What do you think?
Rate this book
Greenglass House #4
The Thief Knot
Ghosts, a kidnapping, a crew of young detectives, and family secrets mix in this new standalone mystery set in the world of the best-selling Greenglass House, from a National Book Award nominee and Edgar Award–winning author.
Marzana and her best friend are bored. Even though they live in a notorious city where normal rules do not apply, nothing interesting ever happens to them. Nothing, that is, until Marzana’s parents are recruited to help solve an odd crime, and she realizes that this could be the excitement she’s been waiting for. She assembles a group of kid detectives with special skills—including the ghost of a ship captain’s daughter—and together, they explore hidden passageways, navigate architecture that changes overnight, and try to unravel the puzzle of who the kidnappers are—and where they’re hiding. But will they beat the deadline for a ransom that’s impossible to pay?
Legendary smugglers, suspicious teachers, and some scary bad guys are just a few of the adults the crew must circumvent while discovering hidden truths about their families and themselves in this smart, richly imagined tale.
Marzana and her best friend are bored. Even though they live in a notorious city where normal rules do not apply, nothing interesting ever happens to them. Nothing, that is, until Marzana’s parents are recruited to help solve an odd crime, and she realizes that this could be the excitement she’s been waiting for. She assembles a group of kid detectives with special skills—including the ghost of a ship captain’s daughter—and together, they explore hidden passageways, navigate architecture that changes overnight, and try to unravel the puzzle of who the kidnappers are—and where they’re hiding. But will they beat the deadline for a ransom that’s impossible to pay?
Legendary smugglers, suspicious teachers, and some scary bad guys are just a few of the adults the crew must circumvent while discovering hidden truths about their families and themselves in this smart, richly imagined tale.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2020
235 people are currently reading
5017 people want to read
About the author
Kate Milford
17 books1,112 followersKate is the author of THE THIEF KNOT, GREENGLASS HOUSE, GHOSTS OF GREENGLASS HOUSE, BLUECROWNE, THE LEFT-HANDED FATE, THE BONESHAKER, THE BROKEN LANDS, THE KAIROS MECHANISM, and the forthcoming THE RACONTEUR'S COMMONPLACE BOOK (February 2021).
Originally from Annapolis, MD, Kate now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Nathan and son Griffin and their dogs, Ed and Sprocket. She has written for stage and screen and is a frequent travel columnist for the Nagspeake Board of Tourism and Culture (www.nagspeake.com).
Originally from Annapolis, MD, Kate now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Nathan and son Griffin and their dogs, Ed and Sprocket. She has written for stage and screen and is a frequent travel columnist for the Nagspeake Board of Tourism and Culture (www.nagspeake.com).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
October 19, 2019
Author Kate Milford, the creator of the marvelous
Greenglass House
and
Ghosts of Greenglass House
, returns to the fictional city-state of Nagspeake in this companion volume, due out this coming January. Set in the Liberty of Gammerbund, the city within a city which gives refuge to many of Nagspeake's smugglers and thieves, it follows the story of Marzana Hakelbarend, who appeared as a character in
Ghosts of Greenglass House
. Desperately wanting to know more about her mother, who was once Violet Cross, Nagspeake's most beloved smuggler, and convinced that nothing exciting ever happens to her, despite living in the Liberty, Marzana longs for an adventure of her own. When a girl in the city below is kidnapped, and authorities appeal to Marzana's parents for behind-the-scenes help, Marzana and her best friend Nialla, along with a crew of talented children that they assemble, are soon on the case. But is the crime really what they think it is, or are things not what they seem...?
Having been intrigued by the Liberty - its history, its residents, its magic - since it was first mentioned in Milford's stories, I was quite excited to discover that The Thief Knot was to be set mostly in that part of Nagspeake. The story here did not disappoint, drawing me in almost at once and keeping me engaged and entertained throughout. I loved the setting, and the bits and pieces we get to learn about the Liberty and about Nagspeake - the girls' magical school, Marymead; the camouflaged Belowground system; the mysteriously organic and mobile old iron; the enchanting glass museum in the abandoned building - as well as about characters we met only in passing, in earlier books. Although Milo only appears briefly, and not on stage, we do get to meet Meddy again, as well as Marzana and her parents, Emmett Syebuck, and Brandon Levi. We also get a host of interesting new characters, from Emilia Cabot to J.J. and Ciro. I enjoyed the story, the writing and the world-building here - in short, I enjoyed pretty much everything about it! Since I read it in ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) form, not all of Jaime Zollars' art was present, but what I saw was lovely. Highly recommended, to anyone who has read the Greenglass House books, or to those seeking magical mystery stories. For me, I finished it with sadness, since there is no more (at least for now) to read about the Liberty. I wish Milford would write a whole series on its history and residents!
Having been intrigued by the Liberty - its history, its residents, its magic - since it was first mentioned in Milford's stories, I was quite excited to discover that The Thief Knot was to be set mostly in that part of Nagspeake. The story here did not disappoint, drawing me in almost at once and keeping me engaged and entertained throughout. I loved the setting, and the bits and pieces we get to learn about the Liberty and about Nagspeake - the girls' magical school, Marymead; the camouflaged Belowground system; the mysteriously organic and mobile old iron; the enchanting glass museum in the abandoned building - as well as about characters we met only in passing, in earlier books. Although Milo only appears briefly, and not on stage, we do get to meet Meddy again, as well as Marzana and her parents, Emmett Syebuck, and Brandon Levi. We also get a host of interesting new characters, from Emilia Cabot to J.J. and Ciro. I enjoyed the story, the writing and the world-building here - in short, I enjoyed pretty much everything about it! Since I read it in ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) form, not all of Jaime Zollars' art was present, but what I saw was lovely. Highly recommended, to anyone who has read the Greenglass House books, or to those seeking magical mystery stories. For me, I finished it with sadness, since there is no more (at least for now) to read about the Liberty. I wish Milford would write a whole series on its history and residents!
August 6, 2019
A DRC was provided by Edelweiss for a fair and honest review.
Another puzzle box of a Greenglass book is a reason to cheer for every children's librarian. Smart, literate, entertaining and the opposite of condescending, Milford continues to mine her gold strike of a series for children and their clever adults. We are on the other side of Nagspeake in this tale, running after Marzana and her newly formed club of puzzle solving kid geniuses trying to find a kidnapped girl. The publisher has declared The Thief Knot a stand-alone novel, but there are so many references to past events in other books, so many characters who pop up and then bow out that I would strongly recommend readers tackle the other Greenglass titles. And why not? They're such a treat and Milford has done a terrific job with her world building. Kudos for the rare experience of enjoying complex kid characters who - gasp! - have even more complicated parents who actually influence them and participate in the action. There are a few too many characters with ever changing names to keep track of, including a tantalizing villain that we barely meet, let alone grasp the background of several new and interesting kid characters. But cheers to Milford who has done it again and is hopefully working on the next book that will answer any lingering questions. Meanwhile, readers should chomp through the whole series, revelling in the rich atmosphere, twisty plot and engagement with a smart and funny read.
