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The Edge Chronicles: The Quint Saga #2
The Edge Chronicles 2: The Winter Knights: Second Book of Quint
Quint Verginix has enrolled as a squire in the Knight’s Academy. After his training, he will be able to pilot stormchaser sky-ships into the heart of Great Storms, and retrieve the solidified lightning – stormphrax – to weigh down the floating rock on which Sanctaphrax is built. But as a freezing winter takes hold, and the city strains to break free of its tether, ancient feuds threaten to tear its people apart.
On his own, Quint can do nothing to help avert the impending doom. But with the help of a band of loyal friends he might just be able to avert disaster.
The Winter Knights is the second book of the Quint Saga – first trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose.
On his own, Quint can do nothing to help avert the impending doom. But with the help of a band of loyal friends he might just be able to avert disaster.
The Winter Knights is the second book of the Quint Saga – first trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
69 people are currently reading
2274 people want to read
About the author
Paul Stewart
218 books914 followersPaul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers – from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. Together with Chris Riddell he is co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles, which has sold more than three million copies and is available in over twenty languages. They have also collaborated together on lots of other exciting books for children of all ages. The Far-Flung Adventure series includes the Gold Smarties Prize Winner Fergus Crane, and Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper, both Silver Nestle Prize Winners. Then there are the Barnaby Grimes books, two Muddle Earth adventures, and the sci-fi Scavenger and fantasy Wyrmeweald trilogies. For younger readers there is the Blobheads series, while for the very young, Paul has written several picture books, including the Rabbit and Hedgehog series, In the Dark of the Night and, his latest, Wings.
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
November 23, 2019
3.5 ⭐️
I've been thoroughly enjoying working my way through The Edge Chronicles universe.
This particular segment reintroduces us to Quint, where he has managed to get himself a place in the Knight's Academy to train on the elite floating rock of Santaphrax.
Santaphrax and Undertown are suffering the worst Winter ever, and all the Academy are struggling to work out why. Stormchaser's go out in their ships to find Stormphrax but are all destroyed.
Meanwhile there is trouble in the Academy. The feud between Earth Scholars and Sky Scholars is rife as ever, even despite all the Earth Scholars being booted out. Everyone is afraid they will be thrown out next.
These books are exciting without being too overwhelming, the world building is immersive without too much info dumping. Each book can be read as a separate adventure so there's no pressure.
Overall I really recommend these books!
I've been thoroughly enjoying working my way through The Edge Chronicles universe.
This particular segment reintroduces us to Quint, where he has managed to get himself a place in the Knight's Academy to train on the elite floating rock of Santaphrax.
Santaphrax and Undertown are suffering the worst Winter ever, and all the Academy are struggling to work out why. Stormchaser's go out in their ships to find Stormphrax but are all destroyed.
Meanwhile there is trouble in the Academy. The feud between Earth Scholars and Sky Scholars is rife as ever, even despite all the Earth Scholars being booted out. Everyone is afraid they will be thrown out next.
These books are exciting without being too overwhelming, the world building is immersive without too much info dumping. Each book can be read as a separate adventure so there's no pressure.
Overall I really recommend these books!
March 28, 2021
My reading vlog for the entire Quint Saga: https://youtu.be/3TFW_kGa35Q
The weakest in the Quint Saga in my opinion, there wasn't a great deal that happened and it lacked the memorable moments that the first book had. The exploration and development of the world is extremely well done though and a true highlight of this book.
The weakest in the Quint Saga in my opinion, there wasn't a great deal that happened and it lacked the memorable moments that the first book had. The exploration and development of the world is extremely well done though and a true highlight of this book.
August 18, 2015
[5 Stars] This book was so fantastic. It may actually be my favorite in the series so far! I loved seeing Quint go through the Knights Academy, and I particularly loved the action packed ending. I also really liked Quint's overall character development, though I wish we could have seen more of Maris. If you love unique, quirky, darker middle grade fantasy books then this series is certainly for you. I cannot wait to read the final book in this trilogy. Also, I just wanted to say that the epilogue of this book where you find out the back story for one of the characters in the Twig trilogy was so intriguing!
December 12, 2015
Okay, so I love the Edge and the world. I really liked this book, but there is something about the main characters of all of these books that is not my absolute favorite. A lot of the problems would have been solved if Quint wasn't a terrible friend to Maris. And he's also a little similar to Rook where he's conveniently missing from the most intense things that happen in the plot.
May 6, 2021
This book was WILD.
For the first half of this book, I was enjoying it, but nothing really blew me away. But the SECOND HALF OMG. The setup is so worth it for the explosive payoff at the end.
In this book, Quint is attending the Academy to become a Knight, so he can voyage to find stormphrax, like all the other knights long to do. Most of this book follows Quint's exploits as a student, but it is never boring. Instead of focusing on what he's actually learning, the book instead has us focused on the political backstabbing and intrigue of plots made by the scholars. And that's where this book shines.
In The Winter Knights, the sky scholars are waiting for the arrival of a Great Storm so they can get more stormphrax to weigh down the Great Rock of Sanctaphrax, for the seemingly endless winter storm is causing the rock to strain against its chain...threatening to hurtle the entire city into Open Sky. The discrimination against Earth Scholars comes to a heated peak in this novel, with plots and purges taking place. And Quint has an arch nemesis in the fellow Undertowner Villnix (who's a total POS).
This book is HECKIN DARK, y'all. Like I thought the first one was intense, but this one includes plots of murder, a coup (with a high body count), and even more. For a middle grade, this was more than shocking and I feel this series is one that kids would absolutely love (as I know bc I loved them as a kid) but parents would HATE. I think it sits at around a PG-13 range. The story is just so compelling and has ACTUAL STAKES and it's amazing.
Loving where this trilogy is going and SO HYPED for the third book, where Quint and his dad are hunting the man who murdered the rest of their family. REVENGE!!!
For the first half of this book, I was enjoying it, but nothing really blew me away. But the SECOND HALF OMG. The setup is so worth it for the explosive payoff at the end.
In this book, Quint is attending the Academy to become a Knight, so he can voyage to find stormphrax, like all the other knights long to do. Most of this book follows Quint's exploits as a student, but it is never boring. Instead of focusing on what he's actually learning, the book instead has us focused on the political backstabbing and intrigue of plots made by the scholars. And that's where this book shines.
In The Winter Knights, the sky scholars are waiting for the arrival of a Great Storm so they can get more stormphrax to weigh down the Great Rock of Sanctaphrax, for the seemingly endless winter storm is causing the rock to strain against its chain...threatening to hurtle the entire city into Open Sky. The discrimination against Earth Scholars comes to a heated peak in this novel, with plots and purges taking place. And Quint has an arch nemesis in the fellow Undertowner Villnix (who's a total POS).
This book is HECKIN DARK, y'all. Like I thought the first one was intense, but this one includes plots of murder, a coup (with a high body count), and even more. For a middle grade, this was more than shocking and I feel this series is one that kids would absolutely love (as I know bc I loved them as a kid) but parents would HATE. I think it sits at around a PG-13 range. The story is just so compelling and has ACTUAL STAKES and it's amazing.
Loving where this trilogy is going and SO HYPED for the third book, where Quint and his dad are hunting the man who murdered the rest of their family. REVENGE!!!
December 24, 2016
There are some things I like a lot about this book, so two stars seems a bit harsh, but its negative qualities are just so much more prominent and horrible.
So first of all, the sexism in these books is becoming so much more blatant. There are almost no major female characters in the entire series, and I thought finally that problem might be somewhat alleviated with the Quint Trilogy giving us Maris, but no, the authors apparently just shove her offscreen and forget about her for most of the book. They explain this by essentially having the main character do the same thing, which honestly comes off as really unforgivable. Maybe this feels more natural if you're reading them in publication order, but coming into this having just reread Curse Of The Gloamglozer makes it seem like they set up this trilogy with two protagonists and then immediately axed one of them. I ended up kind of hating Quint before I finished the book because of how little he cares about Maris. By the end of it it's clear that she's kind of in love with him (no surprise, since it's a forgone conclusion if you've read the Twig Trilogy first) but throughout most of the book his solo adventures are apparently too exciting for him to even bother to go see her. She writes to him early on to tell him that basically her life is an awful, abusive nightmare, which is something he then does nothing about. Not only that, but it isn't even mentioned again for another 150 pages or so.
Really, the whole plotline with the letters was incredibly upsetting, and not necessarily just in an intentional way. I actually had to skip some of them because they made me want to cry. Maybe this book was not written for abused girls to read. More likely, I think such people's existence was never even thought of. Given the emphasis on the constant death, danger, and treachery of the Edgeworld, I can understand why the authors might have wanted to include some more personal, emotional trauma, but I don't know why they thought it was an appropriate way to keep the only major female character out of the action for most of the book, or why they apparently didn't feel it was important enough to even merit Quint's attention.
I honestly expected to enjoy the romance subplot in this trilogy because, as I said, the Edge Chronicles is all constant sadness and death. Although I loved them as a child and remember them well now, I find myself wondering if I would actually let my children read these books. They're a thrilling adventure, but the constant and horrific violence (which really comes to a crescendo near the end of this book) doesn't seem to be balanced enough. It ends up coming off less as a darker adventure story and more like Game Of Thrones (For Kids!). It can at times feel like the characters live in a world of abject misery and terror. There is some desperate need for a lasting joy and levity for the main characters, which I thought a love story would be the perfect way to provide. While this subplot wasn't necessarily very prominent or well-written in Curse Of The Gloamglozer, it was definitely at least cute. And knowing that in the end the two characters get together (and have a child together) leaves a lot of potential to show us how they got there that never ended up being explored in this book at all. From the Twig Trilogy to here, the question of Maris's existence never seems to be one the authors assume the readers will be interested in.
That was, however, at least one of the things I liked about this book in general: getting to see the backstory of the characters from the Twig Trilogy. The enmity between Quint and Vilnix provides a nice connection to the other books (whatever order you choose to read them in) and the origin of Screedius Tollinix, especially, was a nice touch.
In general, all the greatest qualities of the Edge Chronicles are with worldbuilding. Everything from the maps to the illustrations to the names of characters and the intricate details of the various cultures is both clearly well thought-through and so uniquely weird. The Winter Knights really goes into a lot of detail about the society of Sanctaphrax that the other books haven't, and that's definitely where it shines the most. The Knights Academy can feel a little bit knock-off Hogwarts-y, but there's enough peculiar touches to turn it into something fascinating on its own.
Some of my favourite parts of these books are always the bits where the more fundamental workings of the Edgeworld mythology are revealed, moments like the details of Stormphrax in Stormchaser or the origins of life on the Edge in Midnight Over Sanctaphrax, of which there were a lot in the previous book, so that was something that felt missing through most of this one. But then, in the last twenty pages, out of nowhere we get something completely outside the scope of this story, so that was a pleasant surprise that made the ending really feel satisfying.
All-in-all, this might be my least favourite of the Edge Chronicles books so far, but it does still have at least some of the qualities that make the others so great. If a reader isn't too bothered or upset by the Maris plotline (or lack thereof) and the gory brutality, I think there is something here to enjoy. They just kind of ruined it for me.
So first of all, the sexism in these books is becoming so much more blatant. There are almost no major female characters in the entire series, and I thought finally that problem might be somewhat alleviated with the Quint Trilogy giving us Maris, but no, the authors apparently just shove her offscreen and forget about her for most of the book. They explain this by essentially having the main character do the same thing, which honestly comes off as really unforgivable. Maybe this feels more natural if you're reading them in publication order, but coming into this having just reread Curse Of The Gloamglozer makes it seem like they set up this trilogy with two protagonists and then immediately axed one of them. I ended up kind of hating Quint before I finished the book because of how little he cares about Maris. By the end of it it's clear that she's kind of in love with him (no surprise, since it's a forgone conclusion if you've read the Twig Trilogy first) but throughout most of the book his solo adventures are apparently too exciting for him to even bother to go see her. She writes to him early on to tell him that basically her life is an awful, abusive nightmare, which is something he then does nothing about. Not only that, but it isn't even mentioned again for another 150 pages or so.
