Twins Dani and Bart, orphaned when they were just babies, have been brought up in the king’s castle. This doesn’t, however, mean they have lived a life of luxury – far from it. They were virtually prisoners – they weren’t even allowed to leave the castle grounds to go into the town – and were not much more than slaves. So when Bart is kidnapped, Dani knows that no-one, except her, will want to search for him.

The world she discovers outside the castle walls is a strange place, in which she meets odd characters, including a wicked magician, a kind witch and even an endearing warthog called Flango. The twins endure a long and dangerous adventure before they can get home again and, even then, things aren’t what they seem.

This engrossing and entertaining tale has plenty of suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Each twin is brave, doing the utmost to keep the other one safe, even if it means that they themselves are endangered. They are also remarkably resourceful for their age, which means they often outwit the scheming adults. And don’t we all love that!

Reviewed by Wendy Noble
Age guide 9+