Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the setting of this series! Arthurian legend is one of my favorites and I loved the take on it in this book! Lancelot was always a favorite knight of mine so it has been great to see him in this book. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives in this book because it really adds to the adventure in the book.

Magic meets mayhem for middle-grade readers in this fun and adventurous sequel of friendship.

Having recovered the legendary sword Excalibur in the first book of the series, 13-year-old Caedmon and almost-13 Ellie return as knights in training, ready to set forth on their first quests to prove their worth. Venturing from the late summer calm of Wisconsin to a wedding in the woods, it doesn’t doesn’t take long for lurking danger to test their skills, their resolve, and their loyalties. Will Caedmon’s boldness help or harm his journey? Can Ellie maintain control of her growing but illegal magical powers? Even the mentorship of the legendary Merlin may not be enough when they need to act on their own.

A few of my favorite things….

Author Alexandria Rogers’ writer’s voice is fun. She knows her young protagonists inside and out and reveals their humor, their wishes, their embarrassments, and their accomplishments. Middle-grade readers should readily relate to them. The large cast of supporting characters includes favorites Merlin, Loren, Lancelot, Lorelei, and a host of others. Family figures aren’t dismissed as sometimes happens in middle-grade adventure tales. Caedmon’s mother has her say and his father’s attentive and caring heart resonates with his own children and Ellie.

Croven is a villain with an appropriately creepy name and cause, creating the conflict and aided by less-apparent antagonists.

The footnotes sprinkled throughout the chapters effectively supplement the prologue and epilogue by the rhyming Madame Myste’rieuse, framing the story and adding amusing details. Any King Arthur fan should appreciate the names and associations.

The positive messages of discovering one’s purpose and the importance of friendship and trust are obvious without being heavy-handed.

The glossary and list of realms at the beginning of the book is exactly what many readers want. In the printed edition, it appears a map may be included. If so, it would be a welcome bonus.

Things I might consider…

Some of the plot events are explained only after the fact, making them seem a bit convenient. Characters may fortuitously appear just at the right time to resolve a conflict.

So many world-building details are introduced that it can be challenging to discern the important from the insignificant. This appears to add significantly to the word count of a book already lengthy by middle-grade standards, potentially limiting its readership.

This second book in the series ends with a significant and exciting invitation to the next stage, indicating a third is in the works. Let the quests continue!

I gratefully received an ARC of this book through NetGalley. Opinions are my own.