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malreynolds111's review
4.0
I want to know more about Merlin... I hope there is a third book about it's part of the world..
lammerman's review against another edition
2.0
This was a really difficult book to get into. It took me SO long to read because I just didn’t have a desire to pick it back up after I’d read the first six chapters or so. It wasn’t a bad book, but it just wasn’t that interesting to me, there wasn’t enough real conflict, and the book was almost over before I felt any investment in the characters.
meganac's review
4.0
As a companion to The Mark of the Dragonfly , this novel is all I could have asked for.
Lina should be studying to become an archivist, not crawling through ventilation ducts to eavesdrop or discovering secrets chambers. She should be working, not overhearing dangerous things about the Iron War, running into boys with fake bandages in the middle of the night, or discovering air ships in deep tunnels. And yet, Lina is hardly ever doing what she ought to be doing. She possesses a head for risk and a deep, innate curiosity. Curiosity that gets her into trouble. Despite her better judgement, Lina discovers things in Ortana that could change the war, and all of Solace.
I love the adventure in these books. The detail. The way the archivist world is set up gives the same feel as I got when reading Harry Potter, with that world I so wished I could get into. Like Harry Potter, this universe is speckled with things that I wish I could see. There are humanoid characters. There are "magical" objects. There are deep friendships. There are bullies. There are disagreeable teachers, and there are gentle guardians. Heck, there's even assassins.
If you like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, and have a penchant for steampunk, you should like this quite a bit.
This book is clean and great for anyone.
Lina should be studying to become an archivist, not crawling through ventilation ducts to eavesdrop or discovering secrets chambers. She should be working, not overhearing dangerous things about the Iron War, running into boys with fake bandages in the middle of the night, or discovering air ships in deep tunnels. And yet, Lina is hardly ever doing what she ought to be doing. She possesses a head for risk and a deep, innate curiosity. Curiosity that gets her into trouble. Despite her better judgement, Lina discovers things in Ortana that could change the war, and all of Solace.
I love the adventure in these books. The detail. The way the archivist world is set up gives the same feel as I got when reading Harry Potter, with that world I so wished I could get into. Like Harry Potter, this universe is speckled with things that I wish I could see. There are humanoid characters. There are "magical" objects. There are deep friendships. There are bullies. There are disagreeable teachers, and there are gentle guardians. Heck, there's even assassins.
If you like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, and have a penchant for steampunk, you should like this quite a bit.
This book is clean and great for anyone.
dknott715's review
This sequel to Mark of the Dragonfly introduces new characters and new adventures as the war rages in the war of Solace. Lina is an Archivist in training. Archivists study and catalog the objects that fall from the skies in Solace. Lina, however, also has more than a drop or two of explorer spirit. A loner, she has carved out a space for her to work on her secret projects, one of which will change the course of the war for one side or the other.
evamadera1's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book did not challenge typical storytelling the way that the first book in the series did. Instead, this book fell into typical tropes: loner, quirky protagonist, unreasonably antagonist teacher, and instant friendship. These things annoyed me because the plot and the world had so much going for it: sentient ship, isolated scholars, and unique creatures. Additionally, Johnson used the main character as a tool to advance the plot rather than give her any real sort of development. The world still intrigues me so I will read the conclusion but this series has tipped towards unhaul.
yapha's review
4.0
Lina is an apprentice to the archivists of Ortana. The archivists live in a series of tunnels and chambers in the mountain strongholds of Solace and analyze the items that fall from other worlds into the meteor fields. She is an outsider among the apprentices, preferring to spend her time working on secret projects in an abandoned workshop that she discovered or crawling through forgotten tunnels to learn what she can. The archivists are staying out of the Iron War, not siding with either the Merrow Kingdom or the Dragonfly Territories. They have taken in a huge influx of refugees from both sides. In her wanderings, Lina learns that one of the refugees is not who he seems. To gain his trust, she shares her secrets and the two begin a friendship that could ultimately change the course of the war. Though this takes place in the same world as [b:The Mark of the Dragonfly|18077836|The Mark of the Dragonfly|Jaleigh Johnson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381287167s/18077836.jpg|25384237], it is not necessary to have read it first. It was a bit slow at the beginning, but the action-packed ending makes up for it. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
libscote's review
3.0
I feel like I missed something because I didn't see as much of a connection to the first book as I had hoped. Still, I enjoyed the story of Lina and Ozben. The beginning is a little slow but the second half makes up for it.
charlottebreads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
Age Rating: 10+
- I didn't enjoy this book as much as The Mark of the Dragonfly
- I thought that Lina made one too many silly decisions, which was really frustrating.
