Illuminations
Ratings18
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings18
Average rating4.2
Rosa Mandolini knows in her heart that her family are the greatest painters of magical illuminations in the city. But the eccentric Studio Mandolini has fallen on hard times and the future is no longer certain. While trying to help her family, Rosa discovers a strange magical box protected by a painted crow. But when she finds a way to open the box, she accidentally releases the Scarling, a vicious monster determined to destroy the Mandolini family at any cost.
With the aid of her former best friend and a painted crow named Payne, it's up to Rosa to stop the Scarling before it unmakes the magical paintings that keep the city running, and hopefully save her family in the process!
Reviews with the most likes.
More on the children's literature side of things, but enjoyable. Reminiscent of the Magicians of Caprona in some ways.
3.5 stars. Unlike T. Kingfisher's other middle-grade books ([b:Minor Mage 52369824 Minor Mage T. Kingfisher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564247851l/52369824.SX50_SY75.jpg 72399665], [b:A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking 54369251 A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking T. Kingfisher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593743861l/54369251.SX50.jpg 84842875] and [b:Summer in Orcus 32182098 Summer in Orcus T. Kingfisher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1482960864l/32182098.SY75.jpg 52819916]), this one read like a true children's story. That is the intended audience, so as someone who is 50 years older than the heroine, I shouldn't complain that the book wasn't as rich, clever and snarky as my favorite Kingfishers ([b:Swordheart 42747739 Swordheart T. Kingfisher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542983306l/42747739.SX50.jpg 66478946], [b:Clockwork Boys 36618062 Clockwork Boys (Clocktaur War, #1) T. Kingfisher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511019840l/36618062.SY75.jpg 58376790], [b:Paladin's Grace 50702014 Paladin's Grace (The Saint of Steel, #1) T. Kingfisher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580209503l/50702014.SY75.jpg 75730699], among others). Payne the enchanted crow is another one of the author's memorable talking animals, the tool used to defeat the monster is suitably bizarre, and Aunt Nina provides a small but effective dose of snark.
