The Key and the Flame by Claire M. Caterer

 

 

 

Eleven year old Holly Shepard wants nothing more than to seek adventure outside of her humdrum American life. She gets her chance at last when her family travels to England and Holly receives an unusual gift: an iron key that unlocks a passage to the dangerous kingdom of Anglielle, where magic is outlawed and those who practice magic are hunted. When her friend Everett and brother Ben are captured by Anglielle’s ruthless king, Holly must rescue them. But that means finding and using the magic within herself and learning which magical allies she can trust.

 

The Key & The Flame is Claire M. Caterer's debut novel. And, it's the first of a five book series!! The second book, tentatively titled The Wand & The Sea, is due out in 2014.

 

Here's what a couple reviewers said about The Key & The Flame:

 

“A time-traveling, wand-slashing tale, full of an endearing cast of characters.”

—Kit Grindstaff, author of The Flame in the Mist--

 

“Caterer is especially good at creating believable children in all of their human

imperfections.”

--Publisher's Weekly--

 

Another thing that Claire does well in The Key & The Flame is create likeable characters even in the villains of the story.

 

And, without giving too much away, I really like the way Claire both bends and intertwines time and place.

 

A little more about  Claire: She has published fiction in Woman’s World magazine as well as in Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock mystery magazines and now writes full-time.

 

I'm happy to have had the opportunity to tell you a little bit about Claire and her debut novel. For information about school visits, or to download a teaching guide for The Key & The Flame, or to learn a little more about Claire, please visit her website.

 

Thanks for stopping by.