Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In his riveting series-opening prose debut, Stevenson (Nimona) deploys lush, lyrical writing to craft an original pirate adventure. According to the lore of the region of Dickerson's Sea, after the pirate captain Scarlet Morning murdered Queen Hail Meridian, a storm dramatically altered the world, turning the ocean into a salt desert. Abandoned by their caretaker on the isolated outpost Caveat, 15-year-old Wilmur and 14-year-old Viola grow up reading stories about the pirates, who disappeared along with the sea. As they await their guardian's return, the teens protect a book of esoteric knowledge. When Cadence Chase--captain of an iron-hulled ship called the Calamary Rose--arrives, seeking the tome, Wilmur and Viola strike a deal: they will relinquish the volume if Chase ferries them to the fabled city of Faire Distance, where Queen Meridian once ruled. While Wilmur endears himself to the crew, Viola grows suspicious of Chase, whom she believes to be Scarlet Morning. Soon disaster strikes, separating Viola and Wilmur, and their efforts to reunite force them deeper into the mysteries of their mystical world. Dynamic b&w illustrations heighten the surrealist atmosphere of the vividly rendered fantasy setting. Characters are described with varying abilities, body types, and skin tones. Ages 8--12. Agent: Charlie Olsen, InkWell Management. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--Viola and Wilmur have grown up alone on a dead island in Dickerson's Sea. They spend their days scavenging, inventing games, and reading The Book, which was left behind by their former caretaker and can only be opened by solving complex puzzles. When the mysterious Captain Chase arrives looking for The Book, Viola and Wilmur offer it if they can go along. So begins the adventure of a lifetime, involving the murdered queen Hail Meridian, a bevy of pirates and Queensmen, secret puzzles, and--maybe--the famed pirate Scarlet Morning. Stevenson has already left a legacy with his graphic novel Nimona, and he will surely leave a mark on the prose scene with this illustrated novel. This is a truly fantastic title, offering complicated heroes and villains, intriguing mysteries and backstories, and moments of genuine creepiness that will have readers gripping their seats. It takes a bit of time for the plot to pick up, but the reward is well worth the wait: reading this is like finding a pot of gold. Stevenson has crafted a diverse cast of characters with various skin tones and identities; Viola is depicted in illustrations with dark skin. VERDICT A must-purchase for any school library with lovers of fantasy, this novel hits all the right notes and will have readers eagerly awaiting the rest of the series.--Kristin Brynsvold
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two lonely children find adventure on the high seas. On the desolate salt-strewn land of Caveat in Dickerson's Sea, Viola and Wilmur lived with their ill-tempered caretaker, Hestur. She told the children all about how the salt came to ravage the land following a cataclysmic event called the Great Blow, which transpired after a bloodthirsty pirate known as Scarlet Morning murdered the beloved queen, Hail Meridian, and stole her crown. After waking up one day to find Hestur gone, the children grew up in isolation. When a pirate ship, theCalamary Rose, captained by the delightfully snarky Cadence Chase, arrives on Caveat's shores, Viola and Wilmur decide to join them. They soon find themselves on an epic, swashbuckling journey replete with revelry, drama, secrets, cursed (and very creepy) sea gulls, and (perhaps their most difficult challenge) separation from each other. Acclaimed graphic novelist Stevenson shines in his prose debut; his worldbuilding is clever and highly immersive, conveying an atmosphere that's completely novel while also nostalgic. With its pirates, magic, adventure, friendship, and found family, this middle-grade gem comes very close to achieving the impossible--having something for everyone. The edge-of-your-seat cliffhanger ending will leave readers panting for the next series entry. Fluid, atmospheric spot art and full-page illustrations punctuate the text, adding to the dramatic tension. The artwork shows Wilmur with light skin and a shock of spiky hair and Viola with dark skin and Afro-textured hair. Engaging, exciting, and enthralling in equal measure.(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
