The Cloud Searchers

September 1, 2010
In this third installment of the Amulet series, Kibuishi maintains the lightning pace that propelled the previous two volumes. Now aligned with Leon Redbeard, Nevin and Emily find themselves confronted with a new nemesis: an assassin hired by the Elf King, one who seeks to destroy Emily, her crew and, ultimately, the Elf Prince himself. Together, the crew sets off for the mythical city of Cielis in hopes of finding the Guardian Council and unearthing more answers to Emily's true purpose as a stonekeeper. Followed by the assassin, the crew faces perilous skyward obstacles in a race against the clock. Throughout the series as a whole, the author has never watered down difficult moments--characters die, tragic accidents happen--and that tone continues to resonate. He excels at his action sequences: largely worldless but chock-full of edge-of-your-seat momentum. A richly drawn graphic-fantasy series following in the footsteps of Bone and a must for all fantasy fans. Anticipate readers clamoring for the next episode. (Graphic fantasy. 9 & up)

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October 15, 2010
Grades 4-7 This third book in Kibuishis fantasy-epic Amulet graphic-novel series has the gaggle of heroes led by young Emily, the requisite prophecy fulfiller with unharnessed powers, searching for a fabled city in the clouds while dodging capture by evil elf overlords. Star Wars and Tolkien continue to loom large as influences, and the cinematically grand visuals of otherworldly scenery continue to be one of the series deftest draws. But plenty of action and complex characters (including a few who were bad guys not too long ago) will also satisfy. The series looks poised to settle into a nice long Bone-like run.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)