Along the Saltwise Sea (Up-And-Under, #2)

by A. Deborah Baker

For readers of Kelly Barnhill and Cat Valente's Fairyland books, adventure and danger lurk Along the Saltwise Sea in this new book by Seanan McGuire's latest open pseudonym, A. Deborah Baker.

Be sure to explore the myriad wonders that can be found Along the Saltwise Sea.

After climbing Over the Woodward Wall and making their way across the forest, Avery and Zib found themselves acquiring some extraordinary friends in their journey through the Up-and-Under.

After staying the night, uninvited, at a pirate queen's cottage in the woods, the companions find themselves accountable to its owner, and reluctantly agree to work off their debt as her ship sets sail, bound for lands unknown. But the queen and her crew are not the only ones on board, and the monsters at sea aren't all underwater.

The friends will need to navigate the stormy seas of obligation and honor on their continuing journey along the improbable road

Writing as A. Deborah Baker, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Seanan McGuire takes our heroes Avery and Zib (and their friends Niamh and the Crow Girl) on a high seas adventure, with pirates and queens and all the dangers of the deep as they continue their journey through the Up-and-Under on their quest for the road that will lead them home....

Welcome to a world of talking trees and sarcastic owls, of dangerous mermaids and captivating queens in this exceptional tale for readers who are young at heart in this companion book to McGuire's critically-acclaimed Middlegame and the sequel to Over the Woodward Wall.

• ISBN10: 1250768284
• ISBN13: 9781250768285
• Publish Date: 12 October 2021
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 2 January 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 208
• Language: English

Reviews

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

This was wonderful, because I missed Avery & Zib SO. VERY. MUCH. It did not feel as much a full STORY as the first book did, but more as a sort of... fairytale & segue to whatever comes next in the Up & Under.

BUT that is just fine with me, because it was immensely enjoyable, filled with stuff & nonsense, high seas adventuring & pirates & one mysterious girl in a cell. There was also more wonderful world development, this time in a different domain, or country, as they call it; plus absolutely wonderful character development—more on Avery's part than Zib's, I feel like(?), as well as much development for Niamh (the Drowned Girl), & the Crow Girl.

And honestly? Does a whimsical, nonsensical story HAVE to have any particular structure? I just loved it because quite frankly, I enjoyed reading it, rather a lot.

I read Middlegame a long while ago, and it is an extremely amazing, yet very densely written novel. I don't remember if any part of THIS adventure in the Up & Under was featured in it... BUT if NOT, I have a very strong feeling that it WILL be featured in the upcoming second novel in the Middlegame series.

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OMFG THIS COVER IS GLORIOUS! I absolutely CANNOTWAITFORTHISSSSSS. Seanan McGuire is just the absolute best

[Quirky Cat]

Along the Saltwise Sea is the second novella in The Up-and-Under series, written by A. Deborah Baker (aka Seanan McGuire). This series started as a children's book referenced in another one of McGuire's worlds (Middlegame), but I feel like it has quickly gained a life of its own. Also, before I dive into my review, can we take a moment to appreciate that cover? It's to die for.

Once up a time, two children, Avery and Zib, climbed Over the Woodward Wall. Now they're stuck in the Up-and-Under, and what an adventure that has been! Two have become four, and now there are four children (only two humans) on this adventure.

The children have unintentionally found their way to the coast of the Saltwise Sea, where they come across a pirate queen's cottage. One night there costs them a week out on the waters and yet another adventure that they couldn't have planned or prepared for.

Now, I may be in the minority here, but I think I loved Along the Saltwise Sea even more than Over the Woodward Wall. I feel like both the children and the story have really grown to fit the world, and it shows.

Or maybe I'm just a sucker for nautical stories. Either way, I adore the events that transpired in Along the Saltwise Sea. If you read and enjoyed the first part of this adventure, or even if you read Middlegame and want to know how the story goes, I would strongly suggest picking up Along the Saltwise Sea and giving it a read.

Everything about this journey has felt so unbelievable and yet so organic. Each part flows smoothly onto the next, even as the world changes and new scenery pops into the foreground. I'm gobbling up all the details to this world; you better believe me.

I think the thing I loved the most about Along the Saltwise Sea is that it felt like we got to know all four children a bit more here. Not just Avery and Zib, but Niamn and Crow Girl as well. More than that, I feel like their individual stories are being pushed to new horizons as they grow alongside the main plot.

I'm thrilled that I got the chance to read an early copy of Along the Saltwise Sea, even though this means that I will naturally be waiting even longer for the sequel to come out. Still, I already know that it will be worth it.

Thanks to Tor.com and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks