Description

Readers who love the adventure in Megan Whalen Turner’s Newbery Honor novel The Thief will be captivated by Molly’s dangerous magical quest in this thrilling sequel to Diane Stanley’s novel The Silver Bowl.

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 in search of a loving cup, a mysterious raven joins their quest and appears to guide them all the way to the hidden city of Harrowsgode. There, Molly discovers secrets about her own family as well as the magic of the loving cup. But Harrowsgode is hidden for a reason, and leaving is more difficult than Molly imagined. Will she be able to escape, let alone bring a loving cup to King Alaric? 


  • A Reluctant Heroine: Molly never asked for visions or magical powers. But when handsome King Alaric needs her help, she must rise to the challenge and leave her old life far behind.
  • A Magical Quest: To find the legendary loving cup, Molly and her friends must journey into the unknown, trusting a mysterious raven to guide them to a city no one has seen for centuries.
  • Hidden Heritage: In the secret city of Harrowsgode, Molly uncovers the truth about her grandfather, a master silversmith whose legacy is more powerful—and more dangerous—than she ever imagined.
  • Found Family: Joined by her loyal friends Winifred and Tobias, Molly faces down dangers that will test their bonds and prove that the strongest magic of all is friendship.

About the author(s)

Diane Stanely is the author and illustrator of beloved books for young readers, including The Silver Bowl, named a best book of the year by Kirkus Reviews and an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice; The Cup and the Crown; The Princess of Cortova; Saving Sky, winner of the Arab American Book Award; Bella at Midnight, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice; The Mysterious Case of the Allbright Academy; The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine; The Chosen Prince; and Joplin, Wishing.

Ms. Stanley has written and illustrated numerous picture books, including three creatively reimagined fairy tales, The Giant and the Beanstalk, Goldie and the Three Bears, and Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter, and an award-winning series of picture book biographies. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can visit her online at www.dianestanley.com.

Reviews

Praise for The Silver Bowl: “An accomplished storyteller, Stanley uses her singular gifts to craft a remarkable historical fantasy. Combining carefully chosen details of setting with a richly realized fantasy premise, Stanley succeeds in creating a believable world large enough to accommodate not only menace and evil but also loyalty, enduring friendship, and love.” - Booklist (starred review)

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: “Adventure, magic, subtle romance, betrayal, and monstrous curses take this book far beyond the typical scullery-maid-makes-good tale. Stanley blends historical fiction and fantasy seamlessly, and her clear, rich language envelops and transports readers. The protagonist’s no-nonsense attitude is balanced by her big heart and a sweet, sharp sense of humor, making her a heroine readers will relate to and cheer for to the satisfying end.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for The Silver Bowl: “A versatile and inventive raconteur, Stanley (Bella at Midnight) nimbly weaves intrigue and fantasy into this richly layered story set in medieval times.” - Publishers Weekly

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: “In this provocative title, award-winning author Stanley asks young readers to consider what courage might look like in an America under psychological and physical siege. The recognizable adult characters, from the truly good to the fearful to the insidiously evil, are drawn straight from today’s headlines, while the young people manifest a courage few can emulate. Readers will have much to discuss . . . beautifully written.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Richly imagined and elegantly conveyed, this is a worthy successor to Molly’s star-studded debut.” - Kirkus Reviews

“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

“A story to be cherished and read again and again.” - School Library Journal

“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 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 Reviews

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)

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