Another delightful epistolary fantasy set in an alternate, magical 19th-century England. A decade after their joint honeymoon, domestic concerns and magical studies have replaced international intrigue for the irrepressible cousins Cecy and Kate. But a summons from the great wizard Wellington sets off a new, dangerous, investigation. Soon, both ladies (and their enterprising spouses) are up to their ears in missing surveyors, tangled ley lines, railway steam engines, ensorcelled stone circles, thaumaturgic threats left over from Cromwell, eager spellcasters in the nursery, an annoyingly badly behaved runaway duchess, a suspiciously well-behaved abandoned child and sundry unsavory characters (to say nothing of the superfluous dogs). The letter format manages to tie off the copious plot threads with neat dispatch, and readers will be captivated by the engaging, headstrong Cecy and reliable (if maladroit) Kate, and charmed by the unexpected twists that a touch of fantasy yields in familiar Regency tropes. The more mature interests of the characters make this a good choice for the adult section as well. A thoroughly enchanting confection. (Fantasy. YA)
