A Tale of Two Castles

An enchanting tale of a girl who dreams of a home on the stage but finds refuge instead in a dragons lair. Newbery Honor andNew York Timesbestselling author Gail Carson Levine delivers an engaging story of a spirited leading lady cast in the role of a lifetime!

Newly arrived in the town of Two Castles, twelve-year-old Elodie wants nothing more than to become an apprentice to a theater troupe. But alas, the troupe turns her away. The only one who offers to take her in is the brilliant dragon Meenore, who sells fire-roasted bread and cheese skewers and moonlights as a detective.

Elodie and Meenores first case together concerns the towns shape-shifting ogre, Count Jonty Um. He is in grave danger: Someone wants him dead. Elodie disguises herself as a lowly kitchen maid in Count Jonty Ums castle to discover the villain. Everyone is a suspectfrom the handsome cat trainer Master Thiel to kindly Goodwife Celesteand not even Elodie escapes suspicion. Will she be able to find the culprit before its too late?

Fans ofElla EnchantedandFairestwill delight in this rich fantasy about a remarkable heroine who finds friendship where she least expects it and discovers that goodness and evil come in all shapes and sizes.Kirkus Reviewsgave a starred review toA Tale of Two Castles, calling it a thoroughly delicious romp from the author ofElla Enchanted. The plot is winningly unpredictable, the characters easy to relate to, the humor subtle and the action well-paced.