The Cup and the Crown

Read The Cup and the Crown Storyline:

Night after night, Molly has visions of a beautiful goblet: one of her grandfather's loving cups, which he filled with magic that bound people together. So it hardly surprises Molly when handsome King Alaric asks her to find a loving cup to help him win the heart of the beautiful Princess of Cortova. As Molly and her friends Winifred and Tobias journey far beyond the safe borders of Westria, a mysterious raven appears to guide their quest. It leads them through the rugged northlands and through the mountains to the hidden city of Harrowsgode. Molly discovers that although it's difficult to enter the city, it's even harder to leave. With the help of Tobias, a rat catcher named Richard, and her clever and devoted raven, Molly gains her own freedom in a most unexpected way and changes the city of Harrowsgode forever. Master storyteller Diane Stanley returns to the intriguing world of The Silver Bowl to tell Molly's latest exciting adventure. The Cup and the Crown will be enjoyed by fans of Molly and by readers who are meeting this spirited heroine for the first time. From School Library JournalGr 5-8-Molly is a lady of Westria now, raised from servant to noble status by King Alaric in The Silver Bowl (HarperCollins, 2011). Political unrest with neighboring kingdoms means Alaric must secure an alliance by marrying a princess who doesn't want to marry him. He asks Molly to find the Loving Cup, rumored to be made by her grandfather, which will cause anyone who drinks from it to fall in love. He assembles a crew, including Tobias, friend of Molly and fellow former peasant, to go on a quest to find the cup. The journey leads them to Harrowsgode, the land of Molly's magical ancestors, but this village has a sinister secret, and in order to keep it, no one is ever allowed to leave. Richard the Ratcatcher, a particularly well-rounded and delightful character, is key to helping the Westrians complete their mission and escape. The fast-moving adventure is wildly creative, and suspense builds on every page. Readers who already know Molly will be happy to see her again, but this story stands alone. Background information is skillfully placed, and it never interrupts or bogs down the new tale. The strong friendship between Molly and Tobias and slightly awkward growing feelings for one another is sweet and feels genuine. A story to be cherished and read again and again.-Mandy Laferriere, Staley Middle School, Frisco, TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review“Richly imagined and elegantly conveyed, this is a worthy successor to Molly’s star-studded debut.” (Kirkus Reviews )“A story to be cherished and read again and again.” (School Library Journal )“It is the suspense of the plot that propels the reader through the story, but Stanley enriches that suspense with humor, strong sensory details, and an intelligent, engaging heroine.” (The Horn Book )“The setting remains strong, and Molly and her best friend Tobias continue to be thoroughly engaging characters. An open ending promises a third volume of Molly’s adventures, which will surely delight Stanley fans.” (Booklist )Praise for The Silver Bowl:“Veteran Stanley concocts a delicious blend of familiar fairy-tale motifs and intriguing, well-rounded characters to create an engaging fantasy. A most worthy and enjoyable entry in the ‘feisty female’ fantasy genre.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )Praise for The Silver Bowl:“[T]he pacing is masterful, with new information and character development doled out in exactly the right doses, intercut with thrilling escapes and clever plots...a satisfying yarn of loyalty rewarded and mutual understanding gained.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books )Praise for Saving Sky:“The main characters are well rendered and likable, and, in her portrayal of the earth-centered, nurturing Brightman family, Stanley succeeds in delivering the message that hope trumps fear.” (School Library Journal )Praise for Saving Sky:“This page-turner skillfully captures the irrational fear of a public under siege while giving kids a modern-day, almost-just-like-them female hero who champions hope. Inspiring.” (Kirkus )Praise for Bella at Midnight:“Once begun, it will be hard to put down.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )Praise for Bella at Midnight:“More than a reworking of the familiar, this is a 21st-century fairy-tale, throughly enjoyable in its own right.” (School Library Journal (starred review) )Praise for Bella at Midnight:“Stanley subtly twists strands of the Cinderella story until it’s something quite new and fine.” (Booklist (starred review) )Praise for Bella at Midnight:“Fans of fairy tale retellings will enjoy the fanciful twists in familiar territory, and long remember this engaging heroine, destined for a happily-ever-after life.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )