SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When Petra's father returns from working for the Prince of Bohemia, he does so without his eyes. Determined to bring them back and restore her father's sight, Petra sets off to the capital where she plans to work at the Palace. But she will need the help of some new friends to do so.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Petra is a twelve year old girl, raised by her father and allowed independence from a young age. She is sometimes naive but brave.
Kronos is Petra's father. He is highly skilled and makes things with metal, like tin animals. He loves his daughter dearly but can be rather harsh with her at times.
Neel is a young thief who lives with the Roma, a group of travelers who live in a camp outside of Prague. He can be hot tempered but cares for Petra greatly.
Sadie is Neel's sister. She is light skinned so is able to pass as non-Roma. She isn't in the story too much but she does play an important role.
Prince Rodolfo is one of the three sons of the King of Hapsburg, who was given Bohemia to rule. He is used to being obeyed and is often cruel to his subjects while at other times he treats them as if they were children. He seems disconnected from how normal people live.
John Dee is foreigner visiting Prague. He ends up meeting with Petra and trying to manipulate her for his own purposes.
Astrophil is a tin spider that Petra has had for a long time. She is very smart and helps Petra out on many occasions including the climax. Also she helps Petra be kinder to Neel when she overreacts once.
PACING
We get an introduction where we meet Petra and learn of the magical world she lives in with her tin creatures. We learn about her family situation and that she is quite used to her freedom.
After that is established, her father returns home and Petra learns what happened to him. Even so, she doesn't just run off. She goes to her friend and plans what to do.
Before we learn about the main thrust of the story, that Krono's eyes have been stolen, we are establishing who our heroine is, how she became how she is and her relationships and desires. All of the information felt important and didn't slow the story down.
As for the rest of the story, it never felt slow to me but it's not an action story. There is plenty of suspense and mystery to push the story along though.
THE WORLD
Petra's lives in the country of Bohemia (present day Czech Republic) during the the Renaissance, the end of the sixteenth century.
One can be born with a magical ability but they don't usually come into it until the age of fourteen, which is considered the age of adulthood. For some reason, only noble families usually have magical abilities. The way this is explained is kind of confusing.
I felt what the author meant to say was that the training in magical abilities was only for the wealthy and powerful, because only they could afford to make huge donations or have good connections in order to get into the Academy.
Kronos has the ability to move metal with his mind and can speak telepathically to his intelligent creations.
Petra's friend, Tomik is able to make magical abilities. Although his don't have to do with metal, instead they have to do with glass, as his father is a glassblower.
Petra's mother had the gift of seeing the future. While those called scryers can see the present or the past.
There is a scene in Prague where Petra overhears two students discussing that people can only have one magical ability, not two. It was rather clunky exposition but it was an interesting tidbit.
NEEL'S GIFT-SPOILERS
Turns out that Neel has a strange gift, he can move items without touching them, simply by putting his hands near an object. We get an interesting story explaining the myth behind it and eventually it becomes a big help in the climax.
THE GIFT OF SCRYING
When Petra meets John Dee he wants her to scry for him. Eventually we learn the darker purpose behind that request but we learn more about Petra's fears. Turns out her mother had that gift and Petra doesn't want it. She thinks it's dangerous and can drive people crazy.
I thought that was an imporant aspect to the world, because magic isn't without risk. There is one scene in the beginning where Petra wonders if she even wants her father's magical ability, because it brought such a horrible incident. But to be fair, she never brings these worries up again except when she mentions Dee.
PETRA'S MOTHER
For the most part, Petra's mother is a secret. She died long ago and Petra doesn't think of her much in the story except when she talks about scrying. She would much rather have her father's gift with metal then her mother's gift with scrying.
THE WORRY VIALS-SPOILER
Petra goes to see her friend, Tomik, to tell him about her father returning. Tomik's father makes and sells magical items, one of them being the popular “worry vial”. You put your anxious thoughts into it and it allows your burdens to be lifted.
But it turns out Tomik has a secret, he has learned that the items have a flaw: the thoughts can be heard by someone other than the worrier. This seems just to be strange information but later on in the story it is crucial to the plot. Petra ends up searching the chambers for a worry vial to steal so she can learn where her father's eyes are being kept.
KRONO'S EYES
We learn at the beginning of the story that Petra's world is a magical one. But the strangest thing is that Krono's eyes can be taken out and used by someone else. And that they can just switch out eyes whenever they want.
Although that doesn't make everything wonderful and easy. Petra realizes her father went through agony losing his eyes, and that the prince had to do the same. Also Kronos points out that the prince took his eyes and not his mind, so they may not work like the Prince wants.
THE CLOCK-SPOILERS
Kronos was helping to build a special clock for the prince. Turns out it is supposed to be able to control the weather and in turn would help Rodolfo rule over other nations. But he can't figure out how to work it, even with Krono's eyes.
PETRA & NEEL
Petra doesn't meet Neel in the best of circumstances: he tries to rob her and she catches him. But when she refuses to report him to a police officer, he earns her respect. But he already earned her interest because no one should be able to feel him stealing because of his special gift. He also takes pity on her because she is all alone in the city and he I used to being an outsider. He takes on a slight teacher role and reveals important information to Petra multiple times.
