Review Detail

I don't know why, but this book kept giving me Howl's Moving Castle vibes, and I LOVED it.

The Counterclockwise Heart by Brian Farrey is a Middle Grade fantasy novel that follows a mage and prince, as they try to come together and save their home. In the empire of Rheinvelt, a strange statue appears overnight, and foretells a great darkness that will soon sweep over the land. All the mages have fled, wanting to save their lives more than their home. While Prince Alphonsus, has been sent by his mother to assure the people that everything be fine. Even though the clock in his chest, has suddenly started counting backwards. When all hope seems lost, Alphonsus runs into Esme, a mage looking for a great sorcerer. But only by working together can Esme and Alohonsus save their home.

I LOVED this book, with it's tie back to Germanic folklore. The whole foreboding aspect of a literal ticking clock. And the whole niche side of fantasy that not many popular titles achieve these days. Especially in the sense that this book, is just the literary form of watching a Studio Ghibli film.

I will certainly be reading more of Brian Farrey's novels, and I will certainly be looking into other novels published through Algonquin Young Readers, because I've heard they won't disappoint. Especially when they've put out titles like this one.