209. The Amulet: The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi

The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi (Canada) - (USA)
Amulet, Book Three

Pages: 199 pages
Ages: 10+
Finished: Oct. 5, 2010
First Published: Sept 1, 2010
Publisher:GRAPHIX
Genre: Children, graphic novel, fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5

First sentence:

Luger.
Tr-Trellis. Have you come to finish me off?

Acquired: Received a review copy from Scholastic Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Finally, the year long wait is over and Book Three is here and well worth the wait is was! The Cloud Searchers is the best book in The Amulet series to date! Kibuishi keeps taking this story further and deepening the plot with each book. Much happens in Book 3 that brings the storyline to new heights. We learn some background of the world they are in, Alledia, and more about the stones and their powers and purposes.

In this volume Emily and the gang are in search of the fabled lost city of Cielis, which some say may have taken to the skies to hide. Emily joins forces with a previous enemy, she looses two dear friends, she becomes more powerful and she finally learns what her purpose here is.

Kibuishi's illustrations are, as usual, fantastic. I love the buildings, cities and towns he creates. His creatures and enemies are dark and scary and this volume has an overall dark and oppressive atmosphere with its colours ranging from greys to black. This suits the story very well.

The author puts a few references to incidents from both previous volumes quickly here and there which a reader appreciates when there has been so much time since publication of Book One. I was excited from the first page! The only thing I'm concerned about is how long the wait will be until Book Four hits the shelves!