A Prince without a Kingdom by Timothée de Fombelle (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: A Prince without a Kingdom by Timothée de Fombelle Elizabeth Bush de Fombelle, Timothée A Prince without a Kingdom; tr. from the French by Sarah Ardizzone. Candlewick, 2015 443p ISBN 978-0-7636-7950-7 $17.99 R* Gr. 8-12 Vango, an orphaned boy raised by his devoted guardian, Mademoiselle, on an island near Sicily, wanted nothing more than to be ordained and live in a nearby monastery. Unfortunately, as readers will know from Vango: Between Sky and Earth (BCCB 12/14), he’s being pursued by the Parisian police for a murder, by a cadre of unknown assassins, and even by Ethel, the girl who has loved him ever since they met as teens aboard the Graf Zeppelin. Clues to Vango’s plight and his true identity have been abundant, tantalizing, and disturbing, and it isn’t giving much away to state that readers who suspect a connection to Russian royalty are on the right track. But Vango’s life is also so tightly intertwined with others, who have been drawn into danger simply by simply associating with him, that it’s now imperative for Vango to peel away disguises, untangle alliances, and create a future (for himself and others), despite the ambiguity of his past. de Fombelle spreads out hints and clues like pieces of an intricate clockwork, and although the audience might catch satisfying glimpses of what fits where, the pleasure lies in watching the author deftly assemble minutiae into a glorious whole. There’s justice, loves at last requited, and, even amid the treachery of World War II, the promise of peaceful life on an Aeolian island for characters who have proved themselves worthy. After two volumes of heart-stopping intrigue, readers will enjoy seeing Vango safely home. Copyright © 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois