Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

Published July 14, 2015

“Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity . . . before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past. –Goodreads

My Review

This is a FIVE STAR book. I absolutely loved the mystery and the spookiness! I chose this book because it was on sale on Amazon and I liked the cover. I had also seen it on display at Barnes and Noble and some other bookstores, so I figured it was worth a try! I am so glad I tried it. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down. I loved Serafina, she was such a charming, relatable character. I feel that almost all eleven and twelve year olds feel different and that they don’t fit in. I know I felt that way for much of my pre-teen years and I could see myself in Serafina, in some ways. Braeden was also very charming and a great friend. This is a great October read, just in time for Halloween!

My Favorite Quotes

• “Chief Rat Catcher”
• “More and more she wondered what it would be like to have some sort of secret friend who her pa didn’t know about, someone she could talk to about things…”
• “A boy who whispered about kidnappings and skulduggery was the kind of boy she could learn to like.”
• “She thought that it was interesting how just about everyone had a special talent or skill, something they were naturally drawn to and good at, and then they worked years to master it. Nobody knew how to do everything. It wasn’t possible. There wasn’t enough time in the night. But everyone knew something. And everyone was a little different. Some people did one thing. Others did another. It made her think that maybe God intended for them to all fit together, like a puzzle made whole.”
• “Character isn’t defined by the battles we win or lose, but by the battles we dare to fight.”

My Recommendation

I recommend this book to those that enjoy a good, mildly scary story. I also think that those who love mysteries would enjoy this book. This book has great themes of family, friendship, and finding yourself.