January 1, 2016
Future leaders of Santarem confront slavery and sacrifice in this sequel. Born Princess Adriana but raised as a Storyspinner by the Von Arlo Performers, Johanna has discovered that being a long-lost princess is more a burden than a blessing. Everyone wants to manipulate or murder her: magic-wielding foreign Keepers Jacare, Leao, and Pira, armed with special affinities and freighted with emotional baggage, need her to restore a magical wall; one-dimensional dukes Belem and Inimigo want more power; and Natas--malevolent Keepers bent on mind-control and graphic torture--Vibora and Sapo want to destroy the wall and enslave the world. Even her traveling companion, Rafael DeSilva, heir to Santiago and the princess's betrothed, is initially suspect, given his love of power and sense of duty. Everybody suffers, emotionally and physically; Rafi and Johanna compete for the mopey martyr title, while back home, Rafi's brother, Dom, struggles with second-son syndrome. Short chapters and frequent battles should move the thin plot along, but contrived cliffhangers and constant shifts in point of view cause unnecessary repetitions of the same scenes. The novelty of a New World setting--flora and fauna indicate a Central or South American setting, and italicized vocabulary resembles Portuguese, suggesting Brazil--is lost under stereotypical pseudo-medieval European elements, ill-explained religion, troubling anachronisms (such as foxholes and improvised explosive devices), and weak worldbuilding. Melodrama and mindless violence make for a mediocre sequel. (Fantasy. 14-18)
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March 1, 2016
Gr 8 Up-This second installment picks up right where The Storyspinner (S. & S., 2014) left off. Johanna, with help from Rafi and Jacare, continues on her quest to restore the magical barrier, but things get complicated as she and Rafi explore their budding feelings for each other. Rafi's brother Dom is left to handle the duties of duke at home in Santiago, which becomes dangerous as nearby fiefs move to draw their homeland into the looming war over the throne. Pira and Leao are left searching for and rescuing each other while also trying to catch up with Jacare and Johanna. All the while, there are Keepers already on this side of the wall who will stop at nothing to keep Johanna and her allies from achieving their goal. Readers will be pleased with the continuation of the story of Johanna and the Keepers. This volume has more romance and cliched dialogue than the previous entry, as well as Wallace's page-turning action sequences. Multiple character perspectives continue with two new voices, which leads to surprising character development. VERDICT A compelling, unique world with Portuguese-inspired echoes of Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind (DAW, 2007), this series is a must for fans of fantasy.-Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL
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