The Lock-Eater
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- ¥1,200
発行者による作品情報
"Will have readers tumbling through the pages . . . Deeply immersive, full of both heft and humor." —Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil series
* "One of those special books that only comes around every so often . . . An absolute revelation." —SLJ (starred review)
For fans of Nevermoor and Howl's Moving Castle comes an epic fantasy about a girl with the ability to unlock anything—including the empire's darkest secrets.
Melanie Gate is a foundling with a peculiar talent for opening the unopenable—any lock releases at the touch of her hand. One night, her orphanage is visited by Traveler, a gearling automaton there on behalf of his magical mistress, who needs an apprentice pronto. When Melanie is selected because of her gift, her life changes in a flash, and in more ways than she knows—because Traveler is not at all what he seems. But then, neither is Melanie Gate.
So begins an epic adventure sparkling with magic, wit, secret identities, stinky cats, fierce orphan girls, impostor boys, and a foundling and gearling hotly pursued by the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the land.
Action-packed yet layered, The Lock-Eater is a mix of lush world-building, high stakes, humor, and emotional heft—a page-turner and so much more.
"A new classic . . . Perfect for fans of Ursula LeGuin and Diana Wynne Jones." —Eliot Schrefer, author of The Lost Rainforest series
* "Startlingly deep [while] maintaining its swift pace." —BCCB (starred review)
"Will delight . . . An entertaining page-turner." —GeekMom
“Incredibly memorable . . Vibrant [and] skillfully wrought.” —Betsy Bird for a Fuse #8 Production/SLJ
"Inventive and lighthearted [yet still] plumbs areas of darkness and loss.” —The Horn Book
“Expansive adventure, intricate worldbuilding, and a memorable cast [will] immerse readers.” —PW
"A magical world unlike any other." —Cracking the Cover
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Featuring expansive adventure, intricate worldbuilding, and a memorable cast, Loran Clark's (the Adventurers Guild series) solo debut is a cozy fantasy set amid the beginnings of a wizard war. "With a gaze set forward rather than back," Melanie Gate is one of the foundlings at ethnically inclusive Merrytrails Orphanage for Girls, run by motherly Mrs. Harbargain. One stormy night, a "thaumaturgically animated clockwork retainer, colloquially called a gearling" stops by, asking to apprentice one of the foundlings for its witch mistress. Given Melanie's uncanny penchant for opening things—and the gearling's offer of much-needed coin—she's chosen for the situation. But once away from Mrs. Harbargain's watchful gaze, the gearling, known as Traveler, proves to be not a mindless machine but an inexplicably sentient being in need of a human chaperone to avoid drawing aldermage attention. Taking on the mantle of Lady Porta the Periwinkle, magical prodigy, Melanie acquires a dashing coat "clearly made as part of a boy's ensemble" that makes her feel, and look, the part. Centering lessons about pacifism and kindness to sentient beings, and featuring close friendships and a sweet queer crush, the book employs a flowing, vivid prose style to immerse readers. Ages 10–up.
