Review by Frank Plowright

The capital city of Oskars is a grand place, at least if you live on the upper levels, and it’s maintained by a complicated system of levers, pulleys and gears that even those who operate it don’t fully understand. However, the orphaned Ever Barnes hangs about the Switchboard Centre and through observation and after hours practice has come to learn more about the machinery than many who control it. It’s fortunate he’s there to prevent an accident when Hannah Morgan accompanies her ranking father on a visit. Not everyone is grateful, though.

Victoria Ying spends time introducing the two main characters and their circumstances to readers along with a mystery entrusted to Ever’s family, and that Hannah’s not entirely at home with the privilege her family has. Ying also shows Oskars may go to war, and that Ever is somehow key to the city’s defence, leading to his life being in danger. It’s all delivered in immediately captivating sketchy art in a limited selection of muted colours, showing how people feel, and very kinetic despite minimal or no backgrounds. Ying occasionally cuts away to supply the complex city mechanics. These are a far more intricate version of the shifting staircases seen at Hogwarts, and the devices come into their own when Ever and Hannah first meet, a glorious sequence of tumbles and climbs.

A nice touch is that their friendship isn’t immediate. Readers will recognise both characters could do with a friend, but experience has taught Ever to be suspicious, and it’s a while before they bond. It’s just before Ying begins a series of revelations explaining what’s previously been seen, but continuing further and further until she’s underpinned the entire society. It’s ingenious and delightful.

Fast moving, constantly surprising and with appealing characters, City of Secrets is something to delight all readers, and the good news is there’s a sequel, City of Illusion.