THE TOWER AT THE END OF TIME

The desperate search for a cure for their flying house’s violent hiccups pitches young thief Nine and her new family into a deadly round of magical hopscotch.

Even though there’s a literal skeleton in the closet, Nine loves her new room in the House at the Edge of Magic. What she doesn’t love is being unexpectedly knocked off her feet as the flying House hiccups its way through the World Between Worlds. There’s nothing for it but to enter the annual Hopscotch Championships for a chance to beg a cure from the all-knowing Asking Stone. Focused, like the first episode, more on daffy magical effects and comedic narrow squeaks than complex plot or character development, this second entry in a British fantasy series puts the reformed child thief and her housemates through a breathless series of challenges. Revelations about Nine’s past appear in a flashback in the epilogue. Readers who appreciate plot-driven narratives will enjoy the adventures of a plucky foundling, a house where the doors are elusive and the toilets mischievous, and a cast that includes a bloodthirsty talking spoon and a lovable troll housekeeper whose pancakes should definitely be avoided. The House’s residents (the human characters are largely cued white) display a familial feeling that casts a warm glow over their exploits and squabbles. Mantle’s spot art adds touches of whimsy.

Charmingly madcap.