The Dark Island

Three Thieves #6

by Scott Chantler

Dessa, Topper and Fisk arrive on the incredible flying island of Astaroth, where Dessa hopes to find her long-lost brother, Jared. Instead, she discovers a bizarre world beyond anything she could have ever imagined, where three children roam under the watchful eye of a mysterious and rarely seen man they call the Toymaker. Who are these kids, and how did they get here? And, if Jared is not on the Dark Island, where is he?

The Three Thieves series follows Dessa, Topper and Fisk --- circus performers on the lam after trying to rob the royal treasury. But the thieves are also on a quest of their own: they are searching for Dessa’s brother, abducted years earlier by the Queen’s chamberlain. This latest installment is an exciting mix of mystery, friendship, comedy and escape --- and a cliff-hanger that will leave readers hungry for more.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Adventure, Comics, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2016

About the author

Scott Chantler is the acclaimed cartoonist of the graphic novels SQUIRE& KNIGHT, BIX, TWO GENERALS (which was long-listed for CBC’s CANADA READS: TRUE STORIES, named one of Chapters-Indigo’s Best Books of 2010, and selected for BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2012), NORTHWEST PASSAGE (which was nominated for Eisner, Harvey, Shuster, and Doug Wright Awards), and the THREE THIEVES series (the first book of which, TOWER OF TREASURE, won the Joe Shuster Award for Best Comic for Kids).

Reviews

[Soraya Laboy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royal intrigue and swashbuckling graphic novel

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Review is for all seven volumes in the series, read in a single sitting.

Good, old-fashioned clean entertainment that the world needs more of.
The art isn't stylized or intrusive, the script isn't excessive or needlessly strange.
The worst you could say is all of the structural pieces are standard, much of the plot is homage (even down to one of the locations being called Guilder), yet it is done so well that it doesn't matter. The sum total exceeds that of the parts.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've thoroughly enjoyed Chantler's Three Thieves series and book 6, The Dark Island is the most exciting of the bunch. Something I suspected was finally revealed but the book ends on a serious cliffhanger. I'm glad the next book comes out later this year because I really, really want to know how things turn out. I read books 5 and 6 together which turns out to be a good thing, because the reveal at the end of book 5 was a really interesting one and I wanted to see how it turned out. When Captain Drake runs into Jared, I was really curious to see what would happen. Captain Drake works for the bad guys, but he isn't a bad guy himself, which creates some interesting tension that comes to a head at the end of this book. I've wondered for the last couple of books if his loyalties would face some serious problems, as he serves a wicked princess but is an honorable knight. While Captain Drake slowly learns more from Jared about what has transpired, Dessa and her friends arrive at Astorath, where Dessa hopes desperately to find her brother. But she runs into plenty of trouble of her own when the Toymaker who runs the floating island turns out to be an enemy.

This is a series that I can heartily recommend. The action is fabulous, the characters entertaining, and the illustrations delightful. I would recommend that it be read in order though because it reads like one big long story, with a big cliffhanger at the end of each book. I can't wait to see how things turn out.

[Siina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should've known that The Dark Island isn't the first part, but actually the sixth. Thus getting into this comic kind of took its time, since I haven't read the other parts. The Dark Island is a wonderful comic for all readers and mostly it's a great comic for kids. It's not too long and the structure works out very nicely. The pacing is good and there's lots of adventure, mysteries and friendship to keep even younger readers hooked. In The Dark Island Dessa tries to find her twin brother Jared and learns about Greyfalcon's plans about the heirs to the different thrones. There's flying, floating islands and chases and overall a lot of action, which I liked a lot. Even when I hadn't read the former parts, I actually understood the plot and got the hang of it and that's important if you consider younger readers. This was something I have to raise my hat to.

The art looks great - it's clear and the colors are vibrant and please the eye. The line work is interesting and very fitting. The explosions and all were nicely done and the depiction of movement was awesome too. The comic is easy to follow, but at the same time it has actual content and thought behind it. Chantler actually knows how to make a good comic without underestimating the reader and that always get points from me. A wonderful and working comic - so probably a wonderful and working series too!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Three Thieves series is a solid addition to any middle grades graphic novel collection. This series has been popular at my middle school library for several years and I jumped at the chance to read the newest installment.

While I have enjoyed the adventures in the first five books, I was completely unsure of the direction the story was taking but this novel started to fill a lot of the plot holes for me. We finally get to see Jared! Yes, Jared, the brother Dessa has been searching for the entire series! Dessa is a great character, she's a risk taker and cares deeply about her friends and family. She's the kind of person you would want to go on an adventure with and I think that's why this series has such a wide appeal. Plus, I absolutely adore the artwork. Each installment has a different setting, a beautifully depicted setting and this edition does not disappoint.

I will definitely purchase this book for my school library and eagerly await the next installment.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for my copy.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Chantler keeps up the pace in the sixth installment of the Three Thieves series. Though the author has told an exciting story with twists and turns and memorable characters, his greatest strength lies in the illustrations. The art style is beautiful and engaging, but Chantler has an uncanny way of making each frame count. Not one feels wasted or unimportant. I believe this is was adds the feeling of adventure to the story. I always suggest this series to people who love the Amulet series and Bone. I can't wait for the next volume!

Dessa and friends finally reach the floating island and are shocked to find what's hiding up there. The noble Captain Drake also gets more than he bargained for with his new hostage and sets off to finally learn the truth about what happened the night King Roderick was murdered.

I received a copy of this from the publisher for my honest review.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice installment! I'm excited for the conclusion.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Dark Island' by Scott Chantler is book six of the Three Thieves series. I came late to the party, but I really enjoy all the volumes of this series that I've read.

Dessa, along with her companions Topper and Fisk, has been looking for her brother. In the last book, they were given a ride by pirates to the flying island of Astaroth. Now they have to find a way onto the island. Once they get there, they find that it's being run by someone called the Toymaker and he has some unusual guests on his island.

Meanwhile, Dessa's brother Jared's story is told in parallel. He is captured by guards and as his story comes out, there are things he's seen that have the guards intrigued. It seems that there is mystery afoot and Jared is still in danger.

I love the art and the colors. I really like the characters and the weird adventures they have in this world. This is definitely a series I'd recommend to young readers looking for graphic novels to read. The adventure reminds me of the kinds of things I liked at that age (and still do!).

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Kids Can Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly not for the newcomer, this episode of an old-fashioned, rollicking fantasy adventure for the under-twelves is bright, incredibly pacey, and probably a nailed-on hit. This episode certainly does handicap itself by being involved in two non-contiguous timelines, and people discovering truths about back-stories, but there's still more than enough action and drama to appease the fan. Light on character, it has more than enough spirit to make up for that.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went out searching for the rest of the series after reading this volume. It's fantastic. What a great, fun, adventure series.

Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still one of the best and more underrated kids' fantasy comics series out there, right up with Bone and Amulet. Given that the action is almost non-stop in this volume and that there's a big reveal at the end, could we be heading for a conclusion sometime soon?

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "Three Thieves" series builds to a climax in this sixth of the seven books, as the storylines start to converge. The previous book swung back and forth between Tessa's adventures and the investigations of the one-eyed Captain Drake of the Queen's Dragons knighthood. That framework continues here and builds until the final section where they all come together.

Tessa, Topper, and Fisk are transported by the Pirate King to the mysterious island of Astaroth, where they don't find her missing brother (which we already know, from the previous book), but do find some other apparently kidnapped children. Meanwhile, Captain Drake starts to understand the dark truth of who was behind the killing of his lord. There are plenty of chases, thrills, and spills throughout, as the villain appears back on the scene and Tessa and the gang struggle to survive and Captain Drake struggles against time. It ends with the cliffhangers one expects just before the end of such an adventure.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing her search for her missing brother Jared, Dessa and her friends have finally found the mystical floating island of Astaroth where he might be. Managing to fly up to the island, they discover a world they never suspected, where the three inhabitants await the visits of the enigmatic Toymaker. Dessa, of course, investigates. Meanwhile, one of the King's men back on the mainland has been ruthlessly pursuing a redheaded boy who seems to hold some kind of secret.

This is a great series, lots of fun and adventure and peril, and gorgeous artwork--great for fans of the Amulet series by Kibuishi. The island is extremely similar to Laputa from the Miyazaki movie, so I'm wondering if that was the inspiration. Anyway, can't wait to see what happens in the next volume!

[Abigail Pankau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dessa and her friends have made it to the floating island of Astertoth, looking for her brother. They don’t find him, but find princesses that Greyfalcon has been keeping captive on the island. Meanwhile Captain Drake has stumbled upon Dessa’s missing brother who tells Captain Drake what he remembers about the night he was kidnapped. It seems that Greyfalcon is involved in bigger plots than either of them could have imagined.

Still a fun mid-grade fantasy action-adventure graphic novel series. It’s nice to see all the pieces coming together in this penultimate volume. Looking forward to seeing how it ends.

[Turrean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that shows how carefully plotted the earlier novels were. The Captain’s backstory, Greyfalcon’s plot to kidnap Paladin, and the origins of a trio of royal children are all intertwined. Chantler uses flashbacks beautifully, illustrating the past in sepia tones and the present-day storyline in full color. Sometimes just one panel out of an entire two-page spread is in grey, showing a character’s (and by extension, the reader’s) sudden realization about the significance of an event in the past.

