Lmpossible Creatures meets Jurassic Park in this page-turning middle grade fantasy adventure set at a nature preserve for magical beasts, where two girls find themselves on a wilderness expedition gone disastrously wrong.
Hattie Swift is a maid-in-training at Majestica, a resort and nature preserve where visitors come face-to-face with rare magical flora and fauna. She’s thrilled to be invited along on the park’s famous wilderness train excursion for the first time, but there’s a catch: She has to accompany Evelyn Ridgewell, the hotel owner’s haughty niece, who wants nothing to do with her.
Soon after embarking, Evelyn overhears a man who aims to hunt the park’s creatures for sport, and Hattie meets Jacob Threadborne, an apprentice magician sent by a foreign government on a top-secret mission. Then the magical fences keeping guests safe stop working, and the train breaks down in the most treacherous part of the jungle. Faced with poachers, man-eating trees, and a dragon on the loose, Hattie, Evelyn, and Jacob must stick together to figure out what’s gone wrong at Majestica . . . that is, if they want to make it out alive.
Features a richly illustrated map of the expansive nature preserve, as well as a bestiary with all the magical—and dangerous—creatures at Majestica.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A We Are Teachers Best Book of the Month for Kids, Teens, and Teachers
* “Rich worldbuilding will draw readers into an immersive adventure . . . Tolcser combines themes of conservation and the repatriation of cultural artifacts with unexpected friendships to create a fast-paced fantasy. Caparo’s exquisite art adds to the magic . . . Charming characters abound in this tale that’s thoughtfully grounded in ethics.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“A delightful tale full of magic, fantastical creatures and plants, and, of course, adventure . . . Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures and Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World.” —School Library Journal
“Riveting . . . The marvelous magical menagerie and Victorian details feel terrifically fresh. There is danger, daring, and mounting mystery aplenty, but quiet moments of introspection give the suspenseful story room to breathe . . . An epic adventure sure to enthrall and inspire.” —Booklist“A pulse-pounding adventure that examines themes of conservation, exploitation, and responsibility.” —Publishers Weekly
“When I open a novel and find a map inside, I know I’m about to have fun. Majestica, a sort of middle grade Jurassic Park with magical creatures instead of dinosaurs, begins with this kind of map and makes good on its promise of excitement and adventure.” —Lit Hub
“Reminded me of Jurassic Park, but with fantasy creatures . . . An unexpected magical adventure.” —Book Riot
“An edge-of-your-seat fantastical tale filled with danger, secrets, and the most amazing creatures. Enjoy the ride . . . if you dare.” —Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds and The Forgotten Five series
“Adventure, mystery, and friendships blossoming under pressure—Majestica has all of it. The pages feel as packed with life as the park itself.” —Cassie Beasley, New York Times bestselling author of Circus Mirandus
“Readers [will] beg for a sequel . . . Excellent writing, excellent characters, excellent twist at the end.” —Chicago Book Review
“Tolcser’s distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for young fantasy fans.” —Midwest Book Review