Prisoner of the Black Hawk

The Mapmaker Chronicles #2

by A.L. Tait

Adventure and danger lie just off the edge of the map in this swashbuckling trilogy.

Quinn's older brothers may long for adventure, but he is content with his quiet life on the farm. Destiny, however, has other plans.

The king is determined to create the first map of the world and has scoured the kingdom for boys who could become mapmakers. When Quinn is chosen for the king's training school, he's amazed - but that is nothing compared to his shock when he is selected as one of the three mapmakers and finds himself on board a ship, competing for the big prize.

So begins Quinn's reluctant journey deep into the unknown, with only his photographic memory and skills learned on the farm to help him. He’s on a ship captained by a slave, with a stowaway girl on board – and a mysterious sea monster that seems to be following them. Hot on their trail are the other competitors for the king's prize, who will stop at nothing to win.

Perfect for readers who love stories filled with adventure and suspense, The Mapmaker Chronicles are one-part fantasy, one-part quest, one-part high-seas action. Filled with strong, feisty characters who learn resilience, perseverance and the importance of friendship, each book transports readers to faraway lands.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Middle Grade, Childrens, Action

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

Allison Tait

Reviews

[Cassidy Craps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, these books are below my age level, but they are so good anyway! I loved this next adventure Quinn Freeman had and I can't wait for the next one! The only complaint I have is the fact that the book ENDED and I don't have the next one! UGH Looks like I'm taking a trip to the library ;)

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all are enjoying this series!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying these adventure books. They are clean with no swearing and no sex, but some violence. Probably be good for boys ages 10-15.

[Giedre Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antra dalis nenuvylė kaip ir pirma – daug veiksmo, toliau tęsiasi Kvino, Zeino, Aišos ir kitų nuotykiai. Žinant, kad knyga orientuota į jaunąjį skaitytojų, atleistini kartais nelabai logiškai susidėliojantys siužeto vingiai, ir suprantama, kad gėris visada turi laimėti prieš blogį, o gerieji herojai visada stebuklingai išsigelbės ir išsikapstys iš pavojingiausių situacijų. Bet kaip vaikišką nuotykinę knygą vertinčiau tikrai gera.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this series very much. Love the description of historical navigational and mapping skills

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Mapmaker Chronicles trilogy. I tried to read the first book to my 6 year old son, but it was a little beyond him. I think he will love this series in a couple of years. It is aimed at 9+ readers. I finished reading book one on my own and loved it so decided to read the rest of the series too.

Prisoner of the Black Hawk picks up where Race to the End of the World left off. Fourteen year old Quinn continues on his adventures as the mapmaker aboard a ship on a quest to explore the world, make the best map and bring home the most treasure. The pace of action and adventure in the first book continues in this installment. Full of treachery, strange creatures and pirates there is plenty of action to keep middle grade readers engaged (as well as middle aged mums!) As the title suggests, Quinn is taken captive aboard the Black Hawk ship. How can he escape? Read it and find out!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installation in the Mapmaker Chronicles although I found this one a little hopeless and dark at times. Overall, however, the characters continue to be interesting, the pace of the race beckons and it is easy to root for Quinn and the crew of the Libertas. I enjoy visualising the locations of the places that the ship visits and the way that the story unfolds along the way. I also thought the book dealt well with the complex issues of revenge, hopelessness and (situational) depression.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn is a fun character - learning as he goes, making mistakes etc... So the story just keeps getting better, with a few laughs along the way...

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know I was looking to lose myself in an adventure series designed for MG/YA, but I'm really glad I've found The Mapmaker Chronicles. For me, it's been escapism. And I've discovered I love a high-seas tale!

I've posted my review on my blog, so I'm going to just paste it in here. Enjoy!

"I guess that's the secret then," he said. "As long as someone has hope for you, there's a chance things will turn out okay."
— Quinn Freeman, The Mapmaker Chronicles: Prisoner of the Black Hawk by A.L. Tait

Quinn, Ash, Zain, and the crew of the Libertas are back in The Mapmaker Chronicles: Prisoner of the Black Hawk by A.L. Tait. The Mapmaker Chronicles gives readers the exciting adventures of 14-year old Quinn Freeman as he sales far away from home on a quest to map the world, a race against time and two other ships and their mapmakers.

