Rivers of Fire (Atherton Series #2) » (Reprint)

Patrick Carman's previous books in the Land of Elyon series (The Dark Hills Divide, Beyond the Valley of Thorns, and The Tenth City) have all been New York Times bestsellers. Patrick worked in advertising for a decade and has also created board games and launched several businesses.

The Highlands, the center of Atherton, is sinking; Samuel and Isabel are trying to sneak into The House of Power to restore water to the world of Atherton; and Dr. Kincaid, Vincent and Edgar make their way towards the edge of the Highlands, intent on entering the secret underground refuge of Mead's Hollow and finding the key to unlocking Dr. Harding's brain. They must discover the solution to overcoming the threat of the deadly Cleaners, creatures now unleashed on the flattened land, before it's too late. But Mead's Hollow holds more secrets than any of them had ever imagined.

In this tremendously satisfying continuation of the story of Atherton, readers will experience a world turned inside out; a spectacular flood; former enemies forced to work together in the name of survival; surprising histories concerning the creator of Atherton, Dr. Harding, and his partner Dr. Kincaid, and a shocking revelation about Edgar's own past. Best of all, the trip to Mead's Hollow leads to a dangerous-and extraordinary-expedition through the interior of Atherton that will titillate imaginations for a long time to come. With themes evocative of Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno, expect Rivers of Fire to give readers plenty to sink their teeth into.

VOYA

Atherton is a land in flux after flurry of seismic activity figuratively and literally leveled its three-tiered society in House of Power (Little, Brown, 2007/VOYA April 2007). The elite, learned individuals of the Highlands; the laborers of Tabletop; and the fanged, serpentine Cleaners of the Flatlands now share one domain. Even more worrisome, the Highlands, the source of Atherton's water supply, had slowly begun sinking into the Flatlands. As the planet's resources dwindle and the gnashing of the Cleaners' jaws grows louder, everyone's fate hangs in the balance. In a race against time, Edgar and his friends Isabel and Samuel, along with some unexpected allies, desperately strive to unravel the mysteries of their home as they battle fearsome beasts both large and small. Although not exactly well-written, the first book kept the reader entertained through a clever combination of brief chapters with cliffhanger endings and a fast-paced, engaging story with an ecological and social justice message. This sequel retains the same themes, yet it lacks the punch of its predecessor. Devoid of the elements that made the first book addicting and fun, Carman's clunky and frequently annoying prose glares through. The narrative offers too much explanation to the point of near-condescension to the reader's intelligence. Nothing, from character's facial expressions to their internal dialogue, is spared comment from the third-person narrator. The most egregious faux pas comes from a minor character who has the misfortune to deliver a sappy, hackneyed message before dying a hero. Still readers who loved the first novel may forgive this one's trespasses and keep it circulating. Reviewer: AngelicaDelgado