The Inquisitor's Mark

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 6, 2016

Review

This second book in the modern day middle grade fantasy series begins right where the first book ends. The legends of King Arthur and the magic of Merlin meld with the Twenty-First Century through the Eighth Day phenomenon, the day between Wednesday and Thursday. Jax, Riley and Evangeline are in hiding when Jax is contacted by family members that he did not know existed. The family has kidnapped his loyal but "normal friend" Billy Ramirez in an attempt to bring Evangeline together with her sister to break the Eighth Day Spell and exert power over the Transitioners and Kin. The world building and magically infused action continues to expound with intriguing details which include Brownies, time tunnels, and a dragon like wyvern. Readers will want to read the first book in the series to understand the complex intertwining of characters and the importance of their status with each other. Interplay between Dorian, Jax's morally ambiguous cousin, and Jax's uncle provide rich detail about the mafia-type family structure and their secret plans. The book's layout of the alternating chapter view point of the action through Jax and Dorian eyes at times creates some confusion of detail at times. Fans of the series will gloss over this slight flaw as they expectantly wait for the third book. Suggested reading for those who enjoy Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson.

Overall Book Score: very good