Another puzzle box of a Greenglass book is a reason to cheer for every children's librarian. Smart, literate, entertaining and the opposite of condescending, Milford continues to mine her gold strike of a series for children and their clever adults. We are on the other side of Nagspeake in this tale, running after Marzana and her newly formed club of puzzle solving kid geniuses trying to find a kidnapped girl. The publisher has declared The Thief Knot a stand-alone novel, but there are so many references to past events in other books, so many characters who pop up and then bow out that I would strongly recommend readers tackle the other Greenglass titles. And why not? They're such a treat and Milford has done a terrific job with her world building. Kudos for the rare experience of enjoying complex kid characters who - gasp! - have even more complicated parents who actually influence them and participate in the action. There are a few too many characters with ever changing names to keep track of, including a tantalizing villain that we barely meet, let alone grasp the background of several new and interesting kid characters. But cheers to Milford who has done it again and is hopefully working on the next book that will answer any lingering questions. Meanwhile, readers should chomp through the whole series, revelling in the rich atmosphere, twisty plot and engagement with a smart and funny read.
March 9, 2020
Another good story by Milford set in Nagspeake, specifically Liberty of Gammerbund, a neighborhood home to smugglers, traffickers, and other petty criminals. Marzana Hakelbarend, and her best friend, Nialla Giddis, are bored because nothing ever happens there. Until, Marzana overhears a conversation with her parents about a kidnapped daughter of a man running for major. Marz is excited about something finally happening, and frustrated that her parents don't seem interested in helping so she recruits a team of misfit but creative kids to rescue the girl. But, greater mysteries abound, and Marz and her team have to go the extra mile. I loved the school, and the fabulous cover by Sharismar Rodriguez.
April 20, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this one a bit better than the last in the series. The mystery and puzzles were engaging, but I again found myself wishing there was not quite so much book and that things were moving along a bit quicker.
I enjoyed this one a bit better than the last in the series. The mystery and puzzles were engaging, but I again found myself wishing there was not quite so much book and that things were moving along a bit quicker.
January 23, 2022
As per usual, I thoroughly enjoyed my jaunt in Nagspeake. The mystery was engaging, the characters delightful, and the setting was (as always) remarkable and utterly fantastical. This is one of my favorite children's series and I always look forward to the immersive experience that is anything related to Greenglass House.
I really enjoyed the focus on moral ambiguity, how understanding can exist with accountability, as well as how complex and varied people's reactions can be to a relatively similar situation. Milford always includes these nuanced looks into what it means to be human, what it means to move through this life, and how murky it all can be when love, pain, ego, and heartbreak are thrown into the mix.
It was a bit long and meandering at points, but I honestly don't care. I always enjoy the trip.
I really enjoyed the focus on moral ambiguity, how understanding can exist with accountability, as well as how complex and varied people's reactions can be to a relatively similar situation. Milford always includes these nuanced looks into what it means to be human, what it means to move through this life, and how murky it all can be when love, pain, ego, and heartbreak are thrown into the mix.
It was a bit long and meandering at points, but I honestly don't care. I always enjoy the trip.
April 5, 2020
Haven’t read this yet BUT I AM SO READY. One of my life goals is to read every book that Kate Milford writes because her world is so vivid and her characters are so relatable. I’m so excited to learn more about Marzana and the Liberty!
UPDATE:
Actually I got this a couple months ago and read it then BUT forgot to log it on Goodreads so I’m rereading it now in hopes of catching an Easter egg supposedly referring back to another Milford book. God I love these books.
Also I want to go to school at Marymead and be a Commorancy kid. As I cannot, I have decided that I’m going to buy a giant mansion and put in my will that it be turned into a school.
UPDATE UPON FINISHING:
Absolutely stellar as always. Love love love it.
UPDATE:
Actually I got this a couple months ago and read it then BUT forgot to log it on Goodreads so I’m rereading it now in hopes of catching an Easter egg supposedly referring back to another Milford book. God I love these books.
Also I want to go to school at Marymead and be a Commorancy kid. As I cannot, I have decided that I’m going to buy a giant mansion and put in my will that it be turned into a school.
UPDATE UPON FINISHING:
Absolutely stellar as always. Love love love it.
December 20, 2020
Wow was this good!! We’re back in the present time, & we follow a character(s) we met in Ghosts of Greenglass House. We also see a favorite again from the original, which was so great. This was a huge mystery! I thought I had it all figured out, but boy was I wrong. Soooo wrong lol which I loved! I was shocked. There were so many twists my head was spinning. It was awesome lol we deal with more great representation, as our main character deals with a certain type of anxiety. This had so much suspense, & they go on adventure after adventure. As usual, the author nailed that ending. Sooooo good! I can’t wait for the next book in February! This cover by Jaime Zollars is absolutely gorgeous too! Highly recommend all of these books!💜
December 20, 2020
This is long-winded and barely characterized - so it’s the setting that makes this book. Something about the sentence-level writing is overly long; it shifts between breathlessness and never-ending exposition. And I’m not sure how Marzana goes from “afraid to speak without playing every angle of the conversation” (an interesting character angle!) to “the obvious leader” in the span of forty pages. She needs to be, so she is, but that growth is never shown. Her friends show no growth, either - they’re also there to play specific roles.
Which means that every character serves the plot: never my favorite direction of writing. The mystery is fine - overly long and telegraphed, but still fairly compelling, mostly because it’s grounded in this great oddball place. The story only gets going when that oddball place is fully established; that beginning, with its jewel thief angles, almost seems from a different world, one that actually is more everyday. Funnier, too.
Ehhhh, is my overall reaction. This might have been better edited down.
Which means that every character serves the plot: never my favorite direction of writing. The mystery is fine - overly long and telegraphed, but still fairly compelling, mostly because it’s grounded in this great oddball place. The story only gets going when that oddball place is fully established; that beginning, with its jewel thief angles, almost seems from a different world, one that actually is more everyday. Funnier, too.
Ehhhh, is my overall reaction. This might have been better edited down.
November 3, 2020
SPOILERS:
I really enjoyed this book and there was a really surprising twist in this story. This book is about 4 kids and 1 ghost trying to solve a kidnapping crime that came with a ransom note asking for 1 million dollars. Only, it isn't what it seems. In this book, they found clues + motives of Peony's kidnap. They found the girl, but it felt too easy as if someone was laying out bread crumbs for them. It was when Peony's family moved out of their house. when they realized the girl they found wasn't the real Peony. It was actually Tasha Cormorant, an accomplice of the kidnapper. At this point, the 5 detectives finally realized why the group of "kidnappers" went through all the fuss and forced Peony's family out of their house. The crew went Underground and took a train to Peony's old house finding that the kidnapper's parents left them a heritage right under their house. The whole point wasn't about kidnapping an innocent girl at all! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to people who enjoy mystery and plenty of twists.
I really enjoyed this book and there was a really surprising twist in this story. This book is about 4 kids and 1 ghost trying to solve a kidnapping crime that came with a ransom note asking for 1 million dollars. Only, it isn't what it seems. In this book, they found clues + motives of Peony's kidnap. They found the girl, but it felt too easy as if someone was laying out bread crumbs for them. It was when Peony's family moved out of their house. when they realized the girl they found wasn't the real Peony. It was actually Tasha Cormorant, an accomplice of the kidnapper. At this point, the 5 detectives finally realized why the group of "kidnappers" went through all the fuss and forced Peony's family out of their house. The crew went Underground and took a train to Peony's old house finding that the kidnapper's parents left them a heritage right under their house. The whole point wasn't about kidnapping an innocent girl at all! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to people who enjoy mystery and plenty of twists.
March 6, 2020
4.5 stars...… And that is considering that as I started this book I was having a really hard time trying to figure where Marzana and Nialla were going, also its connection to the Greenglass House series, however, after about 10 pages things started connecting and picking up.
