The Silver Bowl

by Diane Stanley

Adventure, magic, subtle romance, betrayal, and monstrous curses take this book far beyond the typical scullery-maid-makes-good tale. Peasant girl Molly sometimes sees things before they happen, a fine enough reason for her unloving and poverty-stricken father to get rid of her. At age seven, she is abandoned at the door of Dethemere Castle, and luckily finds work in the kitchen. After years of hard labor, “Gentleman Servant” Thomas takes her under his wing, promoting her to silver polisher, where she is tasked with shining the most beautiful, intricately designed bowl she has ever seen. The minute she touches the bowl, she is filled with intense warmth, and see visions of the demise of the royal family. The rumors of a curse are true. It’s becoming more and more powerful, and only she can stop it from destroying the royals. Stanley blends historical fiction and fantasy seamlessly, and her clear, rich language envelopes and transports. Molly’s relationships with the handsome prince and the kind-hearted stable boy are textured and layered with emotion and dutiful devotion. Her 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. This book will be published in June.