Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Rushed finale, but magical world still worth rooting for.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE CRIMSON FORTRESS: THE IVORY KEY, BOOK 2, Vira ignores her political duties as Ashoka's maharani to do something far more important for her country: find a way to unlock sources of magic before Lyria invades. Only her siblings Riya, Ronak, and Kaleb know how little magic the country has left, how much Ashoka needs it for protection, and how much of a threat Lyria has become. Kaleb is already in Lyria as a spy to find out what the Lyrian emperor is up to. And when Vira's advisors stage a coup, she and the rest of her siblings scatter to find magic and save their country before it's too late. On their journeys the dangers keep piling up as they encounter members of a mysterious cult whose purpose is far more nefarious than anything the Lyrian emperor could imagine.
Is It Any Good?
While this finale feels too rushed, the magical world and royal sibling characters are still worth rooting for. The main issue in The Crimson Fortress is the alternating narration of the four siblings. It's hard to really land in any one character's perspective. When it's, say, Vira's chapter, she's on a dangerous misadventure, sparring with someone she doesn't trust, gets only a moment to process the mayhem, and then there are three chapters before readers are back with her. Everyone could have used more time.
It's hard to say what suffered more from the too-broad focus, the romances or the magical treasure-hunting adventures. Character-focused readers will want to know much more about Riya and Varun, and the tension between the Lyrian prince and Kaleb could be its own story. More fantasy-driven readers will wonder how Kaleb keeps having magical epiphanies, just in time, with little explanation. The maze and puzzles at the end seem more in the way of the final showdown than exciting. And the characters split up to tackle the dangerous maze -- another time, as with the chapters, when splitting up is not the best idea. It's a good thing to want more of author Akshaya Raman's characters and her magical kingdoms. Let's hope she delivers more in-depth stories from this world in the future.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Riya's powers in The Crimson Fortress. Why doesn't she want her magic? Would you want powers that could protect you, but also caused harm? Do characters with super powers in other stories think of their abilities in the same way?
The four siblings have a lot of trouble trusting each other and getting along. How does their sense of duty bring them together? Who shows the most courage in the face of danger? Is it who you expected?
Which sibling would you like to read more about? Who chose the life with the most adventure? Who chose the life that would give them the most sense of purpose? If you could be one of the siblings, which life would you choose?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : November 14, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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