The Quest to the Uncharted Lands

World of Solace #3

by Jaleigh Johnson

From the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Mark of the Dragonfly comes another magical and thrilling story that takes readers on an exciting new adventure.

Stella Glass dreams of exploring worlds beyond her home of Solace, but when her famous parents are sent on a historic mission to the Uncharted Lands, it's simply too dangerous for her to join them. By order of the king, she is left behind.

Missing out on the excitement is one thing, but Stella is devastated at the thought of her parents flying into the unknown. So she takes matters into her own hands. Instead of staying with family as planned, she steals away and — right before takeoff — sneaks aboard the airship.

But Stella isn't the only stowaway. In the cargo bay is a boy who is also desperate to get to the Uncharted Lands. And someone else who's determined to keep the ship from making it there at all...

Genres: Fantasy, Steampunk, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2017

About the author

Jaleigh Johnson lives and writes in the wilds of the Midwest. Her middle grade debut novel The Mark of the Dragonfly is a New York Times bestseller. Her other books from Delacorte Press include The Secrets of Solace, The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, and The Door to the Lost. She has also written fiction for Dungeons and Dragons, Marvel, and Assassin's Creed. Johnson is an avid gamer and lifelong geek.

Reviews

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the World of Solace series. The Iron War is over and the two countries launch an expedition to cross the mountains into an unexplored land, with a crew culled from the best of each. Stella Glass is a stowaway on the airship “Iron Glory” to be with her parents and finds herself thrown together with a boy named Cyrus, with strange powers and gadgets, of about her own age, who is trying to get back home, after being abandoned during a trip to Solace. After some danger trying to save the ship from a saboteur, they become fast friends. I like this middle school series very much because of her characters (different in each novel), and her steampunk world-building.

[The Blonde Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing better than a fun, fast paced, and well written middle grade fantasy book, and Jaleigh Johnson delivered everything I was hoping for with The Quest to the Uncharted Lands. The world-building was engaging, the characters were fun and unique, and the action never stopped. I loved each of the characters and found myself relating to each of them on some level.

The reader joined the crew on their way to the Uncharted Lands and we found two young and innocent stowaways as well as one that was not so innocent. The story followed Stella and her new friend as they attempted to protect the air ship as well as everyone aboard. I absolutely loved this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and how a majority of the story was aboard the air ship. So much action took place in such a short period of time in a small setting, but Jaleigh Johnson took full advantage of the setting and really made the ship come alive for the reader!

I am a HUGE fan of Jaleigh Johnson and I highly recommend all three books in The World of Solace Series, but The Quest to the Uncharted Lands was by far my favorite. Readers of all ages will enjoy the action packed pages inside The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, so go out and grab your copy today! And be sure to enter the giveaway hosted by Rockstar Book Tours!

[Alyson Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next, please! I hope there’s a next, would be awesome to see all the previous book’s characters hanging out together. 😍

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella can't bear to be left behind when her parents join the crew of the first airship sent to explore the Uncharted Lands. So she plans to smuggle away ... only to find that she's not the only stowaway aboard the Iron Glory.

While this story stands alone, as a fan of the World of Solace books, it was fun to spy references to familiar people and places. I do hope there will be more stories!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What great ending to a fun series. The new characters in this one were immediately ones to care about. The new land produced some more interesting people and inventions. This was so exciting and full of surprises and adventures. It was a thrilling story and hard to put down!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️4.5⭐️⭐️
This book was my favorite out of the trilogy!! I felt like it was different from the other books.( in a good way! ) I liked the first book, the second book was alright but this book was really good! Definitely best out of the trilogy in my opinion!

[Jennifer S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great adventure set in the world of Solace, but with new (and yet equally intrepid) young protagonists. Stella Glass stows away aboard the Iron Glory airship, which is planning the first journey west across the mountains to the uncharted lands. She doesn't want to be separated from her parents, who are crew members on the medical team. Shortly after stowing away, she encounters Cyrus, a boy about her age who has some strange powers. He is from the uncharted lands and just trying to get home. But someone is trying to sabotage the ship and Stella and Cyrus have to save it!

Last in the group of novels, according to the author - but all three are fun reads.

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful stand alone in a series that has surprised me at every turn of the page.

Stella is a strong willed character, unwilling to be left behind when her parents embark on a mission to the Uncharted Lands. The mission is dangerous and no one has ever come back after attempting the journey. This is why Stella stows away on the airship. She would rather die with her parents than live without them.

Cyrus has a secret. One that he has kept for a very long time, but when he meets Stella, that secret is threatened. A secret that can change the course of the events on the airship.

Toward the end of the book, when all the events seem to come to a head, Stella takes charge in a wonderful and powerful way. She is no longer a child and stowaway, but a leader and an unknowing savior to the crew of the airship.

Favorite Quote:
"Stella’s heart began to beat very fast as she stood in his arms. Thinking about all the hugs she’d shared with her family, this was yet another new one for her. This was Cyrus. A person she’d known only for a short time, but long enough to know she would cross the world for him."

This book deserves a huge 5 out of 5 stars. If I could give it more, I would. I'm sad this series is over, but glad I was able to look into the mind of Jaleigh Johnson. This world has so many secrets that it still needs to share, but the stories are all wonderful and fulfilling. You have to read this book.

Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

[Melaniemouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad addition to the Solace series. My biggest beef is that I feel like the author needs to pick a specific audience. I felt that way with the last book, too. It's categorized as JV fantasy. I feel like the plot could easily have been tweaked to merit Teen status, and would have been more enjoyable for me if it had. But the dialogue was super cheesy, and the characters would keep saying things like, "You're my most important friend," and giving each other a hug. So perhaps a younger audience would appreciate it a little more. So I suppose I can't really complain about it being too juvenile, since it was written as JV, but it was kind of messing with my brain - the plot would be coming along, and then something totally dopey would be done or said, and I'd be like, "Oh yeah, it's JV." The whole plot line of kids needing to protect their helpless, hapless parents... That would definitely appeal to a younger reader, but older readers are more like, "Um, you know they're grown ups, right?"

My other big complaint is one that I have with this book, and a lot of books, it that you HAVE to describe the characters within the first page or two of introducing them. Otherwise the reader ends up forming their own idea of what they look like, etc., only to be told halfway through the book that they're, say, super short and blonde. I don't remember their being any specific details of Stella's appearance or age. I think at one point there might have been a reference to dark hair. I assume she's an adolescent...

Another book that kept me busy enough waiting at the dentist office.

[Eetwidomayloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of the better books I have read. It has creativity, and a bit of originality. On my ranking of books in this series, this book is only bested by the Secrets of Solace.

I like the recurring element, a kind of insect always plays an important role in the story. This time it was a machine modeled after a beetle that can record messages and deliver them to the user without any specific directions.

In this book, the mystery of the sentient machines is solved. There is a city beyond the uncharted lands to the west, filled with living machines with technology a bit more advanced than our own. Invisibility, sentient ships, all made from the same mysterious material. Maybe we will create a metal like that someday.

Another recurring element, the main characters. Always, it will be a girl who joins with a boy who is more than he seems to be. Now it is an alchemist seeking to get on a ship, and finds a living machine. They join forces to stop another mechanical man who seeks to destroy the airship that contains explorers who seek to gain knowledge about the other side of the mountains.

I like the idea of an alchemist taking an important role in the story. It makes the potential for some deadly chemical concoctions, or a concealing mist to make an escape. There just are not enough alchemists in books anymore.

Altogether, the book was balanced well in action and plot. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in a book with mystery and machines.

[LaNona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh!

I love every book in the World of Solace series by Jaleigh Johnson, this woman knows how to make you love new characters in each book!

I love piecing together how they're connected, and everything!!

Since I'm attached to the previous characters, I thought I wouldn't like this newest one seeing as it had different characters (though I also thought the same about the book before this one) but I was wrong!!

SO GOOD, but seriously every book in this series is different, unexpected, and makes me fall in love with it just as quickly as the first.

4 stars!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You've gotta read this, Mom!" my 8-year-old told me. "It's AWESOME!"

I can see why he loved it. It's got cool flying ships, magic tech, a plucky young heroine who learns to overcome her fears, her new best friend (who has super powers, and a really cool secret), scientist heroes, all kinds of peril and adventure, and of course a cool magic bug. It was hand-crafted for my son. Older readers may not find it quite enthralling, but the target audience I'm sure it will agree: it's AWESOME.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, not as good as the first one, but really interesting (8

[Jim Sibigtroth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella is a young girl who was left with her grandparents when her father and mother set off by airship to attempt to travel over dangerous mountains to explore the uncharted lands beyond. Using her skills as an amateur alchemist, Stella sneaks aboard the airship and plans to hide in the cargo bay until the ship gets too far to turn back. Shortly after take-off she discovers a second stowaway, a mysterious young boy named Cyrus, who seems to have some kind of magical power. He says he is trying to protect the ship. She doesn’t trust him but she can’t turn him in without being discovered herself. The plot gets more complicated when ‘accidents’ begin to happen and it becomes apparent that someone is trying to sabotage the ship and kill everyone on it.

The expedition’s crew is made up of members from two kingdoms who only recently made peace after years of war and they do not fully trust each other. The sabotage chips away at this fragile alliance. If they manage to get to the uncharted lands and find people, how will they be viewed?

The writing is clear, conversations seem natural, and the pace is quick and steady. Characters are well-developed, multi-dimensional, and interesting. Events unfold logically and there are no “miracle occurs here” moments.

This was the 3rd book of this 3-book fantasy sci-fi series and although the 3 books share a common world, they can be read as independent fully formed stories. Occasional brief passages refer to earlier books in the series, but it is not necessary to know anything from the previous books.

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Iron Glory's engines rumbled to life for its journey to the uncharted lands, it marked a new future for the world of Solace.
- First Sentence

This book is a fantastic companion to The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. It isn't a sequel, it takes place in the same world with different characters.

Stella Glass is the daughter of two scientists who are traveling on the Iron Glory to explore the uncharted lands of Solace. No one has ever explored this far west beyond the mountains. The Dragonfly Territories and Merrow Kingdom have finally reached an uneasy peace. They worked together on this ship and representatives from both countries are onboard.

Stella is not permitted to go, but she has planned for months to stow away because she is terrified her parents won't come back. On the first night, Stella finds out she isn't the only stowaway. No children are allowed on the ship, but she sees a boy outside the engine room with his hands on the wall. His hands begin to glow, and then his eyes. Stella isn't sure who he is or what he is up to, but when he passes out, she drags him to her hiding place in the cargo hold. Someone doesn't want this voyage to succeed, but who and how can they be stopped?

So, in The Mark of the Dragonfly, we met Piper (a girl who connects to machines in an almost magical way), and Gee (a boy who can transform into a dragon). This book continues in the same fantasy steampunk world and the story is in the same heroic adventure vein. Again, I highly recommend it to students in grades 4 -8. It is just as good as the first.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite quote:

"And finally, this is for my husband, Tim. You know you own my heart. You're my partner—my Gee, my Ozben, my Cyrus. I love you."

Okay I know that was really in the acknowledgments but fight me. That's just so sweet and adorable and can I just say GEE, MY DUDE (((loveyouhabibi))).

This book was too pretty for me; I didn't deserve it. Like, what was up with the Iron Glory being a freaking star? AND SUNSETS. AH.
Anyways, 10/10, loved it. The characters had so much depth and personality and everything really clicked and made sense and it was so beautiful that at times I legitimately wanted to cry.

I feel some serious fanart coming on.

Also, can someone introduce me to the other members of the fandom, or is this one of those series like Jack Blank that has a grand total of like, ten people? SHOW YOURSELVES WE NEED TO FANGIRL ABOUT THIS.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I picked this up three hours ago. Now, three hours later, I realized I finished the book. Undoubtedly and predictably, this was another five star. This series easily is one of my favorites. It's so good. Please check it out. You can read the books in any order, though there is a timeline in the background and a few Easter eggs.

I loved the chemistry between the two main characters. The setting also. The intensity. The stakes. It was all so wonderful. I love it so much. Please consider picking this trilogy up. It's well worth it.

Side note: I wish that there were more books in this series all the time. Like constantly. Is this my Roman empire???? Perhaps.

[Meghan Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my second time fully rereading this book, and I still love it deeply. The book has its imperfections in dialogue and plot, but it has so much heart that it undeniably earns a five star review for me. Stella is such a sweet main character, and the cast along with her is lovable and fun. The pacing remains engaging throughout the story with only a few lulls, and a few moments of actions genuinely surprised and worried me in the best of ways! I love the World of Solace books, and this novel most definitely holds a special place in my heart!

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh... I remember loving The Mark of the Dragonfly. I know it's been a while, and I guess this was misnumbered by the library - but I don't always love it when a "series" doesn't necessarily connect between books.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Chefs kiss**

[RedFoxBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, this series keeps getting better and better! This book is even better than Secrets of Solace! Definitly the best in the series. ❤❤❤

[Reah N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was somewhere in between the other two. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first in the series, The Mark of the Dragonfly, but it was also a lot better than the sequal, The Secrets of Solace. Luckily, there’s no need to read The Secrets of Solace in order to enjoy this read.
This book had a sweet tone, and lots of excitement and danger. Stella was a strong heroine. She stood up to danger and went to great lengths to save her new friend Cyrus, and her family. I also loved how after she was discovered on the ship, she told her parents everything and involved them as much as possible in her decisions. Middle grade novels could use more heroines like her, who can admit to their mistakes, and responsibly set about fixing them.
The story had secrets, magic, a sweet friendship between Cyrus and Stella, a cool mechanical airship, and a strong heroine. As an adult, I thought it could use a bit more depth. Young readers will probably love it.

Similar reads:


Content:
Violence: scary, near death experiences, including being attacked by murderous birds, nearly falling from a ship, aa character falling unconscious and nearly dying, and a faceless man tries to murder a few people.
Romance: Stella and Cyrus become good friends, they hug a few times, and express their deep appreciation for each other, though this is innocently done as friends. Once, Stella’s mom tells her that he’s cute.
Other: Cyrus is part of a species whose bodies are half machines inside. There is also a ship that’s said to be of material that make it come alive, like in the previous novel.

[Aeicha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The war in Solace has ended and its leaders are forging a fragile alliance and partnership, starting with a quest to the mysterious Uncharted Lands. Stella Glass’ healer parents are a part of the mission and will set off on the Iron Glory airship, bound for unknown danger and peril...which is why Stella stows away on the airship, determined to keep her parents safe. Once on board, Stella discovers another stowaway, an unusual boy named Cyrus with even more unusual abilities and secrets. And soon Stella and Cyrus realize that someone aboard is set on making the mission fail and keep everyone far away from the Uncharted Lands. The adventure and wild discoveries Stella has always wanted turn out to be more than she could have ever imagined!

Jaleigh Johnson’s middle-grade World of Solace series is simply superb! Each book in the series- The Mark of the Dragonfly, The Secrets of Solace, and now The Quest to the Uncharted Lands- can be read as standalone novels, but together, the three books make for an immersive, fun, and unforgettable reading experience.

Jaleigh Johnson weaves another pitch-perfect and exciting tale, full of captivating storytelling, wondrous world-building, and engaging characters. A wonderful mix of adventure and mystery fantasy and steampunk, The Quest to the Uncharted Lands is bursting with imagination. Over the course of three books, I’ve come to absolutely love the world of Solace and its fascinating facets to explore, from its formidable mountains, cool airships, meteor showers full of otherworldly objects, and different species and beings. Young readers will fall head first into this mesmerizing and dazzling world and will want to stay a long while! And in The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, readers finally get to explore the world beyond the dangerous mountains, a world that is full of surprises and marvels.

One of the things I love best about this series, are all the likable, well-written young characters, including Stella and Cyrus. Readers will love this resourceful, smart, and quirky pair...I especially loved the genuine and sweet friendship that blossoms between the two.

The Quest to the Uncharted Lands takes both Stella and Cyrus, and readers, on a high-flying adventure, full of thrilling peril, startling revelations, and enough excitement to fill an airship! This book, and series, are perfect for reads to squash any summer boredom!

[Trini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot! Like the other books set in this world, it was a whole lot of good fun, and in general, everything was good about it. I honestly think this... "series?" (the World of Solace) is super underrated, and should get way more attention than it does. It's middle grade, sure, but it's a lot of fun and there are no real annoying parts about it.

I loved how much more developed the world gets in this installment. The Uncharted Lands are pretty much the one thing we haven't developed yet in this world, mostly because we haven't gone there yet, and we learn plenty about it here. The focus on machinery is super cool, and I like a lot of the new gadgets we see. In general, this entire world is so well developed and intriguing. It's a great steampunk setting, especially in middle grade where it's seen so rarely.

