Carmer and Grit, Book One: The Wingsnatchers - by Sarah Jean Horwitz (Paperback)

About the Book

Includes an excerpt from The crooked castle.

Book Synopsis

A stunning debut about a magician's apprentice and a one-winged princess who must vanquish the mechanical monsters that stalk the streets and threaten the faerie kingdom.

Aspiring inventor and magician's apprentice Felix Carmer III would rather be tinkering with his latest experiments than sawing girls in half on stage, but with Antoine the Amazifier's show a tomato's throw away from going under, Carmer is determined to win the cash prize in the biggest magic competition in Skemantis. When fate throws Carmer across the path of fiery, flightless faerie princess Grit (do not call her Grettifrida), they strike a deal. If Carmer will help Grit investigate a string of faerie disappearances, she'll use her very real magic to give his mechanical illusions a much-needed boost against the competition. But Carmer and Grit soon discover they're not the only duo trying to pair magic with machine - and the combination can be deadly.

In this story perfect for readers of the Lockwood & Co and Wildwood series, Sarah Jean Horwitz takes readers on a thrilling journey through a magical wooded fairyland and steampunk streets where terrifying automata cats lurk in the shadows and a mad scientist's newest mechanical invention might be more menace than miracle.

Review Quotes

A Spring 2017 Kids' Indie Next Pick

"Enchanting."
--GirlsLife.com

"From the outstanding cover to the ending ripe for a sequel, Horwitz has much to be proud of with this title, and younger teens in particular will rip through its pages."
--Locus

"Well-developed characters and a steampunk setting set the stage for this series starter, which is driven by mystery, action, and fairy dust. Incorporating science and danger, this magic-infused adventure carries broad appeal."
--Booklist

"Magical stagecraft, steampunk mechanisms, and glittering faerie dust intermesh in a debut middle-grade fantasy. This adventure overflows with imaginative conceits. Carmer makes for a charming hero--clever, compassionate, and exceedingly humble . . . the insidious creepy horror and galloping pace are effective, right up to the unexpectedly gruesome fate of the nefarious evildoers . . . undeniable potential."
--Kirkus Reviews

"The main characters have distinct personalities and the plot is original . . . the way technology and magic must both be used to solve the problem will result in thoughtful reader reflection."
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Sarah Jean Horwitz was raised in suburban New Jersey where her love of storytelling grew from listening to her mother's original "fractured fairy tales." She lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Carmer and Grit: The Wingsnatchers is her first novel. You can visit her online at sarahjeanhorwitz.com and on Twitter: @sunshineJHwitz.