Adventure

Alrightie, now we're getting down to the bone. There are TWO, count em', TWO books left! This one was FULL of twists and turns, once you got past the little recapitulation (I know, BIG word! 'Recap' is the shortened version!) at the beginning, which I'm not going to mention, since people might look at this who haven't read it yet! ( )

I love how this series, like other really good YA literature, grows along with its protagonist and its readers, getting progressively darker and more intense with each installment. Because there's no doubt that this is a heavy adventure.

Feeling harried and desperate after his loss on Quillan, Bobby and Courtney are torn. On one hand, they desperately need to find their friend Mark, who may have changed the future and allied with Saint Dane. But on the other hand, Saint Dane is targeting the territory of Ibara as his next and possibly most important conquest. So Bobby and Courtney make the difficult decision to split the duties.

While Courtney meets up with Gunny's acolyte on First Earth, the hilariously clever Dodger, to search for Mark and stop him, Bobby heads to Ibara, a tropical island paradise where dark secrets are being kept. With only the help of the rebellious teenage Traveler Siry, Bobby is about to get some serious news tossed on him. Because nothing on Ibara is what it seems, and the mysteries behind it have staggering implications on the battle for Halla. And in order to put an end to the conflict once and for all, Bobby may have to make the biggest sacrifice he's ever been faced with. It's all coming to a head.

With both plotlines packed with action, twists, and intense choices and revelations, this is the true lead-in novel to this series' finale. I still love its characters, even Saint Dane, who is such an incredible villain becuase of how terrifyingly clever and callous he is. I am so glad I have the next one ready, because MacHale knows how to hook a reader! ( )

Over the past couple of entries in this series, MacHale has broken from the formula...and it's been great. It's nice that these books are no longer cookie cutters. Pretty good twist in the middle there, and another one near the end. Fun read. ( )

Great Young Adult Fantasy - but with an ending like that you just have to pick up the sequel... ( )