Something is wrong in the house that Lin's family has rented; Lin is sure of it. The clocks tick too slowly. Frost covers the flowerbed, even in a rain storm. And when a secret key marked "Twistrose" arrives for her, Lin finds a crack in the cellar, a gate to the world of Sylver.
This frozen realm is the home of every dead animal who ever loved a child. Lin is overjoyed to be reunited with Rufus, the pet she buried under the rosebush. But together they must find the missing Winter Prince in order to save Sylver from destruction.
They are not the only ones hunting for the boy this night. In the dark hides a shadow-lipped man, waiting for the last Winter Prince to be delivered into his hands.
Exhilarating suspense and unforgettable characters await the readers of this magical adventure, destined to become a classic.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Heart-Thrilling Story
By Martha Clapp
What crisp, gorgeous description ... What perfect, imagination-catching names and places ... Who is this new writer ? Amazing, simply amazing !Legends, crumpled letters and mysterious poems lead Lindelin Rosenquist and her beloved pet Vole, Rufus, on daring rescues from Pawfields to Cracklemoor, from Peppersnap Nook to Tinklegrove Trail. Lin's trust and bravery make her the perfect heroine to rescue Rufus' land from evil doers.All the characters are pictured in such wonderful descriptive passages that the reader can envision each furry face, each tender paw and each whisker twitch perfectly."As a retired teacher, I must volunteer to read this wonderful book to as many classes of children as I can. "Twistrose Key" offers the reader/listener laughter, smiles, a little fretting and a few tears. It's a MUST READ !!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.Everyone should read this book.
By Hakon Soreide
Usually I don't finish books within 24 hours of getting them, but as this was quite a page-turner, it also turned out to be an exception. Tone has simply written an amazing debut novel that has got all the elements right.I have read my fair share of novels, in the fantasy genre and otherwise, but seldom, if ever, have I read a book with as tight and well-honed a plot as this. It seems that whatever colourful threads of narrative are spun out for the reader are all neatly woven back together, sometimes with an unexpected twist, in this lovely tapestry of a story.Descriptive passages are very evocative, providing the readers with the necessary information so they themselves can fill in the blanks and visualise the interesting and wonderful world of Sylver. These passages are also at the same time admirably short, never slowing down the pace and flow of the story.The characters are varied and also quite colourful. The concept of this storybook world means that Tone can pick and choose from many different animals as characters, and this she uses to full advantage. In both the description of their individual mannerisms and in some of their ways of talking, she cleverly uses traits we associate with those animals, meaning a very short description, or sometimes even just one word they use, can be enough to give them plenty of individuality.In short, this is very efficient storytelling combined with a wonderfully imaginative and original world, lovable characters and - at the heart of it all - a cracking good and engaging story. Despite being aimed at younger readers, I think this is a book everyone should read and that most everyone will enjoy.As an added note, I really do hope someone picks up the film rights soon. With the right production, this would make quite a blockbuster.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful.Pure magic.
By reader_CPK
Gorgeously written, beautifully detailed, classic fantasy that kids (including the grown-up ones) will love. A real page-turner with a clever heroine and a cast of marvelously drawn animal characters, all set in a magical wintry world that evokes the author's native Scandinavia but feels like it's entirely its own wonderful world. This book will make you chuckle, tremble, cheer and cry. It's really a gem, and the illustrations throughout are beautiful too.
