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The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur
A summer job at a secret factory that makes magical objects for fairy tales pulls twelve-year-old Charlie Crumple into a mystery involving his father’s death and a saboteur threatening happily ever after itself.
Have you ever wondered who creates all the magical objects in your favorite stories?
Twelve-year-old Charlie Crumple certainly hasn’t—until a mysterious voice and a last-minute “lame” summer job drop him inside Talisman, Incorporated, the secretive factory where his late father once worked. Here, enchanted objects are not only real, they are designed, crafted, and flying carpets, talking mastheads, enchanted wands… and a thousand other magical necessities story heroes rely on.
But magic isn’t the only thing brewing inside the factory.
Machines are breaking down. A key Talismith vanishes. A rival corporation is circling like a hangry dragon. And someone—hidden deep within the twisting halls of Talisman, Incorporated—seems determined to tear everything apart from the inside.
Then come the clues… coded notes, dire warnings… that all point back to Charlie’s father, a brilliant Talismith whose death has never quite made sense. The more Charlie investigates, the more questions he uncovers, and the more dangerous the mystery becomes.
To uncover the truth, Charlie and his new friend Tess must team up with the factory’s designers, crack his father’s puzzles, finish a dangerous invention, and expose a traitor before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking… and if Charlie Crumple fails, happily-ever-after may vanish for good.
Perfect for fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Nevermoor, and Percy Jackson. The The Secret Saboteur is a fast-paced, mystery-filled middle-grade fantasy packed with humor, magical inventions, clever puzzles, found family, and the kind of wild i-MAGI-nation kids love.
"I didn't want to leave the incredibly imagined world of The Talismiths, where humor and high stakes kept me turning pages. It is cinematic in scope, populated with likeable (and wonderfully unlikeable) characters, grounded by redemption and hope, and imbued with a mystery that kept me guessing to the final, satisfying end. It's a perfect, can't-put-it-down adventure."
—Award-winning children's author Meredith Davis, The Minor Miracle and The Minor Rescue
Have you ever wondered who creates all the magical objects in your favorite stories?
Twelve-year-old Charlie Crumple certainly hasn’t—until a mysterious voice and a last-minute “lame” summer job drop him inside Talisman, Incorporated, the secretive factory where his late father once worked. Here, enchanted objects are not only real, they are designed, crafted, and flying carpets, talking mastheads, enchanted wands… and a thousand other magical necessities story heroes rely on.
But magic isn’t the only thing brewing inside the factory.
Machines are breaking down. A key Talismith vanishes. A rival corporation is circling like a hangry dragon. And someone—hidden deep within the twisting halls of Talisman, Incorporated—seems determined to tear everything apart from the inside.
Then come the clues… coded notes, dire warnings… that all point back to Charlie’s father, a brilliant Talismith whose death has never quite made sense. The more Charlie investigates, the more questions he uncovers, and the more dangerous the mystery becomes.
To uncover the truth, Charlie and his new friend Tess must team up with the factory’s designers, crack his father’s puzzles, finish a dangerous invention, and expose a traitor before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking… and if Charlie Crumple fails, happily-ever-after may vanish for good.
Perfect for fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Nevermoor, and Percy Jackson. The The Secret Saboteur is a fast-paced, mystery-filled middle-grade fantasy packed with humor, magical inventions, clever puzzles, found family, and the kind of wild i-MAGI-nation kids love.
"I didn't want to leave the incredibly imagined world of The Talismiths, where humor and high stakes kept me turning pages. It is cinematic in scope, populated with likeable (and wonderfully unlikeable) characters, grounded by redemption and hope, and imbued with a mystery that kept me guessing to the final, satisfying end. It's a perfect, can't-put-it-down adventure."
—Award-winning children's author Meredith Davis, The Minor Miracle and The Minor Rescue
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 1, 2026
This was a fun surprise! Charlie Crumple has not done well in school or life since his dad was killed in a car accident, leaving him and his mom with few resources. He's been getting in trouble at school, so when his mom sends him to his dad's old job for a summer internship, courtesy of his uncle, he protests vehemently, especially because he was looking forward to camp with his best (and only) friend.
It's not long before he finds himself drawn into mystery and intrigue as he makes some new friends (and enemies) as he works to both figure out what happened to his dad and save his dad's factory. I loved trying to figure out who the enemies were (I figured out one of the big ones but not all of them) as well as learn how the worlds worked. In some ways this book reminded me of Nevermoor and to a lesser extent, Harry Potter, where a kid finds out about a magical world that most of the world does not know about and ends up getting drawn into the politics and intrigue of good vs. evil. I loved the connection between the world of fairy tales and our own, and the Talismiths' role in connecting the two.
I loved the whole book and am looking forward to the next installment. I have no idea how many books will be in this series, but I hope there will be a few!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It's not long before he finds himself drawn into mystery and intrigue as he makes some new friends (and enemies) as he works to both figure out what happened to his dad and save his dad's factory. I loved trying to figure out who the enemies were (I figured out one of the big ones but not all of them) as well as learn how the worlds worked. In some ways this book reminded me of Nevermoor and to a lesser extent, Harry Potter, where a kid finds out about a magical world that most of the world does not know about and ends up getting drawn into the politics and intrigue of good vs. evil. I loved the connection between the world of fairy tales and our own, and the Talismiths' role in connecting the two.
I loved the whole book and am looking forward to the next installment. I have no idea how many books will be in this series, but I hope there will be a few!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 15, 2026
I really liked this book. The idea was actually different, not just a “new” version of an old , and often tired, trope.
The main character, Charlie, is honestly real. He isn’t a genius, or a hero, or really anything extraordinary in the beginning, and really through much of the story. He has feelings like we all do, wonder, anger, happiness, frustration…, and they show. His friend, Tess, is also real, but I don’t think we know nearly as much about her at the end of the book. I hope we learn more, she could be really interesting if she were more prominent.
The book had a lot of characters, maybe too many, I had a hard time remembering most of them, and while they did move the story forward, maybe they didn’t all need to be named. For me it made the book feel crowded and a bit chaotic.
The world was really cool and is revealed more and more through the story. I thought the Shelf was an awesome part of it. I would have loved to be there and see it.
In About the Author it mentions that they wrote it with reluctant readers in mind and I think it is perfect for them. It moves along steadily with few or no dull, nothing happens parts, which often loses those readers.
The main character, Charlie, is honestly real. He isn’t a genius, or a hero, or really anything extraordinary in the beginning, and really through much of the story. He has feelings like we all do, wonder, anger, happiness, frustration…, and they show. His friend, Tess, is also real, but I don’t think we know nearly as much about her at the end of the book. I hope we learn more, she could be really interesting if she were more prominent.
The book had a lot of characters, maybe too many, I had a hard time remembering most of them, and while they did move the story forward, maybe they didn’t all need to be named. For me it made the book feel crowded and a bit chaotic.
The world was really cool and is revealed more and more through the story. I thought the Shelf was an awesome part of it. I would have loved to be there and see it.
In About the Author it mentions that they wrote it with reluctant readers in mind and I think it is perfect for them. It moves along steadily with few or no dull, nothing happens parts, which often loses those readers.
December 27, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author paints such a vivid story and brings you right into the world on the page. I highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews