Atlantis in Peril

March 15, 2015
The evil spirit Narkazan, supposedly vanquished in Atlantis Rising (2013), is back. Reunited with his parents but bitter at their earlier abandonment of him, immortal hero Promi doesn't heed his father's warning that his trips to Atlantis to visit the beautiful Atlanta are damaging the veil that keeps the mortal world safe. Narkazan sends dreams to a mortal, Reocoles, who begins an industrial revolution in Atlantis after Promi saves his ship from disaster. These rapid-fire industrial advancements, engineered by Reocoles and his fellow Greek explorers, threaten environmental ruin in short order. Barron's eco-friendly message is laudable but so didactic the book suffers. Readers may wonder why magical sea creature Kermi, sent to warn Promi not to save the ship, decides not to deliver his urgent message, for instance. As in the series opener, the characters' dialogue is often stilted, and those who speak in dialect come across as terribly cliched. Narkazan's lack of empathy-and sometimes common sense-makes him unbelievable, and the lesser, mustache-twirling (in one case, literally) bad guys' main purpose seems to be to fulfill archetypes. The ethnic targeting of the Greeks as eco-villains is just one more problematic element. Relative inaction and deus ex machina solutions mark this installment as a typical middle volume; here's hoping the conclusion makes up for at least some of the failings of the first two books. (Fantasy. 10-14)

August 1, 2015

Gr 5 Up-At the conclusion of Atlantis Rising (Philomel, 2013), the evil spirit Narkazan was defeated, but in the opening pages of this sequel, Narkazan returns from the Maelstrom and vows to defeat his enemies and complete his evil schemes for world domination. Narkazan is focused on revenge against Promi, who is learning how to balance his newly found magical identity with his human upbringing and love for Atlanta. Promi and Atlanta fight as they try to understand their relationship now that they are part of two different worlds, especially since Promi's travel between the human and spirit world is endangering both realms. Narkazan's new human followers are industrializing and polluting Atlanta's forest, and the negative effects of their factories bring a strong environmentalist message to the story. Promi and Atlanta work to rescue Promi's kidnapped sister and defeat Narkazan's many schemes as the story rushes to a cliff-hanger ending that will leave readers anxious for the final volume in this trilogy. Barron's trademark fast-paced action with a twist of humor will pull readers along, though minor characters, particularly the villains, are often flat and stereotypical. VERDICT Fans of the first book in the series and Barron's other titles will find much to enjoy.-Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 While Promi flouts his parents' authority by continuing to travel back and forth between the mortal and spirit worlds (mostly to visit the lovely Atlanta), the evil warlord Narkazan has come back from the dead with a sinister plan: gain supreme power over both worlds and avenge himself against Promi. Narkazan throws down a serious gauntlet ( I shall find you, worthless rebel who bears the mark of the Prophecy. And I shall make you suffer as no one has ever suffered before! ), but Promi has other plans. Barron has already proven himself a fine storyteller, and this sequel to Atlantis Rising (2013) has its share of evocative word pictures; however, the dialogue is often stilted, and characters remain relatively flat. Short chapters, magic, and plenty of action keep things moving, while a strong environmental theme offers connections with the modern world. Story lines related to love and family relationships, environmental responsibility and destruction, and good overcoming evil are all in play as readers reach a sinister cliff-hanger of an ending.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Having wowed readers with his Merlin Saga and Heartlight Saga, Barron's league of middle-grade fantasy lovers will eagerly follow him to Atlantis. Comic-Con promotion will also drive demand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)