Additional information
by Brian Farrey (Author)
WINNER OF THE 2023 MINNESOTA BOOK AWARD FOR MIDDLE GRADE LITERATURE
"Entertaining, fast-paced and thoughtful."--The New York Times Book Review In this thrilling fantasy novel from an award-winning author, a prince and a mage must untangle the riddles from their shared past to save the future of the empire--or risk seeing everything they both love destroyed. Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . . Time is running out in the empire of Rheinvelt. The sudden appearance of a strange and frightening statue foretells darkness. The Hierophants--magic users of the highest order--have fled the land. And the shadowy beasts of the nearby Hinterlands are gathering near the borders, preparing for an attack. Young Prince Alphonsus is sent by his mother, the Empress Sabine, to reassure the people while she works to quell the threat of war. But Alphonsus has other problems on his mind, including a great secret: He has a clock in his chest where his heart should be--and it's begun to run backwards, counting down to his unknown fate. Searching for answers about the clock, Alphonsus meets Esme, a Hierophant girl who has returned to the empire in search of a sorceress known as the Nachtfrau. When riddles from their shared past threaten the future of the empire, Alphonsus and Esme must learn to trust each other and work together to save it--or see the destruction of everything they both love.
Author Biography
Brian Farrey is the author of The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse, winner of the 2017 Minnesota Book Award, and the Stonewall honor book With or Without You. He lives in Minnesota with his husband and their sweet but occasionally evil cats. You can find him online at brianfarreybooks.com and on Twitter: @BrianFarrey .
Number of Pages: 352
Dimensions: 0.8 x 8.2 x 5.4 IN
Publication Date: March 28, 2023
Accelerated Reader:
Quiz Name: Counterclockwise Heart
Interest Level: Middle Grades, 4-8
Reading Level: 5.3
Point Value: 10