And our main characters... wow, I love them too much. Stella and Cyrus are both great characters, similar yet different in their own ways, but both strong in their own right. Both do things for the story, they have their own motivations, and I just love their relationship. I don't know what it is, but I think they have great chemistry (and ow, I think it's hurting my heart). I just love that they both have their own purposes and they can both contribute. I hate when one main character does way more for the story than our other characters, and it's so great to see how they cover for and help each other.

Stella in particular is cool. I think I wish her claustrophobia got used a little bit more, that part of her character was interesting but got abandoned around the middle. Still, she was great! The growth she goes through in this book is fabulous. And can I just say: the relationship she has with her parents is so wholesome, and I love it so much. I love how much they care about each other, I love that family is so emphasized in this book. The parents of our heroes constantly get neglected in a lot of fiction and I'm so happy that they're finally recognized here.

It's just a good book. It moves pretty quickly, there aren't any real slow parts. Our characters are great, and I love how the book discusses fear, unity, and greed. There are a couple really great parts in this book, especially the world and its technological setting. It's a good read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stella lives with her parents in the Dragonfly Territories, and the Iron War with the country to the north, Merrow, is finally at an end. Now the two have joined together to form an exploration party to try to cross the dangerous Hiterian Mountains, which no one from either country has ever crossed. Stella's medical parents are part of the crew of the Iron Star, the airship designed for the trip, and Stella can't live with the thought that they're leaving her behind--what if something happens to them? Using her alchemical prowess to create a distraction, she stows away in the cargo bay. There she finds not only cargo, but another stowaway in the form of a boy, Cyrus, who seems to have many secrets. After a rocky start, they grudgingly agree to trust each other. Cyrus claims that he's the only one who can help the ship through the permanent storms that block the Uncharted Lands from Merrow and the Dragonfly Territories, and after seeing some of his unusual abilities, Stella reluctantly believes him. They have more trouble, though, because someone else aboard the Iron Star is trying to ensure that it never makes it over the mountains. Can Stella and Cyrus find out who it is in time to save everyone?

I loved the last book in this series, and enjoyed this one a whole lot as well, if not quite as much. I think it has a similar problem as Oppel's 'Starclimber,' because when you're aboard a ship, it kind of limits the field of action. You don't have the whole world to explore, which is kind of what I loved about the other two books in the series--that, and the creativity. There's certainly lots of creativity here, and Cyrus is certainly interesting, but I guess I just liked the mystery of all the fallen objects and the intricate tunnels of the Archivists better. I was also slightly disappointed in the Uncharted Lands, though I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil anything. There's a hint there may be another book (I think), as the characters wonder what--or who--could be causing those permanent storms. Let's explore that! But I did like the characters here--Johnson always has strong, sympathetic characters who are not jerks and who understand the value of friendship. That's worth a lot.

[Morgan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This awesome midgrade novel follows Stella, a young alchemist and healer, as she stows away in the cargo hold of a blimp. It’s on a mission to explore the Uncharted Lands, a part of the realm that has never been explored before. Stella’s parents are recruited to go on the mission (they’re both world renowned healers), and Stella is scared for their safety, so she sneaks onto the ship. On her first day hiding in the cargo hold she comes across a mysterious boy with golden eyes putting a protective charm over the engine room. The boy, Cyprus, and Stella become fast friends and must eventually join forces to protect the ship from a mysterious threat.


I really liked this book. Midgrade is my favorite genre so getting to read this book was SO exciting. I binge read this book in one sitting (and it was 320 pages). I really loved two main things about this book- the setting and the friendship.


This novel had a super cool steampunk feel to it. The world was either futuristic or in an alternate universe, and the steampunk aesthetic was so fun to read. One of my favorite things about books is how they can transport you to a different world, and this world was one I wanted to live in forever. It also had really interesting races of people, such as human-lizard shapeshifters. The diversity of races and groups in this book was really well done.


However, my absolute favorite part in the book was the friendship between Stella and Cyrus. Despite the futuristic setting, their friendship had a great old-fashioned adventure friends feel to it. The bonding they do down in the hold of the ship made me so happy, and I want a whole other book just of them being friends.


When I got to the end of this book I was so sad, because I just wanted it to start all over again. I HIGHLY suggest that you go out and get this book (in bookstores now) and the other books in the series!