Marzana and Nialla live in Liberty of Gammerbund, a place that nothing exciting ever seems to happen, until the day Emmett Syebuck, who Marzana had met at Greenglass House during the previous Christmas break comes to visit her parents, Emmett works for the Nagspeake's customs department, and just happens to be acquainted with Marzana's parents who have very secret jobs...…
An unheard of event has occurred in Liberty - a kidnapping, as Marazana overhears the conversation her parents and Emmett have, she decides that she and Nialla are going to become involved. There is ONE very interesting thing about Liberty, buildings and neighborhoods have the ability to change shape and size, so finding the kidnappers and the victim are going to take the skills of more than just Marzana and Nialla, they will need to recruit various "kid detectives" to help them solve this puzzle.
Join the journey in a fantastic world unlike any other you will visit in the near future.
Marzana and Nialla live in Liberty of Gammerbund, a place that nothing exciting ever seems to happen, until the day Emmett Syebuck, who Marzana had met at Greenglass House during the previous Christmas break comes to visit her parents, Emmett works for the Nagspeake's customs department, and just happens to be acquainted with Marzana's parents who have very secret jobs...…
An unheard of event has occurred in Liberty - a kidnapping, as Marazana overhears the conversation her parents and Emmett have, she decides that she and Nialla are going to become involved. There is ONE very interesting thing about Liberty, buildings and neighborhoods have the ability to change shape and size, so finding the kidnappers and the victim are going to take the skills of more than just Marzana and Nialla, they will need to recruit various "kid detectives" to help them solve this puzzle.
Join the journey in a fantastic world unlike any other you will visit in the near future.
February 24, 2020
I agree with those saying this is best-appreciated by fans, though I think the mystery-solving parts would be enjoyable to all. This could be a spoiler, so read the next sentences at your peril. Like the Quester's Crossroads books that Nialla likes so much, this same book, The Thief Knot, could have told a completely different story. And I wasn't expecting that story to obliquely remind me of Anderson's Finding Orion and move me in the same way that book did.
January 18, 2023
совершенное отключение, герметичный мир детей, их родителей, домашних заданий, какао и тайн
а здесь ещё - старая школа с потайными ходами, подростковые комплексы, которые становятся сильными сторонами благодаря лучшей подруге или приятному мальчику из параллельного и одно неочевидное фантастическое допущение, которое делает этот мир особенно криповатым и восхитительным
а здесь ещё - старая школа с потайными ходами, подростковые комплексы, которые становятся сильными сторонами благодаря лучшей подруге или приятному мальчику из параллельного и одно неочевидное фантастическое допущение, которое делает этот мир особенно криповатым и восхитительным
March 12, 2020
Even though this book is described as a standalone, it contains some characters and slight spoilers for Ghosts of Greenglass House. There's also one MAJOR spoiler about a character that comes out in Greenglass House plus one brief reference to a character and event in The Left-Handed Fate. Read at your own peril if you are a newcomer to the series!
In the place known as The Liberty of Garabund, within the sovereign state of Nagspeake, Marzana Nialla Hakelbarend and her best friend Nialla Giddis are bored. Nothing EVER happens. Ever. They wish life could be as exciting as Nialla's favorite adventure comics. All the adventures are in the past but Marzana's mom, once a famous smuggling ship's captain, clams up whenever Marzana asks for stories. Her mom is big on "deniability" claiming it will keep the family safe. Mrs. Hakelbarend won't even keep in touch with the families of her old crew unless it's an emergency. Then, a visitor from the city proper, Emmett Syebuck comes with news that a mayoral candidate’s 11-year-old daughter has been kidnapped on her way home from summer camp. The Hakenbarends are shocked. Emmett wants Marzana's parents to figure out whether any of their known criminal contacts had anything to do with Peony Hyde's disappearance. The adults seem to think it unlikely that the girl was brought into the Liberty unseen. After all, one needs a warrant to get in. Marzana isn't so sure. She decides to set her mind to figuring out how someone could sneak Peony into the Liberty. Marzana asks Nialla for help. Her keen mind for word puzzles will help. A new substitute teacher arrives from Peony's school and camp. The friends need someone to help them investigate the teacher as a possible suspect and who better than a boarder at the school and role-playing game fanatic Emilia Cabot? Nialla also invites her old friend J.J., a magician to join in and he brings along his friend Ciro who loves puzzles and knows more about Nagspeake history than most of the others. Finally, their group is rounded out by Meddy from Greenglass House. Calling themselves the Thief Knot, the friends set out to investigate where Peony might be. Just when they think they have an answer, something surprising occurs to them and the Thief Knot sets out to solve the final piece of the puzzle.
This book was so entertaining I couldn't put it down. At first I was a bit disappointed the story didn't have anything to do with Saint Whit's home for the Mentally Chaotic. That place isn't even mentioned Some of the depictions of the characters didn't even match up to what they were in Ghosts, but I got so caught up in the story, I didn't mind. The world building is incredible. I was so charmed by the history of the school, the underground tunnels (I REALLY want to go to the radiation glass museum) and the living iron. Kate Milford has really thought this through so much that Nagspeake feels like a real place. Nagspeake is really a character and the best part of the story. I especially loved how the history from previous books is woven in. (I still need to know what happened to Lucy Bluecrowne!) At first I wondered why the characters were using phones with cords and pay phones. These things are so foreign to the target audience! My confusion was quickly cleared up with some background information on Nagspeake. There are reasons for the old 20th century technology. Some of the explanation was boring and confusing. I would have stuck with the iron explanation.
The mystery adventure plot is tightly woven. Just when I thought it was done, there was still a substantial amount of the book left. The plot twist surprised me but I was juuussst there with the kids figuring things out a hair before them. The final reveal was a bit of a let down. This book is a little too long. It drags a bit in spots, especially when Meddie is around. She repeats things a lot and it's rather complicated information. I didn't really need to know the whys and hows. Also, some of the history and description of Marymead and the complicated way Nialla's books work make the story drag. Overall though, I enjoyed the adventure and stayed up way too late finishing it.
I can really, really relate to Marzana. She's a massive introvert who is content with only one really good friend. She struggles to speak her thoughts out loud, say the right thing and make eye contact. She worries whether she "did good" and if she said the right thing or what she should have said instead. Oh how I know what she's thinking and feeling! Leading The Thief Knot gives her more confidence and helps her make friends. Nialla is a bit more outgoing but also a classic nerd. The Quester's Crossroads comic books she reads are really weird and take too much effort. I'm too lazy to go through all that and I never liked choose your own adventure books anyway. The Syddlewyry Knot books appeal more to Peony because they're about a lonely kid who gathers a group of other loner kids to save the day. Peony was also lonely and alone. In spite of her parents' obvious love, she didn't really have any friends. Marzana empathizes with Peony and is determined to find the girl. The next member to join the crew is Emilia Cabot. She's a Comoronacy kid, meaning she boards at the school. Emilia is extremely intelligence. Her intelligence makes her curious and that leads her to discover that her school is similar to Hogwarts in that it has many secret passages and unusual parts no one really knows about. I really like Emilia and can relate to her intelligence and knowledge-seeking but she's more brave and more of a leader than I am. J.J.'s magic may be one part corny and 2 parts flashy but he's very sweet. His reaction to learning Meddy's story is so touching. He's also great at cheering people. I can see why Nialli likes him. J.J. can be annoying and arrogant, like all teen boys, but mostly he's a good kid. Ciro is a little more quiet and thoughtful. He's also quite intelligent and sometimes he breaks the rules but always for a good cause. I find him thoughtful and caring, a bit more than J.J. but less compassionate. His boyish eagerness sometimes gets in the way of his likability factor. I've never been a huge fan of Meddy and I'm still not. She's a bit reckless and eager for adventure. While I don't blame her, I think she tends to act first without thinking. Obviously, I'm Marzana and can't relate to someone like Meddy.
