THE GRIMJINX REBELLION

Whether stealing back a government from mages who stole it first or defeating a marauding horde of monsters, the Grimjinx family remains as delightfully sneaky as ever.

Two months back, in The Shadowhand Covenant (2013), young Jaxter Grimjinx was left with mysteries on his hands. An old mentor told him to mind the words Volo ser voli—“yesterday is today”—but what could that mean? The past’s Great Uprisings might be relevant to current political unrest, but information about them is outlawed. Luckily, trickery and thieving (including theft of information) are Grimjinx specialties, and Jaxter has help from friends and family. From stealing his little sister back from government kidnappers through rousing a political rebellion to shifting that rebellion into monster-wrangling instead, the action is rollicking and fast-paced. Jaxter’s first-person voice is steady and funny; even when the constant twists of plot and loyalty cause real danger, the vibe is more adventurous than scary. As the Grimjinxes fool various characters, other characters fool them too. The narration doesn’t reveal details of Grimjinx plans before they’re in motion, so the action is fresh to readers as it unfolds. Favorite swear “zoc” and favorite cheer “bangers” flavor the humorous prose.

Full of twists, monsters, cool magic and cooler anti-magic, with underlying family warmth and a creative crescendo. Start at the series’ beginning.