Stravaganza: City of Masks

First edition. 8vo. Pp. 345, [7 (blank)]. Purple marbled boards, lettered in white to spine; repeat design marbled endpapers. Map to flyleaf, b/w chapter headers by Peter Bailey. Jacket design by Ian Butterworth [priced £10.99 to front flap]. Hint of tanning to textblock edges, else Fine.

Inspired by a gondola ride on a family trip to Venice, this is the first volume in an intended trilogy, which was later expanded into six books. Young adult fantasy novel set in the parallel world of Talia, an alternate version of Renaissance Italy boiling with political espionage, danger, and deception. Gr. 7–12. "City of Masks is a poignant, touching and exciting novel, difficult to put down. This is one of the best time-slip stories that I have read in recent years. Without doubt a masterwork of contemporary children's literature." –Edgardo Zaghini, Children's Literature Officer, Booktrust