Really, the whole plotline with the letters was incredibly upsetting, and not necessarily just in an intentional way. I actually had to skip some of them because they made me want to cry. Maybe this book was not written for abused girls to read. More likely, I think such people's existence was never even thought of. Given the emphasis on the constant death, danger, and treachery of the Edgeworld, I can understand why the authors might have wanted to include some more personal, emotional trauma, but I don't know why they thought it was an appropriate way to keep the only major female character out of the action for most of the book, or why they apparently didn't feel it was important enough to even merit Quint's attention.
I honestly expected to enjoy the romance subplot in this trilogy because, as I said, the Edge Chronicles is all constant sadness and death. Although I loved them as a child and remember them well now, I find myself wondering if I would actually let my children read these books. They're a thrilling adventure, but the constant and horrific violence (which really comes to a crescendo near the end of this book) doesn't seem to be balanced enough. It ends up coming off less as a darker adventure story and more like Game Of Thrones (For Kids!). It can at times feel like the characters live in a world of abject misery and terror. There is some desperate need for a lasting joy and levity for the main characters, which I thought a love story would be the perfect way to provide. While this subplot wasn't necessarily very prominent or well-written in Curse Of The Gloamglozer, it was definitely at least cute. And knowing that in the end the two characters get together (and have a child together) leaves a lot of potential to show us how they got there that never ended up being explored in this book at all. From the Twig Trilogy to here, the question of Maris's existence never seems to be one the authors assume the readers will be interested in.
That was, however, at least one of the things I liked about this book in general: getting to see the backstory of the characters from the Twig Trilogy. The enmity between Quint and Vilnix provides a nice connection to the other books (whatever order you choose to read them in) and the origin of Screedius Tollinix, especially, was a nice touch.
In general, all the greatest qualities of the Edge Chronicles are with worldbuilding. Everything from the maps to the illustrations to the names of characters and the intricate details of the various cultures is both clearly well thought-through and so uniquely weird. The Winter Knights really goes into a lot of detail about the society of Sanctaphrax that the other books haven't, and that's definitely where it shines the most. The Knights Academy can feel a little bit knock-off Hogwarts-y, but there's enough peculiar touches to turn it into something fascinating on its own.
Some of my favourite parts of these books are always the bits where the more fundamental workings of the Edgeworld mythology are revealed, moments like the details of Stormphrax in Stormchaser or the origins of life on the Edge in Midnight Over Sanctaphrax, of which there were a lot in the previous book, so that was something that felt missing through most of this one. But then, in the last twenty pages, out of nowhere we get something completely outside the scope of this story, so that was a pleasant surprise that made the ending really feel satisfying.
All-in-all, this might be my least favourite of the Edge Chronicles books so far, but it does still have at least some of the qualities that make the others so great. If a reader isn't too bothered or upset by the Maris plotline (or lack thereof) and the gory brutality, I think there is something here to enjoy. They just kind of ruined it for me.
February 15, 2016
After entering Sanctaphrax, this book continues with Quint's journey of becoming a sky knight. Although this book explores a very different side of the edge through its schools and society, by doing so it makes the edge an even more complete world.
I enjoyed this book, though I think that there is much to be improved. Mainly that the book seemed too short and compact to contain the amount of action.
*** Detailed Review Below ***
What I liked about this book:
I love books that take a healthy interest in explaining how the society is run. And this book does an exceptional job documenting how the people of high academe, squires, and even the undertown folks feel about each other.
I also loved the details about the schools. I guess it's the dream of many children to attend fantastical schools set on exotic worlds (hence the popular Hogwarts). And this school provides a brighter side to Sanctaphrax than the previous book, which only tells of boring repetitive lectures. I especially enjoyed reading about his first class designing model stormchasers, reminded me of middle school when I built cars out of wooden bricks!
The story also brings up many characters found later in the Twig trilogy. Screedius among them... oh if they only knew what fate awaits...
Where the book surprised me:
The ending of the book was so different from the usual actions supplied by the edge that I was slightly taken back at how violent it was. oh, I have nothing against violence, but the change in tone was quite a shock. However, a violent ending was indeed where all the bottled resentments and schemes of the book might head. This violence not only signaled the resolution, it also underlined a more serious problem for all edge citizens, and that being hysteria. An unwavering faith towards sky academia that purged earth scholars and the audacity to send knight scholars chasing after death. The hysteria is a strong and powerful tool.
What I disliked about the book:
Continuing the line of thought. Although hysteria makes for interesting interactions between societies, it doesn't bode well when designing characters. I found Vilnix to be wonderfully snide and distasteful, but that was it. His character was quite linear and flat, making his schemes easy to understand, but without much depth. The same could be told of most other characters, that they seemed to be good/bad for the sake of being good/bad.
The plot was also slow at the beginning, with the description of classes overshadowing the weather anomaly. And as plans become to unveil and strains tested, everything blew up at once. I enjoyed the plot very much, but the ending seemed too hasty to me.
So here it is. I liked what this book offers to the edge, but it reads more like a supplement of the world rather than an adventure on school grounds. However, knowing where the story must go, I still look forward to the next book.
I enjoyed this book, though I think that there is much to be improved. Mainly that the book seemed too short and compact to contain the amount of action.
*** Detailed Review Below ***
What I liked about this book:
I love books that take a healthy interest in explaining how the society is run. And this book does an exceptional job documenting how the people of high academe, squires, and even the undertown folks feel about each other.
I also loved the details about the schools. I guess it's the dream of many children to attend fantastical schools set on exotic worlds (hence the popular Hogwarts). And this school provides a brighter side to Sanctaphrax than the previous book, which only tells of boring repetitive lectures. I especially enjoyed reading about his first class designing model stormchasers, reminded me of middle school when I built cars out of wooden bricks!
The story also brings up many characters found later in the Twig trilogy. Screedius among them... oh if they only knew what fate awaits...
