"“Excellent!” -Kirkus Reviews
When a dangerous conjurer has her father killed, locksmith’s apprentice Tessa and her companions embark on a perilous quest to bring him back to life…
'For those who enjoyed Harry Potter but who seek a feisty, determined female protagonist.' -Midwest Book Review
Tessa, who blames herself for actions that led to her father’s murder, must race against time to steal the conjurer’s most treasured magical artifact—the Dreadmarrow—to restore Papa’s life.
“Stellar!” -SPR Book Awards
While helping Tessa, her companions conceal their own secret motivations for infiltrating the conjurer’s castle. Ash hopes to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of Fellstone’s apprentice, and Calder seeks his long-lost love who has mysteriously disappeared since she became the conjurer’s wife.
“A gripping fantasy adventure, highly recommended.” -Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Tessa can shapeshift into a sparrow using a magical amulet, Ash wields a sword like no other, and Calder carries a bag of tricks that provide defense against a variety of prickly situations.
'A work of classic fantasy.' -The BookLife Prize
But are their combined skills any match for the creatures of the Cursed Wood, the boarmen, the wraiths, and the fiendish conjurer's own insurmountable magic?
Margie Benedict's 'prose is crisp and purposeful, charged with feeling, and always attuned to what will engage readers in each moment.' (The BookLife Prize)"
"Can three unlikely companions, each hiding a secret, survive one deadly quest?
When Tessa Skye’s father is killed by order of a powerful conjurer, her world is turned upside down. As a locksmith’s apprentice with a magical amulet that lets her transform into a sparrow, Tessa is determined to do the impossible, bring him back.
Her only hope lies in stealing the Dreadmarrow, the conjurer’s most prized artifact, said to hold power over life and death.
But she won’t make the journey alone. Ash, a quiet boy with unmatched skill in swordplay, is desperate to avenge his twin brother’s mysterious death. Calder, a wandering fortuneteller with a bag full of clever tricks, is searching for the girl he once loved, now vanished into the conjurer’s shadowy world.
Together, the three must cross the dangerous Cursed Wood, survive attacks by monstrous boarmen and wraiths, and outwit the deadly forces that guard the conjurer’s fortress. Each of them has something to hide. Each of them has something to lose. And if they fail, more than one life may be lost forever.
Full of danger, heart, and magic, Dreadmarrow is a tale of unlikely friendships, unbreakable courage, and the powerful choices that shape who we become, even when all hope seems lost.
Some doors were never meant to be unlocked."
"“Grounded, likable characters with complex emotions anchor this excellent series installment.” -Kirkus Reviews
Tessa (the shapeshifter), Ash (the swordsman), and Calder (the trickster) reunite for a potentially deadly new adventure in Book Two of the award-winning Thieves of Magic series that began with Dreadmarrow and ends with Kingshackle.
“Full-bodied, engrossing, and hard to put down.' -Midwest Book Review
Desperate to cure her mother of the delusion that she’s a bird, Tessa appeals to the conjurer lord in neighboring Blackgrove. Everything goes wrong, however, when he takes Calder hostage and refuses to help until Tessa and Ash bring him the Gravenwood. They set out to steal this magical tablet while romance blossoms between them.
“(Benedict) plots shrewdly, nesting quests within quests and mysteries within mysteries, keeping the story exciting while still finding time to lay bare the hearts of her heroes. She's especially good at setting up puzzles whose solutions, once sprung on the readers, prove delightful.” -The BookLife Prize
But none of them may survive the treachery of the rising despot — unless Tessa can conquer her inner doubts and unlock the secret to becoming a true conjurer.
“A strongly-plotted fantasy adventure packed full of charismatic characters. A finalist and highly recommended to young adults.” -The Wishing Shelf Book Awards"
"“An exciting, inventive finale.” -Kirkus Reviews
Tessa (the shapeshifter), Ash (the swordsman), and Calder (the trickster) reunite for the heart-stopping conclusion of the award-winning Thieves of Magic series that began with Dreadmarrow and continued with Gravenwood.
Quarterfinalist for the 2020 BookLife Prize run by Publishers Weekly
Ash is missing and must be found. Confounding the matter, the Conjurer King Slayert launches an attack against the remaining free cities. Saving the world falls to our three heroes, who reunite to steal Slayert’s own crown, called the Kingshackle—a magical artifact that makes him invincible.
'A powerful and fitting conclusion to the series... Very highly recommended.' -Midwest Book Review
But their success depends on Tessa winning the King’s Challenge, the ultimate test of her intelligence, valor, and heart.
'(Benedict's) masterful pacing makes her novel a quick read. The story takes readers through a bevy of betrayals, startling deaths, and exhilarating action…” -Kirkus Reviews"
