August 1, 2007
Gr 5-8-Having defeated the intolerant merlons that attacked the mystical island of Elantya in "Crystal Doors" (Little, Brown, 2006), 14-year-old cousins Gwen and Vic now face their greatest series of dangers yet. When Vic's father finds a way to travel between Earth and Elantya, a hub of numerous magical worlds, his son couldn't be happier to see him. This joy is short-lived, however, when the nefarious dark sages Azric and Orpheon find a way to get their hands on the kids. Captured by the merlon people, along with three of their friends, Vic and Gwen discover that they are key to releasing Azric's evil immortal army. An almost ridiculous number of prophecies abound in this fun, if standard, fantasy tale. The action is fast paced and consistently interesting once you get past the exposition at the start of the story. While not exemplary, the book is sure to appeal to kids looking for a fantasy in an original setting. An entertaining read even for those who haven't seen its predecessor."Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library"
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