Heather’s Bookshelf: Zoe’s Puzzle Book
Author: Glen Quarry
Released: 12/27/21
Genre: YA Action/Adventure/Fantasy
“He unrolled the package on the floor and arranged each in a line, handling them as carefully as if they were explosive and could go off if treated roughly. “Every one of these items is hundreds of years old, and I’m aching to see what our ancestors created.” He leaned back to study them. “I’ve learned about three by reading a book called ‘The Untold History of the Tessarian Kings’. I know nothing about three others, and this jeweled sword is probably the weapon of choice of one of the ancient kings.”
“Zoe’s Puzzle Book” introduces Zoe Hammond, an orphan girl who was given a chance to make a life for herself at a young age by the kindness of Mr. Trapper and his grandson, Rey. When Mr. Trapper is thrown into jail by Wag Wilson, the chief of the Sandar police and his deputy, Lucian, Zoe and her friends must act quickly to save him.
The little group also happen upon seven magic talisman designed to lead to an ultimate treasure- “the treasure of the old kings”. Mr. Trapper used to work at the library at the University of Thabes and is a history and book buff. He and Rey return to the library to try and find a puzzle book important to finding the treasure.
Meanwhile, Zoe finds herself in trouble. She must rely on her friends- new and old- if she is going to find a way to safety while also finding out the truth.
Trigger Warning: violence
Overall, I enjoyed this tale. Zoe as a main character was relatable and likable. I also found the ancillary characters to be intriguing, even when some of them had little page time. However, the pacing of the story was a little bit off for me. The first third of the book is all about getting Mr. Trapper free. After that, it picks up and delves more into the mystery of the talisman and puzzle book. The author does a nice job of developing Wag and Lucien into really bad guys in a short amount of time. I also found the talisman and their power to be interesting and different. I do wish the book involved more of the reader following through with puzzles- being involved in the mystery. As it is, I felt more like a passenger. The ending wraps everything up nicely including all main and ancillary characters. There is one plot detail meant to be a twist, which I found a little obvious, though enjoyable.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A story with intriguing characters and ideas but difficulty with pacing and intrigue.
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