In this rousing sequel to Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools (2008), “elfling” Sebastian abandons a disastrous career as a court jester and takes to the high seas in search of pirate treasure with Max, his witty talking buffalope, and Cornelius, his pint-sized warrior pal. En route to the port of Ramalat to hire a ship, the treasure hunters fall prey to a shape-shifting enchantress who bewitches Sebastian and obsessively stalks him throughout his quest. After engaging the fetching Captain Jenna Swift and her ship, the Sea Witch, the companions sail through dangerous waters infested with carnivorous keifers, battle unsavory pirates and narrowly escape giant lizards as they follow a cryptic map to Captain Callinestra’s hidden booty. Caveney successfully balances a fast-paced, action-packed plot with unabashed humor, a suggestion of romance and three unlikely heroes, whose foibles make them convincing as well as endearing. Sebastian remains naively irresistible and Cornelius fearlessly valorous while self-centered Max steals the show with his plaintive whining and droll wisecracks. Swashbuckling fare for fans of this original adventure series. (Fantasy. 12-17)
Pub Date: April 14, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-385-73468-4
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2009
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A high-intensity tale shot through with spectacular magic battles, savage mayhem, cool outfits, monsters, hidden doors, over-the-top names, narrow escapes, evil schemes and behavior heroic, ambiguous and really, really bad. When the murder of a favorite uncle touches off a frantic search for a fabled superweapon known as the Scepter of the Ancients, 12-year-old Stephanie is abruptly pitched out of her mundane life. She hooks up with Skulduggery Pleasant—a walking, wisecracking, nattily dressed, fire-throwing skeleton detective—and similar unlikely allies to fight a genially sadistic sorcerer out to conquer the world and to bring back the bad old gods. It’s a great recipe for a page-turner, and though Landy takes a chapter or two to get up to full speed, the plot thereafter accelerates as smoothly as Pleasant’s classic Bentley toward a violent, seesaw climax. Earning plenty of style points for hardboiled dialogue and very scary baddies, the author gives his wonderfully tough, sassy youngster a real workout, and readers, particularly Artemis Fowl fans, will be skipping meals and sleep to get to the end. Expect sequels. (Fantasy. 12-15)
Pub Date: April 3, 2007
ISBN: 0-06-123115-0
Page Count: 400
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Though this debut feels unevenly paced, the writing is strong, and the author shows promise.
When an ancient evil descends on her city, one girl considers the sacrifices required to thwart it.
The city of Vaiwyn is alive; the streets are its veins, and its heart beats like a clock. Mina Strauss’ family has a long history of protecting both the sentient city and its inhabitants. The city’s five Vesper Bells were forged by the Lost Alchemist generations ago to hold back a great evil—if a bell tolled 13 times, that evil would be revived. A Strauss stands guard at each bell, cutting the clappers that grow back every night. Mina inherited her bell earlier than anticipated when her beloved father died of the Talus Pox. Now she contends with the weight of that responsibility—and her cold, distant mother’s persistent disapproval. Mina finds solace with Max, the boy she’s slowly been falling in love with, and she’s with him the night her bell tolls 13 times and unleashes terror upon Vaiwyn. Mina is desperate to save the people she loves from imminent destruction, but there’s more to Vaiwyn’s history—and her own—than she knows. Despite strong prose, the exposition-heavy beginning and a few overly telegraphed plot twists hamper the narrative’s pacing. Still, readers will likely be drawn to the original concept, complicated family dynamics, and well-articulated depth of demisexual Mina’s developing relationship with Max. Most characters read white.
Though this debut feels unevenly paced, the writing is strong, and the author shows promise. (content warnings) (Fantasy. 13-17)Pub Date: March 11, 2025
ISBN: 9781250322807
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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