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Scarlet Morning #1
Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson
From the mastermind behind Nimona, an awe-inspiring illustrated novel unfolds, chronicling two orphans leaving their monotonous hometown to embark on a pirate voyage with a quirky crew. Viola and Wilmur, having spent fifteen uneventful years in the drab town of Caveat, yearn for their parents. Their lives are filled with salt, garbage, pirate tales, and 'what ifs'... until a stormy night when Captain Cadence Chase bursts in. They strike a Chase can take their enigmatic book, but only if she takes them along. After all, if their parents aren't returning, Viola and Wilmur might as well seek them out on an epic adventure. Venturing into the perilous yet captivating world beyond Caveat, the inseparable duo must unravel the truth behind legends and find the key to saving Dickerson's Sea from destruction before it tears them apart. Scarlet Morning is a story filled with humor, deep emotion, and sharp insight, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and the extraordinary lengths one would go to save a world in ruins.
Unknown Binding
First published September 23, 2025
About the author
N.D. Stevenson
105 books5,302 followersND Stevenson is the award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator of Nimona and The Fire Never Goes Out, the co-creator of Lumberjanes, and was the showrunner for the award-winning Netflix series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
December 19, 2025
reading middle grade fantasy instead of going to therapy.
https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...
how to say this...
i think this should have been YA and aged up the characters and leaned into the swearing / seducing / sinning / sexy pirates aspect and developed more of a plot and not been so much about children discovering family trees.
i guess that wasn't that hard to say.
instead, it felt like it uncomfortably split the difference between age ranges, and didn't always hit the mark. i liked the voice a lot but wanted more from a storytelling point of view.
sorry! some of this wasn't for kids, and some too much so.
but then again i'm a grown woman reading children's books, so. take my thoughts with a grain of salt.
bottom line: awkward and in between stages. relatable!
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...
how to say this...
i think this should have been YA and aged up the characters and leaned into the swearing / seducing / sinning / sexy pirates aspect and developed more of a plot and not been so much about children discovering family trees.
i guess that wasn't that hard to say.
instead, it felt like it uncomfortably split the difference between age ranges, and didn't always hit the mark. i liked the voice a lot but wanted more from a storytelling point of view.
sorry! some of this wasn't for kids, and some too much so.
but then again i'm a grown woman reading children's books, so. take my thoughts with a grain of salt.
bottom line: awkward and in between stages. relatable!
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
April 1, 2025
You just have to use the words "from the powerhouse creator of Nimona" and I'll be there, it's that easy. But I was surprised to see that Scarlet Morning is not the author's usual graphic novel or comic book, but a middle grade novel in prose. And maybe that's why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would (Nimona and all of Lumberjanes are very dear to me). The story follows 14-year-old Viola and 15-year-old Wilmur who live on the miserable little island of Caveat where the streets are covered in salt and the sea is poisonous and where no ship would ever go. One day they finally get the opportunity to leave the island and so they join a chaotic crew of maybe-most-definitely pirates. I wouldn't call this book a pirate adventure, though. Viola and Wilmur don't stay with the pirates for too long, and they also split up and have their own story lines. The plot was, unfortunately, all over the place before the book then ended rather abruptly. The characters didn't really have a destination in mind when they boarded the ship, and I never felt like they had a personal goal. The entire story is them reacting to stuff that's happening or to people they meet, and they do meet a LOT of people. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that there were like 50 named characters in here, and that is simply too much for a 300-page middle grade book. The chapters with fewer characters were far better in my opinion, because I could finally get a grip on their personalities and backstories. I also liked that the traveling made room for many different environments and how the world was expanded through that. The sea was especially interesting, because it's a place of strange occurrences and creatures, but a lot was only told through a journal-like book inside the story. I wish that there was more showing than telling in general, but at least the illustrations were great and plenty, and I just loved to see the art of N.D. Stevenson again. I also have to praise the casual queer representation and I'm overall very glad that the author was able to publish this story after sitting on it since childhood.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books / Quill Tree Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books / Quill Tree Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2025
This is a fairly clever, extremely original grade school to middle grade fantasy which has just about everything a kid could want in a story. From supervision-free adventure in which the children are the heroes to pirates questing for magical books, this will certainly appeal to reluctant readers. And I think it is interesting enough to also appeal to parents using this book as a read-along. I love the graphic novel Nimona, so I decided to check this one out just for fun.
October 3, 2025
Absolutely brilliant book. Pirate-mystery-adventure-horror, which takes a relatively safe premise - orphan(s) end up on an adventure with pirates - and goes absolutely batshit with it. Everything in this world is strange, wild, and wonderful, and most of it is deadly. It's advertised as for ages 8-12 but on your own head be it if your kids get nightmares, the 'found footage' excerpts from The Book in the middle are straight-up psychological horror, I do not like The Angel *one bit*. If you ignore the fact that it's meant (pretending?) to be a children's book then it is utterly engrossing for an adult. One of the most gloriously engrossing, engaging things I've ever read.
November 16, 2025
Viola and Wilmur grew up on the fog-covered and salt-encrusted island of Caveat, two orphans fed on pirate stories, pickled eggs, and little else. Before they were born a curse turned the sea into a bitter, dark acid, so full of salt that miles and miles of it have become all up impassible. Animals were warped, most now born with too many eyes, or no eyes, or a thirst for human blood, or with poison bites. When a sea captain comes to their door asking after an ancient, locked book that the kids have been guarding since childhood, they barter their treasure for food, board, and passage on the first real ship they've ever seen. So begins an exciting and mysterious adventure, as the two teens set out for the first time into a ruined world full of secrets, betrayals, lost royalty, sailor's superstitions, and danger. This really hit the spot as an exciting tale for young readers which also holds an adult's attention, full of beautiful illustrations. My one major complaint is that this book is not a stand alone; it is clearly the first of a series, and yet no where on the cover or in the marketing copy did I see anything about this being "book one". It's a chunky 430 pages, so I was really expecting the story to wrap at the end of this volume but it does not. I will definitely pick up book two when it comes out, I just wish I had known I was starting a series!
January 8, 2026
I don't know if this is actually young adult, I see everyone's calling it middle grade? maybe it straddles the two, but either way this was incredible. SCARLET MORNING has one of the most unique and fascinating worlds ever.. and that's saying something considering this story and the associated world is, well. Bat-shit weird (complimentary).
The concept starts out feeling a little bleak and post-apocalyptic and then transitions into a sea adventure, complete with pirates and a navy who has hunted them to extinction, followed up with like.. Doctor Who multiverse style almost horror with the disappearance of people, places, and memory. Whilst also hinting at other worlds or another reality and possibly a timeline that needs correcting. I don't know, it was a lot and it was bonkers, but I ate it up.
And at the core of this is two orphans who were left waiting for their parents to arrive at a forgotten island. Until something happens to break them free of the world they knew and expose them to.. well, a lot. Even more than I've mentioned.
Alongside this brilliant storytelling, are the kind of illustrations and doodles we have come to expect from the author of NIMONA and it adds a whole level of delightfulness to the experience.
The fact that I had this just sitting, collecting dust, on my "overdue ARC pile" is insane. Do not sleep on this one, friends! Don't be like me. Me was dumb. Okay, me was in a reading slump but still.
If you enjoy a wild, mind-blowing, fantastical, kind of reading experience, look no further. Book two, when?
4.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
The concept starts out feeling a little bleak and post-apocalyptic and then transitions into a sea adventure, complete with pirates and a navy who has hunted them to extinction, followed up with like.. Doctor Who multiverse style almost horror with the disappearance of people, places, and memory. Whilst also hinting at other worlds or another reality and possibly a timeline that needs correcting. I don't know, it was a lot and it was bonkers, but I ate it up.
And at the core of this is two orphans who were left waiting for their parents to arrive at a forgotten island. Until something happens to break them free of the world they knew and expose them to.. well, a lot. Even more than I've mentioned.
Alongside this brilliant storytelling, are the kind of illustrations and doodles we have come to expect from the author of NIMONA and it adds a whole level of delightfulness to the experience.
The fact that I had this just sitting, collecting dust, on my "overdue ARC pile" is insane. Do not sleep on this one, friends! Don't be like me. Me was dumb. Okay, me was in a reading slump but still.
If you enjoy a wild, mind-blowing, fantastical, kind of reading experience, look no further. Book two, when?
4.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
January 6, 2026
Hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars because oh my Cod, what an incredible book, but also, OH MY COD, THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH GOING ON.
