A Tangle of Gold

Book excerpt: “A grand finale to a grand adventure, complete with truly startling revelations . . . Colorful and madcap . . . deeply satisfying, perfectly ended.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Cello is in crisis. Princess Ko’s deception of her people has emerged and the Kingdom is outraged; the Jagged Edge Elite have taken control, placing the Princess and two members of the Royal Youth Alliance under arrest and ordering their execution; the King’s attempts to negotiate their release have failed; Color storms are rampant; and nobody has heard the Cello wind blowing in months. Meanwhile, Madeleine fears she’s about to lose the Kingdom of Cello forever. Plans are in place to bring the remaining Royals home, and after that, all communication between Cello and the World will cease. That means she’ll also lose Elliot, now back in Cello and being held captive by a branch of Hostiles. And there’s nothing he can do to help his friends unless he can escape the Hostile compound. Worlds apart and with time running out, Madeleine and Elliot find themselves on a collision course to save the Kingdom they love, and maybe even save each other. “A breathless and exhilarating race to the finish . . . with a variety of unexpected revelations and marvelous surprises, and with [Moriarty’s] usual perfect timing.” —The Horn Book (starred review) “The magic continues to be refreshingly inventive, and the world-building is so precise . . . This final installment will garner even more followers.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Startling and clever . . . A breathtaking climax . . . An eminently satisfying conclusion.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)