The Princelings of the East by Jemima Pett

The first book of the Princelings of the East series introduces us to Princelings George and Fred.  Imagine them scurrying around the castle using secret passages, carrying out scientific experiments that occasionally blow up in their faces, or quaffing ale at their favourite tavern. 

But there is trouble in their world.  They may not use much energy, but when they do, it is usually for important occasions.   Energy draining to a halt to ruin the King’s Birthday celebrations is enough to send the king at Castle in the Marsh into a rage, and demand that everyone cease and desist from using it.  George’s latest machine is destroyed; their world looks to be falling apart.  So who better to go and solve the problem of this energy drain than the Princelings themselves?

Leaving the security of their Castle is a big step into the unknown for these boys, and they soon meet strangers, some of whom are stranger than others.  Who to trust?  Prince Lupin, so suave and sophisticated, with so many hangers-on fawning at his feet?  The businessman, Hugo, who seems so smooth and worldly, yet has an air of deceit about him?  The young barkeeper, Victor, always bustling around and never bothering to string a sentence together when three words will do, unless for royalty?  And that’s just Fred’s problem, since he has irritatingly lost touch with George in the darkness of the strange tunnel that appeared from nowhere in the corner of their room.

Meanwhile George seems to have been transported to another world, full of hustle, bustle and shining towers.  Where, or when, is he?  How come these strangers know so much more about his reputation than he does himself?  And will he manage to escape being thrown into a dungeon or killed by an assassin?

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