My name is Wily Snare, and I don't think I'll ever be able to perform the role of king. As the prince, everyone looks to me to make decisions, but there's too much pressure knowing that my choices will impact others. What if I make a mistake? There's also the fact my father was a wicked man, and many people fear I'll become just like him. To top things off, it seems Stalag is amassing an army of stone golems that will be indestructible, and he'll use them to annihilate the entire kingdom. Our only hope is to find the three-headed lair beast and somehow get it to battle the golems with us. Of course, it will probably devour us as we approach, and no one knows how to control it. Except... there is one person who might be able to help, but will she? Abandonment and hurt feelings may leave us on our own.
You can probably still enjoy this book without reading the first book in the series, Escape to the Above. While the book is full of fantastic, magical creatures, I enjoyed Wily most of all. He didn't have any special powers and was able to escape dangerous situations with his mind. He was also vulnerable due to his insecurities about being a prince. His mother told him it was okay to make mistakes and that he'd never become like his father. However, Wily's self-doubt was a major factor throughout most of the plot. His best friend was Roveeka, his adopted hobgoblet sister, and she was adept at hurling her two knives named Mum and Pops. He was also accompanied by a brave knight and his severed arm. The arm was called Righteous, and it was ready to fight all threats "single-handedly". An elf named Odette and a moss golem named Moshul rounded out the team and created an interesting dynamic. There was great caring between the group members that was key in facing impending perils. Overall, this is an entertaining series, and I recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Charlie, and my parents don't believe my nightmares are responsible for the disasters. They think it's me and that I'm a danger to others. They won't even let me attend the regular school. I can't explain the preschool destruction, the Naptime Catastrophe, or the Sleepover Apocalypse. I don't know why the giant spider didn't attack me too. Everything changed when I woke up one night, and a creature from my nightmare stood right in my bedroom! It probably would have killed me if Rex, Tabitha, and Pinch hadn't shown up. Rex said I released a Class 5 monster, and Tabitha said my Gift is the strongest she's ever seen. Now, I'm on my way to the Nightmare Academy where I'll learn to master my abilities, if I don't unleash one of the Named and kill everyone first.
As in many books, Charlie's character has powers that are rarely seen. He may be the savior the High Council has been waiting for, or he may be a catalyst for its destruction. The premise of the book is that kids' creative nightmares sometimes release monsters into the world, and the Nightmare Academy graduates are trained to send them back to the Netherworld. The Named monsters are the worst, and one was accidentally freed many years ago. It hasn't been heard from in awhile, so readers can predict that it will pop up sometime in the book. Charlie almost makes the same mistake and complicates the situation. Despite the academy being in the title of the book, it isn't a major part of the plot. Charlie attends two classes before things go out of control. I'm hoping he'll get more formal training in the sequel, Monster Madness, and get his abilities under control. On the other hand, the uncertainty of how he'll respond in tense situations adds to the suspense. I'm enjoying the book more than I expected, and I'll probably check out book two.
My name is Owen Reeder, and I've learned some strange things around my father's used book shop. I've wondered why he doesn't like me to read fantasy stories, and he's never been a warm, loving man. However, I've overheard him talking to people in hooded cloaks, in a room hidden below the floorboards. I accidentally discovered the room and barely managed to escape a giant guardian creature. Then, an old man appeared in the store and wanted to give me a large book. My father was very upset about that, and I couldn't understand why. I still don't fully get it, but my life has been turned upside down. A book, a dragon, a portal, oh my!
I randomly came upon this series while looking for a new eBook. This initial story slowly related Owen's destiny to fulfill a prophecy, but he wasn't endowed with amazing powers or abilities. Once the book was opened, it became a source of magic, with Owen acting as its keeper. Owen was able to make some things happen, but he didn't really know what he was doing. I like this more "realistic" approach to a character learning about new abilities. It bugs me a bit when a character quickly masters them without a learning curve. Owen was briefly joined by an annoying younger girl, and I assumed she'd become a sidekick. Some clues were dropped along the way, even though she disappeared from the story later in the book. She added spunk to the events! The author portrayed Owen as some kind of savior, but I'm still trying to figure out how he fits in. Is he a king's son? Does he have undiscovered powers? I've already started the sequel, The Sword of the Wormling, so we'll see what happens.
My name is Rahkki, and I must help Sula free her captured pegasi herd from the giants. However, I must learn to ride her first, and my fear of heights complicates things. I've also learned there are rebels plotting to overthrow the queen, and I've been approached to become a rebel leader. I don't want to get involved, since the queen already wants to see me dead. I've survived an assassination attempt, and I've been put into other situations where I was likely to die. Many people think I have magical powers now, and I'm discovering it may be best not to correct them. Even the queen is fearful that I can control dragons. She's decided I'm going to lead the land armies against the giants and dragons even though I have no training. In her mind, if all works well, I'll be killed.
The summary above describes the gist of the plot, but there are many other issues. Rahkki learns that his mother may be alive which would be a big problem for the queen. However, if she's alive, why hasn't she returned? Sula injured Rahkki's brother in book one, and that has created problems. Rahkki is smitten with the queen's daughter, and she may be deceiving him. What is she up to? The entire adventure is told through the eyes of Rahkki, a "landwalker", and Sula, a pegasus. Sula is a main character and is known as Echofrost to the other pegasi. The author freely uses both names depending on the other characters involved. Echofrost's entire focus is on saving the herd, and she once swore she'd kill Rahkki someday. Rahkki's kind ways are slowly changing her, and she's surprised that they might actually become friends. She's always wanted to be free, but what does that actually mean? Overall, I'm enjoying the series, and you really need read Across the Dark Water first. Unfortunately, I'll need to wait a year for the next book in the series to be published.
My name is Raamo, and the great Rejoyning has begun. A council has been formed to unite the Erdlings with Kindar, but things are not going smoothly. Fears and distrust have long festered between the two societies, and trying to merge them into one culture creates conflict. Many leaders were pleased when D'Ol Regle fled into the forest, but I was leery of his disappearance. Most of the people have renewed hope, yet I can't explain my reservations. I feel they've bestowed too much reverence upon my little sister Pomma and her Erdling friend Teera. They could become targets for the discontented rebels hiding in the forest. My visions of the future give me hope, but sacrifices will need to be made. Only time will tell if peace will prevail.
Remember the peace and serenity of book one? Well, that's gone now. The story highlights the difficulty of fostering peace when uniting different cultures. The author creates mystery and tension as the plot develops. It's clear D'Ol Regle will do something, especially with Raamo's uneasy feelings, and there have been Erdling rebels causing disturbances in books two and three. These antagonists weren't going to just disappear. Raamo is the main character, although he's not always present in the story. He was also reluctant to fully share his thoughts and feelings. These strategies by the author caused some disconnection from the book, as it's more difficult to empathize with characters who are more reserved and appear inconsistently. The author saved a couple of surprises for the plot's climax, so you'll be able to look forward to that. Overall, I liked the book, but it left me wanting something more.
My name is Froya, and I'm so thankful to have found Stellan, Jytte, and my brother Third. I never felt like part of a family until I met these polar bears, and I can't believe Third has forgiven me for my cruelty. We're determined to stop the Grand Patek and his followers. Their worship of The Clock is costing the lives of young cubs, and the violence has started to spread. We went to request help from the owls of Ga'Hoole, and they agreed, with a couple of conditions. We must venture across the dangerous lands and seek alliances with the diverse range of animals. Why would any leaders listen to the words of four young cubs, especially the mysterious, fearsome wolves of the Beyond? The quest seems impossible, but allowing innocent bears to die is not an option.
I was hoping this book would conclude the series, but no luck. It's been interesting and entertaining, but it's run its course with me. I liked how the first book was mostly "realistic", but the series has slowly diverged from that as the cubs meet other creatures. It's still a source of learning about the wildlife and nature. The cubs learn to use the sun and stars to navigate the lands, and they discover information about owls and wolves that will be useful. Third and Froya became companions along the way, and it's nice to see the author allowing them to make important contributions along the way. Third is able to see the future in his dreams, and he's provided sound advice to Stellan and Jytte. Froya memorizes the stars and helps with navigation. The team is joined by a tiny owlet named Rags, who didn't know how to fly, and even she performs critical deeds. The Grand Patek is the primary antagonist, but the author adds some other complications to the conflict. Secret motivations and alliances arise that will impede the bears' efforts. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and will probably end up reading the fourth book, when it's published.
My name is Jytte, and Stellan and I are determined to save the cubs from the Roguer bears. We must figure out a way to destroy their false idol, and our first step is to find a father we've never met. Our mother, now a Roguer prisoner, has told us many stories about him and how he once led the rebels. However, we've learned he was captured and tortured, and Stellan thinks he may be dead. My brother may be losing faith, but I'm sure our father is alive. He has to be! We've asked others about the Den of Forever Frost, but they all say it's a myth. It's the key to everything, so we can't stop searching for it. We're discovering lands and creatures we never imagined, and we've met unexpected allies. We must continue facing the dangers of the ice world, or the survival of all polar bears may be lost.
You should read The Quest of the Cubs first. The interesting aspect of Den of Forever Frost is how it's mostly based on the qualities of real polar creatures. You can actually learn about this habitat by reading the adventure, although it's not in-your-face information. The cubs face natural perils and must constantly be on the lookout for food, shelter, and other predators. They're often reminded that polar bears may be the largest predators, but other animals are capable of injuring and killing them. I'm not crazy about changes introduced later in the book. Weapons are included, which strays from the natural feel of the story. The cubs don't typically do things that real bears couldn't do, other than Stellan can pense the thoughts of others and Jytte can sense connections with the ice. Overall, the series has been entertaining, and this book has created a transition to a dramatic conclusion. I enjoyed the first book a little better, but I recommend you give the series a shot.
My name is Teera, and I find myself above the Root for the first time. I've heard wonderful stories of the Kindar people living among the treetops, but I'm terrified being by myself. I'm living with Raamo's family now, but I can't let them know I'm an Erdling. The best thing is sharing a space with Pomma. We've learned to Image with each other, so Pomma has discovered most of my secrets. I trust she won't tell anyone else, but I'm still afraid she'll let something slip. I'm sure the Ol-zhann won't be happy if they know of my true identity, and I fear what they'll do to the other Erdlings. I'm happy Raamo is willing to help, but I'm not sure about his friends. I've just met another novice Ol-zhann named Genaa, and her angry emotions toward Erdlings frighten me.
You should read Below the Root first, as book two described how Teera came to find Raamo, the main character in book one. It covered many of the same events but from a different point of view. The intrigue was how Teera's presence could endanger everyone living below the Root, as her appearance could reveal the Ol-zhann's secrets. The conflict arose when the Ol-zhann exiled a segment of its citizens from the treetops many years ago. The crux of the issue concerned how much historical truth should be revealed to maintain a peaceful culture. Should the citizens be aware of their ancestors' past acts of aggression and violence, or should those kinds of thoughts and behaviors be taboo for discussion and knowledge? The early settlers of Green Sky battled with these questions until the believers of historical openness were banished below the Root. The controversy arose again with the appearance of Teera. It was evident the Ol-zhann wanted to keep the Kindar in blissful ignorance, but the leaders became willing to use the banned behaviors to preserve it. The story will make you think, which I like. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and recommend you give it a shot.
I'm a bard and have a story to share with you. I'll pick it up after our young heroes narrowly escaped the Gorm's camp. There seemed to be no way to stop them, so Podkin and his friends hid for over a month in Corm's abandoned warren. The rabbits had deserted it when they believed their home was cursed. Now, Podkin explored the forgotten rooms and depths of the burrow and discovered a relic meant to be lost. It gave him a magical connection to shadows that would help him in the moonlight. Secrets were also discovered that impelled Podkin and his friends to breach another Gorm camp. Little did they know their survival would rest with the efforts of their smallest hero.
I recommend you read Podkin One-Ear first even though you can still enjoy this book without it. As in the first one, Pook the bard continued the story of Podkin, but this time he reluctantly took on an apprentice named Rue. Pook wanted to keep his identity secret, which brought about a sense of mystery beyond the Podkin story. Somebody wanted him dead for some reason. The Podkin story still went unfinished, as it's the thread holding the books together. Podkin continued to feel useless, as the other characters stepped up when needed. Podkin felt he had no special talents, but he's turned out to be the uniting factor among the group. It was an interesting contrast to his character in the first book. The Gorm continued to be an overwhelming juggernaut, terrifying creatures throughout the forest. Their connection to iron made them an almost indestructible army, but Podkin has managed to find a way, so far. Overall, this has been an entertaining series that can be enjoyed by most middle grade readers. I recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Rye, and the Fork-Tongue Charmers and Bog Noblins are making the woods more and more dangerous. Once rarely seen, the Bog Noblins are becoming especially bold, as they ravage villages during the night. I finally found my father, leader of the Luck Uglies, but someone else is challenging him to become chieftan. This divide may explain the growing boldness of the Bog Noblins and may lead to the destruction of Drowning. To complicate matters, the town orphans are stuck in the middle. My father is not as strong as he once was, and he needs my help. I've gathered some friends and come up with a daring plan. It may require the sacrifice of someone dear to me, and I'm not sure I'm willing to pay that price.
This book concludes the trilogy, and I recommend you read the first two installments. I hadn't read them in awhile and felt like I was missing some details. I couldn't always visualize the descriptions of creatures or characters, although there were brief descriptions at the end of the book. The Bog Noblins were the source of a physical conflict, but the unrest within the Luck Uglies was the more significant problem. It affected Rye's family and the safety of everyone in Drowning. Rye's role in everything was curious, as she bravely fought to help her friends, family, villagers, and orphans. On the other hand, she obediently took a back seat when her father told her too. That may sound strange, but young heroes in other books often take matters into their hands no matter what anyone else says. Rye usually found herself in a position to help anyhow, but it wasn't from disobedience or rebellion. Overall, I enjoyed the series but wish I'd read it straight through. I'm not sure why I didn't. Give it a shot!
