Comet Rising

November 1, 2018
Emmeline and company return to thwart the nefarious Lady Aisling in Connolly's gripping conclusion to her Shadow Weaver duet.When the Cerelia Comet, under which all magically talented children are born, streaks through the sky 12 years early, there can only be one cause--Lady Aisling. A centuries-old magic eater, Lady Aisling steals and traps other talented people, and the comet's early arrival means she has gained control of a sky shaker, who has the power to rearrange celestial bodies at will. Meanwhile, Emmeline and Lucas work hard to hone their respective talents of shadow weaving and light singing, which allowed them to escape Lady Aisling's clutches before, but when Lucas' parents are captured, the duo must flee to find the secret network that protects talented people and seek help. Terrified at the prospect that Lady Aisling may cultivate more magical children to harvest, Emmeline and Lucas and a small handful of new friends prepare to take her down once and for all. But to have a chance of defeating Lady Aisling, they must work with someone just as dangerous--Dar, Emmeline's former shadow and Lady Aisling's twin sister. Picking up immediately after the events of the first book, this narrative immerses readers in the layered tensions of a fight for survival, building them to the breaking point. Conflict on a cosmic scale is no simple thing to contain effectively, but a more action-oriented focus than its prequel and a classic evil to defeat keep things balanced. The book assumes a white default.A captivating volley of revelations and resolutions. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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Starred review from November 15, 2018
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* This sequel to Shadow Weaver (2018) opens in an isolated house, where Emmeline and Lucas can practice using their talents. They live with Lucas' parents and Emmeline's former shadow, Dar, who is locked in a shadow-and-light cage in the attic for her safety. Their serenity is interrupted, however, when the Cerelia Comet comes 12 years too soon. This puts them in danger, as it means sinister Lady Aisling (Dar's twin) needs more flowers (actually transformed, magically gifted individuals) for her garden, from which she can harvest their power. Seeing Lady Aisling's soldiers outside, Emmeline, Lucas, and Dar escape to warn other families hiding gifted children. They soon detect something amiss and realize Lady Aisling's men have begun casting spells to take control of innocent people. Risking all, the trio sets about rescuing other children?some with talents, some without?and embarks on a high-stakes mission to thwart Lady Aisling and release all her flowers. Connolly again spins a magical tale; she deftly crafts moods and creates a sense of urgency that will leave readers breathless. The conclusion to the duology brings a feeling of relief, but a few puzzling questions remain, leaving the door ajar for future adventures, should Connolly choose to return to Emmeline's world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)