Back in a much-anticipated sequel, Maya, Eli, and Frankie again take on the Lord of Shadows to save the world from the complete destruction of the Veil. The Lord of Shadows has not only stolen Maya's dad but has been deriving power from Maya's half-sister, Eleni, who for centuries was thought to be dead. Back in the throes of action, Maya and her crew are pushed to develop and harness both control of their powers and ownership of their perceptions. With so many lives on the line, cross-veil alliances are made in the greater interest of survival. This sequel takes its time in fleshing out the story of the creation of the Dark and of Elleguá's part in it inextricable key to the forthcoming third installment. Readers might find Maya's relentless pursuit of danger naive, though the support of a well-balanced cast keeps the vibe more adventurous than foolhardy. A tale for lovers of unbridled adventure and South Side Chicago, Return of the Godlings is a strong nod to the power, resilience, and open-mindedness of young people.

In this sequel to Maya and the Rising Dark (2020), Maya and her Papa, the orisha Elegguá, are repairing a gigantic tear in the veil, the astral divider between humanity and the Dark.This exercise is part of Chicago resident Maya's continuing lessons as a guardian-in-training. Of course, the Lord of Shadows chooses this moment for a vengeful strike in retaliation for the orishas' killing of his creations, the darkbringers. Maya notices Papa is taking longer to recover than usual; he confesses that ever since the Lord of Shadows held him captive, his strength and powers haven't quite returned-but he doesn't know why. During Elegguá's visit with wise orisha Obatala in the city of Azur, Obatala tells him that the Lord of Shadows took his soul during the battle in which Maya set Elegguá free. Without his soul, Elegguá will slowly die. In the meantime, some of Maya's schoolmates come into their own godling powers, which causes them internal confusion and their middle school to erupt into chaos-and could lead to celestial chaos as well. Like its predecessor, this volume presents a multicultural universe that centers West African influences; the worldbuilding is developed here in greater detail, with the action picking up later in the novel. Readers are plunged into a continuation of the story with little recap, making knowledge of the first book a necessity.Ratcheted-up stakes keep readers invested in this rollicking-good sequel. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Gr 5 Up-In this book that picks up where Maya and the Rising Dark left off, middle schooler and guardian-in-training Maya is learning to patch holes in the veil separating this world from the Dark. Her friends Eli and Frankie are also coming into their own powersand they aren't the only ones. More powers are popping up across Jackson Middle School, making extra work for the elders of Maya's South Side Chicago neighborhood who also happen to be Orisha gods. When Maya learns that her father's soul is trapped in the Dark, the Orisha and godlings meet to discuss sending someone to retrieve it. But the council has a history of caution, and concern for a coming war with the Dark looms. Despite the potential consequences of a return to the Dark, Maya refuses to be stopped from saving her father. Like the first book in the series, this work is a celebration of diverse community. Maya and her friends have a variety of interests, characters' skin tones range from light brown to dark, hairstyles span from locs to cornrows, and family dynamics mirror the beautiful complexity of society today. Maya, Eli, and Frankie journey through the terrain of the Dark, offering readers a closer look at the other world and further demonstrating the close friendship the tweens share. The three are surprised that the Darkbringers are as varied as their own people, with skin in tones of blue, and purple, barbed tails, horns, wings, or all three, and, most surprisingly, differing opinions of the imminent war. VERDICT A sequel solid in character development, plot, pace, and continued world-building. Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson Univ., SC