HYACINTH AND THE STONE THIEF

When someone steals ancient magical stones from beneath London, Hyacinth and her mother connect with old friends to solve another mystery and possibly save the world again.

Frustratingly, despite their recent experience (Hyacinth and the Secrets Beneath, 2017), no one believes they will be any help. Still whether she is locked up, chased, or shot at with magical beams of light, Hyacinth is determined to find the stones and discover the connection that her family has with the magic running beneath the city. But when Minnie Tickle, a girl with magical tattoos covering her arms, begins blasting them with bolts of light, Hyacinth must admit she is in over her head. Thankfully, Oaroboarus (a giant pig who speaks only with a deck of cards), a menagerie of stone animals, and the mysterious Saltpetre Men are all prepared to help. This wacky sequel is filled with dry humor, outlandish characters, and wild adventure. Hyacinth is brave, curious, and imaginative, but readers may find her mother’s continual helplessness wearing. The principals all appear to be white, but characters include men made from cork, a police force fashioned from mud, and various sentient animals. This adventure is endlessly creative, but the whimsy often becomes forced, and the plot is sacrificed to wacky hijinks.

A mixed, magical bag best for fans of the first book.