“A page-turner of a fantasy with elements of humor as well as intrigue, swordplay, and librarian-versus-hostile-book combat.” —Booklist“A fast-paced, engaging adventure.” —Publishers Weekly“One for the books.” —Kirkus ReviewsFrom Sarah Prineas, author of the acclaimed Magic Thief series, comes a stunning new tween fantasy where books literally come to life!The powerful Lost Books at the palace library are infecting the rest with an evil magic, and two unlikely friends must figure out who, or what, is controlling the books and their power. If they can’t, the entire kingdom could be at risk.Sarah Prineas returns to her classic middle grade roots with this imaginative, fast-paced adventure for book lovers everywhere.Alex knows he’s meant to be a librarian. But what happens when the library itself is the most dangerous place in the kingdom? Books Come to Life: From vine-spitting monsters to swarms of biting ants, the books in this library don't just sit on the shelves. They fight back. An Unlikely Hero: Alex isn't just a book-loving apprentice; he's a skilled fighter with a mysterious past who might be the only one who can tame the wild magic. Unlikely Friends: To solve the mystery, Alex must team up with a brand-new queen and her troublemaker brother, who has a secret that makes him surprisingly useful. Palace Intrigue: A powerful enemy is searching the library for a legendary Lost Book, and he'll do anything to get rid of the one person standing in his way: Alex.