. Yet others are also pursuing the lost princess. Mage Leo and Keepers (long-lived warriors, each magically tied to an element) Jacar, who is over 300 but looks and acts 18, his angry sister, Pira, and ancient rebel Texugo must escape Olinda, cross a magical (but fading) barrier into Santarem and find the princess in order to restore the boundary between the lands. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of seven characters, sacrificing strong character development, and the minimal plot is dragged out, sadly necessitating sequels. Debut author Wallace bucks the trend of retold fairy tales, serves a (superficial) smattering of Spanish elements, offers but doesn't overwhelm with political intrigue and nicely balances romances with adventure. An overlong and overcrowded but action-packed beginning. (Fantasy. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In a land where stories may be more than mere tales woven by artful Storyspinners, the search is on for the missing heiress to the kingdom, which was violently ripped apart in a war that ended with the death of the royal family. The enchanted border that protects the kingdom is weakening, leaving it vulnerable to attack from magical outsiders. A group of Keepers is racing against time to find the presumed-dead heiress and protect her before evil elements discover her first. In the meantime, Johanna, the ward of two Performers, struggles to support her family as a Storyspinner, following the tragic death of her father-like guardian. The two stories converge, and the life that Johanna has known is forever altered. The stories are uneven in their development, with Johanna's tale more richly told, while that of the Keepers is less well wrought. As the first in a series, the Keepers' story has potential to develop more deeply in subsequent installments. Readers will enjoy the quick pace of the tale. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Political games meet magical intrigue in this Portuguese-flavored fantasy debut, first in a planned series. After Johanna Von Arlo's father dies during a high-wire act, her family tries to scrape by in their home of Santarem. When Lord Rafael DeSilva mistakes Johanna for a (male) poacher and attacks her, he incurs a debt of honor and offers her employment as a Storyspinner. Meanwhile, in the neighboring mage-run nation of Olinda, Jacaré of the Elite Guard realizes that the heir of Santarem is in danger and that, without her, the magical barrier that separates these two lands will collapse. Jacaré crosses into Santarem in search of the lost princess, a search made all the more urgent when he discovers that girls who resemble the heiress are being murdered. Chapters shift among several viewpoints, keeping the action lively but diluting the narrative, and readers are asked too readily to accept a relationship between Johanna and a man who beat her into unconsciousness and, even when he's trying to make amends, "itched to slap the smug grin off her face." Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.(Mar.)

Gr 7 Up—Santarem and Olinda are two lands divided by a magical wall. Those with powers live on the north side while the non-magical people live in Santarem, south of the wall. King Wilhelm of Santarem is murdered and his heir is allegedly dead as well, which jeopardizes the safety of everyone on both sides of the wall. Johanna Von Arlo, a 16-year-old Performer who specializes in the art of spinning stories, travels with her family to perform throughout Santarem, until her dad dies from a mysterious fall and the entire Von Arlo family is exiled from the Performers community. To make ends meet, Johanna takes employment at the DeSilva's estate, performing for nobility, including the honor-bound, handsome, and frustratingly stubborn Duke-to-be, Rafael. Jo finds herself at the center of an age-old story—one she has told many times—and discovers the magic of her tales may be more real than she could ever have imagined. In this beautifully constructed first installment of a new fantasy series, Wallace creates a lush environment, interweaving unique characters. The chapters vary among five different character's points of view, all told in the third-person narrative. The chapters are brief, aiding the novel's quick pacing. Wallace's magical world is populated with clear-cut "good guys" as well as characters with varying and questionable motives. The many layers (political, magical, historical, and romantic) and multiple characters may prove difficult to keep track of for less confident readers. Violence is kept at a minimum and romance is tame. VERDICT Recommended for fans of classic fantasy (J.R.R. Tolkien) as well as more modern fantasy adventures by Melina Marchetta, Kristin Cashore, and Sarah J. Maas.—Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL