Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slow start builds to exciting with pirates and a volcano.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE CALDERA, members of the Heron Brotherband are vying for the title of Skandia's best warrior, or Maktig. Stig, the first mate, is the one to watch in the competition, but his chance at glory is thwarted when his absentee father, Olaf, sneaks into his house one night asking for his immediate help. Olaf was the head of the palace guard in Byzantos to the south and was dismissed when the teen emperor-to-be, Constantus, was kidnapped by pirates. Olaf needs a fighting ship to rescue Constantus and get his post back. Stig and the rest of the Brotherband, sorry to miss the competition but keen on a new adventure, load up the ship and start the long journey south. After a few river-pirate attacks, they arrive in the bustling port of Byzantos. The plan was to gather information about the kidnappers at the taverns before shipping out again, but then Olaf is arrested. Good thing for Olaf he's with the Heron Brotherband. It won't be the first time they've broken someone out of prison, nor will it be the last.
Is It Any Good?
Great news for Brotherband fans: We're on voyage seven with the Heron crew and, with the help of more nasty pirates and a lava-spewing, rock-hurling volcano, it's still a worthwhile adventure. (We're not giving anything away about the explosive finale when it's right on the cover.) Readers can expect the usual meandering story opening with Stig, Ulf, and Wulf preparing for the Maktig (warrior) competition. Luckily the warm-up doesn't last as long as it does in some Brotherband books. And Ulf and Wulf twin antics are always a fun diversion.
If you enjoyed Book 3, The Hunters, you get to revisit some old River Dan pirate haunts on the way to Byzantos. And Jesper's lock picks, used so skillfully in The Slaves of Socorro, get dusted off again here. What adventure fan doesn't love a prison break? Even as action builds, more time could have been spent on the difficult relationship between Stig and his father, Olaf. It's a missed opportunity to add more depth to the story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Stig in The Caldera. What choices does he make about how to behave around his father? How is Stig like his father? How is he more admirable?
If you were in a Brotherband, what would your role be? What skills would you bring to help your shipmates? What skills would you need to work on?
Which is your favorite Brotherband book so far? How does Book 7 compare with the others?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals , Friendship , Pirates
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Philomel
- Publication date : November 21, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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