A deliciously quirky tale of secrets, magic, and illusions for fans of Circus Mirandus and Savvy.

Everything is in place: the packed theater, the grand magician, and, center stage, the magician?s mysterious assistant. Some have called her the most beautiful woman in Europe. Then, in a swirl of light, she vanishes!

An astounding illusion?but she never reappears. All that remains are a bloodstained white scarf and her daughter, Cisley, who lives in a glass castle and walks her pet lobster each morning by the sea. Enter Cole, a rambunctious boy from town and Cisley?s first true friend. Together they hunt for clues to her mother?s disappearance. They puzzle over broken mirrors, ever-shifting labyrinths, a closet full of whispering ball gowns, and a fatal quest for a pure black rose.

Roderick Townley spins a deliciously spooky tale of one girl?s journey to discover what?s real and what is simply an illusion.

?Plenty of magic, a touch of romance, an appealing heroine.? ?Kirkus Reviews

?A magical adventure with a fascinating setting that will please most middle graders looking for spooky fantasy.? ?School Library Journal

?Cisley is an immensely likable heroine who will attract readers.? ?Booklist