Alex Kirschbaum

The Magician's Ball Alex Kirschbaum

Forbidden romance, murder, mystery and intrigue ... Politics, sibling rivalry, envy and power plays ... Perspective, understanding, a fight for freedom... All that intermingled with a twist of magic and psychology. Lovers of historical fantasy fiction and historical romance will be delighted by this fast-paced drama, set in a fictionalized version of Central Europe, around the late 1800s. Gripping like the sagas of Ken Follett, witty like Muriel Barberry's The Elegance of the Hedgehog and plaintive in parts like Jane Eyre, this is the story of sixteen-year-old Philamena whose only dream is to be free to run wild through the woods and to dress as she wants, as she comes of age and discovers her identity. But her world closes in on her when, on the evening of a great dinner, she is badly shamed by her parents, launching her on the path of revenge against what she perceives as an emotional apocalypse. When her daring plans for revenge do not turn out as expected, Philamena's cousin and lady in waiting takes her to see a magician in the woods. There, Philamena discovers truths and perspectives she did not see, which set her on the path of overthrowing the most oppressive ruler on the continent. The Magician's Ball has been called "whimsical" and "an allegory for our time." Boldly imaginative, it is a story of the struggle against oppression, filled with action-packed sequences and breathtaking suspense. Lovers of time travel, love and romance, sword and sorcery, folklore and tales of sisterhood will delight in this unique novel, which combines psychology with magical realism. Suitable for readers 12+.