Review by Booklist Review
Book two of the Unwanteds fantasy series explores the aftermath of war and the uneasy peace that has settled over militaristic Quill and magical Artime. Alex finds himself the unexpected heir to magician Mr. Today, while his twin brother, Aaron, plots revenge and a return to his former status within Quill. Also of interest to Alex and his friends are the mysterious islands that surround their own especially after two silent castaways drift into Artime. The development or rather, stagnation of Quill continues to be the least compelling story line. Aaron often sounds more like a petulant teenager than a savvy instigator of political machinations, and it's difficult to believe anyone would accept him as a leader. But the titular island holds potential for a truly engaging plot twist, and it will hopefully feature more prominently as the story continues. After a devastating cliff-hanger where all that was won is seemingly lost, and the fate of several central characters is uncertain at best, it is clear that there are many scores still to settle and secrets yet to be revealed.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-9-When the wall between Quill and Artime fell, it allowed the disatisfied members of each kingdom the freedom to choose where they wanted to live. With the disruption of their ordered world, many Quillens blame the Artimean leader, Mr. Today, for stealing their working class. As Mr. Today works in conjunction with the new Quillen leader to bring peace, Aaron Stowe, disgraced former assistant to the High Priestess, vows to seek not only power, but also revenge. Meanwhile, his twin, Alex, is being groomed by Mr. Today to eventually lead the creative minds of Artime, learning secrets known only to the one who created their land. Alex and Mr. Today are also seeking an explanation for the startling appearance of two silent, foreign children. When several of Alex's best friends go missing, his greatest fear is that they may be trapped in the hostile world from which the strange children escaped. Narrated by James Langton, McMann's sequel (2012) to Unwanteds (2011, both Aladdin) deftly continues the story, drawing listeners into a darker, deeper world. Langton brings a sense of somberness to the story as Alex struggles to cope with the changes in his beloved Artime. Constantly under attack from Quill and facing the prospect of being left in charge, for even a short while, Alex's self-doubt is consistently evident in the narration, and as the stakes grow ever higher, listeners will be left hovering on the edges of their seats, desperate for the next book in this exciting dystopian fantasy series.-Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The first fight between the cold land of Quill and creative Artimi is over, an uneasy peace established between the two worlds. Alex begins training to be the next leader of Artimi, while his conniving twin Aaron plots to seize control of Quill. Plenty of action will satisfy readers of The Unwanteds; this second book is clearly setting up the next installment. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This Unwanteds (2011) sequel lacks the magic of the first book in more ways than one. Now that both Artim and Quill are free states and their rulers continue to work toward mutual peace, Artim's leader, mage Marcus Today, who's worked every day for the last 50 years, wants to take a holiday. He taps former Unwanted Alex to train to serve in his place. Instead of focusing on the students' creativity and burgeoning magical abilities, this second novel delves into leadership and gives readers plenty to think about concerning qualities and motivation. The third-person narration alternates between Alex and his doubts in his ability to lead and his vengeful twin brother, Aaron, who, after getting kicked out of Quill's university and losing his Wanted status, plots to become the new high priest of Quill. With the help of secret agents, Aaron hopes to start another war with Artim and take over their land as well--even if it means defeating his brother. Aaron's schemes take so long to materialize, however, that there's little action for stretches of the story. Despite the occasional slow pacing, the discovery of surrounding islands, including one that renders its captives mute in a horrific manner, lends enough adventure to keep fans satisfied. A cliffhanger ending with plenty of unsolved mysteries ensures the return of readers in the next installment. (Fantasy. 9-13)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
