{"product_id":"the-lock-eater-9781984816887","title":"The Lock-Eater","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"Will have readers tumbling through the pages . . . Deeply immersive, full of both heft and humor.\" --Soman Chainani, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil series\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e* \"One of those special books that only comes around every so often . . . An absolute revelation.\" --\u003ci\u003eSLJ\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003eFor fans of \u003ci\u003eNevermoor\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHowl's Moving Castle \u003c\/i\u003ecomes an epic fantasy about a girl with the ability to unlock anything--including the empire's darkest secrets.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMelanie Gate is a foundling with a peculiar talent for opening the unopenable--any lock releases at the touch of her hand. One night, her orphanage is visited by Traveler, a gearling automaton there on behalf of his magical mistress, who needs an apprentice pronto. When Melanie is selected because of her gift, her life changes in a flash, and in more ways than she knows--because Traveler is not at all what he seems. But then, neither is Melanie Gate. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e So begins an epic adventure sparkling with magic, wit, secret identities, stinky cats, fierce orphan girls, impostor boys, and a foundling and gearling hotly pursued by the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the land. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAction-packed yet layered, \u003ci\u003eThe Lock-Eater\u003c\/i\u003e is a mix of lush world-building, high stakes, humor, and emotional heft--a page-turner and so much more. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A new classic . . . Perfect for fans of Ursula LeGuin and Diana Wynne Jones.\"\u003c\/b\u003e --Eliot Schrefer, author of The Lost Rainforest series\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e* \"Startlingly deep [while] maintaining its swift pace.\"\u003c\/b\u003e --\u003ci\u003eBCCB\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Will delight . . . An entertaining page-turner.\" \u003c\/b\u003e--GeekMom\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Incredibly memorable . . Vibrant [and] skillfully wrought.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003c\/b\u003eBetsy Bird for a Fuse #8 Production\/\u003ci\u003eSLJ\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Inventive and lighthearted [yet still] plumbs areas of darkness and loss.\"\u003c\/b\u003e --\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Expansive adventure, intricate worldbuilding, and a memorable cast [will] immerse readers.\"\u003c\/b\u003e --\u003ci\u003ePW\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A magical world unlike any other.\"\u003c\/b\u003e --Cracking the Cover\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eZack Loran Clark is a writer and editor of children's books, and the co-author of The Adventurers Guild trilogy. A lifelong fantasy nerd, avid \u003ci\u003eDungeons \u0026amp; Dragons\u003c\/i\u003e player, and aspiring sorcerer, he lives with his husband and their dog in Brooklyn, New York.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dial Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50583543742738,"sku":"9781984816887","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e1c5a290-ea0f-4648-a547-36653c73b037.jpg?v=1732029608","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-lock-eater-9781984816887","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}