Book two, Prisoner of the Black Hawk, picks up with Quinn and the Libertas crew regrouped after a near-deadly encounter with the Gelynions. Captain Zain has taken young Kurt on board, a former prisoner of the Gelynions and someone that Quinn doesn't fully trust. As the crew continues to keep a wary eye out for the violent Gelynions, land is sighted. A visit to port is the beginning for Quinn's newest adventure, although he may have preferred something a bit less exciting than running into a giant serpent and being kidnapped and taken prisoner aboard the Black Hawk, a Gelynion ship.

Author A.L. Tait gives readers another fast-paced story set on the high-seas in a fantastical world filled with terrifying creatures, pirates, and loyal friends. If you're looking for a story that you can lose yourself in, grab this book. Since I was a kid, I've loved adventure stories — from Pippi Longstocking books to the Indiana Jones movies. I have no problem throwing myself right into the adventure along with the main characters, and I really like both Quinn and Ash because I can see myself reacting the same way in some of the situations these two face.

The Mapmaker Chronicles: Prisoner of the Black Hawk is a delightful combination of action, whimsy, and moments that made me thoughtful. My favorite quote from the book is the one I placed at the top of this review. I believe these words are exceptional true. My other favorite quote comes from Zain,

"But remember this: the only man who is truly trapped is the man who does nothing. If you do something — anything — then you force change."

I highly recommend The Mapmaker Chronicles series from A.L. Tait. Start with book one because you don't want to miss out on early Quinn — his growth has been fun to read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The race is underway to map the world. Quinn, a homesick farm boy with an eidetic memory, is the mapmaker on one of three Verdanian ships that sailed out, hoping against hope that the world isn't flat and they won't sail off the edge into the jaws of the dragon Genesi. The two competing ships from their county are competition enough, but also unofficially in the race are a ship from their Gelynion enemy. In this book, Quinn falls into the clutches of the Gelynions and is held under brutal conditions, forced to make maps for them, while his shipmates race now to catch up and get him back.

Quinn is in peril from treachery, superstition and all the dangers of sailing in unknown seas – from storms and rough water to poisonous snakes ashore. Meanwhile, back on the Libertas (the ship he belongs to), his childhood friend Ash is exposed as a girl – and it's bad luck to have a girl on board. From evil deeds done at night in a tropical jungle to desperate moments on a ship boarded by pirates, this is a suspenseful and thrilling adventure in a world that has just begun to be explored, sparking the reader's imagination about what may have been at stake in our own world's age of discovery. Throw in omens of the deep, super-gifted kids and a subtle touch of magic, and it adds up to a terrific voyage for young readers intrigued by the age of sailing ships and hand-drawn maps.

This is Book 2 of the "Mapmaker Chronicles," which also includes Race to the End of the World, Breath of the Dragon and Beyond the Edge of the Map. Allison Tait is an Australian author also known for the "Ateban Cipher" books.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adventure of Quinn Freeman, this one not so nice. Quinn is kidnapped and treated terribly.

I didn't think when we met Kurt that he would be such a little demon child. This makes me wonder about Tomas.

A lot of this story feels either depressingly hopeless or nail biting adventurous. Knowing that there is another book in the series made the depressing stuff easier.

I don't know who I love the most. Quinn who never gives up , Ash who will fight anyone, or Zain who is supposed to be a brute but seems to have the biggest heart of all.

I love the moments when the characters are there for each other. When Cleric Greenfield keeps Quinn's secrets and is an enormous comfort to Ash, When Dilly throws himself into danger to help Quinn, when Zain goes off into the dark to find Quinn, and so much more. The crew have become a family.

I really hope Kurt gets what he deserves in the next book. Or at least joins Ira's crew.

I'm glad we got to see Ajax for a few pages. He means as much to me as he does to Quinn and Ash.

