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The Keepers Trilogy #2
سه گانه نگهبانان
گلدی و توداسپیت حالا دیگر باید به عنوان نگهبانان موزه اسرار آمیز دانت ایفای وظیفه کنند اما وقتی بانی خواهر کوچکتر توداسپیت به دست افرادی ناشناس ربوده میشود این دو نفر به تعقیب ربایندگان میپردازد و پس از سفر دریایی، سر از شهر بندری اسپوک درمیآورند که در همسایگی جوئل قرار دارد. توداسپیت هم در جریان این جست و جو به اسارت ربایندگان درمیآید و..
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
75 people are currently reading
1851 people want to read
About the author
Lian Tanner
23 books308 followersLian Tanner has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. She likes secrets, old bones, and animals that are not what they seem. Nowadays she lives by the beach in southern Tasmania.
Lian's bestselling fantasy series The Keepers won two Aurealis Awards for Best Australian Children's Fantasy and has been translated into eleven languages. Her second series, The Hidden, has been published in Australia/New Zealand and North America. Lian's third series, The Rogues, is set in the same world as The Keepers, and has been translated into Spanish.
Lian's first picture book 'Ella and the Ocean' (illustrated by Jonathan Bentley) won the 2020 NSW Premier's Award for Children's Literature and the 2022 Tasmanian Literary Award for Children's Books. A Clue for Clara won the 2021 Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best Children's Crime Novel, and its sequel, Rita's Revenge, was shortlisted for the 2022 NSW Premier's Award for Children's Literature.
Lian's bestselling fantasy series The Keepers won two Aurealis Awards for Best Australian Children's Fantasy and has been translated into eleven languages. Her second series, The Hidden, has been published in Australia/New Zealand and North America. Lian's third series, The Rogues, is set in the same world as The Keepers, and has been translated into Spanish.
Lian's first picture book 'Ella and the Ocean' (illustrated by Jonathan Bentley) won the 2020 NSW Premier's Award for Children's Literature and the 2022 Tasmanian Literary Award for Children's Books. A Clue for Clara won the 2021 Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for Best Children's Crime Novel, and its sequel, Rita's Revenge, was shortlisted for the 2022 NSW Premier's Award for Children's Literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
December 3, 2019
Goldie must travel to a different city when her fellow young Keeper at the Museum, Toadspit's, younger sister is kidnapped and spirited away. She's on her own, in unfamiliar territory, with a grey cat following her everywhere. Goldie ends up stumbling upon a conspiracy with familiar suspects, and needs to use all her smarts and new acquaintances to help her rescue her friends.
The story ends on a cliffhanger, but, as I am enjoying these characters so much, and the world, on to book three.
The story ends on a cliffhanger, but, as I am enjoying these characters so much, and the world, on to book three.
October 21, 2024
This one suffers a bit from second book syndrome, as it feels disjointed from the first book at the start, but as I got further, it connected quite nicely.
As with the first book, lots of action. I'm intrigued to see how the new characters play into the third book.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!
As with the first book, lots of action. I'm intrigued to see how the new characters play into the third book.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!
June 19, 2013
Just assume that if I listen to an audiobook narrated by Claudia Black, that I will be giving her performance five stars. Not only does she once again do an excellent job with the various characters, but I continue to be amazed by how she can pull so much emotion from words on a page. It’s impossible not to get wrapped up in the action and emotion when she is so completely immersed in her telling. Not that this is surprising for me. I’ve been known to shed real and true tears along with her as she expresses her deepest regrets to a puppet.
Anyway, City of Lies takes place six months after the events of Museum of Thieves. The Fugalman is assumed dead and his Blessed Guardians have been removed from power, which means children are now free to roam without chains. Some parents and children aren’t quite ready for the change and make their own bindings. A broken limb and an almost drowning are raising tensions in the city of Jewel and calling the Protector’s abilities to keep the children safe into question, especially when rumours of a return of kidnappers proves true with the disappearance of a little girl.
Meanwhile, Goldie Roth has been busily avoiding the Museum of Dunt and the request to take her place as Keeper. Her parents are both unwell and she places their poor health squarely on her own shoulders as a result of her running away in the last book. Becoming a Keeper would mean abandoning her parents and that’s not something Goldie is willing to do, no matter how much her parents encourage her and her friend Toadspit demands it. The kidnapping forces Goldie to forget both of these concerns to focus solely on the rescue of not one but two children, whisked away to the city of Spoke which is about to celebrate its Festival of Lies. For two days, everything will be backwards. How will Goldie learn the truth and rescue her friends within a city of lies?
Once again, Goldie must rely on her wits and the skills of theft and stealth she learned in her previous adventure. And she must also deal with the mysterious voice in the back of her mind that continues to steer her. I’m glad the issue of the voice is addressed. It plays such a prominent role in Goldie’s decisions, as does the broach she wears that once belonged to her bold Auntie Praise. Neither device received much explanation for their purpose in the previous book, but clearly they are important. I’m not certain how I feel about the voice by the end of City of Lies, but I’m curious about how things will play out in the final book in the trilogy. Hopefully we’ll also get to learn a bit more about Auntie Praise.
I’m glad that Goldie’s guilt over her parents does not become an overwhelming shadow to the story, though I appreciate the level of responsibility it shows in Goldie. The whole concept of The Keepers series is to show that children don’t need as much protection as we believe they do. They can be trusted with responsibility and don’t need to be locked in protective bubbles for their own safety. That was more heavily addressed in the previous book, but the lingering paranoia of adults who don’t believe this to be true continues to hang over the plot.
I was disappointed in the lack of Broo in this story, though the tattered cat was a worthy replacement. I also missed the Museum of Dunt, which is a character unto itself. Not that Broo, the Museum and the other Keepers are forgotten, though. They all play a very important part in the story and their connection to Goldie and the children remains strong.
The festival of lies is a fun part of the adventure and the idea of having everyone say the opposite of what they mean is not overdone. Or rather, it could have become annoying, but keep in mind that this is a book written for a younger audience who would probably appreciate the backwards antics of the festival.
Read more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
Anyway, City of Lies takes place six months after the events of Museum of Thieves. The Fugalman is assumed dead and his Blessed Guardians have been removed from power, which means children are now free to roam without chains. Some parents and children aren’t quite ready for the change and make their own bindings. A broken limb and an almost drowning are raising tensions in the city of Jewel and calling the Protector’s abilities to keep the children safe into question, especially when rumours of a return of kidnappers proves true with the disappearance of a little girl.
Meanwhile, Goldie Roth has been busily avoiding the Museum of Dunt and the request to take her place as Keeper. Her parents are both unwell and she places their poor health squarely on her own shoulders as a result of her running away in the last book. Becoming a Keeper would mean abandoning her parents and that’s not something Goldie is willing to do, no matter how much her parents encourage her and her friend Toadspit demands it. The kidnapping forces Goldie to forget both of these concerns to focus solely on the rescue of not one but two children, whisked away to the city of Spoke which is about to celebrate its Festival of Lies. For two days, everything will be backwards. How will Goldie learn the truth and rescue her friends within a city of lies?
Once again, Goldie must rely on her wits and the skills of theft and stealth she learned in her previous adventure. And she must also deal with the mysterious voice in the back of her mind that continues to steer her. I’m glad the issue of the voice is addressed. It plays such a prominent role in Goldie’s decisions, as does the broach she wears that once belonged to her bold Auntie Praise. Neither device received much explanation for their purpose in the previous book, but clearly they are important. I’m not certain how I feel about the voice by the end of City of Lies, but I’m curious about how things will play out in the final book in the trilogy. Hopefully we’ll also get to learn a bit more about Auntie Praise.
I’m glad that Goldie’s guilt over her parents does not become an overwhelming shadow to the story, though I appreciate the level of responsibility it shows in Goldie. The whole concept of The Keepers series is to show that children don’t need as much protection as we believe they do. They can be trusted with responsibility and don’t need to be locked in protective bubbles for their own safety. That was more heavily addressed in the previous book, but the lingering paranoia of adults who don’t believe this to be true continues to hang over the plot.
I was disappointed in the lack of Broo in this story, though the tattered cat was a worthy replacement. I also missed the Museum of Dunt, which is a character unto itself. Not that Broo, the Museum and the other Keepers are forgotten, though. They all play a very important part in the story and their connection to Goldie and the children remains strong.
The festival of lies is a fun part of the adventure and the idea of having everyone say the opposite of what they mean is not overdone. Or rather, it could have become annoying, but keep in mind that this is a book written for a younger audience who would probably appreciate the backwards antics of the festival.
Read more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
October 24, 2011
Goldie isn’t the only accomplished Liar and Thief to return in this sequel to Museum of Thieves. We get to experience a whole City of Liars. Shoot, even the City is a Liar. I adore the author of this children’s book series, I really do.
Lian Tanner’s sequel to the brilliant Museum of Thieves is among the better of Book Twos that I have read. In City of Lies Tanner sets us right back down into the City of Jewel and Goldie’s life. It is only a short while after the ending of Museum of Thieves and everyone is still reeling from the effects of Book One. Tanner reminds the reader a bit of the first, but not a great deal. A few interspersed notes by the 3rd person narrator and we are off on this new adventure. There is a diverting cleverness in bringing the Reader into this new twist swiftly and with such immersion—Tanner needs the Reader to be present in the now of the book. And besides, you’ve read the first book. You have, haven’t you? Because you really should.
The shine of the first story’s victory has taken some tarnish. One, Goldie is unwilling to become the Fifth Keeper of the Museum of Dunt as she is meant to be. Two, Jewel’s parents are still adjusting to having independent children and the absence of the Blessed Guardians. Yes, the change is a good thing, but it is so different from how they were raised. The indoctrinations are not easily shrugged off and when accidents begin to occur a murmuring begins. Three, the Fugleman has returned—and is “a changed man.”
Goldie claims her reason for refusing the appointment as Fifth Keeper is that her parents are sick. And they are. Their time as prisoners of the House of Repentance was traumatic. The parents are also rather clinging (3). Theirs is a chain of a different sort than the first book’s. But they aren’t the only ones holding Goldie back. While their worry is infectious, Goldie herself is a problem—specifically that voice that so infamously led her to triumph in Museum of Thieves.
Goldie has come to believe that the voice only brings her trouble; which isn’t a lie. In part, Goldie longs for a normal childhood, a boring one. This inevitably wars with her more adventurous and independent side that has a daring job to do using her unusual and oft socially unacceptable skill-set. She decides to ignore the voice while undertaking her search for Toadspit and Bonnie in the foreign City of Spoke. In addition to sorting out who she should and will be and whether the voice is worth listening to, Goldie must also navigate a strange city amidst their Festival of Lies where everything is turned inside out and upside down. How does one tell a lie in order to find the truth, and how does one find the already hidden when everything is to be masked?
In the kind of imaginative turn that I adore with Frances Hardinge’s stories, Lian Tanner creates this marvelous Festival of Lies. Everyone must speak in lies and the City itself participates by telling a few Big Lies to the lucky few. Yes, City of Lies maintains the idea that magical (and metaphoric) possibility exists not only within a person or creature, but within Place as well. Beside the focus of a lie-celebrating City of Spoke, the novel returns us to the strange Museum of Dunt occasionally, a Place that has revealed its own consciousness in Museum of Thieves. As in the first book, the state of unrest is linked to the state of the City and the children—Goldie and Toadspit in particular. The Places externalize anxiety and create a fun sort of tension in the novels. In City of Thieves a terrifying beast in on the loose and on the hunt in the Museum, in the City of Jewel, and in the City of Spoke. There are all sorts of dangers and only the daring need apply.
I read an article recently about leading women in Romantic Comedies and it remarked upon how the flaws the writers must give them are, in actuality, trite. She can’t not be beautiful, so let’s make her a klutz. I don’t think Romantic Comedies have cornered the market on this kind of characterization. If not negligibly flawed, many an Adventure Heroine is formulaic enough to undermine (or even nullify) the conflict. Tension is muted because the flaw is hardly considerable or easily overcome by the perfections. Goldie’s flaws create serious conflict, and ones that are identifiable enough within the Reader that adrenaline and worry surface.
Goldie’s abilities put her at odds with her society. The risks in using her beliefs and skills to create change are significant. Entering the second book, we know that those risks have some reward and consequence, but we feel victorious and that Goldie is capable. She might fumble a bit, but she had come into herself in book one, had she not? But in City of Lies, Tanner creates a separation for the character and Reader. Goldie falters and is somewhat immobilized by responsibilities, distrust of herself, and –let’s face it—weariness. Enter Goldie No One, a reinvention of a self in order to free a self. It is the masked ball, the move to a new city, an opportunity to overcome the limitations pressed upon her by circumstance and expectation—it is a Festival of Lies. Goldie is back to a different kind of beginning, and the conflict of being able to trust who she is still becoming. Should she trust that voice in the back of her head?
Tanner has created a complex character ever in the state of changing, of becoming more. Goldie No One is an aspect this protagonist must address; throwing her into a Festival of Lies is a brilliant move. She has to find her friends, (while without knowing it) find herself, and she has to discern what is mere diversion and what is true and real. Who and what are sincere? Do you create your destiny or do you run blindly along with it—or is there a state in between? How do you interpret the signs?
Who might a young girl become when unencumbered, or, even, encumbered by someone else? Inhabiting the dreams, the adventures of others is a nice move in an Adventure story rife with intrigues. And I enjoy the idea that a person is a place; a museum, a collection of historical fact and figures; that the character might not only inhabit another’s history/adventure, but that they might in turn inhabit the character—whether the character be an actual building or city, or a different plane, or a person or creature. The present can be affected by the past, as well as the lies, in positive and negative ways, tangibly or intangibly. [Those black/white messages of children's early years become more gray--a lovely lovely shade of gray.]
Despite the disguises, the essence of who someone is appears to remain much the same. This can be infinitely reassuring, or a terrible prickling up the spine. The Lies can be fun, but they can be quite deadly. Little is as it seems, and City of Lies is rife with uncertainty.
City of Lies is everything I want to see as a Book 2 of 3. It bridges to a third and final book with the promise of a great denouement. It also holds an arch of its own: introducing great new characters, providing a mystery to solve, and creating, developing, and gifting a sense of resolution. It doesn’t really stand alone, nor does it apologize for the fact. I am satisfied by good story, by great writing, and I wait longingly for the third book.
************************
If you like Frances Hardinge or Adrienne Kress, you will like Ms. Tanner’s The Keepers books (and vice versa). For boys and girls alike; ages 9 & up (likely to 12/13); lovers of Utopia/Dystopia fiction and/or of fantasy; and especially for those tired of romances in every book they read.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
Lian Tanner’s sequel to the brilliant Museum of Thieves is among the better of Book Twos that I have read. In City of Lies Tanner sets us right back down into the City of Jewel and Goldie’s life. It is only a short while after the ending of Museum of Thieves and everyone is still reeling from the effects of Book One. Tanner reminds the reader a bit of the first, but not a great deal. A few interspersed notes by the 3rd person narrator and we are off on this new adventure. There is a diverting cleverness in bringing the Reader into this new twist swiftly and with such immersion—Tanner needs the Reader to be present in the now of the book. And besides, you’ve read the first book. You have, haven’t you? Because you really should.
The shine of the first story’s victory has taken some tarnish. One, Goldie is unwilling to become the Fifth Keeper of the Museum of Dunt as she is meant to be. Two, Jewel’s parents are still adjusting to having independent children and the absence of the Blessed Guardians. Yes, the change is a good thing, but it is so different from how they were raised. The indoctrinations are not easily shrugged off and when accidents begin to occur a murmuring begins. Three, the Fugleman has returned—and is “a changed man.”
Goldie claims her reason for refusing the appointment as Fifth Keeper is that her parents are sick. And they are. Their time as prisoners of the House of Repentance was traumatic. The parents are also rather clinging (3). Theirs is a chain of a different sort than the first book’s. But they aren’t the only ones holding Goldie back. While their worry is infectious, Goldie herself is a problem—specifically that voice that so infamously led her to triumph in Museum of Thieves.
Goldie has come to believe that the voice only brings her trouble; which isn’t a lie. In part, Goldie longs for a normal childhood, a boring one. This inevitably wars with her more adventurous and independent side that has a daring job to do using her unusual and oft socially unacceptable skill-set. She decides to ignore the voice while undertaking her search for Toadspit and Bonnie in the foreign City of Spoke. In addition to sorting out who she should and will be and whether the voice is worth listening to, Goldie must also navigate a strange city amidst their Festival of Lies where everything is turned inside out and upside down. How does one tell a lie in order to find the truth, and how does one find the already hidden when everything is to be masked?
In the kind of imaginative turn that I adore with Frances Hardinge’s stories, Lian Tanner creates this marvelous Festival of Lies. Everyone must speak in lies and the City itself participates by telling a few Big Lies to the lucky few. Yes, City of Lies maintains the idea that magical (and metaphoric) possibility exists not only within a person or creature, but within Place as well. Beside the focus of a lie-celebrating City of Spoke, the novel returns us to the strange Museum of Dunt occasionally, a Place that has revealed its own consciousness in Museum of Thieves. As in the first book, the state of unrest is linked to the state of the City and the children—Goldie and Toadspit in particular. The Places externalize anxiety and create a fun sort of tension in the novels. In City of Thieves a terrifying beast in on the loose and on the hunt in the Museum, in the City of Jewel, and in the City of Spoke. There are all sorts of dangers and only the daring need apply.
I read an article recently about leading women in Romantic Comedies and it remarked upon how the flaws the writers must give them are, in actuality, trite. She can’t not be beautiful, so let’s make her a klutz. I don’t think Romantic Comedies have cornered the market on this kind of characterization. If not negligibly flawed, many an Adventure Heroine is formulaic enough to undermine (or even nullify) the conflict. Tension is muted because the flaw is hardly considerable or easily overcome by the perfections. Goldie’s flaws create serious conflict, and ones that are identifiable enough within the Reader that adrenaline and worry surface.
Goldie’s abilities put her at odds with her society. The risks in using her beliefs and skills to create change are significant. Entering the second book, we know that those risks have some reward and consequence, but we feel victorious and that Goldie is capable. She might fumble a bit, but she had come into herself in book one, had she not? But in City of Lies, Tanner creates a separation for the character and Reader. Goldie falters and is somewhat immobilized by responsibilities, distrust of herself, and –let’s face it—weariness. Enter Goldie No One, a reinvention of a self in order to free a self. It is the masked ball, the move to a new city, an opportunity to overcome the limitations pressed upon her by circumstance and expectation—it is a Festival of Lies. Goldie is back to a different kind of beginning, and the conflict of being able to trust who she is still becoming. Should she trust that voice in the back of her head?
Tanner has created a complex character ever in the state of changing, of becoming more. Goldie No One is an aspect this protagonist must address; throwing her into a Festival of Lies is a brilliant move. She has to find her friends, (while without knowing it) find herself, and she has to discern what is mere diversion and what is true and real. Who and what are sincere? Do you create your destiny or do you run blindly along with it—or is there a state in between? How do you interpret the signs?
