The Inquisitor's Mark: The Eighth Day, Book 2
By Carrie R. Wheadon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Family rivalries get complex, but sequel still excites.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
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
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate