The sequel to the critically-acclaimed New York Times bestselling fantasy The Reader, “highly recommended for fans of Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart and female-powered adventures.”—School Library Journal
Having barely escaped the clutches of the Guard, Sefia and Archer are back on the run, slipping into the safety of the forest to tend to their wounds and plan their next move. Haunted by painful memories, Archer struggles to overcome the trauma of his past with the impressors, whose cruelty plagues him whenever he closes his eyes. But when Sefia and Archer happen upon a crew of impressors in the wilderness, Archer finally finds a way to combat his nightmares: by hunting impressors and freeing the boys they hold captive.
With Sefia’s help, Archer travels across the kingdom of Deliene rescuing boys while she continues to investigate the mysterious Book and secrets it contains. But the more battles they fight, the more fights Archer craves, until his thirst for violence threatens to transform him from the gentle boy Sefia knows to a grim warrior with a cruel destiny. As Sefia begins to unravel the threads that connect Archer’s fate to her parents’ betrayal of the Guard so long ago, she and Archer must figure out a way to subvert the Guard’s plans before they are ensnared in a war that will pit kingdom against kingdom, leaving their future and the safety of the entire world hanging in the balance.
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“Narrator Kim Mai Guest is an expert at bringing a story’s characters to life with distinct, memorable voices. Here, Guest depicts Chee’s vibrant and magical world, which envelops listeners in the sights and sounds of warring nations. The heroine, Sefia, is given a young, wispy voice that highlights both her vulnerability and growing strength. In contrast, Archer’s voice is angry and reserved, with Guest adding more confidence to the boy’s tone as his character develops. Guest offers a weak and bitter voice for Tanin, whose only goal is to locate Sefia and The Book. With her impeccable narration, Guest draws listeners into Sefia and Archer’s daring adventure.”
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