This third book in Kibuishi's fantasy-epic Amulet graphic-novel series has the gaggle of heroes led by young Emily, the requisite prophecy fulfiller with unharnessed powers, searching for a fabled city in the clouds while dodging capture by evil elf overlords. Star Wars and Tolkien continue to loom large as influences, and the cinematically grand visuals of otherworldly scenery continue to be one of the series' deftest draws. But plenty of action and complex characters (including a few who were bad guys not too long ago) will also satisfy. The series looks poised to settle into a nice long Bone-like run.

In this third installment of the Amulet series, Kibuishi maintains the lightning pace that propelled the previous two volumes. Now aligned with Leon Redbeard, Nevin and Emily find themselves confronted with a new nemesis: an assassin hired by the Elf King, one who seeks to destroy Emily, her crew and, ultimately, the Elf Prince himself. Together, the crew sets off for the mythical city of Cielis in hopes of finding the Guardian Council and unearthing more answers to Emily's true purpose as a stonekeeper. Followed by the assassin, the crew faces perilous skyward obstacles in a race against the clock. Throughout the series as a whole, the author has never watered down difficult moments—characters die, tragic accidents happen—and that tone continues to resonate. He excels at his action sequences: largely worldless but chock-full of edge-of-your-seat momentum. A richly drawn graphic-fantasy series following in the footsteps of Bone and a must for all fantasy fans. Anticipate readers clamoring for the next episode. ( Graphic fantasy. 9 & up )

CARMAN, Patrick . The Crossbones . Bk. 3. 209p. (Skeleton Creek Series). Scholastic . Sept. 2010. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-545-24994-2 . LC number unavailable. Gr 6 Up COLFER, Eoin . The Atlantis Complex . Bk. 7. 357p. (Artemis Fowl Series). Disney . Aug. 2010. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-2819-9 . LC number unavailable. Gr 58 DONBAVAND, Tommy . Claw of the Werewolf . Bk. 6. 117p. Aug. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7636-4638-7 . LC 2010004398. DONBAVAND, Tommy . Flesh of the Zombie . Bk. 4. 128p. Apr. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7636-4637-0 . LC 2009039356. DONBAVAND, Tommy . Skull of the Skeleton . Bk. 5. 116p. Aug. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7636-4635-6 . LC 2010004748. ea vol: (Scream Street Series). Candlewick . pap. $5.99. Gr 36 GIBSON, Marley . The Counseling . Bk. 4. 248p. (Ghost Huntress Series). Houghton / Graphia . Sept. 2010. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-547-39307-0 . LC 2010009055. Gr 710 HARVEY, Alyxandra . Out for Blood . 292p. (The Drake Chronicles Series). Walker . Dec. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2169-3 ; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2168-6 . LC number unavailable. Gr 8 Up HILL, Bonnie Hearn . Gemini Night . unpaged. (Star Crossed Series). Running Pr. Oct. 2010. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7624-3672-9 . LC number unavailable. Gr 710 HOFFMAN, Mary . City of Ships . Bk. 5. 356p. (Stravaganza Series). Bloomsbury . Jun. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-491-7 . LC 2009048837. Gr 7 Up KIBUISHI, Kazu . The Cloud Searchers . Bk. 3. illus. by author. unpaged. (Amulet Series). Scholastic / Graphix . Sept. 2010. pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-20885-7 . LC 2009942987. Gr 4 Up LAFEVERS, R. L. The Wyverns' Treasure . Bk. 3. illus. by Kelly Murphy. 154p. (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist Series). Houghton Harcourt . Oct. 2010. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-547-31618-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 35 THE LOST ISLAND . Bk. 8. ISBN 978-1-893951-59-4 . SHOCK HORROR . Bk. 7. ISBN 978-1-893951-58-7 . SUB-ZERO SURVIVAL . Bk. 6. ISBN 978-1-893951-57-0 . WINGS OF FEAR . Bk. 5. ISBN 978-1-893951-56-3 . ea vol: 128p. (Ripley's Bureau of Investigation Fact or Fiction? Series). Ripley . 2010. Tr $4.99. LC number unavailable. Gr 35 MEAD, Richelle . Spirit Bound . Bk. 5. 489p. (Vampire Academy Series). Penguin / Razorbill . May 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-250-4 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up MOULD, Chris . The Smugglers' Mine . Bk. 4. illus. by author. 176p. (Something Wickedly Weird Series). Roaring Brook . 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-388-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 46 RUE, Nancy . Tournaments, Cocoa &; One Wrong Move . Bk. 3. 252p. (Real Life Series). Zondervan . Oct. 2010. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-310-71486-9 . LC 2010023289. Gr 710 SANDERSON, Brandon . Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens . Bk. 4. 292p. Scholastic . Dec. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-92557-0 . LC 2009041040. Gr 58 SINGLETON, Linda Joy . Magician's Muse . Bk. 6. 290p. (The Seer Series). Flux . Oct. 2010. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-1957-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 68 SHEPARD, Sara . Heartless . Bk. 7. 274p. (Pretty Little Liars Series). HarperTeen . Jun. 2010. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-156616-5 . LC 2009044190. Gr 9 Up TANIGAWA, Nagaru . The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya . Bk. 3. tr. by Chris Pai. 214p. Little, Brown . July 2010. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-316-03886-7 ; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-316-03887-4 . LC 2009042692. Gr 8 Up YOYO . Vermonia 4: The Rukan Prophecy . Bk. 4. illus. by author. unpaged. (Vermonia Series). Candlewick . Nov. 2010. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4063-2263-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 5 Up