Vega Jane and Delph have done it. With her canine Harry Two alongside, they have left their primitive village of Wormwood and entered the Quag, quickly faced with jumping off a cliff!

They are not alone for long, as strange creatures called the Ekos capture them, taking them to their leader self titled King Thorne. He looks like them and sounds like them, and even knows where they came from. He might act welcoming and helpful, but his agenda is far worse. He is far from the worst thing they will face while crossing the Quag however, something even he hasn’t bothered to try and do as everyone knows it’s impossible.

Fleeing one villain, only to fall to another, the trio still have much to learn. Inside the Quag they meet Astrea Prine, not only the Keeper of the Quag but also of the truth of how Vega’s town of Wormwood and the Quag that surrounds it came to be. She refuses to believe Vega and her friends wish to travel through the Quag – until she sees Vega’s powers manifest in a magical battle.

What follows is Vega’s hardest challenge yet – learning how to travel through the 5 circles of the Quad, all designed by people from her past, even direct ancestors carrying the Jane name. She and Delph refuse to be put off their quest, especially now they know even more about Wug history. Again, they set off alone on their quest. But this time they have many more tools at their fingertips, including powerful magic.

Vega and Delph are wary when they meet two others that look and sound like them, but call themselves something else. Lackland and Petra soon show their own strengths in the terrible lands of the Quag, but on seeing Vega’s magic are quickly keen to join them. Vega suspects all is not being revealed, even feeling a little jealous when Delph and Petra hit it off. Is Delph her best friend or does he mean something more to Vega?

There is no time to ponder this as they are in one battle after another, until just as they are to reach their destination one of them loses their life.

The 2nd in this action-packed series – originally titled The Keeper. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the first, but it certainly didn’t have any boring bits! There is always something going on and no-one can be trusted, and guards can never be let down.

There are two more in this series, and I’m keen to learn what happens next. The imaginative hurdles, challenges, monsters and curveballs that are thrown at this group are never-ending, and the conundrum of how Vega really feels about Delph is an interesting thread among the chaos.

Author – David Baldacci

Age – 10+

Read a review for the 1st book in the series (Click on the Cover)

1) Vega Jane and the Secrets of Sorcery (Originally published as – The Finisher) 

2) Vega Jane and the Maze of Monsters (Originally published as – The Keeper)

3) Vega Jane and the Rebels Revolt (Originally published as – The Width of the World)

(2021, Macmillan Publishers, Action, Adventure, Animals, Bullies, Courage, Family, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery, Secret, Series, Sorcerers, Monsters, Shifting Landscapes, Self-proclaimed King, Slavery, Reveal, Truth, History of Wormwood, Loyalty, Bravery, Faithful Dog, Jealousy, Death, Betrayal, Centuries old beings)