When you see the title of this book, you think it is going to have something to do with the Tale of Two Cities, but it doesn't. It is a story about a girl. Elodie, who travels to a new city in hopes of becoming an apprentice to some traveling "mansioners" or players. When she arrives she discovers that she does not have enough money to pay the apprentice fees, so she starts working for a dragon named Meenore. In this town there are, of course, two castles. One is owned by the king who is human, and the other by a duke, who is a shape shifting Ogre. The dragon is a detective, and Elodie gets to use her mansioning skills to help him discover who is trying to kill the king and the ogre.
Gail Carson Levine is best known for her retelling of well known fairy tales, most notably, Ella Enchanted and The Princess Tales. Elodie, in this book, is like all of her female protagonists. She is clever and brave, yet caring and loyal.The story is kind of odd, a fairytale mystery, but it is well written and interesting. At the heart of the story is the friendship that slowly develops between Elodie, Meenore and the ogre. Levine ends the book well, but leave the door open for sequels. I don't think this is Levine's best book, but it is fun and worth the effort. (328 p)
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