From Publishers Weekly
Young Miranda Popescu, spirited from her Massachusetts home by supernatural powers and guided by her sorceress aunt Aegypta's spirit, pursues her destiny as the "white tyger" prophesied to save "Great Roumania" from German domination in Park's lively continuation of the alluringly offbeat alternate-world saga begun in A Princess of Roumania (2005). Miranda's friendsβPeter, who gradually transmutates into the charismatic Chevalier de Graz, and Andromeda, who shape-shifts as a stealthy yellow dog, a wily courtier and her own American selfβattempt to rejoin Miranda in her quest, constantly harassed by evil Baroness Nicola Ceaucescu and the fearful German Elector of Ratisbon. Park fortifies his beautiful and baleful Roumanian milieu with deft characterizations and a clever ear for Balkan-spiced dialogue a shade shy of realism, while drawing on mythic resonances, like Roumania's skewed religion (Queen Mary Magdalene melds with Aphrodite). His long Roumanian rhapsody resembles the ambiguous gem of its title that holds the power to ignite loveβit both glows coming-of-age green and empurples with the passion for power. (July)
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From Booklist
Park's Princess of Roumania (2005) received widespread acclaim as a brilliantly conceived and original contemporary fantasy. In this equally captivating sequel, Park resumes the story of Massachusetts teen Miranda Popescu, whose fortunes straddle a line between modern-day America and an eighteenth-century parallel universe in which Roumania [sic] is Europe's reigning superpower. Along with closest friends Peter and Amanda, Miranda has been torn from her home via powerful alchemical forces and rediscovered her alternate, Roumanian identity as a princess targeted for assassination by scheming politicians. She narrowly escapes the blade of the malevolent elector of Ratisbone and becomes separated from her friends. Now, the three must find their ways back to one another and struggle with bewildering new circumstances as Miranda begins growing into the woman her enemies fear. Park's quirky blend of realism and magic may hold little appeal for the Harry Potter set, but few readers will find fault with his enchanting characters and compelling story line. Carl Hays
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