The Alchemaster's Apprentice

Starred review from July 20, 2009
Moers's elegantly written fourth stand-alone comic fantasy set in Zamonia (after 2008's The City of Dreaming Books
) takes us to the city of Malaisea, where everyone is sick except for two characters: Echo, a Crat (a talking cat, more or less), and Ghoolion, an evil alchemist likely responsible for Malaisea's afflictions. Crat and alchemist cross paths when the starving Echo is offered a month of food, entertainment and alchemical secrets, after which Ghoolion will kill him to boil down his fat. Ghoolion proves a magically masterful chef, and Echo quickly becomes fascinated by Ghoolion's work, particularly the morphic meals that seem to transform Echo into different creatures. Secrets are revealed, old bodies unearthed and strange allies made in this entrancing tale of darkness, determined survival and incredibly luxurious cuisine.

September 1, 2009
In another fascinating fantasy, Moers takes us to Malaisea, the sickest place in all Zamonia. Echo, a crat (much like a cat, except it talks), recently bereft of his mistress and thrown out on the street to fend for himself, makes a deal with Ghoolion the Alchemaster, who terrorizes the city: in exchange for a month of entertainment and delightful food, Ghoolion can kill Echo and render his fat at the next full moon. Despite some false starts, the curious and likable Echo makes a variety of interesting new friends, learns some of the Alchemasters best-hidden secrets, and even comes up with a plan to save himself. Among his friends are the revolutionary tuwituwu Theodore T. Theodore and a colony of leathermice named Vlad; both teach Echo valuable lessons in startling ways. Meanwhile, he eats some of the strangest and most delectable food imaginable. Moers has created an absolutely charming world populated by lovable characters, and the well-paced stories he tells about it are informed by fairy-tale morality.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)