The adults are a bit less fleshed out. Marzana's parents are loving and caring but maybe too overprotective. Barbara doesn't understand her daughter's need to know more about her mysterious, exciting past as a smuggler. Barbara thinks it's too dangerous for her child to know. It wasn't something she did for fun and profit and even though the statute of limitations has run out, telling would still put her and the family at risk from D&M. I get where she's coming from, as an adult, but I understand and sympathize with Marzana, especially once she discovers everyone ELSE knows the stories. Honora, a member of Violet Cross's old crew, is housekeeper/cook/storyteller. She's a hoot. I love her strict cooking rules and how she treats Mr. H like he's a child because he's not a good cook. The way she still speaks in nautical terms is fun and her stories are amazing. Honora seems to be the closest thing Marzana has to an aunt or grandmother. The Fletchwood brothers, Christopher and Moth, are searching for stories about their father, Tumbler. Marzana can relate. Tumbler sounds like he was a dear, sweet man. I love that an old sailor loved poetry and was a romantic. He was a real family man. It shows a different side to the smuggling crew. (ppst crew... O Captain! My Captain! is about Abraham Lincoln).
Suspects include Rob Grandreider, a criminal who somehow mysteriously got out of jail early. He's a little scary. His escape from jail may reveals a corrupt or flawed system, not surprising given the history of Nagspeake. Someone from within the prison has something to do with the kidnapping. Emmett, the customs agent friend of Marzana's family, suggests a mysterious person known as Snakebird may know a thing or two about the kidnapping. Marzana's mother insists Snakebird is a fairytale and not real. Is he though? He sounds evil and dangerous. Mr. Otterwill, the substitute math teacher MUST have known Peony. His arrival at the school is as mysterious as his background. The clever kids figure out how he got the job and it sure does seem suspicious. I think Mr. Otterwill is nice and if he is involved in the kidnapping, it was not of his own free will. A person, perhaps a woman trying to sound like a man, seems to be making phone calls all over the place. Who is it? Rose Mirassat maybe? Her profession is despicable. I wonder if she's related to a character in TLHF? Was Hickson Blount involved? He sounds like a small-time criminal and not a bigwig. Victor Comorant, on the other hand, is a big deal in this criminal underworld of Nagspeake. He knows too much and while he seems to be a nice, calm gentleman, his tone and use of Barbara's real name implies he knows his own worth and power. He seems to belittle the kidnapping crime as something he'd never dirty his hands with but clues point to him. I think he's dangerous. Where is his granddaughter Tasha? Why won't she answer Barabra's calls? The actual villain is a huge surprise. Actually, I may have figured it out if I had been able to read the book in one sitting during the day when I wasn't tired!
The illustrations are great. The illustrator took a few, small clues in the text to create a diverse array of characters. Marzana's "seal" brown braid and Nialla's "pinker" skin tone show up clearly as does Ciro's Asian heritage even though it's long distant. The illustrations reflect the weird, wonderful world of Nagspeake. My only complaint about them is they're not in color. If they were, I would have demanded the radioactive glass museum!
This book should appeal to fans of the Greenglass books. I wouldn't recommend starting here as a newcomer though.
In the place known as The Liberty of Garabund, within the sovereign state of Nagspeake, Marzana Nialla Hakelbarend and her best friend Nialla Giddis are bored. Nothing EVER happens. Ever. They wish life could be as exciting as Nialla's favorite adventure comics. All the adventures are in the past but Marzana's mom, once a famous smuggling ship's captain, clams up whenever Marzana asks for stories. Her mom is big on "deniability" claiming it will keep the family safe. Mrs. Hakelbarend won't even keep in touch with the families of her old crew unless it's an emergency. Then, a visitor from the city proper, Emmett Syebuck comes with news that a mayoral candidate’s 11-year-old daughter has been kidnapped on her way home from summer camp. The Hakenbarends are shocked. Emmett wants Marzana's parents to figure out whether any of their known criminal contacts had anything to do with Peony Hyde's disappearance. The adults seem to think it unlikely that the girl was brought into the Liberty unseen. After all, one needs a warrant to get in. Marzana isn't so sure. She decides to set her mind to figuring out how someone could sneak Peony into the Liberty. Marzana asks Nialla for help. Her keen mind for word puzzles will help. A new substitute teacher arrives from Peony's school and camp. The friends need someone to help them investigate the teacher as a possible suspect and who better than a boarder at the school and role-playing game fanatic Emilia Cabot? Nialla also invites her old friend J.J., a magician to join in and he brings along his friend Ciro who loves puzzles and knows more about Nagspeake history than most of the others. Finally, their group is rounded out by Meddy from Greenglass House. Calling themselves the Thief Knot, the friends set out to investigate where Peony might be. Just when they think they have an answer, something surprising occurs to them and the Thief Knot sets out to solve the final piece of the puzzle.
This book was so entertaining I couldn't put it down. At first I was a bit disappointed the story didn't have anything to do with Saint Whit's home for the Mentally Chaotic. That place isn't even mentioned Some of the depictions of the characters didn't even match up to what they were in Ghosts, but I got so caught up in the story, I didn't mind. The world building is incredible. I was so charmed by the history of the school, the underground tunnels (I REALLY want to go to the radiation glass museum) and the living iron. Kate Milford has really thought this through so much that Nagspeake feels like a real place. Nagspeake is really a character and the best part of the story. I especially loved how the history from previous books is woven in. (I still need to know what happened to Lucy Bluecrowne!) At first I wondered why the characters were using phones with cords and pay phones. These things are so foreign to the target audience! My confusion was quickly cleared up with some background information on Nagspeake. There are reasons for the old 20th century technology. Some of the explanation was boring and confusing. I would have stuck with the iron explanation.
The mystery adventure plot is tightly woven. Just when I thought it was done, there was still a substantial amount of the book left. The plot twist surprised me but I was juuussst there with the kids figuring things out a hair before them. The final reveal was a bit of a let down. This book is a little too long. It drags a bit in spots, especially when Meddie is around. She repeats things a lot and it's rather complicated information. I didn't really need to know the whys and hows. Also, some of the history and description of Marymead and the complicated way Nialla's books work make the story drag. Overall though, I enjoyed the adventure and stayed up way too late finishing it.
I can really, really relate to Marzana. She's a massive introvert who is content with only one really good friend. She struggles to speak her thoughts out loud, say the right thing and make eye contact. She worries whether she "did good" and if she said the right thing or what she should have said instead. Oh how I know what she's thinking and feeling! Leading The Thief Knot gives her more confidence and helps her make friends. Nialla is a bit more outgoing but also a classic nerd. The Quester's Crossroads comic books she reads are really weird and take too much effort. I'm too lazy to go through all that and I never liked choose your own adventure books anyway. The Syddlewyry Knot books appeal more to Peony because they're about a lonely kid who gathers a group of other loner kids to save the day. Peony was also lonely and alone. In spite of her parents' obvious love, she didn't really have any friends. Marzana empathizes with Peony and is determined to find the girl. The next member to join the crew is Emilia Cabot. She's a Comoronacy kid, meaning she boards at the school. Emilia is extremely intelligence. Her intelligence makes her curious and that leads her to discover that her school is similar to Hogwarts in that it has many secret passages and unusual parts no one really knows about. I really like Emilia and can relate to her intelligence and knowledge-seeking but she's more brave and more of a leader than I am. J.J.'s magic may be one part corny and 2 parts flashy but he's very sweet. His reaction to learning Meddy's story is so touching. He's also great at cheering people. I can see why Nialli likes him. J.J. can be annoying and arrogant, like all teen boys, but mostly he's a good kid. Ciro is a little more quiet and thoughtful. He's also quite intelligent and sometimes he breaks the rules but always for a good cause. I find him thoughtful and caring, a bit more than J.J. but less compassionate. His boyish eagerness sometimes gets in the way of his likability factor. I've never been a huge fan of Meddy and I'm still not. She's a bit reckless and eager for adventure. While I don't blame her, I think she tends to act first without thinking. Obviously, I'm Marzana and can't relate to someone like Meddy.
