Now hunted for his war-altering artifacts, eleven-year-old scavenger Milo (The Orphan Army) learns the Huntsman has a new magical ally. Plenty of danger keeps the plot racing, but other than a few reveals, little develops in this second sci-fi/fantasy mash-up. Milo's moral struggles and his friends' attempts to put differences aside will keep readers interested as Maberry sets up book three.

Resuming days after The Orphan Army (2015) ended, this second title in the Nightsiders series finds 11-year-old Milo Silk and his cohorts still trying to survive devastating attacks from the Swarm cious, humongous robotic insects d their terrifying, megalomaniac human-bug hybrid leader, the Huntsman. Stopping them seems increasingly impossible, especially now that the Huntsman's allied with powerful, evil faerie Queen Mab in his efforts to conquer Earth and its inhabitants. Desperate for help, Milo and friends embark on a risky quest to a hidden historic mansion and its cryptic ghostly host, who may reveal how to beat the evil forces further imperil them all. With dramatic, humorous, and occasionally dark, edgy touches, this offers another engrossing blend of action-adventure, dystopian elements, magic, and retro sci-fi with some classic lit allusions, and its appealing, diversely drawn cast together face dangers and dilemmas with courage and ingenuity while trying to save Earth and beyond from obliteration. Fans of the series opener will welcome learning more about Milo and crew and their continuing adventures, with an eager eye on what's next.

Eleven-year-old white Milo Silk continues to lead the Orphan Army against the evil extraterrestrial Swarm in this follow-up to The Orphan Army (2015).Milo is joined by werewolf girl Evangelyne, fire salamander Iskiel, and Mook, a rock elemental with a limited vocabulary. His second-in-command is dark-skinned and tech-savvy Shark. Milo and his friends must keep both the magical Heart of Darkness and the Dissosterin crystal egg safe from both the evil Huntsman and Queen Mab, ruler of the faeries. A doomed rescue mission kills many of their party and fractures the Heart. To salvage their cause, they must find the mythical Heir of Gadfellyn Hall. Magical beings, zombielike holo-men, and an endless parade of alien creatures keep the pages turning. However, even amid the nonstop action, there is depth. The orphans question the morality of their war and understand the cost of the lives sacrificed. While this particular quest does little to forward the overall story, it serves to expand the world, deepen the characters, and raise the stakes on their seemingly impossible war. Magic, aliens, and now…zombies—a can't-miss combination. (Fantasy/science fiction. 8-12)

Eleven-year-old white Milo Silk continues to lead the Orphan Army against the evil extraterrestrial Swarm in this follow-up to The Orphan Army (2015).Milo is joined by werewolf girl Evangelyne, fire salamander Iskiel, and Mook, a rock elemental with a limited vocabulary. His second-in-command is dark-skinned and tech-savvy Shark. Milo and his friends must keep both the magical Heart of Darkness and the Dissosterin crystal egg safe from both the evil Huntsman and Queen Mab, ruler of the faeries. A doomed rescue mission kills many of their party and fractures the Heart. To salvage their cause, they must find the mythical Heir of Gadfellyn Hall. Magical beings, zombielike holo-men, and an endless parade of alien creatures keep the pages turning. However, even amid the nonstop action, there is depth. The orphans question the morality of their war and understand the cost of the lives sacrificed. While this particular quest does little to forward the overall story, it serves to expand the world, deepen the characters, and raise the stakes on their seemingly impossible war. Magic, aliens, and now…zombies—a can't-miss combination. (Fantasy/science fiction. 8-12)