The Skeleth

Gr 6–9—In this sequel to The Nethergrim, the 14-year-old heroes from the previous tale take separate paths. Wizard-in-training Edmund meets Ellí, a young wizard who helps him learn magic but may not be trustworthy. Meanwhile, skilled horse trainer Katherine is forced to work as a scullery maid for Lord Aelfric after her father, John Marshall, leaves to seek the help of the legendary hero Tristan. Tom is traveling with John when they are attacked by the Skeleth, a hoard of spirit beasts in service of the Nethergrim. When John is overtaken by a Skeleth to become part of their army, Tom has to free the imprisoned Tristan and find an elder woman whose magic skills may help them defeat the evil spirits. Elsewhere, Lord Wolland from a neighboring barony is planning a war against the northern lands and thinks the Skeleth will aid him. When Edmund, Katherine, and Tom are finally reunited, they have to convince the local villagers to help them defend their land against Wolland's trained knights and find a way to stop the Skeleth, without killing Katherine's father. The narration of this pseudomedieval tale alternates among the three protagonists. Free of the cumbersome backstory that dragged the pace of the first book, this installment combines elements of fantasy, action, romance, and suspense and further defines the motivations of its characters. The book ends on a cliff-hanger that will have readers anticipating the next volume.