The Lost Daughter

Gr 6 Up–Henrietta Achilles, an orphan who inherited a magical house where adventurers often come in the hopes of finding treasure, defends her home as villagers take shelter from stone invaders. The soldiers, bandits, kobolds, and magical residents seen in previous series installments return in this epic send-off, complete with emotional climaxes that reward those who have been following ongoing story arcs and relationships—a subplot concerning Cornelius’s potential as leader of the kobolds helps ground the action taking place inside and outside the magic house. Revelations about Henrietta’s heritage put her in tough positions to heal divisions of the past. An occasional one-liner balances teary-eyed moments of sacrifice. Spells never lose their luster on the page, always providing unique visual effects and advancing the story. The artwork sometimes takes on a 3D quality, with characters’ faces or hands seeming to protrude through the fourth wall. The back matter includes a pierogi recipe and Pawlitza’s process art. Henrietta is white.