CBR17 Bingo: School – Literacy is considered dangerous in this world, but Mosca wants to keep learning what she can, which is why she goes with Eponymous Clent and searches out the secret school. Real life provides her a different kind of schooling.
Armed with just her ability to read and her murderous pet goose, twelve-year-old Mosca Mye hitches her fortune to that of the smooth-talking conman Eponymous Clent and gets herself tangled up in an adventure that could change the world she lives it, whether for better or for worse.
This is a strange little read, with quite complicated world-building and a much darker tone that most middle grade fantasy, but with a whimsy that suits that genre perfectly. To some extent it is also the story of Musca’s coming-of-age, where she makes up her mind about what all people should believe (hint: an ardent reader can really have only one answer to that).
Despite the complex world-building, I found my footing pretty quickly and was able to dash along with Mosca on her adventure. The author managed to keep me on my toes with the various twists and turns, showing you just enough that you know there are nefarious plots afoot without being able to work out exactly what. I loved the colorful cast of supporting characters and Mosca’s developing relationship with Clent – I outright adored Saracen the destructive goose.
The complex world-building does mean that we get some info-dumping sections, especially regarding the Birdcatchers. I am still not entirely sure what it is that drove them to act as they did, especially during the course of the book. Though I guess religious fanaticism doesn’t need a reason exactly. It was still a nagging loose thread in the tapestry though.