Company of Liars by Karen Maitland

Company of Liars by Karen Maitland   465 pages

Reminiscent  of Chaucer this is a Medeival tale of a group of travelers and their stories and what happens to them in their travels.  At the heart of the story is Camelot who is a  peddler of religious artifacts (all of which are bogus).  He soon meets Narigorm, a child with supernatural abilities.
One by one we are introduced to the other 6 travelers and eventually are told their stories.

As the book progresses tragedy befalls the travelers and several are killed or die.  In the end Camelot returns to his home in the Cheviot Hills of northern England but the author is not done with us yet and we are treated to a surprise ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have enjoyed other books by this author. 

Aunt Maria by Diana Wynne Jones

Aunt Maria by Diana Wynne Jones - 274 pages

Mig is upset to learn that they are going to have to spend their Easter vacation at Aunt Maria's.  That's before she finds out that they are expected to wait hand and foot on Aunt Maria.  That's before a ghost starts appearing in her brother Chris's room every night.  That's before Aunt Maria turns Chris into a wolf.  Now Mig must figure out how to save her brother and the rest of the town from her Aunt Maria.
I love Diana Wynne Jones.  Her books are wonderful fantasies for kids and teens.  This one took a little time to get into the story, but once I did I loved it.