TWINCHANTMENT

Princesses must escape their castle undetected and reveal a dangerous secret to their allies in an effort to save their mother.

Magic has been outlawed in Kaloon for years, but ever since the court jester Gilward caused a magical spectacle at a celebration for the upcoming birth of King Edwin and Queen Latonya’s first child, the kingdom has been on high alert, and Gilward, as well as any other mages or people displaying banned characteristics, have been exiled to the Twists. Among the many things banned as signs of magic? Twins. Because of that decree, princesses Flissa and Sara have pretended to be one person, Princess Flissara, their entire lives. When their mother is struck by a deadly curse and Gilward is spotted near the castle grounds, the twins have less than two days to retrieve Gilward and convince him to reverse the curse. They both head out, accompanied by their songbird tutor, Primka; Nitpick, a cat; and Gilward’s own son, Galric. Their journey to the Twists is appropriately replete with magical obstacles and bickering, but no challenge comes close to feeling insurmountable. The characters in the third-person narrative are lovable, but the pacing is off, with the first act dragging and the third rushing. The twins are biracial and have brown skin, but Kaloon seems to be an un-racialized society and the book otherwise adheres to the white default.

A perfectly enjoyable adventure that leaves room for a sequel without feeling unfinished.