The Elders

Continuing the search for her brother, Isla (The Taken) meets other foxes who have lost family to the Mage, an evil, mind-controlling fox. Isla decides to seek help from the masters of foxcraft, the Elders, but the Mage is always one step ahead...is there a spy in their midst? Plentiful mystery, action, and suspense build upon the first book's strong foundation. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A young fox travels alone through the wilderness in search of her missing brother. Young vixen Isla is still reeling from a trusted friends betrayal and the recent death of her family at the hands of the Mage and his army of followers (The Taken, 2015). She is determined not to be duped again, but the arrival of Haiki, a friendly and needy fox, makes her reconsider her decision to remain alone. The Mages army is not the only enemy. Haiki and Isla must work together if they are to escape the dogs, the coyotes, and the furless. They seek the Elders, who they hope will help them find their missing family members and teach them the ancient art of foxcraft. But Isla soon learns that the lines between good and evil are not as clear as she believed. In Islas world, a road becomes a deathway, a rabbit becomes a meal, and magic is possible for those willing to learn. Her journey is as much an internal one as external. She must decide whether to hope or despair, join or withdraw, and forgive or become jaded. Iserles adeptly delivers a vulpine bildungsroman, writing with a sense of plotting and pacing honed by work as part of the pseudonymous team Erin Hunter. A magical adventure with thrills, heartbreak, and an endearing heroine, this will please series fans and leave them poised for the next. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.