I was thrilled when I heard that Harriet Whitehorn, the author of my beloved Violet mystery series, had a new book coming out this year, and positively hopped with excitement when NetGalley approved my request for an advance reader's copy. Unlike the Violet books, which are crossovers, i.e. help young children transition from picture books to chapter books, The Company of Eight is a proper chapter book meant for older readers, i.e. middle graders aged 10-12 years.

The story opens in winter, in the great city of Minaris, which is a big, bustling and beautiful city by the sea, with large graceful public squares (with evocative names like the Square of Seas and the Square of Disbelievers), a thriving Magical district and a busy port. People with magical abilities flock to Minaris to practise their trade- be it fortune telling or mind reading or curing illnesses- because it is one of the few safe havens for them in the Longest World. Fifty years have passed since the final Magical War- a war that caused so much destruction and bloodshed that ordinary, non-magical people rose in rebellion against magicians and their battles and outlawed magic or allowed it to be practised only under severe regulations.

The heroine of the story, Cassandra Malvino (Cass for short) lives in the magical district of Minaris with her guardian, old Mrs Potts, who owns and runs the Mansion of Fortune where fortune tellers live and practise their trade. Cass is an orphan, her parents being killed in a massive fire that destroyed their home and all their possessions when she was just seven years old. She is now fourteen and an Obtuse, i.e. non magical and immune to all kinds of magic, much to Mrs Pott's chagrin and disappointment. Cass's mother was a talented fortune teller and her father was a skilled acrobat, and Cass's big dream and sole passion is to be an acrobat in the wondrous Circus Boat, a travelling circus that tours the islands of the Longest World. And now the Circus Boat is moored in the harbour at Minaris, for its annual trip there during which Ravellous the Circus Master takes auditions to recruit new performers.

Needless to say, Cass is excited and eager to audition. She has her routine down pat- cartwheels and tumbles and flips- thanks to her daily practice sessions and hours of studying technique. But Mrs Potts has other plans- she wants to get Cass employed as a rich old lady's companion. She takes Cass to meet the said lady, and wastes so much time there that Cass misses her audition, and the Circus Boat sails away, not to return for a whole year. Hurt and angry and disappointed, Cass runs away from home and buys her passage on a small merchant boat to the Island of Women (a remote island where no woman or child is denied sanctuary), to wait and work and practise acrobatics for a year till she can return to Minaris to audition for the Circus Boat.

All of this happens in the first three chapters (yes!) The actual story begins after Cass runs away, but I wrote all of this because I wanted to set the context and introduce the wondrous, detailed world that Harrier Whitehorn has created. Also, I don't want to give out the story- suffice to say that it is filled with adventures galore including moonlit jewel robberies, turbulent sea voyages, opulent parties, dangerous and cruel pirates, crooked noblemen and an awesome group of eight women fighters who work in secrecy to rid the Longest World of crime, i.e. The Company of Eight. What CAN be better than a group of swashbuckling women vigilantes who excel in hand to hand combat and sword fighting and disguises and espionage?

I loved the world Harriet Whitehorn has created in this book- it is magical, old-timey and exotic. It brings to mind Moscow or Istanbul- a wonderful blend of East and West. There ornate mansions, cobblestone alleys, smoky pubs, tiny bakeries, elegant minarets and the different moods of the sea- stormy, sun-kissed, serene. There is a map at the beginning of the book that shows the geographical location of all the islands and cities described in the story, reminiscent of Tolkien's maps of the Middle Earth. And of course, I love the brave, spirited and loyal Cass who never hesitates to step up and write her own destiny.

My only quibble? After devoting time and pages to lovingly telling the story embellished with rich details, the end comes rather abruptly- within a chapter, puzzles are solved, fights are won and the story is done. I would have liked a more drawn-out and exciting ending, perhaps with a bigger and interesting cliffhanger, particularly because it is clear there will be a sequel.

Highly recommended for everyone above age 10 years (or 9 for advanced readers), particularly those who like fantasy or fables.

A fun, sparky adventure, which would appeal to fans of The Polar Bear Explorer's Club. and The Crooked Sixpence.