Where the book surprised me:
The ending of the book was so different from the usual actions supplied by the edge that I was slightly taken back at how violent it was. oh, I have nothing against violence, but the change in tone was quite a shock. However, a violent ending was indeed where all the bottled resentments and schemes of the book might head. This violence not only signaled the resolution, it also underlined a more serious problem for all edge citizens, and that being hysteria. An unwavering faith towards sky academia that purged earth scholars and the audacity to send knight scholars chasing after death. The hysteria is a strong and powerful tool.
What I disliked about the book:
Continuing the line of thought. Although hysteria makes for interesting interactions between societies, it doesn't bode well when designing characters. I found Vilnix to be wonderfully snide and distasteful, but that was it. His character was quite linear and flat, making his schemes easy to understand, but without much depth. The same could be told of most other characters, that they seemed to be good/bad for the sake of being good/bad.
The plot was also slow at the beginning, with the description of classes overshadowing the weather anomaly. And as plans become to unveil and strains tested, everything blew up at once. I enjoyed the plot very much, but the ending seemed too hasty to me.
So here it is. I liked what this book offers to the edge, but it reads more like a supplement of the world rather than an adventure on school grounds. However, knowing where the story must go, I still look forward to the next book.
July 15, 2025
This felt very uninspired tbh maybe I just hate fantasy these days
June 12, 2019
I enjoyed it, but not as much as book 1. The academy was an interesting setting, and definitely something I'm drawing a lot of inspiration from for one of my D&D worlds. Following paragraph has minor spoilers only, but hidden just to be safe:
February 12, 2018
4.5
A great sequel of the series, half a point less for not having enough Maris in it. The focus shifted on Quint entirely and the inner workings of the Academy and other levels. I liked the new characters and the story development was really interesting and quite unpredictable at times. Can't wait to read the next one.
A great sequel of the series, half a point less for not having enough Maris in it. The focus shifted on Quint entirely and the inner workings of the Academy and other levels. I liked the new characters and the story development was really interesting and quite unpredictable at times. Can't wait to read the next one.
March 16, 2018
"Quint und die Eisritter" ist der achte Band in der Klippenlandreihe und das zweite Buch um Quint. Insofern kann man kaum etwas zum Buch sagen außer dass es wieder aufregend und spannend war. Quint wird hintergangen und Maris auch und es gibt eine Putsch...
Die Welt ist unglaublich komplex. Es gibt zwischen den Bänden unglaublich viele Verknüpfungen. So lernen wir hier eine Figur kennen und am Ende stellen wir fest, dass wir sie schon kannten aber es ist schrecklich, wer er war oder besser gesagt, zu wem er später wird. Denn die Handlung von Quint spiel vor Twig.
Es sind übrigens keine Kinderbücher - egal wie naiv die Zeichnungen erscheinen.
Die komplette Reihe ist eine Buchempfehlung! Kein Band hat mich bisher enttäuscht.
Die Welt ist unglaublich komplex. Es gibt zwischen den Bänden unglaublich viele Verknüpfungen. So lernen wir hier eine Figur kennen und am Ende stellen wir fest, dass wir sie schon kannten aber es ist schrecklich, wer er war oder besser gesagt, zu wem er später wird. Denn die Handlung von Quint spiel vor Twig.
Es sind übrigens keine Kinderbücher - egal wie naiv die Zeichnungen erscheinen.
Die komplette Reihe ist eine Buchempfehlung! Kein Band hat mich bisher enttäuscht.
July 22, 2024
Meh, this one was fine. The book mostly followed the classic students entering a new school and doing an extraordinary thing in the end to save the school.
Quint got a little more personality. The snow battle was pretty brutal. I didn’t think the big climax to save the school had enough lead up or plot points to show that was going to be the resolution.
Quint got a little more personality. The snow battle was pretty brutal. I didn’t think the big climax to save the school had enough lead up or plot points to show that was going to be the resolution.
April 26, 2020
Eigentlich wirklich schönes Buch, aber schon eher für die Teenies unter uns, was Spannung, Ernsthaftigkeit und Logik angeht.
October 6, 2019
Loved it!
March 27, 2023
It's great to have a series that, when you return to it, feels like you are slipping on a comfortable pair of shoes. This is my fifth Edge Chronicles book and by this point the series is an old friend.
The Winter Knights is the second book of the Quint trilogy and holds the confusing position of being a sequel to a prequel, with events taking place in between The Curse of the Gloamglozer and the Twig trilogy. It follows the continued adventures of Twig's father Quintinius Verginix on his journey to become a Knight Academic on the floating city of Sanctaphrax.
In terms of story this book felt like it suffered a little from Second Book Syndrome. The plot was not as tight as previous Edge Chronicles novels and there were some odd time skips that, whilst necessary in getting Quint to the place he needed to be by the end of the novel, felt like they left some awkward holes.
That aside, fans of the series will find all the things they have come to love in this book: delightfully quirky names, imaginative creatures, courageous child protagonists saving the world from potentially cataclysmic disasters and karma playing out for heroes and villains alike. We meet some new key characters in the city of Sanctaphrax and readers of the Twig trilogy will also see some familiar faces.
One standout feature of these books is the occasional moment, in amongst the relatively innocent middle grade adventure, of incredibly deep and poignant moments. It always takes me off guard and makes me catch my breath. The emotional power of moments like this has an intensity far beyond what I would expect of a middle grade novel and is what raises the Edge Chronicles above other books in their demographic.
In short, not the best book in the series but definitely worth reading if you are one of the many who have come to love these books.
The Winter Knights is the second book of the Quint trilogy and holds the confusing position of being a sequel to a prequel, with events taking place in between The Curse of the Gloamglozer and the Twig trilogy. It follows the continued adventures of Twig's father Quintinius Verginix on his journey to become a Knight Academic on the floating city of Sanctaphrax.
In terms of story this book felt like it suffered a little from Second Book Syndrome. The plot was not as tight as previous Edge Chronicles novels and there were some odd time skips that, whilst necessary in getting Quint to the place he needed to be by the end of the novel, felt like they left some awkward holes.
That aside, fans of the series will find all the things they have come to love in this book: delightfully quirky names, imaginative creatures, courageous child protagonists saving the world from potentially cataclysmic disasters and karma playing out for heroes and villains alike. We meet some new key characters in the city of Sanctaphrax and readers of the Twig trilogy will also see some familiar faces.
One standout feature of these books is the occasional moment, in amongst the relatively innocent middle grade adventure, of incredibly deep and poignant moments. It always takes me off guard and makes me catch my breath. The emotional power of moments like this has an intensity far beyond what I would expect of a middle grade novel and is what raises the Edge Chronicles above other books in their demographic.
In short, not the best book in the series but definitely worth reading if you are one of the many who have come to love these books.
August 15, 2012
"Winter Knights" (Quint #2) by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell are what upperclassman Raffix designates sky pirate captain Wind Jackal's son Quint, his best friend student knight Phin, and forge-hand pal Stope, when confronted by evil peer everyone dislikes Vilnix, on their way to fulfill starved old Philius Embertine's ancient barkscroll remedy for the endless bitter cold, replace stormphrax - solidified lightning storm energy - in the Outer Sky. But the story starts when the Linius Pallitax Most High Academe dies and appoints a cooperative pair. Professor of the Light mentors good likable Squire Quint. Professor of Darkness takes on nasty hated Vilnix. Though both boys are from Undertown, jealousy and pity divide. Every detail of appearance and action are intricately lined, pointed, curved, and emphasized - phenomenal expertise, imagination.
Arboretum Sicklebough, "aged mottle-skinned tree goblin" p70, Hall Master of Storm Cloud, teaches construction of model ships. Fenviel Vendis, tall thin-mouthed Grey Cloud Master, oversees training of fresh-hatched prowlgrims amid "damp and dusty" straw smell, sweet earthy smell of mounts p135. Vilnix crashes his model in the storm test wind, and starves, sickens his charge, despite Quint's help. Hax Vostillix, tall unsmiling High Cloud Master, purges earth-magic, and every good teacher. His private guard leader, Daxiel Xaxis handpicks the lowliest worst bullies of Undertown to be gatekeepers.
Linius' unusual will bequeaths fortune and daughter Maris' care to miserly cousins. Maris recognizes strange paper from will matches messages supposedly written by Quint, carried by Vilnix, but gives go-between some hundred gold coins stolen from her cousins. Both she and Quint believe Vilnix and meet at a trap; floor gives way beneath. Quint dangles from one hand, Maris dangles from his other.
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/edge/
Arboretum Sicklebough, "aged mottle-skinned tree goblin" p70, Hall Master of Storm Cloud, teaches construction of model ships. Fenviel Vendis, tall thin-mouthed Grey Cloud Master, oversees training of fresh-hatched prowlgrims amid "damp and dusty" straw smell, sweet earthy smell of mounts p135. Vilnix crashes his model in the storm test wind, and starves, sickens his charge, despite Quint's help. Hax Vostillix, tall unsmiling High Cloud Master, purges earth-magic, and every good teacher. His private guard leader, Daxiel Xaxis handpicks the lowliest worst bullies of Undertown to be gatekeepers.
Linius' unusual will bequeaths fortune and daughter Maris' care to miserly cousins. Maris recognizes strange paper from will matches messages supposedly written by Quint, carried by Vilnix, but gives go-between some hundred gold coins stolen from her cousins. Both she and Quint believe Vilnix and meet at a trap; floor gives way beneath. Quint dangles from one hand, Maris dangles from his other.
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/edge/
June 1, 2018
2 stars = it was semi OK
This short book left me feeling kind of meh...
1.) It is clearly aimed at children, yet despite knowing it is not necessarily an adult's book I do truly mean this following critique: the plot seems shallow, simply A,B,C happen and the day is unimaginatively won. I found it less quirky than the first Edge book.
2.) I feel it was shallow because the characters and their stories told held no real lessons and/or interesting concepts for children to learn from or empathise with: the variegated figures that appear in the book may be different by their looks or their quaint race, yet they feel like empty vessels carrying a name, saying some select phrases and maintaining their uninspired roles they hold in the story.
3.) Moreover, some of the plot's resolutions I found utterly disturbing and dangerous while still taking into account the rudimentary level of the story. For example, the protagonist literally bought three slaves; this act was portrayed as freeing them. The freed ones were, of course, automatically grateful and assumed the role of protagonist's servants/employees. It felt rushed and only served to accelerate the plot and offer a solution quickly. Again, the characters carried no real agency over their lives and merely served the oversimplistic plot. Don't get me wrong, fairy tales sure are simpler, yet this is book is the wrong simple.
Recommended only if you have really enjoyed the first book and you don't mind the fact that the plot and characters, despite the exotic setting, are lacklustre and vapid.
This short book left me feeling kind of meh...
1.) It is clearly aimed at children, yet despite knowing it is not necessarily an adult's book I do truly mean this following critique: the plot seems shallow, simply A,B,C happen and the day is unimaginatively won. I found it less quirky than the first Edge book.
2.) I feel it was shallow because the characters and their stories told held no real lessons and/or interesting concepts for children to learn from or empathise with: the variegated figures that appear in the book may be different by their looks or their quaint race, yet they feel like empty vessels carrying a name, saying some select phrases and maintaining their uninspired roles they hold in the story.
3.) Moreover, some of the plot's resolutions I found utterly disturbing and dangerous while still taking into account the rudimentary level of the story. For example, the protagonist literally bought three slaves; this act was portrayed as freeing them. The freed ones were, of course, automatically grateful and assumed the role of protagonist's servants/employees. It felt rushed and only served to accelerate the plot and offer a solution quickly. Again, the characters carried no real agency over their lives and merely served the oversimplistic plot. Don't get me wrong, fairy tales sure are simpler, yet this is book is the wrong simple.
Recommended only if you have really enjoyed the first book and you don't mind the fact that the plot and characters, despite the exotic setting, are lacklustre and vapid.
May 4, 2012
There has truly not been a single misstep in this series.
Eight books into the series and I still LOVE it.
Now, I tend to love the Quint trilogy more than Rook or Twig and I don't really have any specific reasons for that other then I just respond to Quint the best. This book is the second in the Quint Trilogy (we last saw him in the AMAZING Curse of the Gloamglozer). Book nine in the series is the final book in the Quint trilogy and I suspect there is a reason why they want to end with him.
After "Clash of the Sky Galleons", I will read Book 10 which is the conclusion to the series as well as the conclusion to all three trilogies! It is with much excitement and high expectations that I look forward to reading "The Immortals" because I can not imagine what Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell have come up with that could top the books so far.
I cannot recommend this series enough, although I guess I didn't really talk too much about this book, did I? Well, without spoiling the plot, the main conflict of this book hinges upon group think and the danger of whipping a crowd into a frenzy by presenting speculation as though it is fact. The power of the pack has dangerous consequences and by dangerous consequences, I mean bloodshed.
And lots of it!
There are times when the science of The Edge Chronicles gets a little fuzzy, but ultimately it doesn't really matter because the story is so engaging!
Do yourself a favor and read the Edge Chronicles!
Eight books into the series and I still LOVE it.
Now, I tend to love the Quint trilogy more than Rook or Twig and I don't really have any specific reasons for that other then I just respond to Quint the best. This book is the second in the Quint Trilogy (we last saw him in the AMAZING Curse of the Gloamglozer). Book nine in the series is the final book in the Quint trilogy and I suspect there is a reason why they want to end with him.
After "Clash of the Sky Galleons", I will read Book 10 which is the conclusion to the series as well as the conclusion to all three trilogies! It is with much excitement and high expectations that I look forward to reading "The Immortals" because I can not imagine what Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell have come up with that could top the books so far.
I cannot recommend this series enough, although I guess I didn't really talk too much about this book, did I? Well, without spoiling the plot, the main conflict of this book hinges upon group think and the danger of whipping a crowd into a frenzy by presenting speculation as though it is fact. The power of the pack has dangerous consequences and by dangerous consequences, I mean bloodshed.
And lots of it!
There are times when the science of The Edge Chronicles gets a little fuzzy, but ultimately it doesn't really matter because the story is so engaging!
Do yourself a favor and read the Edge Chronicles!
October 15, 2024
Still to this day, this book remains my favorite in the series. More than that, now as an adult the second half of the book full of political scheming and insurrection feels just as compelling as the first half, which is dominated by this series' version of noble knighthood and skilled training in arts that really interested me as a kid (mostly the flying ships, but what's new?) and remain compelling now.
I will say, the connections this book attempts to forge between other narratives in the series do feel a little forced. In my opinion, this book would have better served The Edge Chronicles by keeping the isolated vignette-style plot with a few hints here and there peeking at other books. If at ten pages from the book's conclusion we are rushing into the next adventure, it makes the entire story up to this point feel a bit cheapened. Let the plot sit with its recent events, let the reader feel the consequences of all that came to pass. With how The Winter Knights wrapped up, there's no longer any rush within the world, at least for a few years more.
I will say, the connections this book attempts to forge between other narratives in the series do feel a little forced. In my opinion, this book would have better served The Edge Chronicles by keeping the isolated vignette-style plot with a few hints here and there peeking at other books. If at ten pages from the book's conclusion we are rushing into the next adventure, it makes the entire story up to this point feel a bit cheapened. Let the plot sit with its recent events, let the reader feel the consequences of all that came to pass. With how The Winter Knights wrapped up, there's no longer any rush within the world, at least for a few years more.
September 20, 2012
I thought this book was more of a filler, addressing the quote revealed in the 7th book. While I loved meeting new people, I thought that (again) the continuity was lacking. Considering the end of the 4th book, with Linius Pallitax getting better, his sudden death was strange and far-fetched for me. The end was also ridiculous, with Quint abandoning his studies at the Knights Academy with NO explanation and considering the skirmish between Quint and Vilnix (I hate that guy!) described in the 2nd book, it was even more ridiculous. Overall, not one of the best books of the series.
August 11, 2022
So, I definitely enjoyed this more than the first book in the trilogy. However, most of the exciting things hapened toward the end so the events felt rushed.
Vilnix as a character was pretty one-dimensional and a lot of trouble could've been avoided if the characters woulnd't have blindly trusted him.
Also, wasn't Quint already offered a sponsorship by the Professor of Light in the first book?
You can tell that there is a time gap between publications.
Vilnix as a character was pretty one-dimensional and a lot of trouble could've been avoided if the characters woulnd't have blindly trusted him.
Also, wasn't Quint already offered a sponsorship by the Professor of Light in the first book?
You can tell that there is a time gap between publications.
October 23, 2014
I loved this book, it was just as good as the first. If you read and liked the first book, then you'll understand perfectly why I like this book so much.
I can definitely recommend and can give this book 5 stars.
I can definitely recommend and can give this book 5 stars.
January 15, 2016
Fantastic. Just beautiful!
August 13, 2018
This one doesn't hold up as well as the first one did. Honestly I feel that three stars might be a bit generous. But maybe this one was never my favourite anyway.
On paper, I really like the story. The events of the last book have caused an unusually cold winter to fall upon the Edge, which is unfortunate for the people of Sanctaphrax, because it means there's a very good chance their floating city could break off and fly away, killing all of them. In the resulting paranoia, one of the scholars, convinced he alone can solve the crisis, attempts to consolidate his own power, unwittingly strengthening the power of one of his lieutenants who is preparing a coup. It's left up to a ragtag team of friends to uncover the real reason behind the freezing weather and find a solution.
This is a great story, on paper. Unfortunately the protagonist, Quint, has barely anything to do with it. For the most part, he is a passive witness to everything going on, which creates a distance between the reader and the story, making emotional investment a little difficult. Also, I personally feel the motivations of the villains could be a little more sketched out. I can buy Vilnix's inferiority complex and trust issues twisting him into the man he becomes, but I never really understood the reasons for Hax's fanaticism or Daxiel's ambition. There's a lot of interesting events happening here, but it's mostly relegated to the background while Quint grooms his prowlgrin. He was a bit of a passive protagonist in the last one as well, but it's a far bigger problem here.
Also, the phrases 'all at once' and 'just then' are really overused. Not just in this book either, I think in this whole series. I mostly try to ignore it, because it's such a minor nitpick, but once you notice it you can't un-notice it. And at one bit the editor missed out that one of the sky-ships had the wrong name.
There are some things I really liked. I liked Hax's growing desperation as the story continues, and I feel he would have been a lot less one note if we saw more of it. I like seeing Screed's backstory, it makes his eventual fate seem so much more tragic.
Overall, I feel that 'The Winter Knights' tells a great story but fails mostly to show it. I'm going to keep on reading this series, I personally I think that the later books will hold up better. The next one is 'Clash of the Sky Galleons' which I remember being released, way back in 2006! I can't believe it's been twelve years!
On paper, I really like the story. The events of the last book have caused an unusually cold winter to fall upon the Edge, which is unfortunate for the people of Sanctaphrax, because it means there's a very good chance their floating city could break off and fly away, killing all of them. In the resulting paranoia, one of the scholars, convinced he alone can solve the crisis, attempts to consolidate his own power, unwittingly strengthening the power of one of his lieutenants who is preparing a coup. It's left up to a ragtag team of friends to uncover the real reason behind the freezing weather and find a solution.
This is a great story, on paper. Unfortunately the protagonist, Quint, has barely anything to do with it. For the most part, he is a passive witness to everything going on, which creates a distance between the reader and the story, making emotional investment a little difficult. Also, I personally feel the motivations of the villains could be a little more sketched out. I can buy Vilnix's inferiority complex and trust issues twisting him into the man he becomes, but I never really understood the reasons for Hax's fanaticism or Daxiel's ambition. There's a lot of interesting events happening here, but it's mostly relegated to the background while Quint grooms his prowlgrin. He was a bit of a passive protagonist in the last one as well, but it's a far bigger problem here.
Also, the phrases 'all at once' and 'just then' are really overused. Not just in this book either, I think in this whole series. I mostly try to ignore it, because it's such a minor nitpick, but once you notice it you can't un-notice it. And at one bit the editor missed out that one of the sky-ships had the wrong name.
There are some things I really liked. I liked Hax's growing desperation as the story continues, and I feel he would have been a lot less one note if we saw more of it. I like seeing Screed's backstory, it makes his eventual fate seem so much more tragic.
Overall, I feel that 'The Winter Knights' tells a great story but fails mostly to show it. I'm going to keep on reading this series, I personally I think that the later books will hold up better. The next one is 'Clash of the Sky Galleons' which I remember being released, way back in 2006! I can't believe it's been twelve years!
April 25, 2019
These books are so good... I’m trying to work out why I don’t love them. They have action, richness, humour, inventiveness, top class illustration, twisty trickery, tension. Why is it?
My current theory is that there’s no depth to the main characters’ thoughts and feelings. It’s as though we’re skimming the surface. They are acquaintances of ours, rather than deeply understood friends or family.
The same applies to the villains. My son asked me this morning ‘Who do you think was the main villain of that book?’ and upon reflection that question highlights a weakness in the book. Vilnix doesn’t quite cut it because despite a lot of foreshadowing, his motives are not well enough explored and neither is his plot clever enough for someone so much in the spotlight. Hax is just potty. And Daxiel, though probably the true villain, doesn’t get any character development at all.
I couldn’t help noticing (and here I agree with several other reviewers) that the only decent female character is shoved out of the picture for most of the story, and Quint doesn’t do anything about her situation in an abusive household despite knowing about it. The abuse of Maris is a kind of throw away minor plot-line, not deserving of a proper resolution by the authors. When she comes back into the action at the end, it’s to hang onto Quint’s sleeve as he plays the hero... Hmm.
9 books and three quarters to go.
My current theory is that there’s no depth to the main characters’ thoughts and feelings. It’s as though we’re skimming the surface. They are acquaintances of ours, rather than deeply understood friends or family.
The same applies to the villains. My son asked me this morning ‘Who do you think was the main villain of that book?’ and upon reflection that question highlights a weakness in the book. Vilnix doesn’t quite cut it because despite a lot of foreshadowing, his motives are not well enough explored and neither is his plot clever enough for someone so much in the spotlight. Hax is just potty. And Daxiel, though probably the true villain, doesn’t get any character development at all.
I couldn’t help noticing (and here I agree with several other reviewers) that the only decent female character is shoved out of the picture for most of the story, and Quint doesn’t do anything about her situation in an abusive household despite knowing about it. The abuse of Maris is a kind of throw away minor plot-line, not deserving of a proper resolution by the authors. When she comes back into the action at the end, it’s to hang onto Quint’s sleeve as he plays the hero... Hmm.
9 books and three quarters to go.
March 10, 2023
Quint joins the Knight's Academy. We follow him in raising his prowlgrin pup. Maris is in Undertown. Hax stirs up hatred of earth study (although there is not much of a conclusion on that.) A bad winter winter means that Hax sends out Knight after Knight to collect Stormphrax - most of them die trying. Consequently perhaps, Hax is murdered and a huge fight follows. Quint and his comrades save the day by healing the mysterious and misunderstood sky creature.
I really like the Edge Chronicles universe, the fantasy, and the interesting imagery. All the creatures are great. It is fun to let my imagination run wild and to try and figure out the physics of it. It's all really kooky and weird in the best way. The politics/morality/history of the world give for good wondering too. There were a few too many cliches, though, perhaps.
There are some unexpected twists and overall it is a good story, but I think it could have done with a bit more character development. I muddled some of them up sometimes. Maybe that's just me!
I enjoyed the ending and the sense of justice it brought. I thought there were a few loose ends though, but maybe they will be tied up in the next installment; for example, what about Phillius Embertine's sanity?
I really like the Edge Chronicles universe, the fantasy, and the interesting imagery. All the creatures are great. It is fun to let my imagination run wild and to try and figure out the physics of it. It's all really kooky and weird in the best way. The politics/morality/history of the world give for good wondering too. There were a few too many cliches, though, perhaps.
There are some unexpected twists and overall it is a good story, but I think it could have done with a bit more character development. I muddled some of them up sometimes. Maybe that's just me!
I enjoyed the ending and the sense of justice it brought. I thought there were a few loose ends though, but maybe they will be tied up in the next installment; for example, what about Phillius Embertine's sanity?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2025
This is part 2 chronologically in the series, but was written eighth. This shows in the writing. The world has already been fleshed out and events have already been established that this story arc needs to lead to. This book stays true to the atmosphere and characters we have come to know and love in different parts of these series. The creative way in which this fantastical world functions with its otherworldly science and flora and fauna are expanded upon. If you have read Midnight over Sanctaphrax already, you will recognise how events connect in a subtle and satisfying way.
One thing that did catch me by suprise was the degree to which the violence was graphic. Especially the chapter Blood in the snow was more violent than I was used to in this series, not helped by the illustrations, beautiful though they may be. Now I know that in many of the books the characters are in real life danger. Riddell and Stewart have created a beautiful, but violent world. So violence was not new to the series. Just to my recollection we had not seen violent killing in this amount or described in this amount of detail before. But in all fairness I'm not convinced that leaving it out of the story would have made it better.
One thing that did catch me by suprise was the degree to which the violence was graphic. Especially the chapter Blood in the snow was more violent than I was used to in this series, not helped by the illustrations, beautiful though they may be. Now I know that in many of the books the characters are in real life danger. Riddell and Stewart have created a beautiful, but violent world. So violence was not new to the series. Just to my recollection we had not seen violent killing in this amount or described in this amount of detail before. But in all fairness I'm not convinced that leaving it out of the story would have made it better.
May 13, 2020
This series continues to impress me.
Like its predecessor, it took a while to pick up but this worked in its favour (even more so in this book) as there was a steady build up to the ending. The plot was generally great, some scenes or parts seemed a little weird or out of place but it never got too slow or boring and it felt like there was always something happening. I also loved how every element of the plot came together for an amazing ending and how (almost) everything was explained right at the end.
The characters continue to be amazing. I definitely felt like more characters were introduced in this book than in the last one but the old characters (mostly) stay as a part of the book and have their own rolls (however small). All of the characters still remain interesting and the relationships between characters and the ways in which they interact and respond to each other is interesting and really helps to support the plot.
Overall, an impressive sequel and I intend to read the next book in this series pretty soon.
Like its predecessor, it took a while to pick up but this worked in its favour (even more so in this book) as there was a steady build up to the ending. The plot was generally great, some scenes or parts seemed a little weird or out of place but it never got too slow or boring and it felt like there was always something happening. I also loved how every element of the plot came together for an amazing ending and how (almost) everything was explained right at the end.
The characters continue to be amazing. I definitely felt like more characters were introduced in this book than in the last one but the old characters (mostly) stay as a part of the book and have their own rolls (however small). All of the characters still remain interesting and the relationships between characters and the ways in which they interact and respond to each other is interesting and really helps to support the plot.
Overall, an impressive sequel and I intend to read the next book in this series pretty soon.
April 3, 2023
This has been my least favorite installation of the series so far, but more due to my reading habits than the quality of the book itself. As always the art and writing are stellar, the worldbuilding supreme, the characters and motivations full and lively.
What I did not like about this book was how it 'walked back' into the lore to explore some parts of the world that had otherwise been alluded to- I should have read this directly after book #4, the Curse of the Gloamglozer. That is more of a printing or organizational issue than the book itself, but still comes off as a problem if you're reading them in their official order.
The other thing I disliked about the book was how realistically it portrayed a certain sniveling, manipulative, cretin within it. The character was so scummy and slimy in his interactions with others that I put the book down out of sheer distaste. That is a personal issue though.
Aside from that, another stellar addition to the series, and one I'm glad to have re-read. Recommended to all!
What I did not like about this book was how it 'walked back' into the lore to explore some parts of the world that had otherwise been alluded to- I should have read this directly after book #4, the Curse of the Gloamglozer. That is more of a printing or organizational issue than the book itself, but still comes off as a problem if you're reading them in their official order.
The other thing I disliked about the book was how realistically it portrayed a certain sniveling, manipulative, cretin within it. The character was so scummy and slimy in his interactions with others that I put the book down out of sheer distaste. That is a personal issue though.
Aside from that, another stellar addition to the series, and one I'm glad to have re-read. Recommended to all!
December 16, 2020
I had a few problems with this, if I'm honest.
First, Quint seems to be a passive observer in this book, instead of the main character, so I constantly felt like I as 'on the outside' of the story.
Second, Maris all but completely disappears from the book, which means that all the characters are male, which is not exactly fun.
Third, Quint doesn't seem to care that much about Maris, even after finding out what she's going through, which was weird, considering everything they went through.
Fourth, all the action started 90 pages before the end, and I wanted things to get going a bit quicker than that.
Fifth, I would have liked a bit more explanation at the end as to what the creature was, it was just a bit skipped over for my taste.
In saying that, this was still a good book, in its own way. I enjoyed the story enough, and the world-building, and how dark it was, but I wanted a bit more if I'm honest. I'm hoping the next will be faster and less male-centric.
First, Quint seems to be a passive observer in this book, instead of the main character, so I constantly felt like I as 'on the outside' of the story.
Second, Maris all but completely disappears from the book, which means that all the characters are male, which is not exactly fun.
Third, Quint doesn't seem to care that much about Maris, even after finding out what she's going through, which was weird, considering everything they went through.
Fourth, all the action started 90 pages before the end, and I wanted things to get going a bit quicker than that.
Fifth, I would have liked a bit more explanation at the end as to what the creature was, it was just a bit skipped over for my taste.
In saying that, this was still a good book, in its own way. I enjoyed the story enough, and the world-building, and how dark it was, but I wanted a bit more if I'm honest. I'm hoping the next will be faster and less male-centric.
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