The third installment of The Elementalists series, “Secret of the Kraken,” is just as good as the first two, and you want want to put it down.

About the Book

A Lost Scepter. An Ancient Map. And the Kraken.

It’s simple, they were told. Just go get the legendary Green Scepter from the Kraken to be able to take on the evil wizards and their vicious goblin armies. It’s a task, by the way, no one has succeeded in for the last two hundred years. After their great success against the goblin horde, the six young elementalists are up to the challenge. The first step: find an ancient dwarven map with clues leading across the world.

But as soon as they find the map, their troubles begin, starting with invisible strangers following their every move. Even if they do follow the map from Dragon Land to exotic empires, and succeed in taking the scepter from the Kraken, the evil wizards are moving quickly with plans of their own. Plans which very well may put the entire world at risk, and change life as they know it forever.

My Thoughts

Our crew of kids is growing up and it’s showing! Their powers are growing and it definitely seems like puberty it taking hold, because longing looks and love triangles are starting to form. But not so much that it’s inappropriate for the 8 and up crowd, just enough to be adorable.

I often really enjoy random side characters like this one has in spades. For example, I really enjoyed the satyr, with his smelly, wine-y magic descriptors, and the little dragons – too cute! The cast of characters gets incredibly long in this one. If we counted all the characters in the series it has to rival LOTR – even counting all the Orcs. The authors build the characters and their relationships so beautifully. Each character and their unique friendships, interests, and interpersonal relationships intertwine in different ways, and it is complex. Perhaps it’s easier with two people, especially with one of them being closer to the age of the characters.

I also admire that you can’t tell it’s written by two people. Perhaps, the story has just been developed by them and the father has written it, but either way it’s beautifully done. I applaud the father for pursuing his dreams and supporting his daughter’s! It’s a great book and beautiful parenting!

The complexity of the world continues to grow. What seemed like a simple, old-fashioned world, is so much more than the young people knew. It is full of complicated, potentially dangerous magic, exotic creatures, and people intermingling more than they thought. People fear things they didn’t even know possible, do things they never imagined, and go places they’ve never heard of before. Their worlds are being expanded by the moment. And they’re being asked to do things even fully grown adults would shy away from. It is such a big coming of age story, but such a good metaphor for what the whole growing up experience feels like as well. It’s such a powerful story wrapped up in a beautiful fantastical package.

I am so grateful to the authors and Love Books Tours for including me on this tour. I also look forward to reading the fourth book in the series and other books in the series.

Who’s it For?

If you love high fantasy adventure, you’ll love these books. If you cut your teeth on Lord of the Rings, He Who Shall Not Be Named, and the Chronicles of Narnia, the Elementalists will be right up your ally. The books say they’re for ages 8 and up. From what I know, that seems right. If your child is particularly mature, younger children might be okay with them. My husband let’s my daughter play Minecraft and the Nether scared me more than this.

Content Warnings: Fear, Violence, Veiled Racism (Through Fantasy Beings), Corrupt Politicians

Question of the Day

Do you like dragon books? What is your favorite?

About the Authors

Ephie (dad) has been writing his whole life. Inspired by his sixth-grade teacher to write a story every week, he enrolled in the writing program at his undergrad Middlebury College and has been writing ever since. He loves the outdoors, music, community, his family, and telling stories. He currently lives in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, where he works in software development and is active in various community groups.

Celia (daughter) is an avid book lover and packs a novel with her wherever she goes. She developed the book idea at age nine inspired by a 3rd grade writing assignment. She was born in Vancouver, Canada where her first two syllable word was “hockey”! She, along with her brother, is being raised in the mountains of Montana, where she enjoys sewing, 4H, performance art, and visiting hot springs.

Links

Amazon US: https://a.co/d/4zvVCgk
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781734974164
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/4AhkbJn
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62178798-secret-of-the-kraken
Author Website: https://theelementalists.net/

As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases.