DUNGEON RUNNERS

Sportsmanship, trust, and a flying sword move the Triple Trouble team through perilous, monster-filled chambers in this third series entry.

Kit, Sandy, and Thorne form Grotville’s unlikely Dungeon Runners home team. They survived the second level and are on their way to the Orb, an underwater dungeon that harbors sea monsters including kraken, octowolves, and flame eels. Kit still feels like an underdog; his practice sessions haven’t been promising, and although team healer Thorne is trying to do better, his remedies are still far from perfect. Sandy, the team’s mage, dreams of becoming a sea hag, which could give them an edge in this watery setting. During their previous run, Kit struggled with self-doubt and trust, but he’s learned and grown. He acknowledges that his teammates are “usually right,” allowing Thorne and Sandy opportunities to shine and reinforcing their strength as a team. Another welcome element is the way Triple Trouble displays courage, kindness, and sportsmanship by reciprocating the generous treatment of rival team the Yarn Stormers, which leads to a friendly temporary alliance. As before, Larwood’s writing is fun, fast-paced, and kid-friendly. Todd-Stanton’s illustrations, which show characters who vary in skin tone, remain a key part of the narration’s success, enhancing the storytelling and adding to the humor. A cliffhanger ending will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the next outing.

Combines fun, page-turning adventure with sincere character development.