Vault of Shadows

Starred review from June 1, 2016
Eleven-year-old white Milo Silk continues to lead the Orphan Army against the evil extraterrestrial Swarm in this follow-up to The Orphan Army (2015).Milo is joined by werewolf girl Evangelyne, fire salamander Iskiel, and Mook, a rock elemental with a limited vocabulary. His second-in-command is dark-skinned and tech-savvy Shark. Milo and his friends must keep both the magical Heart of Darkness and the Dissosterin crystal egg safe from both the evil Huntsman and Queen Mab, ruler of the faeries. A doomed rescue mission kills many of their party and fractures the Heart. To salvage their cause, they must find the mythical Heir of Gadfellyn Hall. Magical beings, zombielike holo-men, and an endless parade of alien creatures keep the pages turning. However, even amid the nonstop action, there is depth. The orphans question the morality of their war and understand the cost of the lives sacrificed. While this particular quest does little to forward the overall story, it serves to expand the world, deepen the characters, and raise the stakes on their seemingly impossible war. Magic, aliens, and now...zombies--a can't-miss combination. (Fantasy/science fiction. 8-12)

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June 1, 2016

Gr 5 Up-In Maberry's second installment of the series, readers tag along for the few days following Milo's epic escape from under the Huntsman's nose. The story is beautifully crafted, with the perfect balance of paralyzingly intense action and intimate looks into Milo's fears and dreams. The rapid transitions from excerpts from the "Dream Diary" to present-day action will keep tween and teen readers glued to the story. The Nightsiders who team up with Milo are a lovable group. Evangelyne the werewolf is back, along with the Stone Guardian, who really steals the scene from time to time, and all of the other interesting "monsters" from the first story. The evil Huntsman, who is even more over-the-top since the last encounter with the hero, will continue to elicit genuine fear from readers, as he embodies almost every scary character trait imaginable. There is a strong emphasis placed on books and the power of reading, which will speak to both educators and many middle school students needing that extra push. VERDICT A solid series installment; a must-own where there are fans of the first "Nightsiders" adventure.-Chad Lane, Tulip Grove Elementary School, MD

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