
And so Mariah's adventures begin in the strange old hotel perched on a cliff by the edge of the sea. He encounters the feisty Sacha, a girl his age who fills him in on the oddities of the hotel, including the steam-powered elevators and the mysterious caverns beneath the building. Mariah discovers clues left by the previous magician's assistant, and soon he learns that there is a diabolical plot afoot that has Mariah slated to disappear, too. In his search for the truth, he encounters a creepy doll that seems to move about on its own, magical objects that offer glimpses into the future, hidden rooms, lifelike waxworks, and nightmarish creatures with a taste for human flesh.
This is the first book I've read by G.P. Taylor, and I'm already planning on reading his earlier book, Shadowmancer, because I enjoyed this one very much. The evocative Victorian setting was a perfect backdrop for this taut tale, full of twists and turns and sudden revelations. Mariah and Sacha make an interesting pair whose strengths and weaknesses complement each other, and the villainous characters are quirky and interesting. It appears that this may be the first book in a series, and if so, I'll definitely be on board to follow the further adventures of Mariah Mundi.
The Midas Box: Mariah Mundi by G.P. Taylor (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2007)
Also reviewed at:
Bookbud
A Walk in the Dark Woods
Oh...this sounds fantastic!! Where do you find these books I've never heard of before?
ReplyDeleteIt showed up on the "new children's books" cart at work, where the new arrivals go before we put them on the library shelves. I was immediately attracted by the Edward Gorey-esque cover, and thought I'd give it a try! I hadn't heard of it before that, either. Working in a library feeds my book addiction quiet satisfyingly. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have this one at home just waiting for me to have the time to read it. Thanks for the review, it helped bump it up my list!
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you enjoy it, Rhinoa. I'll be looking forward to your review!
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