The Black Tempest

Gr 7–10—Twins Valentine and Malcolm Gilbert return in this follow-up to The Year of Lightning. Val, Mal, and their friends are enjoying a quieter end to their freshman year as things have (mostly) returned to normal after their narrow escape from time traveler Lucius Carmichael. The peace does not last long. While the group are paying tribute to a fallen friend, two young adults appear through a portal, and with them come a new host of troubles. Tyrathorn and Ashandara, warriors from a far-off kingdom named Everwatch, are trying to stop a man known as the Black Tempest. His power, and that of his second-in-command, the Frost Hammer, is unlike any that the twins have ever faced. They train with siblings Thorn and Asha to try to overcome this new threat to their town and, possibly, the world and time itself. The plot reveals a few surprises, all of which fit the story line well. Characterizations remain strong, and even the newest characters have distinct personalities. The scientific explanations of how the twins manipulate time are adequate, and more background is given about their powers, which helps readers understand just how extraordinary their abilities are. The last chapter is an excellent cliff-hanger that will leave teens wanting more.