Splinters of Scarlet

In Bain’s (The Disappearances) version of 19th-century Denmark, some citizens have magic that amplifies a single talent, enabling excellence beyond ordinary reach. But this power is dangerous: overdo it and die when the eerie Firn turns blood to ice. Reluctant magic practitioner Marit Olsen, 16, uses her gifts as a seamstress to help her protegee and fellow orphan Eve, an aspiring dancer, attract Helene Vestergaard, one of the country’s most celebrated ballerinas. When Helene adopts Eve, Marit flees her grim apprenticeship and joins the Vestergaard household as a servant. Though wary of working for the owners of the mines where her father died, Marit discovers a mostly welcoming community in Helene’s grand home north of Copenhagen, with fellow servants who practice magic proudly and openly. Assisted by her new roommate and a love interest who’s sweet but unsurprising to readers, Marit explores the convoluted fates of her father and sister, and how they relate both to the Vestergaards and the future of Denmark itself. Though a murky mystery burdens this novel’s second half, the refreshing setting and intriguing setup imbue a buoyant charm. Ages 12–up. [em]Agent: Peter Knapp, Park & Fine Literary and Media. (July) [/em] Correction: A previous version of this review misstated the Vestergaard family's name.