Even more, though, it is a subtle deconstruction of medieval romances, showing that the nobility are often far from noble, and that plucky young lads setting off to seek their fortunes had better be quick-witted and have some kind of marketable skill unless they want to be shooed away as beggars. It has all of the hallmarks of ZKS's YA books - relatable and believable young characters, a fast-paced plot with subtle foreshadowing leading to a last-act twist which suddenly raises the stakes much higher than you expected, and ambiguously magical or supernatural elements. (Gosh, remember the days before was ubiquitous?) I first read the library copy, and when I determined to get my own, I had to special-order it from the bookstore because none of the Barnes and Nobles in the area carried it. I have never met anyone else who has heard of this book, but it has been one of my favorites since childhood.
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