The Vanishing Trick by Jenni Spangler

Don’t you just love a good villain? And by good, I mean bad!

Madame Pinchbeck is cunning and vain, alluring and tough; tender too, and just a little bit magical - but dangerous as a devil. She has an appetite for spectacle, drama, fame - and children.

Savvy as he is, orphaned Leander doesn’t stand a chance. He’s instantly bewitched, the trap sprung before he knows he’s in it.

The Vanishing Trick is a gothic, middle-grade delight. It’s a novel of tarot cards and cons, seances and tricks, sleights of hand and showmanship, charms and deception.

Jenni Spangler’s writing is beautiful and seems to echo with all she’s ever read. I enjoyed her culinary garnishes too: “a small pigeon pie and wimberry tart.” Yum.

The switching points of view, however, did undermine my connection to Leander and I was always relieved to return to him, but all-in-all I relished The Vanishing Trick from cover to cover. I loved the folktale elements and the rats, and am a sucker for clues within other books in the tale.

Jenni Spangler’s new novel comes out this month - The Incredible Talking Machine: I can’t wait to read it.