Stolen Magic

The Newbery Honor author of Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine, weaves a thrilling fantasy mystery in this companion to A Tale of Two Castles.

Elodie, the dragon detective Meenore, and the kindly ogre Count Jonty Um are all on their way to Elodie’s home island of Lahnt.

Elodie has barely set foot on land before she learns that the Replica, a statue that keeps her island’s deadly volcano from erupting, has been stolen! If the Replica isn’t found in three days, a mountain will be destroyed. And when Elodie ends up alone with a cast of characters that may all be guilty, she has to use her wits to try to unravel a tangled web of lies in this exciting adventure for kids.

New York Times bestselling author Gail Carson Levine has written an imaginative, fast-paced mystery that will be enjoyed by fans of A Tale of Two Castles, as well as those meeting Elodie, Meenore, and Count Jonty Um for the first time.

Can a clever girl, a grumpy dragon, and a gentle ogre find the statue before the mountain blows its top?

• A Dragon Detective: Meet Meenore, a brilliant, treasure-loving dragon who can solve any crime—if IT feels like it.
• Ticking-Clock Mystery: The magical Replica has been stolen! Elodie has just three days to find it before a deadly volcano destroys her home island of Lahnt.
• Magical Creatures: Join Elodie and her companions, including the kindhearted, shape-shifting ogre Count Jonty Um, on an island filled with enchanted brunkas and their secrets.
• An Unlikely Team of Friends: To find the culprit among a cast of quirky suspects, a clever girl, a grumpy dragon, and a gentle ogre must learn to trust each other before it’s too late.

Praise for Ella Enchanted: “A thoroughly enchanting novel that deepens and enriches the original tale.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for Ella Enchanted: “This refreshing take on one of the world’s most popular fairy tales preserves the spirit of the original but adds plenty of humorous twists and a spunky, intelligent female lead.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “A thoroughly delicious romp from the author of Ella Enchanted. The plot is winningly unpredictable, the characters easy to relate to, the humor subtle and the action well-paced. Newbery Honor-winner Levine has once again breathed new life into old stories.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “Readers are certain to be pulled, like Elodie herself, right into the midst of the rich and swirling life of Two Castles.” - School Library Journal

Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “Levine’s strength lies in her transparent language and the candid, uncomplicated voice of her narrator, who brings younger readers along with her as she questions assumptions, grows in friendship, works out the mystery, and makes brave escapes.” - The Horn Book

Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “With a faint echo of Puss in Boots, [Levine] crafts a persuasive fantasy realm and a capable heroine. Readers should enjoy watching Elodie hone her powers of deduction to unravel the mystery of the ogre’s sudden disappearance, and will likely anticipate further sleuthing adventures with this companionable duo.” - Publishers Weekly

“Levine’s prose is clear and accessible, and her invented world, with its quirky inhabitants and distinctive vocabulary, is pleasantly unpredictable and nonthreatening-even with a volcanic eruption in the offing.” - Horn Book Magazine

The writing is consistently engaging, and the story’s deliberate pace will encourage kids to observe the characters and solve the mystery before all is revealed. A satisfying mixture of fantasy, mystery, and adventure. - Booklist

here is plenty of adventure and mystery to engage readers, and fans of Levine’s other works will be pleased to see this in the collection. - School Library Journal

Praise for Ella Enchanted: “As finely designed as a tapestry, with a heroine so spirited that she wins readers’ hearts.” - Booklist (starred review)

Praise for Ever: “The power of love and courage to overcome seemingly impossible odds and to bridge ostensibly untraversable differences are at the heart of this compelling, intensely satisfying fantasy.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for Ever: “Levine’s (Ella Enchanted) original mythological tale works as romance, adventure and exploration of faith. [She] conducts a riveting journey, offering passion and profound pondering along the way.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for Fairest: “Readers will instantly fall in love with the heroine, whose heart proves to be as warm as her voice.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for Fairest: “Readers will enjoy the fairy-tale setting while identifying with the real-life problems of living in an appearance obsessed society. A distinguished addition to any collection.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

“There’s a mild, kindly tenor to this fantasy, which is also laced with gentle humor, intelligence, and whimsical inventiveness. Elodie’s powers of reasoning are on full display, as are the qualities of kindliness that make for a happy, stable community. Levine’s prose is clear and accessible, and her invented world, with its quirky inhabitants and distinctive vocabulary, is pleasantly unpredictable and nonthreatening-even with a volcanic eruption in the offing.” - Horn Book Magazine