Customer Reviews

Labyrinth of Fire (Island of Fog, Book 2)

5 star:		(4)
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I happened by Keith Robinson accidentally while looking up some Enid Blyton books that I might buy for my kid. I was interested in his first novel because he'd just taken the plunge and did what many of us would love to do. His first book, Island of Fog was a fine read with a very original premise. I finished Labyrinth of Fire over a few days. I had read the first two chapters online but never quite got around to starting the book. Am I glad I did! Wow, what a great read. I am the last person to get into kids' books, don't really read fiction and I abhor fantasy novels. But there is something very attractive about this series of books. The writing style is lucid and clear, the language is clean, easy to follow and the author takes time to explain the story as things progress -which they do at a rapid rate. The plot twists and turns and you never know what is going to happen next. You find yourself wondering how is the author going to get out of this plot tangle when suddenly, it all makes satisfying sense. Despite the fantastic nature of the adventure, the author skillfully makes it all so plausible demonstrating a solid knowledge of the subject matter. Highly recommended for overgrown kids. The only negative thing is that the book is so intriguing and easy to read, it's consumed in a few hours!

Labyrinth of Fire picks up the baton left by the first book in the series, Island of Fog. While the characters and the style remain the same, Labyrinth is a very different book to its predecessor. Gone are the Blyton-esque mysteries and intrigue, and the childlike inquisitiveness, of the first book, replaced by a more serious, focused set of characters. It's clear the children have had to grow up in a hurry, a necessity born from the demands of a new world, new abilities and new responsibilities, and all the dangers they bring. As a result, friendships, relationships and personalities blossom as they are forced to use their shapeshifting abilities to work together as a team in much the same way as the cogs in a clock.

There's a whole slew of new characters and creatures to delve into, from an ornery centaur leader to a shapeshifting griffin to a fiercely proud dragon, and there is much to learn of the ways and customs of Elsewhere, including the mysterious geo-rocks that provide power to the myriad machines and devices of the human-folk. An unfortunate but unavoidable side-effect of this ground-laying work is that the opening third doesn't quite engage in the same way that Island of Fog did, but the final half more than makes up for it with no lack of drama, gathering pace and momentum which leads to the book's final shocking revelation.

In all then, this is a worthy follow-up to Island of Fog and in its flow proves hard to put down, offering natural progression and leaving you waiting impatiently for its upcoming third installment...

I thoroughly enjoyed "Island of Fog," the first book in this series, and was quite pleased when "Labyrinth of Fire" turned out to be just as good. Robinson's writing style is fun and accessible and this book is teeming with cool "monsters" and well-crafted action sequences (the scenes in the lair of the dragons are genuinely exciting). Looking forward to following Hal and his shapeshifter friends for many more adventures to come!

The second book in the Island of Fog series. Island of Fog was probably my favourite read for 2009. I love that it was such a great book and it was Keith Robinson's debut novel. So in my world that makes it special.

Labyrinth of Fire continues the story of 12yo Hal and his friends as they settle into their new home and their new `world'. They aren't given long to adjust when they are sent on their first `errand' on behalf of the people who created them. All the kids are still stretching their `alter-ego' muscles, getting to know themselves as the magical creatures they can shapeshift into. Hal especially is feeling ill-prepared and is worried that he may have been brought into the new world too early. Despite looking, feeling, smelling and breathing fire like a dragon, he still can't fly.

A village in a volcanic area is being attacked by harpies and dragons. The kids are sent to negotiate with their `kind' to stop the attacks. They have to discover much more about themselves in order to succeed and secure the protection of the humans.

Keith Robinson has a wonderful easy writing style that never slows you up. I was shocked how quickly I read the first book and am equally so with this one. Labyrinth of Fire is well written, exciting and absorbing. I am thoroughly confused as to who the kids can trust and am very anxious to read the third installment. It is great entertainment for both children and adults.

Thank you Keith Robinson.