Yet the most interesting thing in the house, for Amelia, had nothing to do with her father’s inventions. It was a large, exceptionally intricate metalwork lamp that hung at the top of the stairs. The lamp was one of the things that had been installed at some point and then left behind when one family moved out and another moved in, and no one could say where it had come from or when. It hung outside the door to Amelia’s room, which was on the top floor, just beyond the banister. Every time she went in or out of her room, Amelia passed it. No one else knew the secrets that were contained within it, the extraordinary things that the lamp’s creator had hidden within the fine details of its metalwork.
Amelia Dee lives with her odd family in an odd house that has an odd history. In fact the whole story is a little odd. Not in a bad way, in a good, quirky way. Amelia’s mother in an artist who never shows her work and her father is an inventor. The ground floor of their house is rented by Mr Vishwanath, a yoga instructor who appears to have only one student and little interest in finding more.
Amelia is fascinated by a particularly ornate lamp that hangs outside her bedroom. She is also fascinated by Mr Vishwanath and his solitary student, the angry and bitter Princess Parvin Kha-Douri. Anyway, one thing leads to another and it turns out that the Princess has seen Amelia’s lamp before. More details about the Princess’ past are revealed as Amelia learns more about the lamp and tries to find a way to make the Princess happy again.
Amelia Dee and the peacock lamp was a really nice read. While not a fantasy book, it is set in a slightly off centre world. It’s the real world, our world, but with some little quirks. Almost a bit cartoony. I really don’t know if that makes sense, but it’s the best I can do. The story line itself involves a variety of interesting characters, some conflict, confusion, and a desire to help.
It is a really good book, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
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