Loved the world-building, loved the characters, loved the illustrations and intricate plotting. Viola and Wilmur are a delightful duo of orphans thrust into a grand adventure, just like in any classic middle grade fantasy series, and following their journey accross this magical maritime world was an absolute treat. This book is full of swashbuckling adventure, deep rooted secrets, and a fascinating mythology and it definitely kept me interested throughout.
However, it was a weidly paced book and as I approached the end, I was acutely aware of how few pages were left and how many questions were unanswered. I appreciate that it is the first in a series, but I would have liked a little more closure or a sense of some sort of plot arc coming to a conclusion at the end. That being said, I will ABSOLUTELY be snapping up the second book as soon as it comes out so colour me hooked.
Loved the world-building, loved the characters, loved the illustrations and intricate plotting. Viola and Wilmur are a delightful duo of orphans thrust into a grand adventure, just like in any classic middle grade fantasy series, and following their journey accross this magical maritime world was an absolute treat. This book is full of swashbuckling adventure, deep rooted secrets, and a fascinating mythology and it definitely kept me interested throughout.
However, it was a weidly paced book and as I approached the end, I was acutely aware of how few pages were left and how many questions were unanswered. I appreciate that it is the first in a series, but I would have liked a little more closure or a sense of some sort of plot arc coming to a conclusion at the end. That being said, I will ABSOLUTELY be snapping up the second book as soon as it comes out so colour me hooked.
September 26, 2025
I could NOT put this book down for a second without thinking about it. Each and every character was unique and fleshed out and were so alive it felt like I was there!!! The imagery on every page had me kicking my feet with joy and tensing up with fear. The monsters in this book are so reminiscent of SCP Containment Breach horrors and I ate it UPPPPP.
ND brought his vision and voice from his art onto the page in a way I would be blessed by Cod (hEhehe) to have the skills to do the same.
The last few chapters had my jaw on the floor and I’m ITCHING to read the sequel when that gets released👏👏👏
ND brought his vision and voice from his art onto the page in a way I would be blessed by Cod (hEhehe) to have the skills to do the same.
The last few chapters had my jaw on the floor and I’m ITCHING to read the sequel when that gets released👏👏👏
January 21, 2026
Book two better be out SOON
August 3, 2025
***Series of Unfortunate Events meets Tress of the Emerald Sea meets Gravity Falls. Dialed up to max volume.***
> Two unlucky (or lucky, depending on your outlook) orphans saving the world, a heavy dose of psychological horror, more than a few terrifying creatures, pirates galore, and half a dozen+ incredibly crafted characters.
>>Thanks ND, I won't be sleeping for a while. Genuinely my only critique is that it was absolutely terrifying at points... but perhaps the young spirit can handle more than my feeble adult mind can.
>>>This is a truly novel and rich work of fiction- inspired by so much, yet derivative of nothing. Technically middle grade, but YA and adult readers will still enjoy (and feel challenged by) this book and its world. I know Captain Chase will linger with me long after the last time we saw her...
> Two unlucky (or lucky, depending on your outlook) orphans saving the world, a heavy dose of psychological horror, more than a few terrifying creatures, pirates galore, and half a dozen+ incredibly crafted characters.
>>Thanks ND, I won't be sleeping for a while. Genuinely my only critique is that it was absolutely terrifying at points... but perhaps the young spirit can handle more than my feeble adult mind can.
>>>This is a truly novel and rich work of fiction- inspired by so much, yet derivative of nothing. Technically middle grade, but YA and adult readers will still enjoy (and feel challenged by) this book and its world. I know Captain Chase will linger with me long after the last time we saw her...
December 10, 2025
Bro that ENDING!!! This reminded me of reading my favorite books as a kid😭like this kind of stuff is what made me interested in stories and reading and made me who i am😭😭the way this was written,,,storytelling for young readers is so essential and nostalgic and theres nothing that feels like this in adult fiction oh my god. I am so glad i read this this year. It fits so well with my year of graphic novels. I’m tearing up and remembering how much reading fantasy as a kid creates a free space to live in and grow UGHH. I love books. Thank u SO SO MUCH to my wonderful coworker who lent me their copy.
MAKE BOOKS MAKE SENSE AGAIN!!! Have a plan when you set out to write!! Authors need to read this.
MAKE BOOKS MAKE SENSE AGAIN!!! Have a plan when you set out to write!! Authors need to read this.
