The Mad Apprentice by Django Wexler

This is the second book in the Forbidden Library series.  This is a magical series that has monsters you wouldn't want to meet hidden in the pages.  I enjoyed the first book and this second one is even better!

Kathy Dawson Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published April 21st.  If you haven't read the first one yet, you'll want to grab that one, too.

Alice has been doing errands for Uncle Geryon for a while now.  He's given her a home and is teaching her to be his apprentice.  Each quest he gives her is a bit more difficult, but she's beginning to understand her powers and has succeeded so far.  He's got an even tougher assignment for her now.  She's to go meet with other apprentices and then they are to kill Jacob, who has killed his master.  She's not sure about the killing but she's willing to do her part to find him.

When she goes through the book portal she meets the other apprentices she's to work with.  There's an arrogant male, a haloed female, a more formal young female, a female that looks very, very young and Isaac.  The boy she had to separate from who stole the dragon book she found.  She should be mad at him but she's glad to see someone familiar.  The worst part is that he won't speak to her.

None of the apprentices are supposed to be friendly with each other.  They may find themselves on opposite sides later depending on their masters.  It's best to have some distance between each other.  The problem is that when you're on quest it's very stressful.  Stress tends to make people closer.  And this story stresses everyone way out!

They know where Jacob is; he's in the castle.  What they didn't know was that it was a labyrinth castle.  And the Keeper of the labyrinth is determined to defeat them in their quest.  He'd be happy to keep Alice, but the others have to go.

There are monsters around every corner, as soon as they go in one direction they get turned around, and it doesn't take long for them to realize they are being manipulated.

This is a harrowing journey that includes death.  I hated that part.  I didn't want to lose any of the good characters.  Go ahead and kill the bad guys, I don't care.  Unfortunately, this story includes a bit of realism with the fantasy.

What Alice finds out here will change her relationship with her Uncle Geryon.  She's found out what happened to her father.  The next book should be a real barn burner.  I'll be watching for it.