Book Beginnings & Friday 56 -- The Hollow Bettle by Susannah Appelbaum

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by A Few More Pages. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence, or two, of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

Many things begin with an end, and the story of Caux is no exception.  In this case, it was the end of a life.

What a great beginning, eh? 

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice. Check out the rules and join in the fun.

Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like).

Rowan took it upon himself in this moment to swing his robes up and over his shoulder, revealing a baggy set of unofficial long underwear.  Flushed with indignity, he was up on the tracks in a flash and with his newfound freedom reached down for Ivy.  

It was at precisely the moment that Rowan's hand encountered Ivy's, and she was halfway hiked up the earthen wall, that a second one grabbed her ankle.

This is a new series my daughter and I have started, The Poisons of Caux series by Susannah Appelbaum.  It's taken me a while to get into the world, and in fact I may have some more travelling to do before I'm really there, but Fiona is certainly enjoying it and poisonings have now crept into her imaginative play. :)  We've already got the second one waiting on us beside the bed.

From the book flap:

Eleven-year-old Ivy Manx lives in the kingdom of Caux, where evil King Nightshade rules with terrible tyranny and the lay of the land is poison or be poisoned.  Without a Guild-accredited taster by your side, your next meal could be your last.