Fun, lots of adventure and super cute characters. I enjoyed this one. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend this cute series.

A Character Driven Middle Grade Adventure Tale

Sure, lots of action/adventure stuff happens here, although not as much as in the first book. We explore and battle and lurk and outwit and all of that.

But, the aspect of this book I find most appealing, and somewhat uncommon and unexpected, turns on the development of the characters, the issues they address, and the subtle undercurrent of fantastical melancholy. Our two main heroes, Marrill and Fin, continue to grow and develop. Numerous secondary characters are allowed to make their marks on the narrative. Some new and refreshing characters are introduced. These characters have to grapple with loss, regret, and concern over the fate of loved ones, as well as more familiar and time worn coming of age issues.

All of this adds a special dimension to the otherwise more standard fantasy. We have the Pirate Stream, amazing creatures, an interesting alternate world, and hundreds of little throwaway bits of imagineering. That is good, solid fantasy swashbuckling material, but it is all elevated and colored by the quality of the character building.

It's worth emphasizing that there is a lot of humor here. There are broad bits of silliness, some nice set pieces, lots of clever cross-talk, and then a few goofy bits and a lot of wordplay. It is a testament to the author's craftsmanship that this isn't the type of book that has one or two funny/silly comic relief characters, with every other character fulfilling some other role. Every character in this book is smart, articulate, and clued in to what is going on. As a consequence the reader never knows who is going to get the best line or the last word, and that keeps the interest level high and the pace fast.

That said, there seems, to me, to be a strong vein of sadness running through the stories of all of the main characters. There is hope that all will be resolved happily as the series progresses, but the book doesn't promise, or necessarily even suggest, that that will be the case. Perhaps this accounts in part for the tremendous loyalty of those readers who have taken the series to heart.

So, a well-crafted, intriguing, and surprisingly rich adventure tale; a nice find.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)