When I read <i>Curse of the Night Witch</i> I'd wondered if the second book could live up the freshness. Reader, it did.

There is an underlying mythology that isn't like one that we've known before (based on Columbian stories) and it's really wonderful. For Book Two we're taken to a completely different part of this world, one with pirates and merpeople and hidden arctic caves and clues to the next point in the quest. Yes, this is a quest book but there is no map per se, it's going from clue to clue to clue. The additional spaces in this world are as wonderfully written as in the first book. I'm already looking forward to the third!

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

I love this series! This series contains magic, quests, and fantastic folklore. This book also has PIRATES!

Tor, Engle, and Melda have to face tough tasks throughout each book. They use team work and trust to solve their problems. I cannot wait for book 3 to see what adventure they embark on next and which emblems Tor discovers.

Keep these books coming!

Tor, Engle, and Melda are off on another exciting adventure in book 2 of the Emblem Island series. This time pirates are about to attack Emblem Island unless the three of them, with the help of a mermaid named Vesper, can find a pearl with the power to control the seas. It's a race against time with tales from the Book of Seas woven between the chapters. Although fairly long, the action packed plot moves the story along quickly. The only downside for me was lack of a recap of events in the sequel. Not only would it have made it easier to follow the story in this book, but it would also have made it more accessible for anyone who hadn't read the original.

A mysterious girl with an ominous message upends three friends’ deep seated desire to find calm after a frightening and life-altering adventure. One month previously, Tor Luna received the entirety of the Night Witch’s powers as he began the transition to become her successor. Before he can really understand his new capabilities, however, a girl named Vesper washes ashore and warns Tor and his friends of the impending arrival of the Calavera, pirates who will stop at nothing to find the Pirate’s Pearl and conquer Emblem Island and everything on it. Though emotionally drained, Tor and his friends Melda and Engle join forces once again—alongside their new companion—to scour the seas in the Night Witch’s boat and locate the Pirate’s Pearl before it is too late.

This second book in the Emblem Island series is captivatingly written, beginning moments after the conclusion of the first story. Tor, Melda, and Engle are left without adult guidance and must combine their unique skills to rescue their beloved Estrelle from destruction. Amidst treachery, lies, and danger, the youth must learn to reconcile their differences in order to achieve their common goal.

Written for an advanced middle grade audience, this book will appeal to young adult and adult readers, as well. An action-driven plot keeps the pages turning as the story unfolds, racing against a two-week time constraint that ups the stakes with each passing day. Interspersed within the narrative are excerpts from the Book of Seas, a collection of beautiful fables that turn out to be more real than they seem. Blending together easily, readers will embrace the story-within-a-story as they experience the features from the Book of Seas coming to life in front of the characters’ eyes.

Fans of fantasy adventure stories will devour this riveting tale. Though each new development is more challenging than the last, the characters exhibit cunning and problem-solving skills as they navigate toward their ultimate goal. Flawed and empathetic characters make the narrative feel real despite its fantastic design, connecting readers to a world that many would be thrilled to join. This superb sequel elegantly sets up the third installment; it is a highly recommended addition to library collections for middle grade and teen readers.