Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
Introducing a witty and macabre new fantasy trilogy.There's little joy left in the kingdom of Caux: the evil King Nightshade rules with terrible tyranny and the law of the land is poison or be poisoned. Worse, eleven-year-old Ivy's uncle, a famous healer, has disappeared, and Ivy sets out to find him, joined by a young taster named Rowan. But these are corrupt times, and the children--enemies of the realm--are not alone. What exactly do Ivy and Rowan's pursuers want? Is it Ivy's prized red bettle, which, unlike any other gemstone in Caux, appears--impossibly--to be hollow? Is it the elixir she concocted--the one with the mysterious healing powers? Or could it be Ivy herself? Told with wry humor, The Hollow Bettle is the first installment in the Poisons of Caux trilogy, an astonishing tale of herbs and magic, tasters and poisoners.From the Hardcover edition.
Is The Hollow Bettle appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 10 and up.
This middle grade fantasy features an evil tyrant king and a poison-based society with dark themes, but violence is not graphic. The story centers on two children on a quest to find a missing healer uncle.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death, abandonment, and poisoning (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Kids who love quests, mysterious magical objects, and brave heroes fighting against evil rulers will enjoy this darkly whimsical adventure.