The Face in the Frost

A fantasy novel by John Bellairs, author of The House with a Clock in Its Walls. The story follows Prospero, a tall, skinny wizard living in the South Kingdom—a region of feuding duchies and small manors under a figurehead king. When mysterious pursuers force him to flee his home, Prospero embarks on an adventure with his necromancer friend Roger Bacon, who has been searching for a mysterious book. Their journey takes them to a grove connected to Prospero's old rival Melichus, to an unwelcoming inn in the town of Five Dials, and ultimately into a dangerous confrontation rooted in a magical glass paperweight. The novel combines elements of horror with fairy tale-inspired fantasy, blending humor and darkness throughout. Lin Carter described it as one of the best fantasy novels since The Lord of the Rings. Bellairs is also known for the Lewis Barnavelt series and was nominated for the Edgar Award.