Clare Harlow

In a world where magic ebbs and flows with the tides, Ista has the power to shift into the appearance of anyone she chooses. When she arrives in Shelwich determined to find her missing Pa, her gift attracts the attention of Alexo, who steals her clarinet and demands twenty "errands" from her in order to get it back. Meanwhile, people are disappearing after attacks by Grilks, the terrifying monsters plaguing the community. Although danger overshadows Ista, she also has the benefit of two elderly men who take her in with warmth and affection, as well as friendship with two kids who join her in her mission. I found that the action lagged at times because of the amount of detail, and while the plot twists and turns were fun they sometimes seemed inexplicable. Best to just roll with it and look forward to the next installment of the series. The cover and illustrations by Karl Mountford are terrific.… (más)