Customer Reviews

The Edge Chronicles 2: Stormchaser

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Book 2 is where the Edge Chronicles really takes off. The sky pirate adventures finally begin after the rough start of the first book. Before going any further, potential readers should be warned that this is by far the most disturbing book in the Edge Chronicles. In fact, I have not read many children's books that contain such extreme levels of carnage. Just a few of the topics touched upon in this book are death (don't get too attached to many of the characters), torture, maiming, and a serial killer who takes and displays certain body parts of his victims. At times you get the feeling that the author enjoys tormenting his characters, but I guess it just drives home the point that the Edge is a dangerous place.

Violence aside, "Stormchaser" is probably the most memorable book in the series so far (we're up to Book 7 as of this review). If you want sky pirate action, this book certainly delivers. As always, the writing is clever and the descriptions rich and detailed (not to mention the wonderfully grim illustrations as well). It is amazing how much story the author is able to cram into such a small space. We get the main story arc, plus multiple side stories that all tie into the main plotline. Unlike the first book, all of the events in this story have significance and help to advance the plot. Readers of Book 1 will be pleased to find that the author brings relevance to the events of that story as well (although it may come too late for readers who were put off by the lack of direction found in the first book).

Overall, Book 2 of the Edge Chronicles is a well written adventure that is certainly memorable, although not necessarily "fun," due to the exceessive violence. Readers who are left with a bad taste in their mouth after this book should still continue with the series, as it hits its stride and settles down after this installment.

Picking up from where "Beyond the Deepwoods" left off, Twig fortuitously rescues his friend Caterbird from Undertown, and manages to glean some very important information about the floating city of Sanctaphrax, his father, and the amazing power of stormphrax, which comes from a single lightning bolt during the Great Storm.

It seems that there's a by-product of stormphrax, named phraxdust that can instantly purify the foulest of water, and therefore is of vital commercial importance to all the inhabitants of The Edge.

Unfortunately, the conversion of stormphrax to phraxdust is a pursuit fraught with danger, and many poor souls have perished trying to discover the perplexing secret.

Back on the sky ship Stormchaser, Twig erases any Brownie points he has previously notched by losing a valuable cargo, forcing his cash-strapped father to go storm chasing, in a quest to bring back some precious stormphrax and pay off his debts.

His father refuses to take him along, but Twig allows himself to be talked into stowing away, and in doing so, unwittingly reveals one of his father's most precious secrets.

A terrific adventure follows, but unfortunately, not according to plan, and Twig finds himself leading a motley crew through the maddening Twilight Forest and the perilous mire.

Learning the secret of phraxdust, Twig uses it to manipulate the political powers to his advantage, and bargains his way back to the skies, after engineering a coup in the floating city, and distributing the balance of power in Undertown.

Dark, gruesome, disgusting and exciting, this installment has more adventure than the first, but adds politics, greed, deception and treachery to the mix.

Amanda Richards, January 17, 2005

Stormchaser is the second book of the Edge series and it is a vast improvement over book one--Beyond the Deepwoods. The book picks up a few years after Twig's adventures in Deepwoods. He is now sailing aboard the skyship of his recently-discovered sky-pirate father and has exchanged the monster-horrors of the Deepwoods with the more human horrors of city-life, pollution, and corruption (though monsters still make the occasional appearance).
Whereas Beyond the Deepwoods suffered from being overly episodic, plunging Twig into one-unrelated confrontation after another, Stormchaser is much more focused and has a much better sense of narrative. The famed sky city Sanctaphrax is at risk of breaking its mooring and taking off forever unless it manages to replenish the rare substance that keeps it from sailing away. The same substance, in a mysterious alternative form, has also kept the waters that feed Undertown drinkable and the shortage is leading to an ecological and social disaster. For various reasons, Twig's father is the one sent out on a quest for this rare material and various adventures ensue.
While there is still an episodic sense to the story, it's mostly confined to the book's second half when Twig and others are forced to march through the Twilight Woods and the Mire. Even here though, the encounters are still related to the overall arc of the story, making each encounter more significant and more memorable in comparison to Twig's one-monster-after-another adventures in book one.
The plot is also improved by the move away from conflict based simply on threatened violence (usually in the form of being eaten) to one based on politics, corruption, and intrigue among all types of characters (though being eaten remains a threat now and then).
Characters are also delved into more deeply. We learn more about Twig's father--what forced him into becoming a pirate, why he refuses to acknowledge himself as Twig's father publicly, more about his motivations and personality traits. Twig is given more opportunities to grow, but these seem a bit contrived and, as in the first one, somewhat formulaic and unearned at times, though not as baldly as in Deepwoods. A few of the side characters have moments of depth, but overall remain shallow figures.
There is a lot of death in this one, some of it quite grisly, though it is never lingered on, having more the feel of an uncensored Brothers Grimm tale rather than a modern-day slasher flick.
Overall, while Stormchaser still suffers from a few of the first book's flaws, mainly some shallow characterization and some formulaic coming-of-age "growth" events, it is a major improvement on the first and bodes well for the rest of the series.

