The Book of Lies

Author: James Moloney

Back-of-the-Book Description: One dark and stormy night, four hooded men deliver an unconscious boy to a home for orphans and foundlings. There, a wizard awaits, ready to erase the boy's memories and implant new ones with the help of a magical book, The Book of Lies. A small girl watches the scene from her hiding place, plugs the boy's ears with wax to limit the damage, and later tells him his actual name, Marcel. Throughout the book, Marcel's challenge is to peel back the layers of deception that lies between him and the truth as he struggles to determine his identity and his allies amid warring factions grasping for a kingdom.

My Description: Wow. This book is a workout for the mind... You start formulating hundreds of guesses before you even realize it.

All the twists aren't that unpredictable, but it still keeps you guessing and guessing and dances circles around you, and still manages to pull you gently through the entire tail.

I loved Marcel and Bea and Nicola and Fergus (eventually), and the whole mystery around them. I love how you slowly... slowly learn pieces bit by bit, until CLICK! the story falls into place and things finally make sense.

I would highly recommend this book; even though the ending confused me, and left me a little disappointed.

Recommendations: To those who love fantasy, adventure, and/or mystery.

Pages: 368

Writing Rating: 7

Story Rating: 8

Overall Rating: 8

Book #47 of '08