Game of Secrets

Gr 7–10-A 16-year-old orphan from London's underclass discovers her magical powers and joins the Morgana secret society protecting Queen Victoria. It's 1887, and the city is abuzz with the news of the queen's upcoming Golden Jubilee. When a wealthy gentleman shoots her boyfriend, Felicity Cole uses supernatural strength and reflexes to subdue the man and kill his guard. Unaware of her abilities until that moment, she realizes she is one of the Tainted—a death sentence in this alternate world where those with paranormal gifts are hated and feared. The leader of the Morgana agents rescues her from prison, and she joins the group as a trainee, learning combat, assassination skills, and upper-class deportment so she can mingle unnoticed in the high society that surrounds the queen. Each chapter begins with a quote from a British author and ends on a cliff-hanger as the story races along like a runaway carriage on cobblestones. There's not a lot of character depth in this all-white world, and the scenes where Felicity uses her rather unoriginal powers are straight out of a Marvel comics movie, complete with slow-motion bullet dodging. But a quick pace, accessible prose, well-integrated descriptions of the setting, and a hint of romance make for an entertaining read.