Picking up more or less where the first book left off Twig is now aboard the Stormchaser with his father, and the adventure begins. Perhaps it's that I was now familiar with the characters, but I found this to exceed the original on all counts. The one down side to it was the death count. Alot of characters bit the dust, some that surprised me. But that being said it's still a fun ride that ends with a literal cliffhanger.

Cloud Wolf is in danger! Twig is now sailing the skies with his dad. While they are in Undertown, Mother Horsefeather and The Professor of Light convince Cloud Wolf into going to the Twilight Woods in search of stormphrax. They get the supplies they need and go into the Great Storm. Spleethe finds out Twig is Cloud Wolf's son and he plans to take over the ship by threatening to kill Twig. (..)
Stormchaser is full of adventure. Twig goes around the city and finds the caterbird. Cloud Wolf, Twig, and the crew go into the Great Storm. Twig and the crew have to jump off the boat, to land in the Twilight Woods. They wonder around the Twilight Woods. They are on their way to find Cloud Wolf.

There are a few deceivers in this book. Spleethe finds out that Twig is Cloud Wolf's son and he plans to take over Cloud Wolf's ship. Screed deceives them by killing Spiker and taking his and Hubble's toes. Vilnix deceives Undertown and Sanctaphrax by showing them phraxdust, but never knowing how to make more once it runs out.

This is the type of book that you feel like you are actually there. The book tells you what the characters are thinking. The author describes the book so that it's as if you are an unnamed character that is in the background of the whole story. It is described in a way that you can feel the characters emotions as if they were your own.

In Stormchaser, they is a lot of adventure and deceivers and you feel like you are really there. Both of The Edge Chronicles books that I have read have had these things in them, but I think this one has more of each in it than the first book. This book is to be recommended for reader that like fantasy. This book, if it is not, should be a best seller.

(...)

This book is a thrilling read-a truly great book. The wierd and wonderful creatures coupled with Chris Riddel's imaginative illustrations are a real asset to a fabulous story-line. However, it is quite sad-a lot of deaths may upset happily-ever-after-lovers; but it is still one of favourite books. Since this is the second in the series I recommend that you read the first: but to sum it up Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel have created a gem!

First, I'd like to say that this isn't a book for early childhood readers... I really wouldn't recommend it for children under twelve or so. There's rampant character death in all manner of gruesome ways.

That aside, I think this is my favorite book in one of my favorite series. The story is interesting, the characters are likeable and believeable (especially Twig!). The world that the author creates is so complex and elegantly detailed, I think that it's actually developed better than Rowling's wizarding world. Very very good book!

very good book I am on the second book of the series and will continue to read all of them. I have read all the spiderwick chronicles books and I am finding that the edge chronicle books are on the same kind of reading that the spiderwick books are. The charaters are different but still makes for good reading

This book is great for all. It will keep you, your grandchildren or children on the Edge the entire time.

By SLL

This second book in the series is action packed. I liked it better than the first book because there is more emotion and excitement. Twig takes on new adventures without the help of his father. He demonstrates courage and bravery which is a theme throughout this book. As Screed leads Twig and his crew through the mire in the Twilight Woods, there are many dangers and surprises. Much to Twigs dismay, their guide is not who he seems to be and creates obsticles for Twig trying to reach "The Edge" in order to collect stormphrax-a substance taken from the heart of a storm. In their quest, Twig and his crew fight fearlessly to overcome these obsticles . Screeds collection of toes is disgusting and a mystery to all, and the Stone Pilot is carrying some secrets of his own. If you like action, gore, adventure, and mystery this is a great book for you.