The adults are a bit less fleshed out. Marzana's parents are loving and caring but maybe too overprotective. Barbara doesn't understand her daughter's need to know more about her mysterious, exciting past as a smuggler. Barbara thinks it's too dangerous for her child to know. It wasn't something she did for fun and profit and even though the statute of limitations has run out, telling would still put her and the family at risk from D&M. I get where she's coming from, as an adult, but I understand and sympathize with Marzana, especially once she discovers everyone ELSE knows the stories. Honora, a member of Violet Cross's old crew, is housekeeper/cook/storyteller. She's a hoot. I love her strict cooking rules and how she treats Mr. H like he's a child because he's not a good cook. The way she still speaks in nautical terms is fun and her stories are amazing. Honora seems to be the closest thing Marzana has to an aunt or grandmother. The Fletchwood brothers, Christopher and Moth, are searching for stories about their father, Tumbler. Marzana can relate. Tumbler sounds like he was a dear, sweet man. I love that an old sailor loved poetry and was a romantic. He was a real family man. It shows a different side to the smuggling crew. (ppst crew... O Captain! My Captain! is about Abraham Lincoln).
Suspects include Rob Grandreider, a criminal who somehow mysteriously got out of jail early. He's a little scary. His escape from jail may reveals a corrupt or flawed system, not surprising given the history of Nagspeake. Someone from within the prison has something to do with the kidnapping. Emmett, the customs agent friend of Marzana's family, suggests a mysterious person known as Snakebird may know a thing or two about the kidnapping. Marzana's mother insists Snakebird is a fairytale and not real. Is he though? He sounds evil and dangerous. Mr. Otterwill, the substitute math teacher MUST have known Peony. His arrival at the school is as mysterious as his background. The clever kids figure out how he got the job and it sure does seem suspicious. I think Mr. Otterwill is nice and if he is involved in the kidnapping, it was not of his own free will. A person, perhaps a woman trying to sound like a man, seems to be making phone calls all over the place. Who is it? Rose Mirassat maybe? Her profession is despicable. I wonder if she's related to a character in TLHF? Was Hickson Blount involved? He sounds like a small-time criminal and not a bigwig. Victor Comorant, on the other hand, is a big deal in this criminal underworld of Nagspeake. He knows too much and while he seems to be a nice, calm gentleman, his tone and use of Barbara's real name implies he knows his own worth and power. He seems to belittle the kidnapping crime as something he'd never dirty his hands with but clues point to him. I think he's dangerous. Where is his granddaughter Tasha? Why won't she answer Barabra's calls? The actual villain is a huge surprise. Actually, I may have figured it out if I had been able to read the book in one sitting during the day when I wasn't tired!
The illustrations are great. The illustrator took a few, small clues in the text to create a diverse array of characters. Marzana's "seal" brown braid and Nialla's "pinker" skin tone show up clearly as does Ciro's Asian heritage even though it's long distant. The illustrations reflect the weird, wonderful world of Nagspeake. My only complaint about them is they're not in color. If they were, I would have demanded the radioactive glass museum!
This book should appeal to fans of the Greenglass books. I wouldn't recommend starting here as a newcomer though.
August 1, 2024
While this one trades in the Greenglass House setting for another mysterious locale in Nagspeke, and swaps Milo out for a very different heroine, and the cozy Christmas vibes for a start of summer caper... It still tapped into the charm that made the other books feel so timeless and readable. The mystery and magic is still present and alive, and I loved the themes of friendship as our anxious heroine builds a crew and accepts her role as leader in it.
May 19, 2020
4.5 stars; I wish I could visit Nagspeake
September 17, 2022
This might be my favorite GreenGlass House story yet.
December 23, 2019
If you haven't read the previous Greenglass books, it's ok - this is almost a standalone. There's wordplay, adventure, some mystery and a bookstore as a headquarters for the Thief Knot (the name that Marzana gives her group of crime solvers). Mars' social anxiety is so well depicted that readers who sometimes feel equally awkward will realize that they're not so strange after all. There's also a good description of friendships that drift apart, and how that can make the one left behind feel. I want to spend more time in the Belowground and the mysterious glass-and-radioactive tea shop/museum! Charming addition to the series - more, please.
eARC provided by publisher.
eARC provided by publisher.
October 18, 2021
I found this randomly at the library the other day--I didn't even realize that Kate Milford had another Greenglass House book out! As you may know, Greenglass House is quite possibly my favorite MG novel of all time, so I knew I had to give this one a go. But I was secretly worried it would disappoint me, because Greenglass and Ghosts were both so amazing that she couldn't keep up that sort of quality...right?
Well, no. Wrong, actually. Even though it's in a completely different setting, and with completely different characters (mostly), Milford has brought the magic, which is the reason I keep coming back to her books time after time.
The setting, The Liberty, is brilliantly done--I can almost see it, which is something that's not all that common in terms of setting description. The old iron, the twisty streets, and the secrets.
There were a bunch of new characters, but first off, I really enjoyed seeing some of the old ones again, especially ones from Ghosts! My only complaint about characters is that in Ghosts, it seemed like Marzana was quite a bit older than she seems in this book. I'm not sure how old she's supposed to be, but she seems younger, maybe because we're sort of in her head? Which would make sense--I'm sure I appear quite old on the outside to some people, but I can assure you I feel quite young many days. :) So I guess it's not even a complaint. XD
I loved how each member of the crew was unique and distinguishable, something that doesn't always happen in books involving large-ish teams.
The plot was, as always, rather dang brilliant. (Technical plot category, obvs.)
My only other quibble is with the ending--it seemed like some sort of restitution should be made, but I suppose we are talking about The Liberty.
For the book that is the first in months to keep me up past midnight, I feel like more than four stars is a good idea, but that'll just have to wait for the reread. :)
Well, no. Wrong, actually. Even though it's in a completely different setting, and with completely different characters (mostly), Milford has brought the magic, which is the reason I keep coming back to her books time after time.
The setting, The Liberty, is brilliantly done--I can almost see it, which is something that's not all that common in terms of setting description. The old iron, the twisty streets, and the secrets.
There were a bunch of new characters, but first off, I really enjoyed seeing some of the old ones again, especially ones from Ghosts! My only complaint about characters is that in Ghosts, it seemed like Marzana was quite a bit older than she seems in this book. I'm not sure how old she's supposed to be, but she seems younger, maybe because we're sort of in her head? Which would make sense--I'm sure I appear quite old on the outside to some people, but I can assure you I feel quite young many days. :) So I guess it's not even a complaint. XD
I loved how each member of the crew was unique and distinguishable, something that doesn't always happen in books involving large-ish teams.
