Continuing right after the events of Over the Woodward Wall Avery and Zig continue to follow the Improbable Road but fall down a well and arrive at the Saltwise Sea. They take shelter in a house along the shore but it belongs to a pirate. She demands a week of labor from them for trespassing on her property,. As they work on her ship they learn more about the four kingdoms and solve a mystery.
This has a real middle book feel about it. While we learn more details about this logically illogical world we are no closer to resolving the reasons why the children are there and how they are to return home.

library book read 2/22/2023 ( )

This is the direct sequel to Over the Woodward Wall , the children’s book that featured in Middlegame. Zib and Avery are continuing their journey to the Impossible City with the Crow Girl and Niamh. They fall into debt with a pirate captain after seeking shelter for the night in her cottage. A week’s worth of work for the night’s stay seems to be an ok trade with the pirate crew treating them fairly well. But there is a mystery on the ship and a book of Up and Under fairy tales that will bring the mystery to light.
This is more of a middle book in the series and the children still have more traveling to do. Not sure where their journey will take them but it is a fun ride.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
( )

I think if you enjoyed the first one, you'll enjoy this one. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the first one, so... the story is progressing, which is great. I find the omniscient narrator style in this particular series to be a bit pompous and preachy -- it wants to tell us all about what it means to be a child and how that may or may not work out for Avery and Zib. I find I have a limited attention span for that particular style right now. Not a good fit for me, but I stand by the sentiment that if you liked the first one, this one has some delight in store for you. I'm gonna wander back to the InCryptids, which are totally my jam.



Advanced readers copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

Fiction, Fantasy