Hunters of the Lost City
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“Reminiscent in feel to Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon, this lovely fantasy introduces a complicated, brave, and believable heroine. . . . An absolute delight.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Packed with shocking twists, frightening monsters, and dark magic, this is a page-turning fantasy adventure for middle-grade fans of Holly Black and Tamora Pierce.
Twelve-year-old Octavia grew up believing the town of Vittoria was the only one left in the world. The sole survivors of a deadly magical war and plague, the people of Vittoria know there’s no one alive outside the town walls—except the terrible monsters that prowl the forest.
But then the impossible happens: Octavia meets another girl beyond the walls, someone who isn’t Vittorian. Everything she’s ever believed is thrown into question, and there’s no going back.
In her quest for the truth, Octavia discovers a world full of lies, monsters, and magic. She’ll have to use every scrap of her skill, wits, and courage to uncover what’s real about Vittoria and the rest of the world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The gates of Vittoria, purportedly the last town in the world following the conclusion of a deadly war 50 years prior, must never be opened after dark. The walls keep out predatory Ferox, animal-like weapons made of "all manner of materials, held together and animated by magic." The only people allowed beyond the gates after dark are Hunters, who protect Vittoria from Ferox. When cued-white 12-year-old Octavia, who longs to be a Hunter like her retired mother and late sister, sneaks out to train, she meets brown-skinned, black-haired Sima. She claims to hail from the seaside town of Iberne, a place that shouldn't exist, and Octavia learns, contrary to what she's been taught, that the world beyond the gates has flourished. After sneaking Sima into Vittoria, she's immediately under suspicion for being an outsider and taken prisoner. Octavia helps Sima escape and, determined to see the world for herself, embarks on a treacherous journey beyond the walls. Though the climax fumbles, Wallace's (City of Islands) fast-paced narrative is intense. Richly detailed magical lore, gripping action, and frightening fantastical creatures are grounded by well-rounded characters and the girls' blossoming friendship. Ages 10–up.
