A romantic and exhilarating historical adventure about a girl who must unlock the secrets within Paradise Lost to save her father—perfect for fans of Revolution and Code Name Verity—from acclaimed author Anne Blankman, whose debut novel, Prisoner of Night and Fog, was a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens in 2015 Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects. Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom. Until one night the king’s men arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Viviani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart? When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life, or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father . . . and tear apart the very fabric of society. A Gripping Historical Adventure: Plunge into the intrigue of 17th-century England, where the daughter of the infamous poet John Milton must outwit the king’s men to save her father from the gallows. - A Code-Breaking Mystery: The key to her father’s freedom lies hidden within the pages of Paradise Lost . But deciphering the cryptic clues means challenging the most powerful men in England. - Forbidden Romance: She’s the daughter of a notorious traitor. He’s a mysterious Italian scientist on his own mission. Can Elizabeth trust her heart to the darkly handsome Antonio Viviani? - A Sword-Wielding Heroine: Trained in secret in sword fighting and languages, Elizabeth is no ordinary poet’s daughter. She’ll need every skill she has to survive a conspiracy that reaches the throne itself. Gr 8 Up-The mid-1600s is the setting for this Da Vinci Code-esque romantic historical fiction; a metaphysical revelation at the end, however, sours the story's magic. Elizabeth Milton, daughter of poet John Milton, has been raised uniquely for the time; she speaks multiple languages and handles a sword with flair. When the king's men come to arrest her father, Elizabeth is thrust into an adventure with a recent house guest, Antonio Viviani, a mysterious Italian envoy. The two travel to Oxford and London, deciphering cryptic clues from Paradise Lost and trying to uncover a dark secret kept by Milton and Galileo-a secret that could topple the English court and more. An unsought romance between Elizabeth and Antonio blooms amid the sword fights and court intrigue. But who can be trusted, and how far will the repercussions go once the riddle is solved? The book moves at a swift pace, even if set in a less than familiar time period. The romance between Elizabeth and Antonio is an obvious plot choice but enticing nonetheless. The secret of the poem, however, is quite far-fetched, which doesn't fit the rest of the novel. The characters and readers are required to make a fantastical deductive leap that feels out of place in an otherwise realistic book. While Milton's work might not be a hook for teenagers, the intrigue could sell this story, if not for the problematic end. VERDICT While the conclusion is unsatisfactory, purchase where there are fans of the Da Vinci Code who crave further adventurous historical romance.-Lisa Ehrle, Falcon Creek Middle School, COα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. “Blankman weaves religion, science, literary genius, poetry, and romance into a mystery that, if solved, could turn the world upside down...Readers will love the journey.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “The in-depth characters draw readers in as each one’s complexity propels the plot to the next twist and turn.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) Praise for PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG: “PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG seamlessly blends the fascinating, terrifying facts of Hitler’s rise to power with a gripping murder mystery. Gretchen is a brave and believable protagonist, and readers will become engrossed in her struggle to uncover the truth. I can’t wait for the sequel.” - Michelle Cooper, award-winning author of the Montmaray Journals series Praise for PRISONER OF NIGHT AN