Izzy Arundell & the Blood Countess
Izzy Arundell, Adventurer's Apprentice is a force to be reckoned with! Isabel Arundell's life is anything but exciting, until the unexpected arrival of her eccentric Great Aunt Nina-she of the too loud laugh, scandalous behavior, and a mischievous monkey called Pip.Before she realizes it, Isabel, (Izzy to her friends), finds herself in Whitby, England on the adventure of a lifetime. There, she and her new cohort Marianne pledge to unravel not only the mysteries of Whitby-with its haunting old Abbey and gaggle of ghosts, including the powerful Wraith of Saint Hilda-but also discover the true identity of the mysterious (and amazingly rude), Countess Báthory de Ecsed, as well as her servant William. (The poor boy seems positively mesmerized - word number twelve on Izzy's Words to Know List.)Armed with Aunt Nina's GAL (rhymes with hall) Theory, the two aspiring Adventurer's Apprentices set out, following a meandering trail of shocking clues and breathtaking challenges. Will they ferret out the truth behind Aunt Nina's oddly evasive behavior? Is she truly who she claims to be, or something else entirely? And what part might Patrin, the scowling, dark-eyed Traveler play in this puzzle? These queries and more entwine, raising the stakes higher still when village girls begin to disappear-and Izzy and Marianne must risk their own lives in one final, fateful encounter.Magic, wit, and whimsy abound in this twisting tale of mysterious legend and fantasy. Izzy Arundell is based upon historical characters and set in the picturesque village of Whitby England, the inspiration behind Bram Stoker's classic Dracula.