The Forbidden Room - (The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents) by Nicki Pau Preto (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In her second year at Last Hope, Lavinia 'Vin' Lucas balances new friendships, secrets, and her growing powers while outwitting a corrupt school board and warding off a threat to magical world in order to save her school and friends"--

Book Synopsis

Vin and her friends are back in this thrilling sequel to The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and The School for Good and Evil!

Lavinia "Vin" Lucas has finally found a home. At Last Hope School, she's made friends (including a magical fire sprite!) who love her for who she is, and gifted headmistress Ava Hope is guiding her in her newfound abilities as a Chameleon. But after the chaos and danger of last year, and the attack on the school, the eye of the Magical School Board is trained on Last Hope, and they are desperate to get Ava Hope and her unconventional methods removed from the school for good.

Meanwhile, beyond the magical wards of Last Hope, the Free Mages grow ever stronger, and their enigmatic new leader will do anything to get his hands on the increasingly powerful Vin. It's going to take every ounce of cunning Vin and her friends have to send the crooked school board packing while warding off the looming threat of the Free Mages.

With family secrets swirling, a mysterious new student with mind-reading powers entering the picture, and even a water sprite joining the crew, year two is more surprising and difficult than ever. And when the world of magic faces destruction, Vin must use her powers--no matter how dangerous--and do whatever she can to save her friends and Last Hope School once and for all.

Review Quotes

"Readers will enjoy revisiting this world for more shenanigans, schemes, laughs, magic, and mystery. The true heart of the story--and the school--lies in the affirming values of trust, forgiveness, belonging, community, and second chances. An entertaining blend of thrilling magic and hijinks."--Kirkus Reviews

"A charming cast of magical underdogs find their place in this captivating series." --School Library Journal

Praise for The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents

"The heart, humor, and hijinks of middle grade are at their best in The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. A story full of found family, magic, and learning to believe in yourself, it's sure to appeal to fans of Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor series."--Kalyn Josephson, New York Times bestselling author of the Ravenfall series

"An absolute masterpiece full of breathless magic and charming characters. Readers will find the pages all but turning on their own as Nicki Pau Preto leads us from wonder to mystery and everything in between."--Scott Reintgen, New York Times bestselling author of A Door in the Dark

"Brimming with magic, mystery, and heart, this story was an action-packed delight from start to finish. Vin is a lovable heroine worth rooting for, and Nicki Pau Preto delivers a fresh, fascinating new world that any reader--delinquent or not--would want to belong to."--Jessica Khoury, Author of The Mystwick School of Musicraft and the Skyborn series

"This engaging magic school story has hijinks, humor, mystery, and action . . . An absorbing, mischief-filled fantasy"--Kirkus Reviews

[An] empowering fantasy...Propulsive pacing and a mischievous sense of humor characterize...Pau Preto's high-spirited middle grade debut."--Publishers Weekly

"The perfect book (and new series) for middle-grade readers who love series like The School for Good and Evil and Harry Potter."--Booklist

About the Author

Nicki Pau Preto is a fantasy author living just outside of Toronto--though her dislike of hockey, snow, and geese makes her the worst Canadian in the country. She studied art and art history in university and worked as a graphic designer before becoming a writer full-time. She is the author of the Crown of Feathers trilogy and Bonesmith. She can be found online at NickiPauPreto.com and on Instagram @NickiPauPreto.