June 29, 2025
It's the most satisfying feeling when one of your most anticipated books of the year is one of the best things you've read this year! ❤️☠️
'Scarlet Morning' follows teenagers Viola and Wilmur who are orphans who have been left on a small island of Caveat, they fill their days reading and telling stories until one day a Captain Cadence Chase (be still my beating heart) breaks down their door looking for a book they possess.
When I tell you this book was a wild journey I'm not lying! In N.D's trademark style the warmth and wit shines right off the pages. Filled to bursting with characters you instantly fall in love with, even side characters who are in mere lines you adore. Captain Cadence Chase is a glorious creation, can we trust her or not? Do I love her either way? Yes. I love books and stories with casual queerness, gender and sexuality is spoken about with ease and not an eyelid is batted. Wilmur and Viola's journey will steal your heart.
The story is complex and exciting without feeling overwhelming. N.D's comic timing is once again a highlight. This story goes to some dark places and is not played down to kids in any way which is very exciting.
I was so happy when I realized N.D had illustrated it too! I love his style and it fits the story so perfectly.
An epic story about love, betrayal, pirates, growing up, family bonds and the power of stories. I'm honestly so in love with this book I could burst.
Thank you so much to Harper Insider for my copy 💖 'Scarlet Morning' is out on the 25th of September and I can't wait for everyone to read it.
'Scarlet Morning' follows teenagers Viola and Wilmur who are orphans who have been left on a small island of Caveat, they fill their days reading and telling stories until one day a Captain Cadence Chase (be still my beating heart) breaks down their door looking for a book they possess.
When I tell you this book was a wild journey I'm not lying! In N.D's trademark style the warmth and wit shines right off the pages. Filled to bursting with characters you instantly fall in love with, even side characters who are in mere lines you adore. Captain Cadence Chase is a glorious creation, can we trust her or not? Do I love her either way? Yes. I love books and stories with casual queerness, gender and sexuality is spoken about with ease and not an eyelid is batted. Wilmur and Viola's journey will steal your heart.
The story is complex and exciting without feeling overwhelming. N.D's comic timing is once again a highlight. This story goes to some dark places and is not played down to kids in any way which is very exciting.
I was so happy when I realized N.D had illustrated it too! I love his style and it fits the story so perfectly.
An epic story about love, betrayal, pirates, growing up, family bonds and the power of stories. I'm honestly so in love with this book I could burst.
Thank you so much to Harper Insider for my copy 💖 'Scarlet Morning' is out on the 25th of September and I can't wait for everyone to read it.
May 6, 2025
{Thank you to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for the ARC}
I loved every second of this book, I really think this is ND Stevenson’s masterpiece. The story is so well thought out, so complex and interwoven, and SO entertaining. The characters are all so unique with rich backstories and strong personalities, and the settings are so creative and enticing. I feel like I’ve been to Caveat, sailed on the Calamary Rose, and the crawled into the Second City and forgot something important in all of them. I will be rereading this ASAP and screeching about it to anyone unfortunate enough to come within 10 feet of me. Please give me the rest of the series now before I lose my mind for good!!! ALSO!! The illustrations are IMMACULATE!! They’re so detailed, so gorgeous, and make the story so vibrant and real for the reader, it’s really amazing. I can’t be normal about this book.
I loved every second of this book, I really think this is ND Stevenson’s masterpiece. The story is so well thought out, so complex and interwoven, and SO entertaining. The characters are all so unique with rich backstories and strong personalities, and the settings are so creative and enticing. I feel like I’ve been to Caveat, sailed on the Calamary Rose, and the crawled into the Second City and forgot something important in all of them. I will be rereading this ASAP and screeching about it to anyone unfortunate enough to come within 10 feet of me. Please give me the rest of the series now before I lose my mind for good!!! ALSO!! The illustrations are IMMACULATE!! They’re so detailed, so gorgeous, and make the story so vibrant and real for the reader, it’s really amazing. I can’t be normal about this book.
October 12, 2025
trying to think of something to say here other than "damn, how do people come up with ideas?" just a stunning little bundle of ideas, this. wonderful art, fresh worldbuilding, a little swashbuckling for pizzazz. if i read this as a child it wouldve been my whole personality for months if not years.
January 25, 2026
Walks the careful line between "fun adventure with pirates!" and "post-apocalyptic world that's slowly disintegrating, someone please do something".