Petra admits she wants to impress Neel, who she feels is rather street smart and daring. While he implies that she is naive and sheltered, a few times. This leads to arguments between them but both learn to grow and forgive each other.
NEEL'S MOTIVATION-SPOILERS
Petra tries to gain Neel's trust, by giving him an important book (she can't keep it in the palace) that he could sell for money if he wanted to. She realizes he doesn't trust easy and hopes to gain his friendship.
A part of her knows that he just wants to be involved so he can steal some items from the Cabinet of Wonders, but another hopes he wants to be involved to help her in her task of retrieving the eyes. Astrophil is crucial to helping Petra be kinder to Neel when she overreacts once.
ABOUT SADIE-SPOILERS
Sadie isn't in the story much but she does play multiple roles. She is the one who gets both Neel and Petra a job at the palace. Also, she helps Petra find an item she needs in the palace. Lastly, she is the one who reveals the truth about Neel's ancestry, allowing Petra to keep this to herself but learn more about her friend.
Neel eventually confides in Petra about this and she makes sure not to reveal she already knows this. It may reveal why he is sympathetic towards Petra, as she was obviously a lost outsider. And perhaps he doesn't feel like he belongs anywhere.
PETRA AND THE DYE WORKS
Petra ends up being sent to a place no one else wants to go: the Dye Works. There she meets a cranky woman who has a habit of turning to acid and burning her clothes when she loses her temper. Her name is Iris and she isn't happy to have a new servant. But Petra reveals some knowledge of metal and earns her begrudging respect.
Gradually Iris grows to respect her servant even if she doesn't express it very well. I found there interactions amusing (also important to the plot) and was glad when Iris returned later on in the story.
PETRA & JOHN DEE
Petra and John Dee don't have too many interactions but they ones they did have I found interesting. The back and fourth between them is especially well written. Dee reveals her knows her true name so she is immediately on edge, worrying about his intentions.
Dee is cunning and confident, sure that he can get Petra to do what he wants and be of use to him, but caring little for her own safety and her own troubles.
PETRA & KRONOS
The relationship between Petra and Kronos is rather complex. Petra is used to getting her way on most things, or at least being left alone to do as she pleases. Her cousin coming in and trying to replace her mom never went well, as Petra doesn't think she needs a mother.
When Kronos returns Petra is horrified and then angry at her father. How could he not know the Prince's intentions and why does he still talk so nicely about him? They argue and Petra has to learn to be silent and respect his authority. Also to forgive him.
PETRA & RODOLFO
Prince Rodolfo ends up taking notice of Petra even though she is just a random maid. He does so when he is wearing her father's eyes but he doesn't know why she intrigues him. He ends up summoning her and letting her be a servant to his chambers, where she is allowed to clean his library. In their one meeting he doesn't mistreat her but he does come across as condescending, playing a game with her and rewarding her with an orange.
A SUPRISE HELP OR TWO-SPOILERS
Iris ends up helping Neel and Petra escape by showing them a secret passageway. She surprised me by being bold and willing to help. Although it was clear she was always fond of Petra, I was glad she was willing to take a risk and help them.
Later, when Neel and Petra are trying to escape the palace, they end up in the stables. There they run into Jarek, one of them who delivered Kronos home. He ends up feeling bad and helping them escape. It felt rather out of the blue as I completely forgot about this character. I wish he had made an appearance once or twice before.
TOMIK'S MARVELS
When Petra and Neel finally achieve their goal, they have to escape. This is when Tomik's gifts come in handy. Three small spheres can be thrown onto the ground to achieve a distraction. The first one creates a huge light and thunder, the second, a large wave and the third a hive of bees.
CLIMAX-SPOILERS
Neel and Petra search for her father's eyes and retrieve them but not without incident. They end up being chased by Prince Rodolfo and his men. Neel and Petra part ways and Petra returns home.
PETRA'S RETURN-SPOILERS
When Petra returns triumphant, her father is furious at her. Her cousin reveals they all thought she was dead. And Kronos says she has brought danger to their family and that surely the Prince will come after them. Petra clearly never thought of this but is too upset and angry to defend herself. She runs off.
Eventually Kronos forgives her but still pretends to be blind. Petra realizes her father was right about danger coming, and even though she doesn't regret what she did, she realizes she needs to take responsibility. The story ends with her taking up a sword.
CONCLUSION
Petra's world is original and detailed and I couldn't help feeling there was much more to explore. More magical abilities yet to be revealed.
Petra is likable but flawed. She is motivated by love for her father but is naive. Neel is daring and brave and slightly wreckless. I liked seeing the relationship between these two, as Petra works to gain Neel's respect and trust.
I found the Prince to be suitably creepy and intimidating. He clearly thinks he does nothing wrong but feels detached from the consequences of his actions and how he affects those around him. We barely got to know him as John Dee was more of an antagonist. So I look forward to seeing him again.
I enjoyed most of the interactions between Petra and othe other characters, as it showed different aspects of her: her desire for a friend with Neel, her patience with Iris and her righterous anger with John Dee. Not to mention her boldness.
My only critique is that the climax felt slightly rushed.
I give “The Cabinet of Wonders” four stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment