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329 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| August, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-248462-8$16.99
(3)
4-6
Beast & Crown series.
Cursed into half-beasts by a ritual, Ji and his friends are gradually becoming even less human. Fleeing the Summer Queen's minions, our heroes make a desperate journey to break the spell before they are sacrificed to empower her fanatical heir. This stirring sequel to Beast & Crown considers weighty questions about morality, conflict, and the measure of one's worth, bolstered by the strong bonds of the heroic quintet.
(3)
4-6
Boot boy Ji and his friends escape their lives of servitude and attend the Diadem Rite, a mystical ritual to choose the heir to the crown. They survive the ritual but are transformed into creatures and must search for a cure while evading the future king, who wants to complete the sacrifice. The friendships among the central quintet are well developed in this winning fantasy-adventure.
(3)
4-6
Chess and his fellow airship scavengers (The Fog Diver) set out to find the Compass, an ancient device that can eliminate the lethal fog that has covered the earth, before evil Lord Kodoc gets control of it for his own sinister goals. The offbeat future setting, airship battles, and clockwork monsters provide colorful sci-fi flavor, while goofy banter highlights the strong friendships among the crew.
(4)
4-6
Lethal fog covers the earth, forcing humans to live in the skies. Among them are four young scavengers on an airship desperate to save their guardian from a deadly illness but without money to do it--until they find a diamond. Despite its neat futuristic setting, the plot feels charmingly nostalgic (think The Goonies). The crew's banter is amusing if sometimes hokey.