Lady Isabella is then placed in a very dangerous position -- if she is caught owning a book of ancient magic, she would
certainly be sentenced to death as a witch. But she can't resist using the book's spells to help those in need around her.
The plot takes readers on a journey from the pastoral countryside of England into the teeming, filthy centre of London,
from the year 1349 to the present -- and back again.
It takes Annie, a modern-day girl from London, to unravel the mystery of the heretic's tomb. When Annie goes on a tour
of an archeological dig, she has no idea she'll stumble down a chimney and back in time. But that's just how she winds up
in the 14th century -- and meets a very confused Lady Isabella.
Together they embark on a journey to London, all the while attempting to keep the book out of the hands of an evil
landowner who plans to overthrow the kingdom by using its spells to raise an army of the dead.
The Heretic's Tomb is a fast-paced tale of intrigue, sorcery and adventure, set in a fascinating period of history. At times
the writing is stilted; feeling almost like a Reader's Digest condensed book version of what could be a much more detailed
story.
But young readers will forgive the summarizing as they get caught up in the quick pace, and enjoy the rich historical
details that bring the 14th century to life.
-- Pamela Fieber, the Calgary Herald, Sunday, December 23, 2007