Pirate Emperor

June 1, 2007
Gr 6-9-This title continues the story begun in "Pirate Curse" (S & S, 2006), set in a Caribbean fantasy world. Fourteen-year-old Jolly and Munk, the last two remaining pirate polliwogs, have the magical ability to walk on water. They may be the only ones able to save the floating coral city of Aelenium from the Maelstrom, but to do so, they will need to dive six miles down into the ocean to close the source of the ancient malevolent force and thereby prevent the opening of a gate to another world, the Mare Tenebrosum. This never happens in the course of the book (the ending implies a third volume), as many different and confusing subplots and a host of difficult-to-keep-straight characters are introduced. One involves Soledad, the daughter of the murdered pirate emperor, who wants her rightful inheritance and fights a grueling battle with grappling irons to get it. The book's title would lead readers to think that this is the primary plot, but that is not clear. What is clear is that this book does not stand alone; reading the first volume is imperative. Meyer does a nice job of creatively portraying the environment and the magical creatures that inhabit it. There is even some humor and the hint of a romance for Jolly. "Pirate Emperor" will appeal to those who have read the first volume or who like their action fast paced and swashbuckling."Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME"

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