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Serafina and the Black Cloak, by Robert Beatty, is a fantasy/fiction novel. It is the first of the Serafina books, and takes place at the Biltmore Estate and the vast lands surrounding it in Asheville, North Carolina. The book takes place in 1899, right before the turn of the century. The book is told through a third person limited point of view, meaning that most of the time readers only know the main character’s thoughts. Serafina is a twelve year-old girl who lives in the basement of Biltmore Estate with her father, whom she calls Pa. Her Pa is the mechanic in the house; he loves fixing, building, and inventing the many innovations around the estate.

Throughout her life, Serafina has had to live in the shadows, away from the many people that Biltmore welcomes. Fortunately, this has never been a problem for Serafina. She sleeps sporadically through the day, and the night is when she truly gets to come alive for her favorite activity: catching rats.

 One night, Serafina watches a young girl in a yellow dress disappear to a man in a Black Cloak. This run-in leaves Serafina with a question that will take her the duration of the book to answer: who is the man in the black cloak? A brief encounter with Braeden Vanderbilt, the house master’s nephew, leads Serafina on an adventure to hunt for the man who has been causing the innocent children of Biltmore to vanish. 

“Our character isn’t defined 

by the battles we win or lose, 

but by the battles we dare to fight”

This quote is one that is written on the pedestal of a statue of a beautiful angel. This quote is a great way to symbolize Serafina throughout the book, and even the entire series. No matter what obstacles get in the way, Serafina is always brave enough to push through and ultimately overcome. Serafina is the guardian of Biltmore Estate, and she does it for one reason: to protect the ones she loves. 

I enjoyed this book very much. Although I almost never read fantasy books, the Serafina series also contains a great deal of mystery. The author does an incredible job of describing the visuals of Serafina’s surroundings, making it feel like the reader is really there with her. When reading the book, it is very easy to tell that the author worked hard to provide immense detail and make connections between things that readers could only imagine. It is great seeing how Serafina evolves and comes to find herself throughout the book. Her problem solving skills are incredible to see, and her dedication to everything she sets out for herself is inspiring. Serafina never lets any shortcoming affect her from reaching her goals and saving her loved ones. From a reader’s perspective, it's great to see Serafina build on old relationships and make new ones. 

I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or fantasy. The plot stays interesting through the many twists and turns that occur so that there is never a dull moment throughout the story. Serafina is a spectacularly courageous hero that can inspire not only children, but people throughout the world. All in all, Serafina and the Black Cloak is a great book that I recommend to everyone.

Checkout Serafina and the Black Cloak from the Newport Beach Public Library.