March 27, 2026
Oh, I LOVED this. I've been a big fan of N.D. Stevenson's graphic novels for a long time, so I was really curious to read his first prose novel, and it did not disappoint at all. It's a post-apocalyptic fantasy novel with a colorful cast of characters including lots of PIRATES and a pair of plucky orphans, delightful illustrations, twists and turns, a mysterious old book, many mysteries haunting the narrative, fascinating settings, and even a brief turn into cosmic horror at a few points. An absolutely wonderful read positively bursting at the seams with ideas, and a whole ton of fun. Very excited to see where the sequel goes and how many of the mysteries resolve themselves.
July 31, 2026
I don’t think I’ve finished a book this fast since I was the intended audience! I was so excited when I heard N.D Stevenson was coming out with a new book, and I was not disappointed. It was definitely a story that I would have been obsessed with as a child, and I absolutely adored it as an adult. It was super engaging and had all my favorite things: found family, pirates, quirky characters, adventure. What more could you ask for? My favorite part though was how pretty this book was! I loved the illustrations and the character designs. Can’t wait for the next book.
June 30, 2026
A very fun ride. A slow start, but once the girl with the book of secrets and the pirate queen with plenty of secrets of her own get stranded, the adventure really begins. I think kids getting roped into hanging out with cool pirates is one of my favorite tropes
A lot of great characters. A lot of very unexpected twists, maybe one or two too many? Will have to wait for the sequel to see how this story turns out
A lot of great characters. A lot of very unexpected twists, maybe one or two too many? Will have to wait for the sequel to see how this story turns out
October 11, 2025
I LOVED this. I saw N.D.'s post about it on his blog and that made me cry so I had to immediately pre-order it. It is such a beautiful book, with wonderful illustrations. I'm not a huge fan of pirates but I still really enjoyed this. Especially in the second half. I loved the mysterious book and the changing world. I can't wait for book 2!
September 6, 2025
This book had me hooked from the very beginning! ND Stevenson’s writing is so captivating (and his illustrations are perfection)! He isn’t one to shy away from darker themes for a middle-grade story which I also appreciate.
This story was made for adventurers young and old and I’m so glad I was able to read an early copy! (I need book 2 in my hands now!) I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these characters!
(arc provided by Barnes and Noble, my employer)
This story was made for adventurers young and old and I’m so glad I was able to read an early copy! (I need book 2 in my hands now!) I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these characters!
(arc provided by Barnes and Noble, my employer)
Want to Read
February 19, 2025oh my god I can't wait to read this
June 14, 2025
4.5, thank god for mg with JUICE, welcome back ND
June 15, 2026
I am once again begging middle-grade authors to write shorter books.
Read
July 30, 2026classic Stevenson
June 25, 2026
3.5 rounded to 4
I guess *technically* this is middle-grade, but I don't know what middle schoolers would want to read it.
It's an interesting world, and I like the characters and descriptive language well enough, but the plot is slow in large stretches.
I guess *technically* this is middle-grade, but I don't know what middle schoolers would want to read it.
It's an interesting world, and I like the characters and descriptive language well enough, but the plot is slow in large stretches.
Read
January 20, 2026This story is full of adventure - so inventive, so exciting! But there’s so much going on that listening to it was a bit tricky for me to truly judge. But I enjoyed what I listened to 🙂
April 7, 2026
First half : a wholesome pirate adventure (like Our Flag Means Death but for kiddos!)- if anything a bit predictable but it's supported by especially interesting worldbuilding.
Interlude at 50% : What is happening right now??? Suddenly I am being House of Leaves'd??? (except it's way better than House of Leaves because I did Not care for that book) I was not expecting genuinely unsettling cosmic horror in this middle grade illustrated novel!
Second half : Woahhh hold yourhxxxxx everything is happening so much! Unexpected new settings, characters, magics, backstories! I never expected this book to end up with such a breakneck and complex and layered plot, but I was absolutely along for the ride! I read the second half of this in one sitting with many excited exclamations of "What is happening!!!" out loud to my cat.
I'm a bit shocked that the prevalent reviews for this book are so ambivalent/negative. The biggest complaints that I have seen are that 1) there's too much going on and 2) it shouldn't be written/classified as a middle grade novel?
