lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
What an imaginative series - not quite as clever as The Phantom Tollbooth (but then, what is?) yet with definite overtones of that book (the Bintheyre Map, for example, or the places they travel). Marrill's journey into the Pirate Stream also has hints of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and many other MG fantasy journey books, which will delight readers who know those books in the same way the adult jokes in current animated moves delight the adults while not confusing the younger readers/viewers. Even better, for readers who haven't read the first book (The Map to Everywhere) it's easy to catch on and move forward.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
snazel's review against another edition
5.0
An classic middle grade series that just happens to have been published last year, instead of 20 years ago. So high quality. Such good friendships. Such fun worldbuilding.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
4.0
In the first book, we travelled to a few interesting and imaginative places and I left that book looking forward to visiting more places in this one. With that expectancy, I was a little disappointed that we only visited a couple. However, they were indeed interesting and imaginative with the titular city being the setting for most of the story.
There was a lot of emphasis on want and need that drove many plot points and threats, which made for a different type of 'engine' running the story. Unlike most stories where this need is realised in the stealing of that gold or the murdering of that competition, this need is more of that unspent yearning which is spun into something tangible. It encompasses most of the characters and plot points as well as shine the first book in a more needy light. Fin's need to be remembered, Marrill's need for her mother's recovery, the Naysayer's need to look after the cat, Coll's need to keep on sailing and Ardent's need to find his lost love.
In a bid to keep this world 'fresh' they Marrill's teenage babysitter was dragged along too and she played the fish-out-of-water character. Beyond that, there wasn't really anything she added to the story or the plot, which was a wasted opportunity. In some scenes she may as well not even be there and it's only when she finally speaks or reacts to something that I'm reminded that she's even in the story.
As with book one, the story is accompanied by some fabulous pieces of artwork that feel like they're stills from an animated TV series or film and accentuate the story beautifully.
There was a lot of emphasis on want and need that drove many plot points and threats, which made for a different type of 'engine' running the story. Unlike most stories where this need is realised in the stealing of that gold or the murdering of that competition, this need is more of that unspent yearning which is spun into something tangible. It encompasses most of the characters and plot points as well as shine the first book in a more needy light. Fin's need to be remembered, Marrill's need for her mother's recovery, the Naysayer's need to look after the cat, Coll's need to keep on sailing and Ardent's need to find his lost love.
In a bid to keep this world 'fresh' they Marrill's teenage babysitter was dragged along too and she played the fish-out-of-water character. Beyond that, there wasn't really anything she added to the story or the plot, which was a wasted opportunity. In some scenes she may as well not even be there and it's only when she finally speaks or reacts to something that I'm reminded that she's even in the story.
As with book one, the story is accompanied by some fabulous pieces of artwork that feel like they're stills from an animated TV series or film and accentuate the story beautifully.
hgrogan's review against another edition
5.0
I was a little skeptical that this book would not be as amazing as the first one; boy, was I wrong! This book truly lives up to the first one.
The characters are just as wonderful and unforgettable.
I was worried about having Remy along, since the idea of a controlling babysitter on board the Kraken sounded just as fun as having Eustace Scrubb on the Dawn Treader. But, she was actually pretty reliable and broke away from the stereotypes I thought she would fulfill. Plus, she is the only one (besides Marrill) who even gets close to remembering Fin.
Marrill is just as compassionate and adventure-loving as she is in the first one. Even though, I have to admit, towards the end she started making me for the way she was treating Fin, she definitely makes up for it by the very end of the book.
Ardent. Oh Ardent! Can I just have Dumbledore, Pym and him set down for a cup of tea and discuss what things they have been accomplishing as some of the most powerful (and funny) wizards around? Yes, I would like that.
Annalessa was a good addition as well! And I feel awful discovering the truth about Coll's tattoos.
And last, but definitely not least.....FIN! One of my all time favorite characters; I don't know what else I can say. Not only as he just as hilarious and mischievous, but you see a side of him being truly selfless and learn how far he would go for his friends.
Plot! I was worried that because this book took place all in the same city that we really wouldn't get to see all of the fun and unique worlds we saw in the last book. But, the travels through the pirate stream and the shattered archipelago were surprising! And we discover that Monerva has many different "worlds" within it as well. I particularly liked the scene where Fin and Marrill arrived at the outdoor celebration held by the Monervans.
All in all, a great read. Would recommend to anyone!
The characters are just as wonderful and unforgettable.
