A girl discovers an eccentric magic shop in London and begins a peculiar journey to rescue a missing friend. An enchanting and delightfully dark story of magic and intrigue for middle-grade readers. Deep in London on a simple alleyway, a shabby and abandoned storefront is renewed when Mr. Maddox and Mr. Ixworth, two unusual and dapper gentlemen, open their refurbished shop, "The Extraordinary Curiosities of Iworth and Maddox," in the neighborhood of Mayfair. Nearby lives young Chloe, a girl who doesn't fit in at school and who feels estranged from her best friend and sometimes even her busy parents. A coincidental moment has Chloe meeting Maddox and Ixworth--two magicians, in fact--and their crew of tiny brownies, fairylike folk who help operate their business. The magicians trust Chloe and she spends more and more time at the shop of curiosities, fascinated by all of the enchanting objects and learning a bit about magic herself. Maddox and Ixworth are her friends, which is why when Ixworth vanishes without a trace, she doesn't hesitate in joining Maddox on a quest that has her facing sinister characters with dark intentions, discovering the various areas within London that belong to other magicians, and battling against the frightening potions, elixirs, and spells that they encounter. In their perilous pursuit to find Ixworth, the pair unveil an age-old battle of greed, inheritance, and power, grappling with the questionable existence of an old magical relic that is key to their very survival. With Maddox willing to risk his life for his friend, it's precisely what confronts him. Will Chloe be able to thwart the dangerous magic-stealing plot, save Maddox, and find Ixworth before it's too late? Author J.D. Grolic expertly weaves a story of intrigue, magic, and friendship in a story reminiscent of favorite children's classics from Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and C.S. Lewis.
A young girl discovers a curious London magic shop and begins a journey to rescue a missing friend. Chloe Ashley is feeling lonely and dejected. She's estranged from her best friend and ignored by her busy parents. One dreary afternoon, she wanders into a newly refurbished curiosities shop in the heart of London. The shop is owned by Mr. Ixworth and Mr. Maddox, two eccentric gentlemen who are in the business of magic. Real magic. Chloe becomes a fast friend with the two magicians and discovers the wondrous merchandise the shop has to offer: a magical flying taxi, ghost spectacles, sel