by Avi
First published 2022
King Claudio gives Mangus the Magician an ultimatum: steal a manuscript from Venice that reveals how to create money through magic, or face execution. Mangus travels to the dangerous canals of 1492 Venice with his loyal servant Fabrizio. The manuscript holds the key to enormous wealth for the king and survival for both men. Venice proves treacherous, filled with spies and severe penalties for those who pilfer its treasures. When enemies capture Mangus and throw him into prison, Fabrizio must complete the mission alone. He teams up with Bianca, a mysterious local who guards her own secrets. Together they race through the fog-shrouded city, dodging informers and rival thieves who want the same prize. Fabrizio faces an impossible choice: find the manuscript before his enemies succeed, or watch his master die in a Venetian dungeon.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Venice, Canals
Period: 1492
301 pages · Hardcover · Scholastic Press