The Hidden Knife

In Melissa Marr's "The Hidden Knife," readers are plunged into a vibrant world where gargoyles, kelpies, and fairies coexist with humans. Vicky, a young woman with extraordinary gifts in sword-fighting and magic, has been kept hidden by her mother. When a devastating tragedy strikes her family, Vicky defies her mother's wishes and enrolls in the elite Corvus school, determined to avenge the crime. At Corvus, she forms an unlikely alliance with a former street thief and an alchemy student, navigating a school rife with secrets and political intrigue. Guided by the ancient, non-linear wisdom of the gargoyles, Vicky and her friends embark on a quest to expose corruption and forge a better future for both human and Netherwhere realms. This chapter book is ideal for ages 8-11, offering a rich fantasy adventure with themes of justice, friendship, and self-discovery.

New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr invites readers into a magical world where stone gargoyles live among humans, ferocious water horses infiltrate the sea, and school hallways are riddled with magic wards--and where a group of young heroes seeking justice discovers those very creatures are the best of allies. Twenty years ago, a door opened between the world of humans and the Netherwhere, allowing all kinds of otherworldly creatures entry. Some, like the kelpies and fairies, who like to bite, are best avoided. But the gargoyles are wise and wonderful, and show a special affection for humans. Vicky has grown up under the watchful eye of a gargoyle named Rupert, and excels at sword-fighting and magic. But there's so much she doesn't know--like why her mother, once one of the queen's elite Ravens, keeps Vicky hidden away and won't let her train at the elite Corvus school where girls with her gifts perfect their skills. When a horrific tragedy occurs, Vicky knows it's finally time to use her gifts, and that the only place she should be to avenge the crime against her family is Corvus. There she bands together with a former street thief and an alchemy student to figure out whom they can trust in a place that's rife with intrigue and secrets. And all the while, the gargoyles watch and nudge. Time's not linear to them, so they know change comes in ripples. With their steadying influence, Vicky and her friends just might be the generation to expose the court's secrets and ensure a better future for both worlds.