The plot was, as always, rather dang brilliant. (Technical plot category, obvs.)
My only other quibble is with the ending--it seemed like some sort of restitution should be made, but I suppose we are talking about The Liberty.
For the book that is the first in months to keep me up past midnight, I feel like more than four stars is a good idea, but that'll just have to wait for the reread. :)
April 25, 2020
Though I am usually a strict stickler for reading series in order, I skipped over Bluecrowne and jumped right from Ghosts of Greenglass Houseto this one. Though I obviously don't know what I missed in Bluecrowne, I had no problem following this story with only my knowledge of the first two books. One of my favorite things about Ghosts of Greenglass House was the introduction to the Liberty of Gammerbund, so I loved being able to read a story set in that community, starring one of the members of the group of carolers that visits Greenglass House. I also really enjoyed the mystery plot, which brings together a whole host of interesting characters to solve the kidnapping of a young local girl. The involvement of characters from previous books was also really fun. This entire series has been well-written, smart, and engaging, and this book is no exception. I loved it!
Read
December 12, 2021I’m DNFing this at 45% I just keep forgetting the things that happened, I just didn’t get invested in the story.
September 9, 2020
DNF @ page 86.
Golly, that was disappointing. I do not mind long books, nor do I mind long MG/YA books, but this was, um, too long. Muchly. Milford is a world-builder, and Greenglass House World is epic, no doubt about it. And Milford must have a rolodex full of ideas and concepts and people that she references to write in GHW. Wow. Problem is, we are into Book#4 and entirely too much of this book feels like filler. Some of it just rehashes bits from previous books which is weird as this is pegged as a standalone tale, but it is awash in details that make little sense without reading those books first, in order. Then there are the new things. Again, Milford is a genius with GHW, but more bits and bobs are not what we need. Or maybe write another book utilizing them, as there are too involved to just drop into a tale, tangentially. Then there is the massive amount of dialogue. MASSIVE. I fucking hate dialogue, even when it is done well, or purposefully. But the back-and-forth chattery how-are-you-i'm-fine-and-how-are-you-oh-i'm-fine-too brand of talking tennis is abhorrent and soul-sucking. And kid-tween-teen dialogue? It is pull-out-my-intestines-through-my-left-nostril bad. And, yes AND, if your blurb tells me the place is dull, PLEASE don't spend so.many.pages.telling.me.how.dull.it.is. Puhleeeeeeze. Also, if your blurb tells me there is a mystery, you best be getting to it ASAP, promptly, INSTEAD of filling your pages with how.fucking.dull.the.place.is.dialogue. Seriously?!?!? I love great world-building, but I love a great story too. Or maybe more accurately, I love great world-building with a story inside it. Or just a great story and no world-building. But just world-building and no story? Nope. Oddly, this had both - and how! - but it still just dragged like my cat when I try to take her for a walk on a leash. Yeesh. In my opinion, this was two books, two much shorter books. Much. Mystery-whodunnit-howdunnit-dunnitatall could have been one, with appropriate amount of GHW interwoven. Second book could be the new stuff Milford created in GHW made into a quest-y kind of thing. Or a travelogue maybe? Hey, I'm not a writer. Obviously.
Milford put too much in this book and it was excruciatingly frustrating to try to suss out what was happening, and why. Maybe it got better, but at 16.75% and still no clarity of purpose, I was out. Your mileage may vary, and I hope you enjoy this as much as I didn't enjoy it. Make sense?
Golly, that was disappointing. I do not mind long books, nor do I mind long MG/YA books, but this was, um, too long. Muchly. Milford is a world-builder, and Greenglass House World is epic, no doubt about it. And Milford must have a rolodex full of ideas and concepts and people that she references to write in GHW. Wow. Problem is, we are into Book#4 and entirely too much of this book feels like filler. Some of it just rehashes bits from previous books which is weird as this is pegged as a standalone tale, but it is awash in details that make little sense without reading those books first, in order. Then there are the new things. Again, Milford is a genius with GHW, but more bits and bobs are not what we need. Or maybe write another book utilizing them, as there are too involved to just drop into a tale, tangentially. Then there is the massive amount of dialogue. MASSIVE. I fucking hate dialogue, even when it is done well, or purposefully. But the back-and-forth chattery how-are-you-i'm-fine-and-how-are-you-oh-i'm-fine-too brand of talking tennis is abhorrent and soul-sucking. And kid-tween-teen dialogue? It is pull-out-my-intestines-through-my-left-nostril bad. And, yes AND, if your blurb tells me the place is dull, PLEASE don't spend so.many.pages.telling.me.how.dull.it.is. Puhleeeeeeze. Also, if your blurb tells me there is a mystery, you best be getting to it ASAP, promptly, INSTEAD of filling your pages with how.fucking.dull.the.place.is.dialogue. Seriously?!?!? I love great world-building, but I love a great story too. Or maybe more accurately, I love great world-building with a story inside it. Or just a great story and no world-building. But just world-building and no story? Nope. Oddly, this had both - and how! - but it still just dragged like my cat when I try to take her for a walk on a leash. Yeesh. In my opinion, this was two books, two much shorter books. Much. Mystery-whodunnit-howdunnit-dunnitatall could have been one, with appropriate amount of GHW interwoven. Second book could be the new stuff Milford created in GHW made into a quest-y kind of thing. Or a travelogue maybe? Hey, I'm not a writer. Obviously.
Milford put too much in this book and it was excruciatingly frustrating to try to suss out what was happening, and why. Maybe it got better, but at 16.75% and still no clarity of purpose, I was out. Your mileage may vary, and I hope you enjoy this as much as I didn't enjoy it. Make sense?
August 13, 2021
Another great installment in the Greenglass House series!
Although it can be read independently from the other books, I recommend getting familiar with this world and its previous characters so you can enjoy this one more.
Kate Milford has surpassed herself with this mystery: it's a complicated one! I'd say this is more for older kids because it's quite intricate and even I, an adult, felt often very slow at understanding how some things worked (let's be honest, I still don't get them, but I'm impressed nonetheless!).
Not only that, but the group of kids teaming up to solve it all were amazing. I adored them. Kid detectives, each with a special skill? Sign me up any day! Marzana was a great leader. If you liked her in The Ghosts of Greenglass House, she'll just keep growing on you. Her social anxiety was really well portrayed too. Her family was quite intriguing when we met them, so it was great to explore their history and the strange part of Naspeake they live in.
The setting of the Liberty of Gammerbund is so original. I'm amazed at Milford for continuing to tell stories about outlaws who are regarded as heroes and pretty good people, while some part of the law is quite corrupted. It likely makes kids think a lot about the difference between what's legal and what's right, and I don't see this aspect explored so much in MG.
Little shoutout to Jaime Zollars's artwork, for the superb cover, the chapter headers, and the amazing group portrait.
The Thief Knot need to come back for another adventure!
Although it can be read independently from the other books, I recommend getting familiar with this world and its previous characters so you can enjoy this one more.
Kate Milford has surpassed herself with this mystery: it's a complicated one! I'd say this is more for older kids because it's quite intricate and even I, an adult, felt often very slow at understanding how some things worked (let's be honest, I still don't get them, but I'm impressed nonetheless!).
Not only that, but the group of kids teaming up to solve it all were amazing. I adored them. Kid detectives, each with a special skill? Sign me up any day! Marzana was a great leader. If you liked her in The Ghosts of Greenglass House, she'll just keep growing on you. Her social anxiety was really well portrayed too. Her family was quite intriguing when we met them, so it was great to explore their history and the strange part of Naspeake they live in.
The setting of the Liberty of Gammerbund is so original. I'm amazed at Milford for continuing to tell stories about outlaws who are regarded as heroes and pretty good people, while some part of the law is quite corrupted. It likely makes kids think a lot about the difference between what's legal and what's right, and I don't see this aspect explored so much in MG.
Little shoutout to Jaime Zollars's artwork, for the superb cover, the chapter headers, and the amazing group portrait.
The Thief Knot need to come back for another adventure!
May 11, 2020
NOTE: I received an ARC copy of this book on NetGalley. I received no incentive to read or review this book other than said copy of work. The review below contains my own thoughts and opinions. Special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free copy. THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
One of the first books I reviewed when I started getting ARCs was Greenglass House by Kate Milford. I loved the depth of characters and the page-turning puzzles. So of course when I saw there was a sequel, I HAD to have it. Now, it's important to note this is book 4 in the series, which I didn't realize until halfway through, but it can be read as a standalone with very few spoilers regarding the other books. I still plan to read the other books (which are on hold at my library due to COVID-19) and I don't feel like this book ruined them for me. This book follows best friends Marzana and Nialla who live outside of Nagspeake in a place called the Gammerbund, where a lot of interesting people live but nothing interesting ever happens - or so Marzana thinks. When her parents are visited by someone seeking their help finding a kidnapped girl, Marzana is quickly pulled into the mystery and decides this is her chance to have an adventure. She rounds up a group of friends, old and new, and they try to find the missing girl before it's too late and before their parents find out what they're doing.
Now, on to the things I really liked about this story. I loved that there are so many strong, female characters. You have Marzana, Nialla, Emilia, Meddy, Violet, and even Peony. I love that Marzana experiences anxiety and that her character grows and develops coping skills and confidence, but that at the end she is still herself. She still has anxiety, she has just learned how to handle it better. She puts her foot in her mouth and says hurtful things and she doesn't realize or resolve them immediately. In this respect, her development does not feel rushed. I liked the development of new friendships and the story behind the group's name. I liked the tension between Marzana feeling left out of her mom's stories and Meddy and Emilia knowing the stories but their parents being deceased and how it reflects that people have different perspectives. I also liked the final puzzle of what the kidnappers were looking for. I felt it was touching and a poignant lesson to learn, but it also made me sad they couldn't at least let the kidnappers see the solution to the puzzle - without spoiling the big twist, I feel like given the unique circumstances, some compassion was called for in this case.
The cover is also gorgeous. Whimsical whisps of smoke fluttering around the towering stained glass accents of the mansion-turned-school that Marzana and Nialla attend. Honestly, if there were more illustrations, I’d give this book 4 stars.
I think part of the reason I couldn't rate this higher is that at almost 500 pages, I felt like it dragged and went off-topic too many times. I found myself getting distracted and disappointed, which was upsetting considering Greenglass House is one of my favorites. It is almost 100 pages longer than the other books in the series besides Ghosts of Greenglass House, and I just felt like there were definitely some parts that could have been cut. The result is a book that moves slower than Old Iron and ultimately felt like a Thief Knot itself - tied loosely and falling apart at the slightest nudge.
There were three main elements that I felt were unnecessarily included and took up a lot of space without a lot of payoff - the old iron, the mysterious tea shop the children explore, and Peony's message. Firstly, the old iron does provide a gorgeous setting and interesting history of why the city has limited technological development and why the Belowground stations have halted. It is an intriguing element that deserves to be a mystery of its own - but delivery on that fell flat because we got no answers on exactly what it is and why it moves on its own. Perhaps these things will be discussed in other books, but I feel like if you take up nearly 40 pages to describe it, it should be treated as more than a simple setting. I felt like it was only included because it looks nice and provides great imagery, but if that is true, it could have been accomplished in far less pages.
Second, Sodalime's Glass Museum and Radioactive Teashop. A very interesting place the children explore, with interesting pieces of glass and magically-appearing food from invisible hosts (that they eat without any questions, which is weird for children who ask so many questions - did no one consider this food could be put there to harm them?). This location is beautifully described but we never find out any answers as to why it was created by the author.
And finally, Peony's message. We spent so many pages learning that Peony had hand-cut the pages from her graphic novel so that there would be a secret message. It turns out this message does give clues to where she is.
Like some other reviewers, if this had been a standalone book, I feel like I would have expected less and enjoyed it more. But I did expect more out of Greenglass House. I loved the characters and the story, but the execution left something to be desired. It is a good book, but I did not feel the same way as I did about Greenglass House. It left me with far too many questions that I feel won't be answered later in the series.
One of the first books I reviewed when I started getting ARCs was Greenglass House by Kate Milford. I loved the depth of characters and the page-turning puzzles. So of course when I saw there was a sequel, I HAD to have it. Now, it's important to note this is book 4 in the series, which I didn't realize until halfway through, but it can be read as a standalone with very few spoilers regarding the other books. I still plan to read the other books (which are on hold at my library due to COVID-19) and I don't feel like this book ruined them for me. This book follows best friends Marzana and Nialla who live outside of Nagspeake in a place called the Gammerbund, where a lot of interesting people live but nothing interesting ever happens - or so Marzana thinks. When her parents are visited by someone seeking their help finding a kidnapped girl, Marzana is quickly pulled into the mystery and decides this is her chance to have an adventure. She rounds up a group of friends, old and new, and they try to find the missing girl before it's too late and before their parents find out what they're doing.
Now, on to the things I really liked about this story. I loved that there are so many strong, female characters. You have Marzana, Nialla, Emilia, Meddy, Violet, and even Peony. I love that Marzana experiences anxiety and that her character grows and develops coping skills and confidence, but that at the end she is still herself. She still has anxiety, she has just learned how to handle it better. She puts her foot in her mouth and says hurtful things and she doesn't realize or resolve them immediately. In this respect, her development does not feel rushed. I liked the development of new friendships and the story behind the group's name. I liked the tension between Marzana feeling left out of her mom's stories and Meddy and Emilia knowing the stories but their parents being deceased and how it reflects that people have different perspectives. I also liked the final puzzle of what the kidnappers were looking for. I felt it was touching and a poignant lesson to learn, but it also made me sad they couldn't at least let the kidnappers see the solution to the puzzle - without spoiling the big twist, I feel like given the unique circumstances, some compassion was called for in this case.
The cover is also gorgeous. Whimsical whisps of smoke fluttering around the towering stained glass accents of the mansion-turned-school that Marzana and Nialla attend. Honestly, if there were more illustrations, I’d give this book 4 stars.
I think part of the reason I couldn't rate this higher is that at almost 500 pages, I felt like it dragged and went off-topic too many times. I found myself getting distracted and disappointed, which was upsetting considering Greenglass House is one of my favorites. It is almost 100 pages longer than the other books in the series besides Ghosts of Greenglass House, and I just felt like there were definitely some parts that could have been cut. The result is a book that moves slower than Old Iron and ultimately felt like a Thief Knot itself - tied loosely and falling apart at the slightest nudge.
There were three main elements that I felt were unnecessarily included and took up a lot of space without a lot of payoff - the old iron, the mysterious tea shop the children explore, and Peony's message. Firstly, the old iron does provide a gorgeous setting and interesting history of why the city has limited technological development and why the Belowground stations have halted. It is an intriguing element that deserves to be a mystery of its own - but delivery on that fell flat because we got no answers on exactly what it is and why it moves on its own. Perhaps these things will be discussed in other books, but I feel like if you take up nearly 40 pages to describe it, it should be treated as more than a simple setting. I felt like it was only included because it looks nice and provides great imagery, but if that is true, it could have been accomplished in far less pages.
