The Inquisitor's Mark: The Eighth Day, Book 2

Name: The Inquisitor's Mark: The Eighth Day, Book 2
Item: The Inquisitor's Mark: The Eighth Day, Book 2
Rating: 3
Author: Carrie R. Wheadon

Book review by

Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media

The Inquisitor's Mark: The Eighth Day, Book 2 Book Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 9+

(i)

Family rivalries get complex, but sequel still excites.

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age 12+

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational Value

Many characters are descendants of King Arthur, Merlin, the Lady of the Lake, and the Knights of the Round Table. The legends are discussed, but not as much as in the first book. There's also plenty to ponder about the nature of time: Most things stand still on the eighth day of the week, but not all, and brownies (magical rodents) and some humans travel outside of time in special tunnels.

Positive Messages

For the series so far: The struggle of good vs. evil pits the good guys against those who could wipe out most of the human race. Bravery and self-sacrifice are essential. This book especially explores what defines a family. Are blood ties or personal convictions more important?

Positive Role Models & Representations

Jax comes into his own as a heroic character in this book. All his decisions are based on what will help save his friends, even when he's faced with a family he never knew who -- at the same time they're manipulating him -- are still offering him a place with them. He stays loyal to the right people. Jax's cousin Dorian becomes more heroic as the book progresses, realizing what's right isn't what his family believes and risking punishment for helping those he believes in.

Violence

There's a long climax with guns, tranquilizers, and a dragon-like creature. One person dies, with the cause of death described only as a barb through her abdomen, and it's mentioned that six more were electrocuted to death and one was murdered, with no talk of how. A few are tranquilized, poisoned, and captured. Some description of how the creature is killed: Its tale gets cut off and its eye gouged, and then a stake is jammed through its skull. Some fistfights with mild injuries. A boy's arm is broken when he's abducted. A boy's memories are invaded and altered. Mentions of past assassinations conducted by warring families: Evangaleine's younger brother was killed, and there was an explosion at an engagement party, killing most of the guests.

Sex

A kiss on the cheek.

Language

A few mentions of cursing with no words used.

Consumerism

Some quick product mentions (Cap'n Crunch, Mario Kart, World of Warcraft) and some fast food consumption (KFC, McDonald's). Star Wars comes up a few times.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults drinking wine in one scene.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that The Inquisitor's Mark is the second book in the Eighth Day trilogy that supposes that ancestors of evil magicians from King Arthur's time are imprisoned in a special time stream between Wednesday and Thursday and that others, called Transitioners, can exist in both. Families that have been known to assassinate rival families in the past are fighting again. They kidnap after using tranquilizers (breaking one arm in the process) and use mind control to alter memories. In a final battle, a few die, one stabbed by a dragon-like creature and others electrocuted. The main characters, cousins Jax and Dorian, are both heroic and self-sacrificing, willing to go against their own families to do what's right.

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Teen, 13 years old Written byls216743 November 29, 2015

age 12+

the inquisitor's mark by luis s

The Inquisitor's mark is an all-out battle in Mexico, with the main characters, Jax, Riley, and Evangeline who were hiding. So when Finn Ambrose, a mysteri... Continue reading

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What's the story?

Once Riley, Jax's guardian, finds out that Addie, the younger sister of Evangeline, is still alive, they know they have to go after her. Addie and Evangeline are powerful Kin descended from Merlin, whose magic can be used to either preserve the Eighth Day -- Grunsday -- or destroy it and the rest of the world with it. When they hear that Addie is staying in a house with Transitioners (those who can live in all eight days, like Riley and Jax), they head there, only to find out she disappeared only weeks before -- days for Addie. They think her trail has gone cold until Jax gets a distress call from his "Normal" friend Billy: He's been kidnapped and taken to New York City. And the bad guys who have him? Jax's uncle and extended family -- but Jax thought his deceased father didn't have any family. When he gets to New York to rescue his friend, suddenly he understands why his father never wanted Jax to meet his powerful and unscrupulous relatives. Their talent for memory manipulation is just the start.

Is it any good?

It's hard to believe this is already Book 2 in a trilogy; given the plodding way Salerni lays things out, you'd expect the series to go to at least Book 6. There are the multiple warring clans and their special marks and talents, the mythologies -- Arthurian past and Grunsday present -- and, in this book, all the hype about brownie tunnels altering time and how it all works. It seems like the reader is being set up for the long haul.

All those extra details and family affiliations to keep straight get in the way of the storytelling at first. They may have worked better in a meaty appendix or companion volume. Still, when the action ratchets up, readers will feel invested, mainly because all the main good characters -- Jax, Dorian, Riley, Evangeline -- have one impossible situation to get out of after another, plus some crazy powers they get to use -- and, of course, only one Grunsday to get the job done.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the two narrators, Jax and Dorian. How are they alike? How are they different? What do you think Dorian will do now? How will he be treated?
What do you know about the Arthurian legends? What about the Morrigan? Where can you find out more?
How do the characters get by on Grunsday without modern conveniences?

Book details

Author: Dianne K. Salerni
Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Book Characters, Friendship, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
Book type: Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date: January 27, 2015
Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
Number of pages: 352
Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle