Rose and the Magician's Mask

Gr 4–6—Set in 19th-century England, in a world full of magicians, this tale centers on Rose and Bill who are working as magician's apprentices to Mr. Aloysius Fountain, the king's closest advisor. In Rose's last adventure, the king's daughter, Jade, was rescued after being trapped in her dollhouse by an evil magician. Now, the evil magician, Gossamer, has escaped and stolen the king's Magician's Mask, which grants the wearer dangerous, unimaginable power. If the magician can perform the ritual during Venice's masked ball, he and the mask will become one. To make matters worse, when they get to Venice, the ruler is under the magician's spell and Mr. Fountain disappears right before the ball. Can Rose and the others stop Gossamer before it's too late? What has happened to Mr. Fountain? The characters in this book are likable and entertaining. The mysterious plot is slowly paced but well developed. The smooth transitions from chapter to chapter, the suspense, and the tension of the story easily draw readers into Rose's unique world and keep them wanting to know what will happen next. Fans of this series or readers who enjoy princesses, magic, fantasy, and mystery will not be disappointed with this third book.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT