Sea of Kings

This debut is carefully paced, packing in enough details to interest curious readers but not so much that they spoil the magical mystery at the heart of the story. A fun adventure with solid characterization, this is recommended for middle-grade collections.

Prince Noa Blackburn, a serious, bookish 13 year old, is heir apparent of the kingdom of Ondule, one of the sea islands in the realm of Astrius. Discovering a noose, a skull, and a pendant with an enigmatic symbol on the beach, Noa and his impetuous, fun-loving younger brother, Dagon, must keep their finds a secret from their father. King Titus has been overprotective since their mother's death three years earlier. But the arrival of a Edjlin, ruler of a neighboring island, brings Ondule under attack and King Titus arms Noa with a magic map and orders him to follow it away from their island to save their people. The brothers commandeer Edjlin's ship and, with a pack of their friends and the map as their guide, they set sail for the farthermost, upside-down island to seek the venom of immortality and unlock the mystery of the Death King. Along their way they encounter pirates who kidnap Dagon, sea sprites, thimblewims, blue men, electric octopuses, and a sage old man whose granddaughter joins them on their adventure. An epilogue suggests a sequel. VERDICT Fast-paced and exciting, with well-drawn characters, humor, and a cinematic setting, this story will appeal to fantasy and adventure lovers who enjoy lots of twisty action.—Marie Orlando, formerly at Suffolk Coop. Lib. Syst., Bellport, NY