Summary
After a bestselling fantasy writer disappears, only his biggest fan believes hes in danger. Instead of re-reading his books, she must venture into the real world to uncover the truth in this fast-paced mystery by New York Times-bestselling author April Henry. For readers of Courtney Summers and Karen McManus.
Bridget is RM Haldons biggest fan. She and her mom sought refuge in Haldrons epic fantasy series Swords and Shadows while her mom was losing her battle with cancer. When Bridget met Haldon at one of his rare book signings, she impressed the author with her encyclopedic knowledge of the fantasy world hed created. Bridget has been working for him ever since as he attempts to write the final book in his blockbuster sword and sorcery series. But Haldon has gone missing, and Bridget is the only person who seems concerned. Can Bridget piece together Haldons cryptic clues and save him before its too late?
Master mystery-writer April Henry weaves another heart-stopping young adult thriller in this story that seamlessly blends suspense with an exploration of fan culture.
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Excerpt
Rickard ran through the woods, his crossed swords bouncing on his back. This was no longer Camp Tomawaka, a campground with a vaguely Native American-sounding name. And he was no longer Derrick Dart, a teenaged boy mostly invisible to the world.
Here in the mythical land of Cascadia, he was Rickard Starsworn, leader of the peasant rebellion. Despite a price on his head and nothing in his belly, he would not be swayed from his mission to procure the Sacred Feather. Whoever possessed it could call down the army of gryphons from the sky.
Cascadia was a world full of magic and betrayal. Of brave fighters, cutthroat rogues and majestic nobility. One thing it was not—definitely not—was the world of Swords and Shadows. While Derricks dad had begun the LARP as a frank homage, over the years dozens of new plot twists and characters had been introduced. And after the intellectual property lawsuit nine years ago, all overlapping names had been changed. So the game was now called Mysts of Cascadia, and featured gryphons instead of unicorns.
If new players remarked on any remaining similarities, they were reminded to stay in character. If they continued to do so OOG (out of game), everyone knew to deny, deny, deny, just in case RM Haldon publishers lawyers had once again hired spies.
Even though Derricks character Rowan had been renamed Rickard, the general outlines of the back story remained the same. Derrick had re-read the books many times in an effort to understand his character. It was Mountains of the Moon that had revealed Rowan for the hero—or perhaps anti-hero—he had been all along.
As Rickard grew closer to the clearing where he would meet Black Fox, the thief whod promised to sell him the Sacred Feather, he slowed his pace, slipping from shadow to shadow.
Suddenly a woman shouted behind him. I call forth a Web Spell.” The spell (represented by a small beanbag filled with birdseed) slapped between his shoulder blades.
By Ferdinands Beard!” Rickard swore. He was currently without a Resist Spell to counteract the Web Spell. Now his arms and legs refused to move.
Lady Katarina appeared in his peripheral vision, then moved to stand in front of him. Her long brown plaits were wound in a coronet around her head. Her smile was cold. Her left hand was hidden under her black fur cloak.
Well met, Rickard. Why dost thou run through my forest without my leave? Mayhap you were looking for this?” She revealed what she had hidden under her cloak. The Sacred Feather of the Gryphons.
More players allied with Lady Katarina stepped from behind trees and bushes, surrounding him. Most faces were familiar. A few not. Clearly, hed been double-crossed by Black Fox.
What kind of a man carries two swords and no shield?” a woman said mockingly. She hoisted her own shield and menacingly waved her sword.
The kind of man who falsely fancies himself a fighter,” her compatriot sneered. And here he is, stuck without even unsheathing a weapon.”
Hes not real smart, is he?” a third man said, shattering the illusion they were all working so hard to build. Derrick had never seen him before. He wasnt an NPC (non-playing character) because they were provided with good quality costumes. This guys tunic was just a T-shirt turned inside out, with the hems cut off, and slit half way down the center. The resulting V had been laced with one of the cut-off pieces of fabric. It was basically the cheapest, fastest
costume you could make. He was wearing it over black sweatpants. Around his wrist, hed tied another piece of fabric, but it did little to disguise that underneath it was a Fitbit. And on his feet were tennis shoes. Tennis shoes! What had the Logistics Committee been thinking when they checked this guy in? Had they been too busy pretending the apple juice in the tavern was really liquor?
Author Bio
April Henry is the New York Times bestselling author of many acclaimed mysteries for adults and young adults, including the YA novels Girl, Stolen; The Girl I Used to Be, which was nominated for an Edgar Award; The Night She Disappeared; and Body in the Woods and Blood Will Tell, Books One and Two in the Point Last Seen series. She lives in Oregon.
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