The Call of Eirian

Gr 7 Up—This sequel to Crystal Bones (Marshall Cavendish, 2011) finds the 13-year-old Faelin twins, Diello and Cynthe, journeying to the faerie realm of Embarthi to return the magical sword Eirian and, hopefully, rescue their kidnapped younger sister. They are accompanied by a talking wolf pup and Scree, a loyal, but none-too-bright half-goblin boy. The twins encounter threats from humans and magical creatures alike, particularly from Gor-Goblin Brezog, who would possess Eirian for his own dark purposes. When the siblings finally reach Embarthi, their arrival isn't well received. Here, they learn of their mother's betrayal of the crown and of their own royal birthright. But could Embarthi prove to be just as treacherous for them as the world outside its boundaries? One thing's for certain: their quest isn't over. The purpose of this sequel appears to be character development, and the action doesn't pick up until the last third of the book. Unfortunately, readers may have lost interest by then. Plot twists are predictable, and the settings are only vaguely defined. Moreover, the importance of the quest feels buried beneath descriptions of daily travels, tedious dialogue, and other sidetracks. Purchase this for fans of the first book; otherwise, there are better options.—Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI