The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
By M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
Candlewick Press, 2018. Illustrated fiction.

The noted Elfin historian Brangwain Spurge has been sent on a diplomatic mission across the Bonecruel Mountains into the Kingdom of the Goblins - a journey from which no elf has returned in hundreds of years. His mission is to gift an ancient Goblin artifact to the mysterious overlord Ghohg and spy on the evil goblin government for the leaders of the Order of the Clean Hand. Meanwhile, goblin and fellow historian Werfel is hoping to be a gracious host to his elfin guest - and report on any mysterious activity to the goblin secret police. The adventure that unfolds is hilarious, exciting, and will likely spell disaster for both the goblin and the elf.

This is a wonderfully unique, epic fantasy novel that blends together prose, epistolary, and graphic narrative to effectively remind readers that what we believe is not necessarily true, and not everyone can be trusted. Older readers may pick up on the biting and timely political satire peppered throughout this novel, but readers of all ages will enjoy this hilarious adventure about two spies who were never meant to be spies.

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