MAGIC, MYSTERY, AND THE MULTIVERSE

In this debut YA fantasy series-starter, Earth-born siblings find themselves stranded in a parallel world that suffers under a fiendish ruler’s reign.

California teenager Zorana “Ana” Zest’s father ships her and her little brother, Zackary,off to London. They’ll stay with their beloved uncle, Shockley, and attend Beesneese Boarding School while their “movie mogul” dad, Ace, shoots a movie in Africa. Though the kids can’t wait to tour the beautiful city, there’s something fascinating in their uncle’s garage: the Parallel Universe Pod, or “PUP.” It’s an experimental vehicle that works just fine until Ana sets a course for “Random Joyride.” She and her brother crash-land on the planet Lokey and immediately run into trouble; for starters, the PUP has depleted its hydrogen fuel, which the siblings don’t have on hand. Even worse, the car has apparently accidentally landed on and killed someone: the Emerald Censor, they quickly learn. Many locals are happy she’s gone, as she was one of four Censors who, along with the privacy-invading Thought Police, work for tyrannical ruler Opus Die. Ana doesn’t want these villains tying the siblings to the Emerald Censor’s passing. This becomes complicated when she puts the Censor’s entrancing golden cuffs onto her own wrists; however, these may protect her from Opus Die’s crew. Trying to get home, though, won’t be easy, especially with the Crimson Censor hurling accusations at Ana—most notably, the murder of the Emerald Censor. Ana may be able to protect herself, but when Zackary is suddenly in peril, his rescue becomes her top priority.

Winter’s opening installment showcases a colorful primary cast—particularly Ana and Zackary, who make a superb duo. She dreams of being a Hollywood actor and is protective toward her brother, who’s immunocompromised and certain he’s a “goner,” even though his cancer is currently in remission. Their family has intriguing secrets, as well; their uncle hints at an unknown family “truth,” and their dad insists that Ana wear colored contact lenses to hide her naturally violet eyes. The supporting cast, too, is memorable. There’s Veto, a dog whom Ana rescued; the teen can communicate with him, although others only hear his barking. Also, the tall, lanky Egor, who has a lisp, provides plenty of info on Lokey’s inhabitants. Although much of this book’s exposition comes through dialogue, the narration supplies radiant character details: “Her flaming hair was crowned with a stylish white and black fur hat adorned with scarlet feathers.” Winter further enlivens this strange world with technology, such as a dronelike “gossipfly” that records and delivers messages. It’s also clear that that the villains’ world, which is more technologically advanced than Lokey, is stealing something valuable from the meeker planet. The ending leaves plenty to explore in later volumes, including certain characters’ fates and an enigmatic prophecy. Although this story is an obvious play on The Wizard of Oz, there’s a handful of nods to other works, including the Harry Potter series and the classic BBC SF show Doctor Who, among others.

An often endearing cast enlivens this enjoyable introduction to otherworldly realms.