I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: hiatus.

[READ: February 2, 2024] Amulet: Waverider

It has been SIX YEARS since the previous book came out.  This has been a hotly anticipated release around our house as I got my wife into it and she has gotten a bunch of her students into it.  It’s crazy to think that the students who were reading the books in fifth grade are now in high school.

This book follows Emily as she combats the evil Ikol.  I had assumed that Ikol was the inverse of Loki, but later in the book he explains that it is an acronym–the Intelligent Kinematic Operations Laboratory (the place he was born).

But Emily’s plan is to undo all of the wicked things that Ikol has done to the citizens of this world.  Mostly that involves getting people to look inside of themselves and see their true nature.

Meanwhile Trellis and the elves are heading bac into their own territory.  They are smuggled in as sick prisoners suffering from (I love this) Empathitis.  When they get to the castle, it turns out that Gabilan is in power.  He expects a fight from Trellis, but Trellis says no, he is there to serve the rightfully appointed king.  Everyone is shocked.

Throughout the book, Emily continues her battle with Ikol.  But it is mostly a battle of words.  Emily starts to figure out exactly what Ikol is–not a malevolent spirit, but a kind of sad and lonely entity.  It keeps asking her if they are friends.

But Emily doesn’t have time for that.  She sets about rescuing the large behemoths who have done so much damage–Cala and Cora.  Emily convinces them to release their anger and try to gain control of their true selves.  They are so grateful that they pledge to help Emily however they can.  And since they can fly, that’s a big help.

Meanwhile, Vigo goes in search of an old friend, Ronin.  Ronin has been training young stonekeepers to become the new guardian council.  Her training has encouraged the young recruits to trust their instincts rather than trying to suppress them.  They have more power and control than Vigo or Ronin ever did.  Vigo and Ronin also have a history that was marred by antagonism, but Vigo admits that he was wrong and they agree to all work together.

Meanwhile on the mountain Aly and Emily’s brother Navin are climbing to return a gadoba sapling to its habitat.  When they return to camp they learn that the stonekeepers are coming and the crew is worried since Emily isn’t there to help.

There a giant robot fight (like Transformers), but the evil spirits are too much for our team and they begin to take over everyone.

But Emily arrives in time and is finally reunited with her brother and mother.  But the gigantic Ikol is there controlling all of the evil spirits.  So finally Emily confronts it head on.

The young stonekeepers are also there to help–to see if they have control over their powers. And Emily discovers a book that was written hundreds of years ago but which mentions her.  How can that be?

The saga is wrapped up nicely and the message, while quite simple is one that could apply to just about everyone these days–release your anger and let the spell that’s on you fall away.