THE COUNTERCLOCKWISE HEART

A boy with a clockwork heart, a magical girl, and a damaged young man, all orphaned, cross paths with dramatic consequences.

Each is on a quest: Alphonsus wants to find who made his heart; Esme wishes to use her magic to kill the Nachtfrau, a sorceress; and Guntram hopes to soothe his emotional pain by gaining power. But each is missing accurate historical information as well as self-knowledge. In a world that evokes medieval Europe, the action ranges from palace and town to forest and canyon, forcing the threesome on a collision course. The Hierophants, a magical race, abused their power by granting life to and then abandoning creatures who turned murderous. Only one heroic Hierophant remained, trying to contain the peril posed by the monsters; over time, her role became shrouded in rumors and lies. In a fast-paced series of encounters, Alphonsus and Esme open their eyes to the past. They meet and learn from colorful, memorable characters who are rarely as they first appear, while the treacherous landscape they traverse mirrors their interior journey. In the process, they leave childish whims behind, find their voices, and learn selflessness. An epic fight that demands a sacrifice made with love enables them to move forward, in counterpoint to Guntram’s desires. The well-developed setting lends an otherworldly historical atmosphere. The cast is default White, although Alphonsus and one of his adoptive mothers have dark skin.

Laced with ethical questions and examples, this is a thought-provoking coming-of-age story.