As always, thanks for reading my review. Until next time, happy reading :)

[Aelvana · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first time, the Merrow and Dragonfly kingdoms have a cooperative mission launching to explore the uncharted lands over the mountains. Stella Glass really wants to be on the ship, but since the crew is tightly restricted, she has no choice but to stow away. Then she runs into a boy who introduces unexpected complications to her journey, and a saboteur who wants the whole expedition to fail . . .

Like the other two Solace books, this one stands alone, although it has a few nods to some events that happened in Mark of the Dragonfly and The Secrets of Solace.

I liked that Stella has such a strong relationship with her parents, and her parents are good, loving parents whose care for her drives a lot of her conflicts. She can't bear the thought of being separated from them, or possibly losing them to an unknown fate, so she determines to stow away to be reunited with them come what may in the new lands. I also liked that she's not stupid when that affection is used against her by the villain.

Cyrus was my favorite, though. He's secretive but not dishonest, and as Stella uncovers more of his secrets, she finds out a few things about adventures and how to react to new discoveries. I liked both who he was and what he was, and how he and Stella push each other to their best.

Overall this was an excellent addition to the Solace books, and I would love to see more. I rate this book Highly Recommended.

See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....

[Ash Feigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quest to the Uncharted Land was such a great book, I love it so much! From the great family bond, as they did not fight, to the gift of acceptance. Also, the fact that home isn't necessarily a specific place, but where the people that care about you are. Jaleigh Johnson is an awesome author and in this, her third book, I found myself enjoying it just as much as with the first two books. I know that this is the last book in the Solace series (2024), though I truly hope one day she will write another book or two if we are all very lucky, and we can go to the curious land of Solace again.

I recommend the Solace series to people that like strong independent main characters, who love trips to find unseen things and mysterious lands and who like stories that make them think. I'm happy we have them in our home library. Thank you Jaleigh Johnson. I really hope one day we can go back to Solace with you.

*Credit to my husband for finding this series, he always find the best books -smile-

Other notes:

*The books are also beautiful, especially the hard cover books (under the dust jacket), which are some of our family favorite covers.

*I recommended this series to our public library. They acquired all three books so hopefully others can enjoy this great series.

*Comfortable read, good for dyslexic readers (from the point of veiw of an adult with dyslexia)

[hpboy13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent third entry into Johnson’s excellent Solace series, but this book was never quite as attention-grabbing as its two predecessors.

Johnson is doing a very interesting thing by setting essentially standalone middle grade fantasies all in the same world, but in far corners of it with almost no connection to each other. In this case, it’s an airship exploring uncharted lands, with a few stowaways on board having both good and nefarious ulterior motives.

On the whole, I felt everything was a bit too easy. I get that it’s middle grade, but everyone seems to like the protagonist and believe her with almost no reservations. “Cyrus is in trouble!” “Okay, let me drop everything, write to the queen, and put all my resources at your disposal!” The bad guy makes ultimatums, but then – yoink! – all is resolved without issue.

There’s also some threads that seem to be introduced for no good reason. For instance, Stella thinks Cyrus is cute… and nothing ever comes of it. Why even bring it up? Stuff like this doesn’t make for an unpleasant reading experience, but it’s not something that leaves me feeling wholly satisfied.

Ultimately, it’s an enjoyable, if somewhat forgettable, middle grade fantasy that readers can breeze through.

[Carlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! This is not surprising given the fact that I have loved every book in this series. This is such a good middle-grade fantasy. The plot is complex enough and there are enough twists and turns to keep any reader engaged. I also love the relationships that all the characters have with each other. It was also nice to see little hints from the previous books. Sadly, no characters from the other books actually returned, but the previous books were referenced a few times. I loved Stella's curiously and I thought that she was really smart and brave. I also loved Cyrus and his whole story, I found it interesting. I also loved the relationship between these two characters. There is no cursing in this book, no sexual content, and not a ton of violence, so this book is perfectly fine for a reader of any age. While you don't need to read the books that come before this one, I would recommend that you do read them in order. Each book is a different period in this world's politics, so it's nice to have that sort of background. The other two books are just really really good! I highly highly recommend this entire series, it is simply amazing! I'm sad that I won't get to see any more from this world, but I will be rereading this books, maybe even in the near future.