Second, Sodalime's Glass Museum and Radioactive Teashop. A very interesting place the children explore, with interesting pieces of glass and magically-appearing food from invisible hosts (that they eat without any questions, which is weird for children who ask so many questions - did no one consider this food could be put there to harm them?). This location is beautifully described but we never find out any answers as to why it was created by the author.
And finally, Peony's message. We spent so many pages learning that Peony had hand-cut the pages from her graphic novel so that there would be a secret message. It turns out this message does give clues to where she is.
Like some other reviewers, if this had been a standalone book, I feel like I would have expected less and enjoyed it more. But I did expect more out of Greenglass House. I loved the characters and the story, but the execution left something to be desired. It is a good book, but I did not feel the same way as I did about Greenglass House. It left me with far too many questions that I feel won't be answered later in the series.
February 13, 2020
Okay, so first things first: I LOVE the Greenglass House books. I think Kate Milford is a wonderful author in so many ways, a lot of which come out in this one.
There are two things I think Milford excels at. The first is diverse characters, by which I don’t just mean that there are characters from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds that are portrayed in a sensitive way that doesn’t feel token (there are). What is really exceptional is that she is great at depicting a lot of different personality types and staying really solid with the characterization. Her characters are all distinct, and with an ensemble cast of six like this book has— not to mention at least three adults who play major roles— that’s really impressive. Marzana is introverted and shy but determined, Nialla is loyal, kind, and outgoing, and JJ’s magician patter rivals a professional’s. And that’s just three characters!
The other one of Milford’s strengths that comes through in the book is the ability to write a really solid mystery with breadcrumbs that are clearly placed without being insultingly obvious. This one was longer than the two set in Greenglass House, but didn’t feel excessive and stayed cohesive.
My one struggle with this and the other Greenglass House books is the visual descriptions of things. Milford is a very skilled writer and the world of Nagspeake is fascinating, but frequently at exciting points in the plot I found myself chugging through half or even a whole page describing the visual setting when I really wanted it to just get to the point. To be fair, though, I’ve always had little patience for long descriptions in books, which is really just a personal preference.
I would highly recommend this and any of the other Greenglass House books to really anyone!
There are two things I think Milford excels at. The first is diverse characters, by which I don’t just mean that there are characters from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds that are portrayed in a sensitive way that doesn’t feel token (there are). What is really exceptional is that she is great at depicting a lot of different personality types and staying really solid with the characterization. Her characters are all distinct, and with an ensemble cast of six like this book has— not to mention at least three adults who play major roles— that’s really impressive. Marzana is introverted and shy but determined, Nialla is loyal, kind, and outgoing, and JJ’s magician patter rivals a professional’s. And that’s just three characters!
The other one of Milford’s strengths that comes through in the book is the ability to write a really solid mystery with breadcrumbs that are clearly placed without being insultingly obvious. This one was longer than the two set in Greenglass House, but didn’t feel excessive and stayed cohesive.
My one struggle with this and the other Greenglass House books is the visual descriptions of things. Milford is a very skilled writer and the world of Nagspeake is fascinating, but frequently at exciting points in the plot I found myself chugging through half or even a whole page describing the visual setting when I really wanted it to just get to the point. To be fair, though, I’ve always had little patience for long descriptions in books, which is really just a personal preference.
I would highly recommend this and any of the other Greenglass House books to really anyone!
April 23, 2020
Every book by Kate Milford is such a gift. She ranks right up there with John David Anderson as my favorite working author today. Her style is unmistakable and just when you wonder how she's going to go back to the well again, she pulls this little pea out from under the walnut (well, not little, we're talking 450 pages!) Nagspeake is even further realized in The Thief Knot and this particular mystery is so layered, so complex, and in the end, just as emotionally moving as Greenglass House was. Marzana's social anxiety is so wonderfully worked into the narrative and Milford's eye for detail is remarkable. I really enjoyed the Ocean's 11-style team building as it opens this world up to more characters and more possibilities. Let's hope Milford doesn't run out of Nagspeake ideas any time soon. This is fantastic.
November 23, 2023
Middle school appropriate. I love the way these mysteries don’t talk down to kids. The kids find reasonable clues, the adults are responsible and try to keep the kids out of it, and the kids get involved because of sound decision making. I’m not sure if I like the magical elements or not. It feels like the story could have stood without them but it did add a certain flavor to the story. On the one hand, I liked the sense of mystery and wonder it inspired. On the other hand, sometimes I felt like it cheapened the realism of the plot. Overall, I love the excitement and sort of high-seas buccaneer adventure feeling of these stories. Always an enjoyable read!
July 18, 2021
Kate Milford never fails to impress me. Despite being a middle grade, I'm still surprised by the ending! So many red herrings and twist and turns. Instant 5-star for me. I related so much to Marzana and loved each of the main characters! I loved exploring a part of Nagspeake that I haven't seen yet. Liberty is a twisty turning asylum city and we get an inside look at all of the strange goingson of the town. Definitely recommend for previous Greenglass House readers!
January 4, 2023
Milford did it—she wrote another sequel, brilliant, surprising, not more of the same but its own thing. I am dazzled over here. There are such creative and just fun settings (radioactive tea shop!), characters, motivations creating plot, and surprise twists. The story is not over when it looks over (which is not a surprise, because there’s a lot of book left). The first chapter was so funny I read most of it out loud to Jonathan. I am really happy to have discovered this author and her world.
March 2, 2020
Contented yet frustrated sigh at the end of the book for while I have been visiting Nagspeake (and the Liberty, to boot!) yet again, I *cannot* visit Nagspeake the way that I wish/need to visit. Milford has created this LONGING inside me for a place that feels strangely familiar and yet bizarrely unreal. I deeply yearn to visit and see the old iron, the twisting streets and alleys, the adventures and unknown around corners that only exist in pages and hearts and minds.
Coming off of this particular reading high is keenly painful. I have other books that I am reading now, books that are waiting for me to read, and I feel a sense of dissatisfaction with them all that is unfair and not at all their faults. I want to be in Lucky's bookstore, trying to find a way to see if there is a library in this town (?), and earn a way to be a part of it all, or at least come for a visit.
The characters and setting resonate as they grow and change and give readers so much to discover each time. Thank you, Milford! Thank you for this new knot to unravel. Thank you for the promise of more. Thank for for the horrid pain that you leave me in as I love your books and will recommend the fire out of them so that others may be tortured so. Ha.
Coming off of this particular reading high is keenly painful. I have other books that I am reading now, books that are waiting for me to read, and I feel a sense of dissatisfaction with them all that is unfair and not at all their faults. I want to be in Lucky's bookstore, trying to find a way to see if there is a library in this town (?), and earn a way to be a part of it all, or at least come for a visit.
The characters and setting resonate as they grow and change and give readers so much to discover each time. Thank you, Milford! Thank you for this new knot to unravel. Thank you for the promise of more. Thank for for the horrid pain that you leave me in as I love your books and will recommend the fire out of them so that others may be tortured so. Ha.
January 14, 2020
a delightfully twisty mystery solved by a crew of kids I'd like to be friends with, set in a fantastical city of secrets and wildly improbably infrastructure, with one bit that made me laugh out loud heartily (the balloon and the backpack bit), and other bits that made me want to hug my own kids....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews