Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Swordplay, wordplay, stereotype-busting in hilarious sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Knights-in-training Tim and Belinda, plus Tim's frog-dog Rover, must venture into THE LABYRINTH OF DOOM and face much deadly peril to rescue Princess Grace, who's been imprisoned there by Book 1's villains. Tim feels a lot of personal responsibility, because the princess would never have fallen prey to evil Prince Ruprecht and wizard Nerlim if Tim hadn't fallen asleep on guard duty. Belinda's just taking the quest because she's brave and courageous. Numerous terrible foes await them, from snakes to cave lizards to grotesque squirrels, but teamwork, friendship, and creative thinking help.
Is It Any Good?
Slapstick, swordplay, stereotype-busting, and lots of vocabulary-boosting words as Stuart Gibbs' fast-paced follow-up finds young knights in still more peril from inept but persistent villains. Rescuing Princess Grace from The Labyrinth of Doom pits young Tim and Belinda (alias Bull, because she has to pretend to be a boy) against cave snakes, hypnotic harps, bad-tempered squirrels, and a minotaur who turns out to be a bit of a surprise. Stacy Curtis' lively illustrations bring it all to life and move things along so there's never a dull moment, as a new foe is always around the next corner. But Belinda in particular is not one to be intimidated, as here, where our heroes have just been captured by Book 1's villains:
"'Ruprecht!' Belinda snarled. 'And Smerkin! I should have known you were behind this.'
"'Um,' Nerlim said, looking like his feelings had been hurt. 'My name's Nerlim. Not Smerkin.'
"'Whatever,' Belinda said. 'I forgot.'
"'You forgot?' Nerlim said with a gasp. 'We went on a whole crusade together! And then I double-crossed you and revealed I had been deviously plotting against you the entire time! I tried to kill you! And you can't even remember my name?'
"'Apparently not,' Belinda said. 'Besides, you look like a Smerkin."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like The Labyrinth of Doom, where young knights or knights in training are are on a quest to save those in need and prove themselves. Some of these tales are funny, like this one. Some are very serious and inspirational. Which do you like best?
There are a lot of ridiculous monsters in The Labyrinth of Doom. Make up a few of your own.
Have you ever had the experience -- like Tim and Belinda have here with Chad the minotaur -- of meeting someone who wasn't a bit like you'd pictured them? Who was it, and how did things turn out between you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Stacy Curtis
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : November 1, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 7 - 10
- Number of pages : 160
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (abridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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