Young fans of Amulet and Bone will eat this up.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dessa will never give up looking for her brother, who doesn't even remember he's ;ost. Jared finds out about Dessa as he's being taken forceably from his home. Dessa, Topper and Fisk find three young girls on an island...prisoners yet they don't want to be saved from the one they call the toymaker....who Dessa knows as someone else....not a good person. Thrilling action with rich characters you can root for easily. I enjoyed this story. The graphics are brilliant, colorful and well drawn. An exciting read.

[Christiane · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY we get to the island of Astaroth, where we learn that the island is run by a Toymaker...who is, of course, Greyfalcon. Why does he have children trapped on this island?

In the meantime, Captain Drake has caught Dessa's brother, Jared, but why was Jared kidnapped in the first place? Drake finally puts two and two together, while Dessa escapes with the other children...while also saying goodbye to one of her dearest friends. So many cliffhangers!

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 6th book in the Three Thieves series and was the best book of the series yet. This is another middle grade fantasy adventure graphic novel that kids and adults will both enjoy (kids probably a little more than adults).

A lot of the mystery behind Dessa and her brother unfolds. We also finally find out what secrets the Dark Island holds.

The illustration is in keeping with previous volumes. Fairly typical cartoony style; it’s easy to follow and beautifully colored.

The story is fairly straight-forward which I think will be more enjoyable to kids than adults. However, I am enjoying the world building and some of the fun characters in these graphic novels.

Overall this was the best book in the Three Thieves series yet. I can't wait to see how the story wraps up in the final volume!!! I would recommend to kids and young adults who enjoy fantasy adventure graphic novels.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An experienced reader can spot most of the twists coming, but the ending takes our heroes to places they've never been and pushes them to make difficult choices—and face the resulting consequences. Art is well-used as always. Continues to be a sophisticated series for a young audience.

[Jim Leesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

We race toward the end!

[Bookphile · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Heart. Broken.

Fisk! *sobs

[Kereesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. As we get to the end, the twists come and come.

[STU JONATHAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS GOOD THING (and that's a good thing.)

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Sabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is Jared a prince??? Does that make Dessa a princess????!!!! I can’t believe Finch died after all he did for them so sad.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are happening fast and furious now, as the narrative races to a climax. Wonderful storytelling.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We couldn't put this one down! So excited to get the final book soon!

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was exceptional. I loved the action and adventure, and the twists in the story. I can't wait to read the final volume of this series, enough I will sad to see it end!

[Eric Wolford · Rating 2 out of 5]

GRAPHIC NOVEL

Rating: **

"The Dark Island" is a graphic novel written as a part of Scott Chantler's "Three Thieves" graphic novel series. While much of the background behind the story I was not able to gather (being that this is book 6 of the series), it does do a manageable job interposing two separate stories to continue on the narrative that began in part one of his series. On the one hand, there's the story of Jared - a boy who was orphaned and separated from his sister after the villain Greyfalcon sent her off to die - who, at the beginning of the story is caught by two of Greyfalcon's soldiers to be returned to him. Once caught, Jared, who had amnesia prior to this story of the events that separated him from his sister, managed to remember Greyfalcon's plot and tell it to the two soldiers to convince them of his treachery to their kingdom. On the other hand, Jared's sister Dessa (who is working as a pirate while trying to find her brother) flies off with her teammates Topper and Frisk to a mysterious island where a mysterious man named "the Toymaker" kidnapped 4 children. Once it is revealed that the Toymaker is actually Greyfalcon, the team and the children manage to get off the island before it explodes - with Frisk seemingly dying in the process.

In the end, while I did find the story compelling and the artwork well-utilized (Chantler did a great job differentiating the art styles of Jared's story, Dessa's dtory, and Jared's flashbacks to make it easy for me as the reader to follow the plot), my main complaint is that the story leaves off a lot of the background of the story to make it easy for me as a reader to really understand what is going on. While I totally get why Chantler does this (he obviously wants a person who picks up book 6 of the series to have enough questions when reading it to start from the beginning), I do feel that more "breadcrumbs" of the story's background could have been added to make the story make sense as a one-off read. In that sense, if you do read this, please make sure to read this after reading books 1-5 first - if not, you will be left with more questions about the background of what you're reading than a sense of enjoyment of the story this book tells.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTF, this story is actually answering questions? Very happy to see that it appears to be moving towards resolution. I've enjoyed this series, but with each installment being so short, the reading experience has been a bit jerky. Also, it feels kind of weird that the series title is "Three Thieves". It felt appropriate for the first volume, focused on an attempted heist, but really only one of them has kept to thieving since; the other two are at best accomplices, and really they've mostly been on the lam and/or doing good deeds. I have to say, though, that the flying island is a little bit absurd, especially as its disintegration reveals just how much of it is rock; don't think a line of coal powered fans sticking out of vents in the rock can even pretend to provide enough lift. Oh, well, fantasy.