[Camden]

good but had some flaws. i just finished the previous book and thought it was a decently good book, i didn't love it but it had a good story. reading this book it continues that story, but unlike the previous book were it felt like you were with the characters for multiple months with different challenges, i felt like this book was set during a couple of days just so that they could give one challenge more detail. this kind of fixed a problem that i had with the other book where the challenges didn't have enough detail, but now makes a new problem. this book also introduce some characters that we spent almost no time on, and spent little time on some character they should have fleshed out from the previous book. this book also is a good example of telling vs. showing, at the end the author basically just tells us what is happening, this new character just meet the main character and instead of showing us them getting to like each other the author just says that they found that they liked each other and had the same sense of humor.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story moves along with the first one. It has humor, mystery, and even some scary bits. It has adventure in every chapter. New friends, new enemies, new ways to look at the world. Some of the characters still have really bad personalities. It is just as good as the first and you will love the main character and his friends because they are courageous and kind. They will find out if childhood legends are real, and secrets will be revealed. Altogether, I think the book worked out really well.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as good as the first. It's still really good though. But first books always have the benefit of introducing characters and themes and this one didn't add much to what we already knew.

My only real complaint is that they're supposed to be making a map and they've only been to 3 places so far and each time they leave after a few hours. So what on earth could Quinn be spending so much time drawing and mapping?

Would still highly recommend the series for anyone with a kid 8 and up.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun! Early in this novel, Quinn becomes captured and is taken hostage onto the Black Hawk ship. Quinn was fantastically active in his escape. He chips away at freedom daily, and its riveting. I read the first Mapmakers novel and was a bit ho-hum about it, but now I definitely want the third.

[JoAnne Styger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my favorite genera, but I wanted to continue the series and I'm pleased with the development of characters and plot. Another great work of fiction by Kane Miller Publishing for young adults.
Quinn Freeman's adventures continue as he and his fellow explorers map their world.

[Shiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first four back to back. The adventures of Quinn are amazing and captivating. The whole cast of characters are really alive and everyone gets a decent focus. Ash is so amazing and I'm glad thus far theres no romantic atmosphere. I can't wait to read more!

[Ms Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure (book 2) in this exciting series. I read it very quickly as it is action-packed and pacy. The story involves pirates, fighting, betrayal, friendship and lots more. i can't wait to read book 3!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this series! Stayed up late reading all three every night one weekend!!! You will definitely want all three. Contact your Usborne Books & More consultant to find out more about this and other great YA fiction!

(Yes, I'm a rep if you don't already have a book lady.)

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is definitely one of my favourites, this is my second time reading it but I'm sure that it won't be my last time.
If your ever having a hard time getting back in to reading then I suggest you read this series.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action in this one. Getting captured and fighting piranhas and pirates this time. Trying to see who to trust and who not to trust. The final book in the series should be a good completion. Hope to finish the journey and make it back home in one piece.

[Adrianne Lemke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun book in the series. Quinn finds himself in some trouble and his friends don’t know where he is. I’m really hoping some of the characters eventually get what’s coming to them. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

[Crixy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series because of the big words scattered throughout the book. I think this is partly because in my sixth grade year, I was put in eighth grade vocabulary, so big words and spelling bees are kinda my thing.

[Kristin Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought this as a mystery book and decided to give it a try, and found that it’s not the type of book also written for adults. Too many events and characters that continued to snap my suspension of disbelief! But I don’t know how kiddos would like it.

[Heather Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It did not disappoint!

[Jasmine Fogwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure with Quinn Freeman mapping the unknown world. Can't wait to get my hands on book 3.

[Jaelanne Gilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging second book. It's a nice easy read, but still well written enough to keep an adult enjoying it. looking forward to the next one.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun read! Time for the next in the series.

[Joe Holman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a definite pattern to how things flow from one quest to another. It's appropriate in a book for this age while it might not work as well in an adult book.

[Krisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these stories - in spite of having been written for teen boys, the events are so genial and always so new and surprising, that I just can't wait to see what happens next!