Ghoulish Song

What if you could not only travel any location in the world, but to any world?

We can all imagine such “other worlds”—be they worlds just slightly different than our own or worlds full of magic and wonder—but it is only in fiction that we can travel to them. From to , from Philip Pullman’s to C. S. Lewis’s , there is a rich tradition of this kind of fiction, but never before have the best parallel world stories and portal fantasies been collected in a single volume—until now.

Rownie is the youngest in a hodgepodge household of stray children collected by Graba the witch. His older brother, Rowan, has vanished after performing in a secret play, and Rownie feels lost without him. Acting is illegal in the city of Zombay. No one may wear a mask and pretend to be someone else. Only goblins may legally perform, for they are the Changed—neither human nor other, belonging nowhere.

 Rownie meets a traveling troupe of goblins who promise to teach him the secrets of mask-craft and entice him with the hope of finding Rowan. But Graba does not give up her own easily and hunts for them both. As Rownie searches for his brother, the true power of the masks--and those who wear them—is revealed. Are the goblins what they seem to be? What fateful magic lies hidden in the heart of Zombay?

Mystery and adventure are woven through with charm and humor in this beguiling exploration of family, love, identity, and the power of words to shape what is real.

В городке Зомбей в домике на заводных курьих ножках живет ведьма Граба, очень похожая на Бабу-Ягу. Граба держит при себе беспризорных детей, а Роуни — самый младший в ее доме. Единственный родственник Роуни — старший брат, актер Роуэн. Театр в городе Зомбей запрещен, Роуэн пропал без вести.

Отчаявшись найти его, Роуни присоединяется к труппе гоблинов, которые обходят закон и ставят спектакли. Но их пьесы не просто развлечение, и маски они используют не только для грима… Гоблины тоже ищут Роуэна, потому что он тот единственный человек, кто спасет город от потопа.

Это простая, прозрачная книга создает волшебную атмосферу и в быстро развивающемся действии деликатно рассказывает о любви, потерях и семье.

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