Margaret Mahy: Alchemy

By MARGIE THOMSON

Mahy is on top form with this spooky story about the supernatural.

Roland has all the earthly powers a teenage boy could desire (good looks, intelligence, sexy girlfriend, perfect school record, enough money), but he's in denial about the other kind of powers that lurk within him - until creepy stunt magician called Quando seeks him out.

Roland commits a petty crime which leads to his teacher blackmailing him into spying on strange Jess Ferrett. Jess has a secret, and it's one that's setting off a strange reaction in Roland himself.

"Childe Roland to the dark tower came," is his battle cry, and things are about to get very dark indeed. There are spirits on the loose, and some terribly bad people are trying to suck all the power for themselves. Very involving, genuinely creepy.

CollinsFlamingo

$14.95