There is alot going on, but I think it's well handled! At this point I trust Stevenson to pull the story together, I think this is his fourth? fifth? storytelling medium that I've engaged with and I trust him to lead the plot in a satisfying direction, but this is just the first in a trilogy! Of course there will be lots of character/setting introductions and mysteries yet to be solved! I found it all exciting!
And I do also somewhat agree that this toes the line between middle grade and YA, but I think that's a feature rather than a bug? In my opinion it's never inappropriate for young readers, they are not stupid and can handle some violence and big feelings and spooky stuff. I think the tone was just right, and "older" themes like sexually-charged romance would have been completely out of place.
I thought the characters in this were amazing (obviously- Viola, Wilmur, and Chase) as well as the relationships between them. By the end of Chapter 2 when Viola and Wilmur were in bed doing a thumb war I knew that I would adore them and this story.
Interlude at 50% : What is happening right now??? Suddenly I am being House of Leaves'd??? (except it's way better than House of Leaves because I did Not care for that book) I was not expecting genuinely unsettling cosmic horror in this middle grade illustrated novel!
Second half : Woahhh hold your
I'm a bit shocked that the prevalent reviews for this book are so ambivalent/negative. The biggest complaints that I have seen are that 1) there's too much going on and 2) it shouldn't be written/classified as a middle grade novel?
There is alot going on, but I think it's well handled! At this point I trust Stevenson to pull the story together, I think this is his fourth? fifth? storytelling medium that I've engaged with and I trust him to lead the plot in a satisfying direction, but this is just the first in a trilogy! Of course there will be lots of character/setting introductions and mysteries yet to be solved! I found it all exciting!
And I do also somewhat agree that this toes the line between middle grade and YA, but I think that's a feature rather than a bug? In my opinion it's never inappropriate for young readers, they are not stupid and can handle some violence and big feelings and spooky stuff. I think the tone was just right, and "older" themes like sexually-charged romance would have been completely out of place.
I thought the characters in this were amazing (obviously- Viola, Wilmur, and Chase) as well as the relationships between them. By the end of Chapter 2 when Viola and Wilmur were in bed doing a thumb war I knew that I would adore them and this story.
July 28, 2025
filled with childish whimsy! and i mean this as the highest of compliments; this book brims with a love for imagination and adventure, but without shying away from more serious themes
there was a lotttt going on. i had trouble following everything at times so this feels a bit packed for a middle grade book. But at the same time, there's also something to be said for not talking down to younger audiences and trusting them to walk away from the story with their own understanding/interpretation
the ending was very abrupt- setting up for a sequel or series no doubt, but i was hoping to get some more answers than we got by the end. likewise, i hope wilmur gets some more exciting plotlines in the upcoming book(s), because despite the book promising to follow the two of them, viola drove the entire plot. don't get me wrong, i love viola's character, it was just very noticeable how she's always in some new crazy situation, meanwhile wilmur is like... playing cards on a boat
all around an exciting whirlwind of a book! i enjoyed the strange world of dickerson's sea and i look forward to the next book (need to find out what the hell chase's deal is so bad)
final note: loveeeeed the illustrations, they were such a fun addition + really enhanced the story
there was a lotttt going on. i had trouble following everything at times so this feels a bit packed for a middle grade book. But at the same time, there's also something to be said for not talking down to younger audiences and trusting them to walk away from the story with their own understanding/interpretation
the ending was very abrupt- setting up for a sequel or series no doubt, but i was hoping to get some more answers than we got by the end. likewise, i hope wilmur gets some more exciting plotlines in the upcoming book(s), because despite the book promising to follow the two of them, viola drove the entire plot. don't get me wrong, i love viola's character, it was just very noticeable how she's always in some new crazy situation, meanwhile wilmur is like... playing cards on a boat
all around an exciting whirlwind of a book! i enjoyed the strange world of dickerson's sea and i look forward to the next book (need to find out what the hell chase's deal is so bad)
final note: loveeeeed the illustrations, they were such a fun addition + really enhanced the story
December 1, 2025
I'm so curious about what actual children would think about this children's book. It's quite long and it didn't really hold my attention span, so wondering if it will be appealing to a kid? I finished it because there were enough of ND Stevenson's delightful illustrations to keep me engaged. I think if it had been pared down by a third it would have had better energy. I did enjoy the characters and the world building and the theme, which I took as... What should/can you do when you have been born into a world that previous generations have destroyed? The theme is there but doesn't hit you over the head.
November 27, 2025
what. WHAT.
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