Lost Covenant

Gr 7 Up—In the third installment of this Renaissance-like fantasy series, thief and heroine Widdershins is still reeling from a hard-won battle with an unnatural beast, and from the death of a dear friend. Along with her personal god, Olgun, Shins leaves friends behind and travels to far-off Lourveaux, where she learns about the plight of the Delacroix, a distant branch of her family. Someone is causing a blight on the family crops. In the course of her investigation, Shins finds herself entangled with The Thousand Crows, a brutal gang determined to kill her. With Olgun's supernatural assistance, Shins outwits and outmaneuvers her enemies and manages to solve the mystery. The author provides minimal backstory, which may leave new readers confused. Still, Widdershins is a witty, sarcastic, and exciting character, haunted by deep grief and guilt. This page-turner will have fans anxiously awaiting the next book.—Wendy M. Scalfaro, G. Ray Bodley High School, Fulton, NY