The Lunatic's Curse by F. E. Higgins - ADVISABLE

Higgins, F.E., The Lunatic’s Curse. Feiwel and Friends, 2010. Pgs. 336.

Language: G, Violence: PG, Mature Content: G

Rex and his father, Ambrose Grammaticus were really close until he got a new stepmother, Acantha. Before their marriage, Ambrose was working on some kind of submersible invention to take him under the river that separates the town from the local asylum. Over a couple weeks period after their marriage, his stepmother drives a wedge between Rex and his father. On the last night as a family, his father appears to go insane and is admitted to the asylum. Rex is sure that his stepmother and his father’s invention are somehow behind his father’s insanity. Now his stepmother is threatening to send him to a boarding school for delinquents. When his father escapes, he contacts his son and tells him to not look into Acantha’s treachery towards their family and to get out of town. To make matters worse, Acantha, the superintendant of the asylum, and the mayor are taking an aggressive approach against vagrants, beggars, and lunatics that is resulting in many people’s deaths. Will Rex honor his father’s request and leave town or will he figure out what’s really going on in town?

A great mystery for fantasy fans. The characters are mysterious and likable, even the villains. The plot is well-developed and suspenseful. Readers who like fantasy, mystery, horror, villains, and adventure will enjoy reading this book.

EL, MS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.