Stravaganza: City of Secrets cover

Stravaganza: City of Secrets

Author: Hoffman, Mary

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades Plus (MG+ 6 and up)
Book Level 5.9
Points 15.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 92804
Points per Word 0.000162
Page Count 416
Points per Page 0.036058
Series Stravaganza

Description

Seventeen-year-old Matt, dyslexic and insecure, discovers that he can travel between worlds after being transported to Talia, where he joins Luciano and other Stravaganti in trying to prevent the di Chimici family's breakthrough into the world. Book #4

Quick Summary

If you're into fantasy with rich world-building and don't mind committing to a longer read, the Stravaganza series especially this fourth book might be exactly what you're looking for. Matt makes for a refreshing protagonist because he's dyslexic and genuinely struggles with confidence, which gives his journey real emotional weight when he discovers he can travel between our world and the magical realm of Talia. The story mixes the excitement of secret societies, Renaissance-style intrigue, and the stakes of preventing an evil family from breaking through to our world, all while exploring friendship and identity in ways that feel authentic rather than preachy. It's a great pick for readers who enjoyed the magic of the earlier books or newcomers who don't mind jumping into a series where characters already have history together, and it'll particularly resonate with kids who like their fantasy with a bit more depth and slower-burn tension rather than nonstop action. The tone balances genuine moments of humor and heart with some genuinely tense situations, so parents should know there's a bit of danger and suspense, but nothing gratuitous just solid adventure storytelling that rewards readers who stick with it.