The Brink of Darkness: The Edge of Everything, Book 2
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gripping, romantic, edgy fantasy sequel does not disappoint.
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What's the Story?
THE BRINK OF DARKNESS picks up shortly after the events in The Edge of Everything. X is back in the underworld called the Lowlands. Zoe's trying to keep herself together, but it isn't easy. Missing X is like a physical pain, and she and her family are mourning the deaths of dear friends and neighbors Bert and Betty, who were like grandparents to Zoe. Oh, and since her house was destroyed by the villain Dervish, she, her mom, and little brother Jonah are staying in the cabin of their super-mellow, chainsaw-artist friend, Rufus. X is determined to find his mother and free them both from the Lowlands so that he can return to Zoe, but finding where Dervish hid her is proving to be nearly impossible. Zoe learns there's a small way she can help X by tracking down her father, who's alive in the regular world. But Dervish will do anything and everything in his vast powers to keep X in the Lowlands and keep them all suffering for as long as he can. If X and Zoe are going to find answers, they'll have to rely on friends, some quite unlikely, and each other to face down Dervish and the even worse Countess. When Zoe takes the ultimate drastic action, she ends up leading X right into Dervish's trap.
Is It Any Good?
Despite the darkness of this gripping fantasy, author Jeff Giles brings a breath of fresh air to the genre with humor, suspense, surprise, and sometimes even sweetness, too. The Brink of Darkness showcases Giles' real talent for deftly creating characters that are immediately fully realized and fun to relate to. He's also got a real knack for unexpected twists and turns that keep the pages of this action-packed blend of fantasy, romance, action, and adventure turning.
Lots of appeal here for a wide range of readers, except possibly the very squeamish. The book seamlessly picks up where previous events left off. It can stand alone, but will be enjoyed more fully and deeply with the first of the series under your belt. Older teens will relate to themes about love, family, leaping into the unknown, and more. The satisfying ending feels pretty final, but readers will be eager for more from just about any one of the colorful, sometimes hilarious cast of characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Brink of Darkness. How much is too much? Does it matter if it's real-world or fantasy violence? Why, or why not?
What are Zoe's character strengths? What about X? What do you like about them? What do they still need to learn?
Did you read The Edge of Everything? Which book do you like better? If you haven't read it, would you like to now? How does either book compare with some of your other favorite fantasy series?
Book Details
- Author: Jeff Giles
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
- Publication date: July 10, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 352
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 25, 2018
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