The Skeleth: The Nethergrim, Book 2
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Pace and emotional depth increase in medieval fantasy.
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What's the Story?
Edmund, Katherine, and Tom barely have time to savor victory against the ancient evil of the Nethergrim before they're torn in different directions. Expert horse trainer Katherine is forced to become a scullery maid. Runaway slave Tom finds an ancient hero whose time may have passed long ago. Would-be wizard Edmund is seduced by the power of magic. Meanwhile, ambitious and ruthless Lord Wolland helps free the Skeleth, supernatural beings who merge with the bodies of their human victims and turn them into remorseless killers. As the forces of good and evil prepare to face off in Edmund's home village, the three young protagonists use their individual expertise to help their allies.
Is It Any Good?
In this second volume, author Matthew Jobin gives his characters additional emotional depth and makes their individual adventures more suspenseful and compelling. Telling this tale of high fantasy from the perspectives of three young protagonists proves an excellent strategy, lending the saga added urgency as each character defines his or her destiny. It's a rare middle volume of a fantasy trilogy that improves upon its initial premise, but THE SKELETH devises new complications that bode extremely well for the final installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why epic fantasy is so popular. What kinds of issues is the genre able to address?
Does power corrupt those who wield it? How can citizens ensure that their leaders represent their best interests?
Why are people sometimes willing to make sacrifices for others? What does it mean to be a hero?
Book Details
- Author: Matthew Jobin
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Philomel
- Publication date: May 10, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
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