The Pennymores and the Curse of the Invisible Quill

A tween princess strives to rescue her kidnapped brother using forbidden magic in this saccharine tale by Koester. In the Kingdom of Everly, reading and writing have been outlawed after magic-writing Ravagers, people who use magic for evil, stole the powers of Serifs, those who used magic for good. These actions left Serifs powerless and renewed the conviction of the Illiterates, people ardently against any magical writing. But unlike her siblings, Parker Pennymore—crown princess of the Kingdom of Everly—has always been drawn to magic writing. Parker must keep her interests a secret, however, and often chafes against the strict confines of her station, especially after her younger brother Riley is kidnapped by apparent Ravagers, reigniting animosity between the warring ideologies and sowing tension throughout the kingdom. Accompanied by her two younger sisters, Parker endeavors to save Riley and reconcile her kingdom and her family’s murky pasts. Timely messaging surrounding the power of reading, writing, and storytelling is sometimes heavy-handed. Still, this endearing tribute to classic fantasy epics and enduring sibling bonds offers plentiful intrigue and adventure. Finely detailed illustrations appear throughout. Main characters are coded as white. Ages 8–12. (Self-published)