The Lock-Eater

A charming entry in the magical foundling genre that satisfies without standing out. 

Featuring expansive adventure, intricate worldbuilding, and a memorable cast, Loran Clark's (the Adventurers Guild series) solo debut is a cozy fantasy set amid the beginnings of a wizard war. "With a gaze set forward rather than back," Melanie Gate is one of the foundlings at ethnically inclusive Merrytrails Orphanage for Girls, run by motherly Mrs. Harbargain. One stormy night, a "thaumaturgically animated clockwork retainer, colloquially called a gearling" stops by, asking to apprentice one of the foundlings for its witch mistress. Given Melanie's uncanny penchant for opening things--and the gearling's offer of much-needed coin--she's chosen for the situation. But once away from Mrs. Harbargain's watchful gaze, the gearling, known as Traveler, proves to be not a mindless machine but an inexplicably sentient being in need of a human chaperone to avoid drawing aldermage attention. Taking on the mantle of Lady Porta the Periwinkle, magical prodigy, Melanie acquires a dashing coat "clearly made as part of a boy's ensemble" that makes her feel, and look, the part. Centering lessons about pacifism and kindness to sentient beings, and featuring close friendships and a sweet queer crush, the book employs a flowing, vivid prose style to immerse readers. Ages 10-up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Jan.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"The Adventurer's Guild" co-author has created a new fantastical world where The Empire reigns watchfully supreme over their nation's witches and wizards, and is in the midst of a magical battle with the outlying (older) elemental magic of the Ley Coven, who threaten it at its self-imposed borders. The tale opens in Merrytrails Orphanage, where readers meet an unbelievably noxious and temperamental cat named Abraxas, and a diverse band of foundlings under the supervision of a benevolent mistress, Mrs. Harbargain. One orphan, Melanie Gate, has the special power of unlocking or confounding any lock she encounters. One night a strangely sentient automaton, a "gearling" known simply as Traveler, visits the orphanage to recruit a foundling as a witch's apprentice, setting Melanie on her transformative adventure. Clark has woven a compelling story as intricate and sparkling as the magical spells he describes, and manages to combine high fantasy with a heart-wrenching passageway through adolescence, queer awakening, and existential mysteries with ease. The cast of characters is deeply knowable, and its worldbuilding aches for more adventures in this setting. Readers will cheer and weep with Melanie and Traveler as they discover who they are in the face of doubt, illusion, and betrayal. Clark has crafted one of those special books that only comes around every so often, a delicately balanced fantasy and coming-of-age novel that will resonate with adults and children alike. VERDICT A must-purchase for a middle school library, this philosophical fantasy is an absolute revelation for an adolescent child yearning for adventure and knowing oneself.—Rachel Joiner, Advent Episcopal Sch., Bessemer, AL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"An orphan who can open any lock at will, is swept away on an adventure that will test her understanding of the political world around her. A great story, filled with unexpected turns, balanced characters, and an undeniable charm." —Rosie Lee-Parks, bookseller at Readers' Books, Sonoma, CA

An epic tapestry threaded with rich lore, vibrant characters, and a twisting plot that will have readers tumbling through the pages. Marrying the zany inventiveness of Alice in Wonderland with the thorough magical world-building of Howl's Moving Castle, Clark creates a deeply immersive fantasy, full of both heft and humor, that's sure to stay with young readers long after its final page is turned. —Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil series

Zack Loran Clark has spun a new classic. Perfect next read for fans of timeless favorites by Ursula LeGuin and Diana Wynne Jones. —Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist and author of The Lost Rainforest series