Title: Fallen ThiefSeries: Merrows (Book 2)Author: A.M. RobinGenre: MG FantasyPages: 272Published: July 2021Preorder: Fallen Thief
What Goodreads has to say:
Mira, Kay, and Peter have finally returned home, but not everyone is happy to see them. Despite the town bullies who never fail to remind the young merrows just how different they are from the rest of the townsfolk, the adventurers try to enjoy the remainder of their summer break from school...until a devastating fire reminds them of the evil that is still lurking in the shadows. After discovering the true identity of the malicious leader of the Shadowveils-the hooded merrows who hunt and imprison anyone who gets in the way of their mysterious missions-it seems their troubles have only just begun.
With their eyes opened to a secret world of sorcery, Mira, Kay, and Peter turn to the only place where they can learn more about what they're up against: fairy stories. They soon find out that the tales they had heard growing up might hold the key that will help them save their friends from a terrible curse. As they journey into abandoned cities, treacherous hideaways, and deep into the sea, they must stay vigilant to distinguish friend from foe and work together if they hope to stay one step ahead of the Shadowveils and keep their loved ones safe.
My Thoughts:Another wonderful installment in the adventures of Mira, Kay and Peter. I love this world that A M Robin has created. As an avid reader of folktales and fairy stories, I especially loved the emphasis on finding the truth in fairytales and connecting them with actual history.
The story starts fairly soon after the last one left off. But this time instead of finding new adventures afar and visiting exotic places, Mira, Kay and Peter are stuck in their own village of Crispin. They have to go to school, deal with bullies, and do chores. It's not easy to spy on secret meetings when everyone knows who you are. And while there is some fame (especially with the younger children) for being Merrows, Mira and Kay are shunned and rejected by many of their elders and even some of their peers. Besides Appoline and a few others, the villagers don't view the Merrows as something to celebrate. They want nothing to do with the supposed war between the land and the sea, and absolutely no contact with the Shadowveils. The twins get bullied at school by their peers and even harrassed and unduly punished by their teacher!
Somehow amidst all this "mundane" chaos, Mira, Kay and Peter manage to slip away and discover an abandoned Merrow city. I loved the description of Nesston. It sounded like a truly lovely town where merrows and humans lived mixed together. I loved how it was centered around a lake, allowing fully merrow families to live underwater, and mixed to live on the shore. The imagery Robin uses to paint Nesston is astounding.
Now let's talk about the Grimmir. As before mentioned, I adore folklore and fairy stories. The Grimmir is AMAZING. Robin is comfortable enough in this world she's created to add in fairy tales and folklore, AND IT WORKS. Not only is she telling a current tale, but she weaves in a "long forgotten" tale and the two merge together beautifully. One of my favorite things about the Grimmir is that it's a story of change. A normal merrow gains power through sorcery and becomes obsessed with gaining more and more power even at the cost of those around him. Eventually it becomes too much and the people of Nesston retaliate, stealing his hair and even blood to bring life back to the land. Finally his mentor finds out, and instead of being proud of his prodigy's power, curses him to assume the form of a giant serpent that prowls the ocean depths. Not only is he forever changed, and his memory altered, but he is given healing horns that all being seek after. Always to be hunted.
And that seems to be where the story ends, until Kay and Mira discover a shell that tells them a way to end the curse. They must reunite a vial of the sorcerer's blood with the Grimmir. This will allow him to regain his merrow shape, and finally be at peace. Because the children have no hope of waking their friends from the dreaded everlock sleep without the healing horns, they travel into the depths in search of the fabled Grimmir.
A shark encounter and many miles later, the twins find him. Impossibly huge and frightening. In fact, the Grimmir has no visual sight, but instead "sees" by feeling fear in others. Once Mira realizes this, she is able to expand her protective field to Kay, and then have something of a conversation with the serpent. She tries to barter the blood for the last horn, but when the Grimmir lashes out, she loses her courage and drops the vial, allowing the serpent to crush it and disappear into the deep.
Heartbroken and desperate the twins have only seconds to breathe before the Empress of the Sea herself and entourage surround them. In this tense dialogue, Mira and Kay learn that the empress will never stop until she has control of the whole earth. Escape seems impossible, until Mira sends her thoughts to the Grimmir yet again, pleading for his help. When death seems moments away, the Grimmir suddenly appears tossing merrows like bowling pins. He is an arrow in the dark, too fast and enormous for the empress to subdue. In the chaos Kay creates a portal and manages to steer both the Grimmir and Mira through. And this is where the change really happens.
The Grimmir expresses to the twins how tired he is of being a monster, and how lost his true self was, sunken in the deep. He tells them that their call for help was a redemption point for him, which will allow him to finally rest in peace. As a parting gift for giving him his soul back, the Grimmir gifts the last healing horn, the cure for everlock sleep.
As soon as they leave the Grimmir, Mira and Kay portal to the Ripple where they rush to the infirmary where their friend Alexandra and her mentor Aristide lie in everlock sleep. The Grimmir is as good as his word, and the horn works, awakening the sleepers.
With the whole team back in action (Tonttu is also at the castle, and Peter is on his way with Eola) the Empress of the Sea had better watch out!
This book is fantastic, I honestly can't praise it enough. A great middle grade read, that promises to be a wonderful series. I look forward to book 3!
Rating:
Title: Fallen Thief
Mira, Kay, and Peter have finally returned home, but not everyone is happy to see them. Despite the town bullies who never fail to remind the young merrows just how different they are from the rest of the townsfolk, the adventurers try to enjoy the remainder of their summer break from school...until a devastating fire reminds them of the evil that is still lurking in the shadows. After discovering the true identity of the malicious leader of the Shadowveils-the hooded merrows who hunt and imprison anyone who gets in the way of their mysterious missions-it seems their troubles have only just begun.
With their eyes opened to a secret world of sorcery, Mira, Kay, and Peter turn to the only place where they can learn more about what they're up against: fairy stories. They soon find out that the tales they had heard growing up might hold the key that will help them save their friends from a terrible curse. As they journey into abandoned cities, treacherous hideaways, and deep into the sea, they must stay vigilant to distinguish friend from foe and work together if they hope to stay one step ahead of the Shadowveils and keep their loved ones safe.
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