I was worried about having Remy along, since the idea of a controlling babysitter on board the Kraken sounded just as fun as having Eustace Scrubb on the Dawn Treader. But, she was actually pretty reliable and broke away from the stereotypes I thought she would fulfill. Plus, she is the only one (besides Marrill) who even gets close to remembering Fin.
Marrill is just as compassionate and adventure-loving as she is in the first one. Even though, I have to admit, towards the end she started making me for the way she was treating Fin, she definitely makes up for it by the very end of the book.
Ardent. Oh Ardent! Can I just have Dumbledore, Pym and him set down for a cup of tea and discuss what things they have been accomplishing as some of the most powerful (and funny) wizards around? Yes, I would like that.
Annalessa was a good addition as well! And I feel awful discovering the truth about Coll's tattoos.
And last, but definitely not least.....FIN! One of my all time favorite characters; I don't know what else I can say. Not only as he just as hilarious and mischievous, but you see a side of him being truly selfless and learn how far he would go for his friends.
Plot! I was worried that because this book took place all in the same city that we really wouldn't get to see all of the fun and unique worlds we saw in the last book. But, the travels through the pirate stream and the shattered archipelago were surprising! And we discover that Monerva has many different "worlds" within it as well. I particularly liked the scene where Fin and Marrill arrived at the outdoor celebration held by the Monervans.
All in all, a great read. Would recommend to anyone!
demimancy's review against another edition
5.0
As always, Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis hit it out of the park. (No puns intended.) Fin and Marrill's second adventure is as fast-paced and exciting as the first, with a few heart-pounding moments that were a joy to read.
I'm also delighted by the inclusion of Remy, Marrill's babysitter, in this adventure on the Pirate Stream! She was a fabulous character, and her no-nonsense attitude towards Marrill and Fin's adventures was marvelous.
I can't wait to see what happens next on the Stream.
I'm also delighted by the inclusion of Remy, Marrill's babysitter, in this adventure on the Pirate Stream! She was a fabulous character, and her no-nonsense attitude towards Marrill and Fin's adventures was marvelous.
I can't wait to see what happens next on the Stream.
eliserose_vdb's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great continuation of the series! I loved it just as much as the first book. :)
elevetha's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars.
While I still enjoyed this second book of a proposed 5 book series, I still find myself reaffirmed in my original opinion that 5 books is too many for this series, the way it's being written. It's extremely obvious, not to mention frustrating, that these books are all 400+ pages and being strung out simply to accomplish there being 5 books.
The cast of characters continues to be great, though I need more Coll and Remy and I find myself once again bemoaning the lack of pirats. If you have tiny pirates rats that run around in tiny pirate clothing, gosh darn, I expect you to use them. The drama between Marrill and Fin got old pretty quick, but I suppose it was natural and hopefully it'll be out of the way for future books.
The plot, for as much time as we had, didn't go a whole lot of anywhere, and the whole plot points dealing with the Sand King (?) were a little confusing and lackluster. Plot-wise, I probably cared less this time around than in Book 1, but the pacing was maybe a little better, even though our characters were more stationary and as a whole, the story was less "adventurous".
Still a fun read, I'll definitely be around for Book 3, and I'm considering passing them along to my younger brother, but I do wish they were better paced and had less filler.
While I still enjoyed this second book of a proposed 5 book series, I still find myself reaffirmed in my original opinion that 5 books is too many for this series, the way it's being written. It's extremely obvious, not to mention frustrating, that these books are all 400+ pages and being strung out simply to accomplish there being 5 books.
The cast of characters continues to be great, though I need more Coll and Remy and I find myself once again bemoaning the lack of pirats. If you have tiny pirates rats that run around in tiny pirate clothing, gosh darn, I expect you to use them. The drama between Marrill and Fin got old pretty quick, but I suppose it was natural and hopefully it'll be out of the way for future books.
The plot, for as much time as we had, didn't go a whole lot of anywhere, and the whole plot points dealing with the Sand King (?) were a little confusing and lackluster. Plot-wise, I probably cared less this time around than in Book 1, but the pacing was maybe a little better, even though our characters were more stationary and as a whole, the story was less "adventurous".
Still a fun read, I'll definitely be around for Book 3, and I'm considering passing them along to my younger brother, but I do wish they were better paced and had less filler.
jadencoal's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
justabutterfly's review against another edition
5.0
Except for a minor weird part in the beginning, this book was amazing. It has lots of interesting, original ideas, fun characters, and a really nice writing style to boot. The plot was fast-paced too, and the world-building was great.