Who might a young girl become when unencumbered, or, even, encumbered by someone else? Inhabiting the dreams, the adventures of others is a nice move in an Adventure story rife with intrigues. And I enjoy the idea that a person is a place; a museum, a collection of historical fact and figures; that the character might not only inhabit another’s history/adventure, but that they might in turn inhabit the character—whether the character be an actual building or city, or a different plane, or a person or creature. The present can be affected by the past, as well as the lies, in positive and negative ways, tangibly or intangibly. [Those black/white messages of children's early years become more gray--a lovely lovely shade of gray.]
Despite the disguises, the essence of who someone is appears to remain much the same. This can be infinitely reassuring, or a terrible prickling up the spine. The Lies can be fun, but they can be quite deadly. Little is as it seems, and City of Lies is rife with uncertainty.
City of Lies is everything I want to see as a Book 2 of 3. It bridges to a third and final book with the promise of a great denouement. It also holds an arch of its own: introducing great new characters, providing a mystery to solve, and creating, developing, and gifting a sense of resolution. It doesn’t really stand alone, nor does it apologize for the fact. I am satisfied by good story, by great writing, and I wait longingly for the third book.
************************
If you like Frances Hardinge or Adrienne Kress, you will like Ms. Tanner’s The Keepers books (and vice versa). For boys and girls alike; ages 9 & up (likely to 12/13); lovers of Utopia/Dystopia fiction and/or of fantasy; and especially for those tired of romances in every book they read.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
July 10, 2018
"Goldie sank back onto the nearest step and let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding." (p.43) - seriously!?! The Evil Sentence? Has no editor ever heard of this abomination?
The whole Princess Frisia thing came out of left field and was thoroughly pointless. It was like a bad dream ballet in a musical. Several times I felt like the book was about to wrap up, but no, we were just off on another dream ballet. And then the actual end of the book hit me in the face - oh, it's one of those Book Two out of Threes where there is absolutely no resolution.
Also, the villain's name is what? Harrow? Why on earth would you choose that (of every possible alternative) when you've already established Herro as a masculine title (I assume it's like Herr - at one point we get the plurals "herroen and frowen" like Herren und Frauen). So we already know Herro Dan (who doesn't ever seem to be called just Dan), we know Herro Roth, Goldie Roth's father. So is Dan a last name or a first name? Hmm. Anyway, the choice of Harrow is simply stupid and should have been flagged by an editor. Particularly for the audio version, it created unnecessary confusion.
The other names are dumb, too. Toadspit gets old real soon (his real name Cautionary isn't used). Pounce, Mouse, Sinew, Cord, Smudge. Just dumb. Also, The Fugleman - what does it mean?
The festival of lies thing is overdone: repetitive and weak. There's a whole lot of "let's resolve this through some deus-ex-machina" - like a voice inside Goldie that tells her all the answers, or all of a sudden, why not a Big Lie out of the blue that solves the problem? How convenient!
The entire predicament was rather pointless. The setup was weak. I had no reason to care about Bonnie anyway. All of a sudden she's some kind of major figure? For those who like the first book, there isn't much Museum action, just enough to make you wonder why it is included at all. I think Olga Ciavolga had about two lines in the whole book.
The supposed crisis of whether Goldie should accept her destiny as keeper fell very flat. I couldn't care less. And the climactic "I'm the fifth keeper of the Museum of Dunt!!!!" was anything but climactic. Dunt - again, a dumb name.
Parts of the book were fine, and the audio narrator was quite good, really putting forth a performance, not just a reading. But there were too many problems.
The whole Princess Frisia thing came out of left field and was thoroughly pointless. It was like a bad dream ballet in a musical. Several times I felt like the book was about to wrap up, but no, we were just off on another dream ballet. And then the actual end of the book hit me in the face - oh, it's one of those Book Two out of Threes where there is absolutely no resolution.
Also, the villain's name is what? Harrow? Why on earth would you choose that (of every possible alternative) when you've already established Herro as a masculine title (I assume it's like Herr - at one point we get the plurals "herroen and frowen" like Herren und Frauen). So we already know Herro Dan (who doesn't ever seem to be called just Dan), we know Herro Roth, Goldie Roth's father. So is Dan a last name or a first name? Hmm. Anyway, the choice of Harrow is simply stupid and should have been flagged by an editor. Particularly for the audio version, it created unnecessary confusion.
The other names are dumb, too. Toadspit gets old real soon (his real name Cautionary isn't used). Pounce, Mouse, Sinew, Cord, Smudge. Just dumb. Also, The Fugleman - what does it mean?
The festival of lies thing is overdone: repetitive and weak. There's a whole lot of "let's resolve this through some deus-ex-machina" - like a voice inside Goldie that tells her all the answers, or all of a sudden, why not a Big Lie out of the blue that solves the problem? How convenient!
The entire predicament was rather pointless. The setup was weak. I had no reason to care about Bonnie anyway. All of a sudden she's some kind of major figure? For those who like the first book, there isn't much Museum action, just enough to make you wonder why it is included at all. I think Olga Ciavolga had about two lines in the whole book.
The supposed crisis of whether Goldie should accept her destiny as keeper fell very flat. I couldn't care less. And the climactic "I'm the fifth keeper of the Museum of Dunt!!!!" was anything but climactic. Dunt - again, a dumb name.
Parts of the book were fine, and the audio narrator was quite good, really putting forth a performance, not just a reading. But there were too many problems.
April 28, 2019
Busy but fun
July 16, 2022
I really enjoyed the book, and the plot twist was great -I wasn't expecting that!
May 9, 2012
This is the second book in the Keepers series, book one is the Museum of Thieves . You need to read the first one otherwise this one will be confusing, especially the shifts in plot or references to the museum, Keepers, and Guardians from the city of Jewel. Some of the questions in the first book are answered such as who set off the bomb and we start to see why Goldie was chosen to be a Keeper - this is tied in with her discovering whose voice is in her head.
Goldie plays the hero as she sets off to rescue Toadspit's sister, Bonnie, who has been kidnapped and taken to the city of Spoke. Two slavers, Cord and Smudge, steal children and Bonnie is their latest victim. When Toadspit and Goldie take after them, Toadspit is caught and Goldie is left on her own to come up with a rescue plan. The city of Spoke is celebrating the Festival of Lies (ironic twist on Festival of Lights) where people have to tell lies to each other and are abuzz with hope of getting caught by a magical "Big Lie". This is when the lie takes over a person's senses and takes them to an alternate world. As Goldie rescues her friends she finds out that the slavers are a part of a bigger conspiracy that involves the city of Jewel.
The author does a nice job with characters and the different voices. Cord and Smudge reminded me of Hook and Smee in Peter Pan and the uneducated orphans living in the streets have their own dialect. Goldie is the only character that changes. She has to learn to trust herself and she's a reluctant hero. It is obvious to the reader that she should trust the voice in her head, but she stubbornly refuses to - which I found downright irritating. I see that it is a setup for later when the "voice" is explained and I appreciate that unique twist in the story, but the author has her doubting the "voice" because there looks like a betrayal; however, the betrayal is obviously not one which is why it doesn't work. Okay, that's a tongue-twister. I would have liked more development on Pounce. He was fun, wasn't he? I like the trickster in stories. I would have liked to crawl inside his brain for awhile. The villains are basically the same characters and don't change. While there is plenty of action or external tension in this story there isn't a lot of internal tension through the characters.
The plot is somewhat messy. The beginning is forced when Goldie has to decide between the Keeper and her parents. I thought she was being melodramatic and impractical by saying she'll "never" be a Keeper. She just needed to take care of her parents and couldn't be a Keeper at the moment. This character change was too contrived for me and didn't work. If she had just said, "Look my parents are really sick after being imprisoned and I can't be a Keeper right now," I would have bought it, but she was slamming the door shut and making it all or nothing. It didn't ring true. Also, I thought her being a Beserker was kind of weird. I like that it scared her and forced her to cast off weapons and I think it is supposed to show that she is a warrior, which is why she should be a Keeper, but it isn't fully developed, just suggested.
I love the risks and creativity Tanner takes with her writing. City of Lies doesn't come alive for me like Museum of Thieves, which has a start that reminds me of The Giver and museum that reminds me of Incarceron. The story is entertaining and the "Big Lie" is truly unique - I can't think of that in any book. There is plenty of action and violence and the villains are somewhat cartoonish which makes them less threatening for young readers. Readers will enjoy this fantasy.
Reading Level 4.2
Goldie plays the hero as she sets off to rescue Toadspit's sister, Bonnie, who has been kidnapped and taken to the city of Spoke. Two slavers, Cord and Smudge, steal children and Bonnie is their latest victim. When Toadspit and Goldie take after them, Toadspit is caught and Goldie is left on her own to come up with a rescue plan. The city of Spoke is celebrating the Festival of Lies (ironic twist on Festival of Lights) where people have to tell lies to each other and are abuzz with hope of getting caught by a magical "Big Lie". This is when the lie takes over a person's senses and takes them to an alternate world. As Goldie rescues her friends she finds out that the slavers are a part of a bigger conspiracy that involves the city of Jewel.
The author does a nice job with characters and the different voices. Cord and Smudge reminded me of Hook and Smee in Peter Pan and the uneducated orphans living in the streets have their own dialect. Goldie is the only character that changes. She has to learn to trust herself and she's a reluctant hero. It is obvious to the reader that she should trust the voice in her head, but she stubbornly refuses to - which I found downright irritating. I see that it is a setup for later when the "voice" is explained and I appreciate that unique twist in the story, but the author has her doubting the "voice" because there looks like a betrayal; however, the betrayal is obviously not one which is why it doesn't work. Okay, that's a tongue-twister. I would have liked more development on Pounce. He was fun, wasn't he? I like the trickster in stories. I would have liked to crawl inside his brain for awhile. The villains are basically the same characters and don't change. While there is plenty of action or external tension in this story there isn't a lot of internal tension through the characters.
The plot is somewhat messy. The beginning is forced when Goldie has to decide between the Keeper and her parents. I thought she was being melodramatic and impractical by saying she'll "never" be a Keeper. She just needed to take care of her parents and couldn't be a Keeper at the moment. This character change was too contrived for me and didn't work. If she had just said, "Look my parents are really sick after being imprisoned and I can't be a Keeper right now," I would have bought it, but she was slamming the door shut and making it all or nothing. It didn't ring true. Also, I thought her being a Beserker was kind of weird. I like that it scared her and forced her to cast off weapons and I think it is supposed to show that she is a warrior, which is why she should be a Keeper, but it isn't fully developed, just suggested.
I love the risks and creativity Tanner takes with her writing. City of Lies doesn't come alive for me like Museum of Thieves, which has a start that reminds me of The Giver and museum that reminds me of Incarceron. The story is entertaining and the "Big Lie" is truly unique - I can't think of that in any book. There is plenty of action and violence and the villains are somewhat cartoonish which makes them less threatening for young readers. Readers will enjoy this fantasy.
Reading Level 4.2
June 12, 2013
Okay, let's see if I can pull this review off without making it another gush-fest on my love for Claudia Black. As usual, her narration is fantastic, but for this second book of The Keepers Trilogy, I want to focus on the story because that's what I think really shines.
After the events of The Museum of Thieves, Goldie Roth has been offered the chance to become a Keeper of the Museum of Dunt. But then her new friend Toadspit's little sister Bonnie is stolen away, and so the two older children take off after the kidnappers. After a journey upon the seas, Toadspit ends up being captured too, and they all end up at the city of Spoke where the much-anticipated Festival of Lies is about to begin. Now Goldie has to save her friends while trying to survive in the middle of this bizarre place, made even stranger by the nature of the festival, where every day is "Opposite Day" and no one can be trusted.
This series is targeted at the middle-grade audience, so younger readers would probably appreciate it more, but I found this book to be quite enjoyable all the same. The story is a lot of fun -- short, but very cute. I think children will like that characters have to speak and act in a way that is the opposite of what they mean during the Festival of Lies, but it isn't done in such a juvenile manner that adults can't find it all very entertaining as well.
There's also an aspect of make-believe, role-play and "playing pretend" in this book that kids would probably enjoy, which also involves a very abstract magical idea that I'm still trying to wrap my head around (though I'm sure children would probably take for granted and wouldn't question too much). There just seems to be a lot more going on in this sequel in terms of fantasy elements and ideas, some that are just more intriguing and appealing to all readers.
The focus is mostly on the adventures of Goldie and Toadspit this time around, with the other adult keepers back in the city of Jewel and given an obligatory side plot to keep them in the series. Quite honestly, I didn't mind the story's greater emphasis on the children because in my opinion they're a lot more interesting to read about. The audiobook narration also does a good job of bringing them to life, along with the crazy city of Spoke.
Once again, if you can get your hands on the audio version of this book, I highly recommend doing so. This series would not have made even made it onto my radar screen if it weren't for Claudia Black's name being attached to the project, since it's not a regular habit of mine to pick up children's books (but maybe I should make it one, since my toddler is growing up so fast). Black's voice work is always top-notch, and so far these books have been great. I've already put my name on the waiting list for the final installment of this trilogy from my library.
After the events of The Museum of Thieves, Goldie Roth has been offered the chance to become a Keeper of the Museum of Dunt. But then her new friend Toadspit's little sister Bonnie is stolen away, and so the two older children take off after the kidnappers. After a journey upon the seas, Toadspit ends up being captured too, and they all end up at the city of Spoke where the much-anticipated Festival of Lies is about to begin. Now Goldie has to save her friends while trying to survive in the middle of this bizarre place, made even stranger by the nature of the festival, where every day is "Opposite Day" and no one can be trusted.
This series is targeted at the middle-grade audience, so younger readers would probably appreciate it more, but I found this book to be quite enjoyable all the same. The story is a lot of fun -- short, but very cute. I think children will like that characters have to speak and act in a way that is the opposite of what they mean during the Festival of Lies, but it isn't done in such a juvenile manner that adults can't find it all very entertaining as well.
There's also an aspect of make-believe, role-play and "playing pretend" in this book that kids would probably enjoy, which also involves a very abstract magical idea that I'm still trying to wrap my head around (though I'm sure children would probably take for granted and wouldn't question too much). There just seems to be a lot more going on in this sequel in terms of fantasy elements and ideas, some that are just more intriguing and appealing to all readers.
The focus is mostly on the adventures of Goldie and Toadspit this time around, with the other adult keepers back in the city of Jewel and given an obligatory side plot to keep them in the series. Quite honestly, I didn't mind the story's greater emphasis on the children because in my opinion they're a lot more interesting to read about. The audiobook narration also does a good job of bringing them to life, along with the crazy city of Spoke.
Once again, if you can get your hands on the audio version of this book, I highly recommend doing so. This series would not have made even made it onto my radar screen if it weren't for Claudia Black's name being attached to the project, since it's not a regular habit of mine to pick up children's books (but maybe I should make it one, since my toddler is growing up so fast). Black's voice work is always top-notch, and so far these books have been great. I've already put my name on the waiting list for the final installment of this trilogy from my library.
February 20, 2012
Maybe I've just read too much series fiction lately so I'm more critical of it, but while I enjoyed this novel I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first installment. This book takes place in an entirely different place than the first for most of the story and while it was an interesting city I was eager to read more of the museum and disappointed that there wasn't much of it in this installment. I liked the new characters, but once again there were already so many characters in the first novel that adding even more just confused things. I don't feel like I got to know the new characters that well because Tanner kept flashing back to the old ones and her attempts to include everyone stretched the narrative a thin and left me feeling like I didn't get enough of anyone. The characters didn't have as big arcs as in the first novel and their development was thinner. The first novel also ended satisfyingly with the plot being completed while leaving some loose ends for the next novel whereas this one leaves with the characters in a much more precarious situation and I am not a fan of cliff-hangers. (Curse you Westerfeld!) Still I did enjoy the quirks of the new city and their Mardi Grasesque festival of lies and I also enjoyed the new characters--they even added a talking cat which I'm a sucker for. I'll just have to hope that there's more of Pounce in the next novel. You know I can't resist a good Artful Dodger character.
Read more of my reviews at http://auldschoollibrarian.blogspot.com
Read more of my reviews at http://auldschoollibrarian.blogspot.com
May 13, 2012
Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Lyn herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
This book won the 2012 Aurealis Awards for Children's Fiction. I am so glad the awards are over so I can tell everyone about City of Lies here on Goodreads.
I have to admit, I went into this book with reservations. I hadn't read book one, had no idea who the characters were or how their world came to be. Based on this fact alone I expected to write the book off fairly quickly. To my relief, then delight, I found my expectations to be very wrong. This book was brilliant in all the right ways. It was well written with clear language and easy going plot. Better than that, it worked perfectly both as a stand alone novel (I hadn't read book one) and as part of a greater narrative arc.
This book won the 2012 Aurealis Awards for Children's Fiction. I am so glad the awards are over so I can tell everyone about City of Lies here on Goodreads.
I have to admit, I went into this book with reservations. I hadn't read book one, had no idea who the characters were or how their world came to be. Based on this fact alone I expected to write the book off fairly quickly. To my relief, then delight, I found my expectations to be very wrong. This book was brilliant in all the right ways. It was well written with clear language and easy going plot. Better than that, it worked perfectly both as a stand alone novel (I hadn't read book one) and as part of a greater narrative arc.
May 6, 2012
ALSO not what I'm supposed to be reading...
...but TOO GOOD TO STOP. Just as exciting as "Museum of Thieves."
Friend, Upon Being Offered Book 1: "I don't really want to read a book for eight year olds."
Me (Out Loud): "Ha ha! Fair enough!"
Me (Secretly): "I don't mind still being eight years old...in all the magical and adventurous ways that count!"
One star deducted for my pet peeve, . This may not be everyone's peeve, however. Unpeeved persons could conceivably rate this 5 stars :)
...but TOO GOOD TO STOP. Just as exciting as "Museum of Thieves."
Friend, Upon Being Offered Book 1: "I don't really want to read a book for eight year olds."
Me (Out Loud): "Ha ha! Fair enough!"
Me (Secretly): "I don't mind still being eight years old...in all the magical and adventurous ways that count!"
One star deducted for my pet peeve, . This may not be everyone's peeve, however. Unpeeved persons could conceivably rate this 5 stars :)
March 29, 2015
Overall this was not a good book. It was book two of a series, but I didnt figure that out until I was somewhat invested in the book. It worked okay that I hadnt read (or heard of) the first book. I appreciate when sequels are like that. You know there is a history and they allude to it enough that if you are significantly interested you can go back and read it!
But, like I said overall not very good. The story! The big lie thing was an absolutely atrocious turn of events. I skipped the majority of that interlude and was not the worse for wear.
But, like I said overall not very good. The story! The big lie thing was an absolutely atrocious turn of events. I skipped the majority of that interlude and was not the worse for wear.
February 23, 2016
This book is the second book in the Keepers trilogy. In this book, Toadspit and his sister, Bonnie are kidnapped by a mysterious villain named Harrow. Goldie must find her friends in the city of Spoke, during the Festival of Lies, during which the city itself is a lie, and everything you say is something else, resulting that no one can be trusted.
