I'm so glad that Aiken didn't stick to her original intention of having her famous hero, Dido Twite, killed in this second instalment. This is possibly my favourite Wolves story so far: clever, intricately plotted and full of rich language and detail.

Unbeknownst to Simon, Dido's family are Hanoverian plotters who are in a plot to kill the Duke of Battersea. Looking for a place to stay he ends up with the Twites and happens to meet one of children's literature's finest heroes: Dido. Implementing her theory that a story is enriched by having a lot of relevant action before the story opens, Simon - our goose-boy hero from Wolves - comes to London to seek his fortune by practising and studying art with his friend, Dr. I must get the next book right away and find out what happened to the irrepressible Dido Twite. That combination makes for such a fun read. There’s an interesting combination in both Dickens and this book of realism and fantasy. The back cover noted that and the more I think about it, the more both plot and character felt like something Dickens would write. The Wolves of Wilhoughby Chase felt so much like a kid’s version of Jane Eyre whereas this one felt very Dickensian. The plot is rather absurd but it doesn’t even matter because it is written so engagingly and the characters are so lovable. Even when things are looking grim for Sophie and Simon and their cadre in this alternate English history, the humor sparkles through. Perhaps I was right back then, but my love of British humor and storytelling has grown so much that I just loved this book! The characters are fantastic, the storytelling is somehow both breezy and compelling, and the humor is just so great.

I never thought this was a book I would love.

Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken