Treasures of the Twelve: A Thrilling Middle Grade Adventure About Sibling Rescue, Ancient Chinese Mythology, and Magical Zodiac Powers for Kids

The Twelve #2

by Cindy Lin

Bursting with heart and packed with exciting new places, dangerous obstacles, and mysterious powers, Cindy Lin’s sequel to The Twelve is a page-turning race against time that’s perfect for fans of The Zodiac Legacy and Spirit Animals series! When Usagi first met the fabled Heirs of the Twelve, she had just one saving her sister, Uma. But despite increasing her zodiac powers by becoming the new Rabbit Warrior Heir, Usagi’s attempts to rescue Uma have failed. Soon Usagi and the Heirs realize that to truly free those they love from the Dragonlord, they must take on a dangerous finding the ancient treasures of The Twelve. Hidden away by the last zodiac warriors, these treasures have miraculous powers. Their wielder can create massive sandstorms, bring the clouds down to earth to enshroud everyone nearby in a thick fog, or even grant any wish they desire—for a brief time. Usagi and the Heirs must journey farther than they ever have before and take on the riddles and obstacles that await them on their hunt for the ancient relics. But will they find them in time to save Uma?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Mythology, Childrens

416 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2021

About the author

A former journalist with degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, Cindy Lin has worked for Sony Pictures Entertainment and has written and produced many multimedia news features for children, one of which received a Peabody Award. She is the author of Creatures of the In Between as well as The Twelve and its sequel Treasures of the Twelve.

Reviews

[Stormy H Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first, learning about each characters’ zodiac powers was incredibly fun but now with the addition of the twelve treasures things get even more exciting! I had Jackie Chan Adventures flashbacks (one of my favorite shows) and I couldn’t stop rooting for Usagi, Tora, and Uma. I need there to be a third book because the ending was highly rewarding but left plenty of room for another book. Fingers crossed it comes out soon!

[Madi N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossing fingers for a third book

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midaga, sebuah negara yang dulu dilindungi oleh The Twelve, 12 pendekar terbaik dari masing-masing klan zodiak. Bersama mereka bersumpah, menyatukan perbedaan dan artifak suci untuk membangun perisai sihir yang melindungi negara mereka dari semua ancaman penjajah. Saat Lord Dragon berkhianat, dan menghancurkan artifak klan naga, itu juga meruntuhkan perisai pertahanan bangsa. Dia melakukan kudeta dan membunuh rekan-rekan The Twelve dan masing-masing pewarisnya. Sejak saat itu Midaga terpuruk dalam kemiskinan dan penindasan.

Usagi dan teman-teman seperguruannya bertekad membangun kembali Midaga. Langkah utama tentu saja menyatukan kembali 12 artifak dan membangun perisai kembali. Setelah itu mereka akan terus mengaudisi para calon pewaris untuk menciptakan lingkaran The Twelve yang baru.
Buku ke-2 ini jauuuuuuuuuuh lebih seru dari buku sebelumnya. Banyak misi-misi perburuan harta karun mulai dari Padang pasir, hutan-hutan, lembab kupu-kupu, area pertambangan dan tentu saja kamar pribadi sang DragonLord.

Biarpun skill masing-masing sudah berkembang dan makin keren tapi tetap ada nilai-nilai moral yang bocah-bocah bisa ambil dari cerita petualangan penuh aksi laga ini.
Beberapa karakter baru sangat menarik, sayang muncul sekilas aja bak figuran. Semoga kelak akan ada kisah petualangan selanjutnya. So far duology ini selesai tanpa cliffhanger.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great YA reading that I enjoyed as much as my girls, 10 and 8. Read The Twelve first - I'm psyched that one of my girls has a signed hardback of that one from OwlCrateJr. I'm going to miss this band of young heirs and their harrowing adventures!

[Jessica F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although their teacher may be trapped, the Heirs are determined to carry out their mission, rescue the Twelve Treasures and restore true justice and order to Midaga. Will they succeed?

Pacing really sped up and the ending felt rushed, but all things considered, this was a pretty satisfying conclusion to the story!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4 stars just because this series is so fun! I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first but it was still really good. I like the characters and I like the fact that even though it is a middle grade book, it doesn't read like one. I love the world and the powers. They are definitely the best part.

My biggest issue with this book was that it seemed so rushed. Everything happened so fast even to the point where it seemed kind of unrealistic. The last treasures were all collected so quickly. I also was confused by some of the zodiac and elemental traits. For example, Druk has a metal gift and somehow that allows him to destroy people conjured from the Conjurer? And Tora's brother was born in the year of the dragon but he has snaggleteeth too? Either these contradictions were missed in editing or I feel like the author didn't have a precise handle on the different powers. All in all, this last issue is a small one.

I do hope there may be more books set in this world. I would definitely read more!

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to The Twelve. I love to read stories about a quest where there are missing objects that need to be found, but there was so much more to this story. I loved the growth of the characters as they became more developed in their talents as Warrior Heirs, and their loyalties were challenged. I loved the imaginative areas of the countryside to which the questers travelled and the way they tied back into the important parts of the story. I sincerely hope there is one more book in this series because I would really like to see the Warriors assemble and find a way to right the wrongs caused by the Dragonlord.

I highly recommend this series.

[Trista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. I was pretty excited, because it looked like it would be a good read.

Luckily, I was right. This is a book that would be perfect to read out loud at bedtime with your children or to get older children/tweens excited about reading, especially those who might rather be playing video games.

It's a pretty fast-paced adventure with a straightforward goal that is explained right from the beginning.

This is the second book of a series. I have not read the first and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. It can easily be read as a standalone book.

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The follow-up to The Twelve continues the story of the Heirs of the Twelve, who have powers based on the Chinese zodiac. They're trying to find the Twelve Treasures, which all have magical powers, before their enemies under the leadership of the Dragonlord can. There's a good amount of creativity involved with the powers. There's a belt that can turn into a bridge or a boat, a fan that creates windstorms (similar to the one in The Royal Book of Oz), a magic mirror that can find things, a cloak that protects from fire, a comb that makes trees, and a ring that can produce smoke and dust. The characters also visit a country of butterfly spirits.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the Tigress gone and Uma still in the grasp of the Blue Dragonlord, Usagi and her fellow Heirs and Heirlings seek out the remaining Twelve Treasures, sure that combining them will be the key to finally freeing their country - so long as they are willing to face untold dangers and reunions. Lin is sure to keep readers hooked with another quick-paced adventure, as charming as its predecessor in personality and action, if a tad rushed in its finale. Can Usagi and her friends gather all the treasures before the Dragonlord does?

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending... I love that after all the struggle, the climactic finale unfolded in a clever way. I feel let down when other books make it too easy after all the build up. Thank you for flawed, believable characters, an original story with fascinating details, and ornate world building. I hope some expansion may be added, maybe a prequel on the Treasures and how the fall unfolded. Great read overall :)

[Ellie Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing. A great adventure for all ages. I’m born in the year of the water dragon. I loved reading about Usagi and the other Heirs do in this second book in Cindy Lin’s amazing series.
Read this book so fast and did not want it to end.
AwesomeKitty asks you to read the series NOW.
📚 📖 🐇 🐀 🐂 🐅

[Carmady GF · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an amazing book I love the loving ness of the characters. But I need and I mean need another book about the twelve, is teacher ok? Will there be more heirs? Will peace be restored? I need and I mean NEED answers. This book was amazing and I wanted to to read it every second I got. Cindy Lin is an amazing writer.

[Mary Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating this a 4.5 out of 5.

Tbh it's worth a 5 star rating since I really enjoyed it. It was fast paced, fun, exhilarating and easy to read. Unfortunately there are parts which I think could have been elaborated more? There are also parts that felt rushed, after all the POV is from Usagi so it makes sense that the other elements witnessed by the other heirs aren't elaborated.

Overall it was a great read and really enjoyed it. I recommend it not only to middle school readers but to any reader of any age!

[Alpa · Rating 1 out of 5]

wow, so many plot holes, so many questions left unaddressed
the characters are still 2-dimensional (like the first book), and the plot is still a sketch
there are great children's books - this is not one of them

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. I do wish that their parents actually weren't dead, but it was a great book otherwise.

[Wendy Hu-Au · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun sequel to the first and very satisfying to see how the characters have developed and grown.

[Jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so slow and confusing I honestly was disappointed the first book was way better

[Ananiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is officially one of my favorite book series that I have ever read, and I have read a lot of books.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this book!! I’ve ever since fallen in love with the first book, The Twelve, recommended by my dear cousin (thank you hehe) and this is a book definitely worth reading >:3

[Aaliyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story loved it even though I had not read the first story.

[Amelie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creative, very fun series! Filled with animal zodiac powers and elemental powers, it feels similar to Avatar: The last Airbender.
Crossing my fingers for a third book!

[Ven · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. I would read this again.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The adventures continue in Treasures of the Twelve where we continue to follow the young characters gifted with zodiac animal powers as they try to defeat the Dragonlord and his reign of terror. As Usagi works hard to hone her skills, the team is also trying to recover the twelve treasures before the Dragonlord is able to reach them. This proves difficult as those with zodiac powers are also part of the Dragon Lord's force. For fans of The Twelve, this sequel and conclusion to the duology will be a great end to an adventurous and wonderful story.

[Read Love Irie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ᴵᵐᵃᵍⁱⁿᵉ ᵗʰᵃᵗ. ᵀʷᵉˡᵛᵉ ᵂᵃʳʳⁱᵒʳ ᴴᵉⁱʳˢ," ˢᵃⁱᵈ ᴺᵉᶻᵘ, ˢᵐᵒᵒᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘᶻᶻ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵘᵖᵖᵉʳ ˡⁱᵖ. "ᴬⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᵀʳᵉᵃˢᵘʳᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵀʷᵉˡᵛᵉ ⁻ ᵘⁿⁱᵗᵉᵈ ᵒⁿ ᴹᵒᵘⁿᵗ ᴶᵃᵈᵉ. ᵂᵉ'ˡˡ ᶜʰᵃⁿᵍᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵒᵘʳˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ᴹⁱᵈᵃᵍᵃ ʸᵉᵗ."

What an epic conclusion to the story of Usagi and the warrior heirs!

In order to defeat Lord Druk - the dragonlord, Usagi and the warrior heirs journey to find the missing treasures of the Twelve. Along the journey, they discover more about themselves and their powers and find hidden groups of people with zodiac powers of their own.

The quest to retrieve the other treasures at Lord Druk's palace and the battle at Mount Jade put me on the edge of my seat!

Plenty of heart stopping and thrilling fight scenes, colorful and dynamic characters, and again, majestic landscape. This book is just full of life!

This, as expected, is a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read.

[katelyn s · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY FAVORITE ALL TIME BOOK!!!!!!!

[Sarah Hurn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, amazing. This book expands and explains the world and magic system so much more than the first. Full with amazing new adventures and characters. I did, however, enjoy the first book more.