Worlds of Ink and Shadow

November 9, 2015
Mixing fantasy and literary history, Coakley (Witchlanders) focuses on the works the Brontës created in their youth, much of which survives. In her story, siblings Charlotte and Branwell Brontë have the power to travel physically into the world they have created together: the romantic city of Verdopolis, full of star-crossed lovers, glittering nobility, and dashing villains. Their younger sisters, Emily and Anne, used to go along on these trips, but Charlotte and Branwell eventually stopped taking them, without giving any explanation. When Charlotte, prompted by her father's dislike of melodrama, vows to give up visiting her childhood dreamlands, her siblings are angry and confused. Emily, who had always hoped that either Charlotte or Branwell would relent and take her traveling again, begins to wonder how travel between the worlds is possible at all, and whether that power is necessarily reserved for her elders. Coakley's research is solid, her prose is clear, and her plot introduces intriguing ideas about the interplay between reality and fiction, but she doesn't manage the essential task of writing characters who are believably geniuses, capable of accomplishing the things the Brontës eventually did. Ages 14âup. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

October 1, 2015
Worlds collide and characters come to life when four young writers discover the limits of their creative powers. Haunted by the deaths of their sisters Maria and Elizabeth, the motherless Bronte quartet seeks to escape small-town life and limited futures through their shared-world stories. When Emily balks at her and Anne's exclusion from tales of Verdopolis, older siblings Charlotte and Branwell reluctantly readmit their sisters]literally as well literarily, for Verdopolis is a realm manifested through their strong imaginations]and an uneven bargain with an untrustworthy spirit. There, the four encounter semisentient characters, some growing aware of their frequent revisions and intent on hunting down Verdopolis' creators. Loosely based on the real Brontes' juvenilia and drawing heavily on their published works]violent but variable Rogue is an ur-Heathcliff, Zamorna a Mr. Rochester]Verdopolis and its inhabitants are shifting and shallow, ornately detailed but lacking depth. The fictional Brontes are equally underdeveloped, hewing closely to their biographically documented roles: plain Charlotte despairs of becoming a governess; braggart Branwell fears obscurity; eccentric Emily loves the wild moors; and prim Anne is unflinchingly honest and overly preachy. The frivolous and erratic worldbuilding and the childish Brontes' capricious actions undermine Coakley's serious contemplations of creativity, class, and guilt. A potentially intriguing experiment runs aground. (Fantasy. 12-18)

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November 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-This work reimagines the lives of the Bronte siblings with the conceit that Verdopolis and the other worlds they created in their real-life juvenilia were not just words on the page but actual places into which they could cross over and interact. Escape into these vibrant, magical lands is a refuge from their dismal, hopeless lives. With no mother, a distracted father, and their two older sisters dead from disease, Anne, Emily, and Charlotte are all destined to be governesses while Branwell struggles to train as a painter. But their magical adventures inevitably come at a price, and when they lose control of their characters, they first vow to stop crossing over, then realize they may have to find a way to destroy their worlds completely. This sad but fascinating look into the tragically short lives of the famed siblings successfully mixes facts with a fantastical premise to create a gripping and innovative story. VERDICT A strong historical fantasy that will appeal to readers who are already fans of the Brontes' novels and spark interest among those unfamiliar with their works and lives.-Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2015
Grades 8-11 Taking her inspiration from the Brontes' juvenilia, Coakley offers an imaginative story of their childhood, in which the four supremely talented siblings have the power to transport themselves to the worlds of their fiction. Charlotte and Branwell, who is steadily slipping into the addictive habits that led to his demise, regularly travel to Verdopolis, where they set their two favorite characters, the noble Duke of Zamorna and rakish Alexander Rogue, against each other. Meanwhile, Emily, who pines for the fictional Rogue, jealously looks on, and clever Anne worries about the consequences. When their characters begin to gain self-awareness, the Brontes try to regain control and, in the process, uncover some dark truths about the price of their power. Though knowledge of the Brontes' work won't be necessary to follow along, readers familiar with the writers will likely enjoy noticing hints of the novels to come. While at times the plot seems rushed enough that the emotional stakes get lost in the frenzy, this will nonetheless likely appeal to fans of clever literary fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)