The Trilogy of Two

All their lives, 12-year-old identical twins Sonja and Charlotte have called the circus their home. Raised by Tatty Tatters, the circus’s tattooed woman, and helpful Uncle Tell, a fortune teller, the girls wow the crowds outside Rain City with their musical abilities. When Sonja and Charlotte’s family is threatened, their musical talents stolen, and their home destroyed, the two learn that they are the Daughters of the Key, prophesied to save the secret Seven Edens, a hidden and magical paradise, from Kats von Stralen and his mother, both eager to rule the Edens with a band of monstrous creatures. Together the girls journey across the Edens with Alexandria, an irritable Pearl Catcher, and a group of Changelings, all preparing for the battle ahead. Fans of Mieville’s Un Lun Dun will enjoy debut author Malouf’s intricate worlds, each teeming with its own customs and creatures, as well as her equally intricate pencil illustrations, which highlight the characters’ eccentricities. While characters and plot points tend to jumble, the overall themes of sisterhood and believing in oneself will entrance readers. Ages 10–up. (Nov.)