Have you ever dreamed of discovering your own fantastical fate? Of learning you are powerful beyond your wildest imaginings? I have. It’s one of the things that led me to write The Curse of the Neverland.
If you have, you’ll like today’s recommendation. It has themes and circumstances in common with my books and characters, as I’ll tell you about. (Not the least of which is Piper Pizzinni’s fantastical fate—being Piper Pan!)
Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne.
This is Young Adult Fantasy, written for approximately ages 14 and up—contains some violence.
The summary:
“Kyra, a highly skilled seventeen-year-old thief, joins a guild of assassins with questionable motives. Tristam, a young knight, fights against the vicious Demon Riders that are ravaging the city. When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance of survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces.”
The world of this fantasy fiction could be likened to medieval England—exaggerated social classes, trade and artisan guilds, a city built with walls and defenses, a knight hero—the world reminded me of fantasy author Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover Series. Ms. Blackburne weaves fantasy into this historical fiction world with a species of wildcat shape shifters that play a central role. Blackburne turns the story adeptly in unexpected directions, with unexpected results. Her characters are rich, complex and engaging.
Book One
Commonalities with Piper Pan and Her Merry Band:
- Girl hero
- Mysterious and large destiny to live into (fantastical fate)
- Girl in a traditionally male role
- Longing for a place, for belonging, for family, for home
- Fierce loyalty to friends
- Friends as true family
- A high degree of morality in decision-making
If any of those qualities are things you enjoyed in Piper Pan and Her Merry Band, and you are open to a story including more gritty details, I highly recommend Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne. I’m waiting for its sequel from the library now…
Happy Reading!