I would rate this a five star book, because, like the previous one, it was a page turner. The book opened a new world and I could practically see the City of Lies. Thanks to this book, I want to go to Spoke, and find myself in a Big Lie.
September 22, 2024
i honestly really like the Big Lie thing this trilogy is just fun yk
July 1, 2025
Read it to meet a goal. The magic system and wonderful elements were entertaining. I enjoyed it.
November 14, 2021
In the first book, we were mainly in the museum and we're learning about it. But in this book, the kids- Goldie, Toadspit and his sister Bonnie are separated from the adults, namely the kids parents, sinew and Olga ciavolga.
At the start Toadspit and Bonnie get captured and Goldie decides to save them. In this process she goes to the city of spoke during the festival of lies where everyone lies about everything and meets two friends named pounce and mouse who live in a sewer.
The protector has the job of figuring out If the Fugleman has any bad intentions, when he starts repenting.
The main conflict in this book is that the Fugleman is conspiring with someone else to kill the kids.
I also like the internal arc Goldie goes through of self loathing and finding out who she actually is with the whole "fifth keeper of the museum of dunt thing"
because honestly everyone has gone through that phase.
We also get sinew's perspective who in the museum is trying to fight a slommerkin with the help of Broo.
At first I did not like the whole princess frisia plotline but as I realised how it converged to our main plot I was absolutely shocked.
This book definitely sets up for the end of the series and so didn't have a great conclusion. Additionally, there were some places where the plot dragged and I skim read.
My favourite character in this book was Mouse 🐁 he justs seems so sweet with his mice and fortune telling gig lol.
My favourite moment was the end when Goldie realises who she and why she's in this place. I find that a great point in any book series.
Overall 3.5 stars.
In conclusion, I have a positive attitude towards this book and I'm excited to read on!
At the start Toadspit and Bonnie get captured and Goldie decides to save them. In this process she goes to the city of spoke during the festival of lies where everyone lies about everything and meets two friends named pounce and mouse who live in a sewer.
The protector has the job of figuring out If the Fugleman has any bad intentions, when he starts repenting.
The main conflict in this book is that the Fugleman is conspiring with someone else to kill the kids.
I also like the internal arc Goldie goes through of self loathing and finding out who she actually is with the whole "fifth keeper of the museum of dunt thing"
because honestly everyone has gone through that phase.
We also get sinew's perspective who in the museum is trying to fight a slommerkin with the help of Broo.
At first I did not like the whole princess frisia plotline but as I realised how it converged to our main plot I was absolutely shocked.
This book definitely sets up for the end of the series and so didn't have a great conclusion. Additionally, there were some places where the plot dragged and I skim read.
My favourite character in this book was Mouse 🐁 he justs seems so sweet with his mice and fortune telling gig lol.
My favourite moment was the end when Goldie realises who she and why she's in this place. I find that a great point in any book series.
Overall 3.5 stars.
In conclusion, I have a positive attitude towards this book and I'm excited to read on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently reading
February 28, 2023（Spoilers）
City of Lies is a fantasy written by Lian Tanner. The story is mainly about a teenage girl called Goldie Roth who refused to replace the position of the fifth keeper of the museum of Dent. However, her sister Bonnie and her friend Toadspit was kidnapped and taken to a place called Stoke, where everyone has to lie all the time, which refers to the title of the book. Later on, the villain of the story—Flugelman caused abundant of troubles and conflicts. Numerous of twists existed in the plot.
One thing I really liked about this story is that the depiction of amity. Goldie met Pounce when she was alone and helpless. Pounce offered her aides. Pounce, a boy who believes that he has gradually been abandoned by this world, was encouraged and inspired by Goldie’s nerve and Vigorous during their arduous journey and found something to live for. The author shows how friendship stimulates and motivates people. One thing that I dislike about the plot, is that the story ends up with everyone headed back to Jewel. When I first finish this book, I was not astonished. The ending of the story is pretty reasonable but not beyond my expectation, but I prefer stories that has endings that could pleasantly surprise me.
In my opinion, this fantasy story is a good choice and should definitely be recommended to middle schoolers. The author used various writing techniques to motivate and lecture her readers. However, this story might be a little too naïve for high schoolers and people older. Hence, it is a good choice when you just want to spend your leisure time on a straightforward and relaxed story. My rate on this book is 3.5 stars.
City of Lies is a fantasy written by Lian Tanner. The story is mainly about a teenage girl called Goldie Roth who refused to replace the position of the fifth keeper of the museum of Dent. However, her sister Bonnie and her friend Toadspit was kidnapped and taken to a place called Stoke, where everyone has to lie all the time, which refers to the title of the book. Later on, the villain of the story—Flugelman caused abundant of troubles and conflicts. Numerous of twists existed in the plot.
One thing I really liked about this story is that the depiction of amity. Goldie met Pounce when she was alone and helpless. Pounce offered her aides. Pounce, a boy who believes that he has gradually been abandoned by this world, was encouraged and inspired by Goldie’s nerve and Vigorous during their arduous journey and found something to live for. The author shows how friendship stimulates and motivates people. One thing that I dislike about the plot, is that the story ends up with everyone headed back to Jewel. When I first finish this book, I was not astonished. The ending of the story is pretty reasonable but not beyond my expectation, but I prefer stories that has endings that could pleasantly surprise me.
In my opinion, this fantasy story is a good choice and should definitely be recommended to middle schoolers. The author used various writing techniques to motivate and lecture her readers. However, this story might be a little too naïve for high schoolers and people older. Hence, it is a good choice when you just want to spend your leisure time on a straightforward and relaxed story. My rate on this book is 3.5 stars.
June 21, 2025
نمیدونم هردفعه چی میشه که دوباره دلم میخواد این کتابو بخونم. آدم وقتی هنوز بچهست و تازه فهمیده که شاید یهچیزهایی توی زندگیش درست نیستن، دنبال همچین چیزهایی میگرده؛ همین کتابهایی که با خطبهخطش قلبش یهجور دیگه بتپه. کتابهایی که توشون بچهها تیکههای چسبیده به والدینشون نیستن، یا بندهای شعبدهبازیِ آدم بزرگهایی که کارهای بزرگ روی دوششونه. از همون بچگی وقتی چیزهایی که نیاز داشتم رو توی کتابها پیدا کردم، آرزو میکردم جای گلدی و توداسپیت باشم. مطمئن بودم که شاید اگر تو دنیای اونها بودم، نگهبان ششمی هم وجود میداشت (که اونم حتماً من میشدم)
الآن شرایط خیلی فرق کرده، من خیلی فرق کردهم، حتی سلیقهم توی کتابها.. میشه گفت الآن جهت داره. ولی هنوزم وقتهایی که اون بچه کوچولوی قدیمی، احساس تنهایی میکنه، میآم سراغ این کتاب. مخصوصاً جلد دوم که واقعا احساس میکنم یه چیزِ دیگهست. شاید این کتاب واقعاً یه چیز دیگهست، یه راز بین من و هستیکوچولو که فکر میکرد پنهانکاری و قایم شدن میتونه از دنیای واقعی حفظش کنه. شاید به این خاطر که من هنوز همونم، هنوز هم ناشیانه زخمهام رو با نمک میپوشونم؟؟ و هنوز هم دلم میخواد یه جایی تو دنیای این کتاب، نگهبان ششم موزه باشم.
