Casper and Jasper and the Terrible Tyrant by Tilia Klebenov Jacobs

The new ruler that has taken over their town is evil.  He imprisons people to make them work as slaves mining for ice.  He usually lets them go after a year or so because they serve as good examples of why you should do what he's told you to.  But when a large group gets turned in, he keeps them.  They might try to organize again if he lets them out...

Linden Tree Press and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so you can grab a copy now.

The couple whose home was where the meeting was held had two baby twins.  They didn't want to take them to prison, so they threw them to the crowd.  The couple that caught them couldn't have children and felt like they were an answer to their prayers.  They saw they were wearing bracelets with a C and a J so they named them Casper and Jasper and then raised them as their own.  Twelve years later the boys find out the truth.

The men and women are segregated at the prison and everyone wonders if their spouse is still alive.  When the mother befriends a bird, she finds that she will work like a carrier pigeon and carry messages to her husband.  This improves both their attitudes and when she finds out the men are all still alive, she shares that with the other women.  Suddenly they are getting inspired to try to escape.  But can they?  With trolls guarding them and death as a punishment it's very dangerous to attempt it.  But anything is better than being imprisoned.

There are carnivorous marshmallows, werewolves, trolls, swamps and more to contend with.  The twins are trying to find their parents and get captured themselves.  There is joy and sorrow when they are reunited.  But their resolve to escape has not weakened!

This is an exciting read with many fantasy characters and plants to keep you on your toes.  I really enjoyed this one and recommend it for middle grade readers or young adults.  It works for older adults, too!