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.
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
Reading updates
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Started reading
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17 October, 2021:
Finished reading
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17 October, 2021:
Reviewed