Happenstance Found

Happenstance Found
The Books of Umber: Book One
by P.W. Catanese
342 pages
age 10+
New York : Aladdin, 2009

His first memories are of waking up in a dark underground cave. He knows things but has no memory of who or what he was before gaining consciousness. A group of adventurers discover him and are instructed to call him Happenstance by a mysterious voice in the darkness. There is a note addressed to Lord Umber who is the leader of this group. He is a well-respected, wealthy man in the harbor city of Kurahaven. A merchant, explorer, inventor, and chronicler of the strange and unknown, Lord Umber is enthusiastic about this mysterious boy put in his charge. Then a stranger arrives in the city looking for a boy that matches Happenstance's description. What does this Creeper want and will he reveal the mystery of the boy's past? And who is Lord Umber, really?
The Books of Umber promises to be an enticing blend of fantasy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. The characters are captivating yet unknown. Hopefully the rest of the series will reveal how shy Sophie lost her hand and how brutally-honest Oates was cursed. If you love magic and mystery you might want to give this book a try. Now I only have to wait until January to find out what happens next. My love/hate relationship with series continues!