The Crimson Skew: The Mapmaker's Trilogy, Book 3
By Carrie R. Wheadon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fabulous end to complex trilogy includes antiwar message.
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What's the Story?
THE CRIMSON SKEW finds Sophie after her adventures in the Papal States (Spain) traveling through the New Indies (the Caribbean) with pirates Calixta and Burr and back to New Occident (the eastern U.S.). Sophia hopes that a prophetic map given to her in Spain will lead her to her long-lost mapmaking parents and that there's a way they can be saved from the fate of the faceless Lacrima that wander between eras. Sophia and Calixta run into trouble right away when they reach New Orleans. A friend is hunted by the police, and they must disguise themselves to take a train north. They're headed to the Baldlands in the west, where more danger awaits. New Occident troops are marching to incite war against the Baldlands, and a mysterious red fog that causes violent hallucinations has been sweeping through whole towns, leaving carnage in its wake. Sophia's beloved Uncle Shadrack, left behind in Boston under the thumb of the corrupt Prime Minister, knows of the threats and may not be able to warn his niece in time.
Is It Any Good?
The biggest hope for this trilogy is that the right intelligent, thoughtful, inventive kids discover its brilliance. The Mapmakers Trilogy, with all its complexity both in plotting and details (those amazing maps!), won't appeal to every kind of reader but deserves a faithful readership. The conclusion to the series is the best of the three. It accomplishes what seems impossible at its start: It neatly ties up every intricate plot and subplot it puts in play while introducing some fascinating new characters. We follow Sophia north through the Baldlands on a path of self-discovery, then through his ordeal as a soldier and Uncle Shadrack through his spy work in Boston; all storylines keep up the high tension and interest.
Also, all introduce characters with fascinating backstories. If only we could spend more time with Theo's new hero friend Cassanova, with the spy secretary informant who helps Shadrack, and especially with the three banished sisters in the Baldlands who help Sophia. Maybe S.E. Grove will follow the trend and work on a spin-off. If we're so lucky, please let it be filled with even more inventive maps.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the antiwar message in The Crimson Skew. What did the Old One know about war? What did Cassanova know about it? Why is it important to know the history of war to promote peace?
Did you like the way the Mapmakers Trilogy ended? What do you think comes next for Sophia and Theo?
Would you like to be a Mapmaker like Uncle Shadrack? What kinds of maps would you make?
Book Details
- Author: S. E. Grove
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, History, Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Viking
- Publication date: July 12, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 17
- Number of pages: 448
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
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