- I liked the characters though. I thought that the main characters were pretty fleshed out. I liked Ozben.I also liked Simon at the end
- Tolwin suckkeddddd, but he was meant to so...
- I loved how this book explored the relationships between the characters. I loved Lina and Ozben's friendship, and Lina and Zara's adoptive-parent-child/mentor-mentee relationship.
- The plot was medium paced and fairly engaging, though not as much as The Mark of the Dragonfly.
- I didn't enjoy this book as much as The Mark of the Dragonfly
- I thought that Lina made one too many silly decisions, which was really frustrating.
- I liked the characters though. I thought that the main characters were pretty fleshed out. I liked Ozben.
- Tolwin suckkeddddd, but he was meant to so...
- I loved how this book explored the relationships between the characters. I loved Lina and Ozben's friendship, and Lina and Zara's adoptive-parent-child/mentor-mentee relationship.
- The plot was medium paced and fairly engaging, though not as much as The Mark of the Dragonfly.
beckylej's review against another edition
4.0
As war rages on between the Dragonfly territories and Merrow Kingdom, the archivists inside Ortana maintain a precarious neutrality. Lina, one of the apprentice archivists, has eavesdropped on enough closed-door meetings to know that Solace will only be safe when the war comes to an end. She's been paying close attention, though, and so far nothing has hinted at an end to the fighting. What's more, her latest spying reveals the archivists have made a dangerous deal with Merrow that could threaten Ortana itself.
Lina isn't privy to exactly what this deal is until she meets Ozben, one of the refugees living in Ortana. But Ozben isn't a regular refugee. Ozben is a prince of Merrow. Lina vows to keep his secret, finding a friend in the heir and in turn shares a secret of her own. A discovery she made hidden in the tunnels of Ortana. A ship made from technology no one in Solace has ever seen.
Jaleigh Johnson first introduced readers to the fabulous world of Solace in the 2014 release, The Mark of the Dragonfly. Have no fear, though, this second in the World of Solace series is actually a stand alone sequel that can easily be read on its own.
Lina is something of an outsider. She's curious and reckless and has no real friends other than her own teacher. Ozben is exactly what Lina needs in that sense and the reverse is true for Ozben as well. For a refugee hiding out in hopes that no one discovers his real identity, Lina knowing his story comes as a a bit of a relief to the boy. Together they're able to be themselves.
Of course it helps that they have a common goal and adventure to share in. And, as it turns out, it's one that will call on the use of each of their strengths if they are to be successful.
Lina's story is an interesting one, but I think the book nerd in me was most captivated by the fabulous world of Ortana. Imagine living in a stronghold that collects and studies items and animals from different worlds! Tunnels and rooms - some of which have long been forgotten - filled with treasures like flaming cats and books that tell different stories to each different reader! What more could anyone ask for?!
The Secrets of Solace is due out March 8 and is a fun read for anyone (of pretty much any age!) who craves adventure!
Lina isn't privy to exactly what this deal is until she meets Ozben, one of the refugees living in Ortana. But Ozben isn't a regular refugee. Ozben is a prince of Merrow. Lina vows to keep his secret, finding a friend in the heir and in turn shares a secret of her own. A discovery she made hidden in the tunnels of Ortana. A ship made from technology no one in Solace has ever seen.
Jaleigh Johnson first introduced readers to the fabulous world of Solace in the 2014 release, The Mark of the Dragonfly. Have no fear, though, this second in the World of Solace series is actually a stand alone sequel that can easily be read on its own.
Lina is something of an outsider. She's curious and reckless and has no real friends other than her own teacher. Ozben is exactly what Lina needs in that sense and the reverse is true for Ozben as well. For a refugee hiding out in hopes that no one discovers his real identity, Lina knowing his story comes as a a bit of a relief to the boy. Together they're able to be themselves.
Of course it helps that they have a common goal and adventure to share in. And, as it turns out, it's one that will call on the use of each of their strengths if they are to be successful.
Lina's story is an interesting one, but I think the book nerd in me was most captivated by the fabulous world of Ortana. Imagine living in a stronghold that collects and studies items and animals from different worlds! Tunnels and rooms - some of which have long been forgotten - filled with treasures like flaming cats and books that tell different stories to each different reader! What more could anyone ask for?!
The Secrets of Solace is due out March 8 and is a fun read for anyone (of pretty much any age!) who craves adventure!