الآن شرایط خیلی فرق کرده، من خیلی فرق کردهم، حتی سلیقهم توی کتابها.. میشه گفت الآن جهت داره. ولی هنوزم وقتهایی که اون بچه کوچولوی قدیمی، احساس تنهایی میکنه، میآم سراغ این کتاب. مخصوصاً جلد دوم که واقعا احساس میکنم یه چیزِ دیگهست. شاید این کتاب واقعاً یه چیز دیگهست، یه راز بین من و هستیکوچولو که فکر میکرد پنهانکاری و قایم شدن میتونه از دنیای واقعی حفظش کنه. شاید به این خاطر که من هنوز همونم، هنوز هم ناشیانه زخمهام رو با نمک میپوشونم؟؟ و هنوز هم دلم میخواد یه جایی تو دنیای این کتاب، نگهبان ششم موزه باشم.
April 15, 2021
Another book, another city shrouded with mystery. Goldie, Toadspit, and his sister Bonnie are kidnapped and end up separated in the city of Spoke, where peril is crouched on each door stoop and hides around every corner. Meanwhile, in Jewel, the search for the missing children is not going well, and the Great Protector is shocked to find her brother, the Fugleman, is alive and willing to help track them down. Is the Fugleman back up to his old tricks, or has he genuinely repented and renounced his ways? I enjoyed this one as much as the first, but my favorite characters by far were Mouse and his trained fortune-telling mice; I wish he had come back to Jewel with them.
January 13, 2019
My favourite part was when Goldie managed to get Toadspit and Bonnie away from Flense and the other people who had caught them. My least favourite part was when Pounce betrayed them, and came back just to save his friend Mouse, becuase he didn't realise that betraying the others would also bring Mouse into the whole mess. The way they spoke in lies during the festival was a little bit confusing, but it eventually made sense to me. I like how this book takes place somewhere else, but I wish there was a little bit more of the museum. Also wish that the cat was given a name.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2022
Esta novela está llena de acción y aventuras.
Aunque a la mitad del libro la historia se hace un poco larga e incluso algo aburrida, el final tiene bastante acción. Es increíble como la autora consiguió que cada uno de los personajes que aparecen aportaran algo a la trama, ninguno fue escrito sin razón.
Admiro muchísimo a Goldie, la protagonista, por todas las cosas que hace y los dones que posee.
En este mundo los ladrones pueden ocultarse a plena vista e invocar monstruos.
Estaba en un bloqueo y La ciudad de las mentiras me ayudó a salir de él.
Aunque a la mitad del libro la historia se hace un poco larga e incluso algo aburrida, el final tiene bastante acción. Es increíble como la autora consiguió que cada uno de los personajes que aparecen aportaran algo a la trama, ninguno fue escrito sin razón.
Admiro muchísimo a Goldie, la protagonista, por todas las cosas que hace y los dones que posee.
En este mundo los ladrones pueden ocultarse a plena vista e invocar monstruos.
Estaba en un bloqueo y La ciudad de las mentiras me ayudó a salir de él.
February 26, 2018
After the big rescue, the story goes on with everyone adjusting to the new normal. Goldie is torn between her care and concern for her parents and her call to be the fifth caretaker of the the Museum of Dundt. Just when she thinks she has come to a decision, her young friend is kidnapped and she and Toadspit must track the kidnappers.
Another fun adventure with perils, harrowing bad guys, and clever determination by our young heroes.
Another fun adventure with perils, harrowing bad guys, and clever determination by our young heroes.
May 4, 2018
I was thoroughly impressed and inspired by this book! It was even better than the first book of this trilogy, the Museum of Thieves. The entire series is so original and captivated me until I simply couldn't put the book down! The characters were so realistic and greatly help to draw the reader in! This entire series is a "must-read" DEFINITELY for anyone who wants thrill, suspense, and a little bit of magic.
November 26, 2018
This is book 2 of 3 in The Keepers Trilogy written by Lian Tanner.
I am seriously shocked this book series isn’t beyond popular. Tanner takes us into another fantasy world. Goldie a trained liar is on a journey to save her friends, but she finds herself in a city that is full of lies. Everything is upside down and backwards, and the city itself is a liar.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you listen to the audio recording by Claudia Black - she’s smashing!
I am seriously shocked this book series isn’t beyond popular. Tanner takes us into another fantasy world. Goldie a trained liar is on a journey to save her friends, but she finds herself in a city that is full of lies. Everything is upside down and backwards, and the city itself is a liar.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you listen to the audio recording by Claudia Black - she’s smashing!
April 23, 2022
Pretty good not gonna lie I accidentally bought this book when I was like 9 and then discovered it was actually the second book in the series. Found the first one recently and was like, why not? It's pretty chill and was a nice pace changer as I haven't read a children's book in a while. I definitely think my younger self would have enjoyed it.
July 25, 2025
Honestly, I was scared that Toadspit and Bonny would never be able to get back to Goldie, but I was so wrong. Like Goldie is so smart. Getting them into a big lie to they can escape on the boat without guardian hope and her cronies. It was hilarious when Guardian Hope got chased by the second big lie where the musicians were the hunters and she was the prey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2018
similar comments as Book 1 - feels generic & like it superficially skims the idea of an interesting world. the festival in this book lends to some fun conversational turns, though. bonus audiobook points for Claudia Black.
July 29, 2020
City of lies is a great work of the author just like the museum of thives. I grew fond of the characters as i was reading the book. but i think Goldie's heroic charchter irk me a bit for none of the troubles would happen if she only listens to that little voice.
March 26, 2019
Great book ! Adventure, magic, and fun unique characters. Loved the story bit -Who are you ? I’m Princess Frissa of Merna !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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