Ghost Circle: Like invisible bubbles, these spaces are part of the void or nightmarish evil that was released in the world by the partial awakening of the locust. The bubbles spot the regular landscape and form spaces of destruction, and if someone were to enter into them, they would die.
Quick Summary: The story splits into two again, one part following the villagers and the stick-eaters as they head to war, the second following the bones, Thorn, Gran'ma and Bartleby, the pet rat creature who has returned to the group. There are scenes of war and destruction as the villagers face the rat creatures in battle. The entire valley is destroyed as the locust is semi-released from its lair in a volcano that spews ash and covers everything living. The Bone contingent decides to follow a treacherous path through ghost circles to arrive at the ancient kingdom of Atheia. The villagers convince the stick-eaters to leave Old Man's Cave and to travel to Atheia as well, their only chance of survival.
Thoughts: This was an excellent, exciting read. I especially enjoyed how the story took off from its original plot in a convincing way. Their travel to Atheia is unexpected and exciting. The passage through the ghost circles is intriguing and imaginative. We receive more of the back story about Lucius and his relation to the royal sisters, which adds a romantic twist. It's incredible to see the development of even tertiary characters like Jonathon, whose name dons the first chapter title.
For Younger Children:
The images of this story continue to be for mature readers 9+, according to parental discretion.
Images to note:
Briar "rises" again from the dead, as the locusts cover her two halves and allow her to stand upright again.
Ideas to ponder or discuss:
Thorn and Bone have a part of the locust inside them, and this allows them to pass unharmed into ghost circles. They pass into one and are met with voices. These are coming from a family who are not alive, but are changed by the ghost circle. Fone worries that they have turned into zombies, but this is not clear. The voices ask them for help, claim they feel pain, and say they have a message for Thorn from her dead mother, telling her to "seek the crown of horns." They warn of danger approaching, and tell Thorn to remove the piece of locust from Fone.
Great Quote:
"Great darkness falls across our generation. May we be equal to the burden."
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