Imprint
- Orion Children's Books
Interest age: from c 9 years, Fiction, Children's Fiction, General fiction (Children's / Teenage), Fantasy & magical realism (Children's / Teenage)
From the author of THE UNDROWNED CHILD, a story about what happens when the most headstrong girl in Venice mixes magic and cookery and turns herself into a cat.
Savage hyena-like creatures threaten Venice - the Ravageurs are on the prowl and seizing men, women and children. On the night of 30 June 1846 Talina's parents disappear and she and her cat, Drusilla, are forced to go and live with her Guardian and his three savage dogs in his lonely tower in the northernmost edge of the city. Here she discovers that she has the ability to change herself into a cat, but changing herself back into a girl isn't quite so easy. As a cat she learns about the Ravageurs and how over the centuries they have become semi magical creatures, visible only to children in the human world, and that they are intent on destroying Venice. She is determined to save the city - it's time for desperate measures - and her adventures are about to begin.
Praise for Talina in the Tower
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I think this book deserves five out of five stars ... I was swept away into its magical adventures. - BIBLIOTECA REVIEWS
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Venice itself is so well portrayed that it becomes a character in its own right. Its narrow streets, its murky canals and dark, secret towers are the setting for an astonishing world of witches, hags, mermaids and magicians. Tea towels become means of transport, ordinary household ingredients are combined into potions, and a small boy is allowed to stand up in court and argue for the preservation of the city. The book is an exciting, amusing and enchanting read. - THE BOOKBAG
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For those who love action-packed fantasy, this is a must ... a magical adventure story. - BARBARA MITCHELHILL
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I couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed it immensley, especially the ending ... I found this funny, filled with action and informative. Overall I give this book five stars out of five. Read it! - WE LOVE THIS BOOK - Mia Quraishi Nash, aged 10
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This is an exciting tale of courage and friendship and love for your family. - BOOKWITCH
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Venice is conjured up in all her shabby glory ... But the story isn't just about setting. There is an action packed plot, with wonderful characters, fantastical beasts, and a deliciously wry, dry sense of humour threading all the way through. And there are mischief and mayhem, horror and gore, fun and games. I don't think I've enjoyed reading something so much for ages. - JE TOWEY
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Michelle Lovric has once again created a rollicking adventure full of history, awesome imagination and fantastic characters of all sorts. - THE DIARY OF A BOOK WORM
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This fantastical tale not only offers a richly detailed historical view of Venice, but also provides a vividly imaginative take on the city ... Imbued with magic, mystery and a rip-roaring plot, this book is a gripping read for older children, with lyrical and compelling prose, and a depiction of a fantasy Venice that is both evocative and beautiful. - ITALIA!
Michelle Lovric
Michelle Lovric divides her time between a flat on the Thames and Venice. She has published three novels for adults, of which THE REMEDY was longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction. She combines her fiction work with editing, designing and producing literary anthologies including her own translations of Latin and Italian poetry. Her book 'Love Letters' was a New York Times best-seller. She maintains large databases of text and visual material on memoirs, love poems and letters, female and male wit, slang/cursing/archaic words and esoteric medical matters.
Her children's books can be found at http://www.michellelovric.com/children/chindex.htm
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