Pursued relentlessly by goblin hunters for the ancient secret he knows, Edmund the stuttering librarian fights back in the fast-paced sequel to the epic fantasy novel, RIDDLE IN STONE.
Edmund’s old, boring life is gone forever. Knowing the answer to a cryptic riddle that, if in the wrong hands, could destroy all of humanity, Edmund is hiding in a sleepy coastal town as far from the frozen mountains of the Undead King as possible. For a moment, he believes he’s finally safe. Then he learns that Molly, the woman he’s loved since childhood, is telling stories about him—stories that will get him and his friends killed. Edmund is forced to embark on a perilous journey home to confront the woman who broke his heart. If he fails, all will be lost.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Plot: This one moved at a much faster pace than the last one, and it is so much improved by the action, and the character interaction, and the suspense, and all of the plot threads that are being woven together and drawing closer around Edmund until he can't really run anymore. The goblins are still a threat, and the magic users are now considerably more active, and everyone is looking for Edmund because of the secret he knows. Betrayal in the Highlands was not just an adventure story, but also certainly a homecoming for Ed. During his travels he speaks of finding a place to settle down, where he can be left alone and not hunted, and upon returning to Rood, it is clear that the place will always be his home. Now it is just a matter for Edmund to realize that he is so much more than just a stuttering librarian.
New characters are introduced in this novel, which makes things interesting, and Edmund has to deal with even more love and loss as he struggles to figure out what to do so he can help his friends and keep everyone he knows and cares for, safe. It doesn't always work out, but I still see so much growth in the characters and in the story. It is enchanting and I very much look forward to reading more.
Edmund's story really is that of an underdog. He is a middle-aged librarian who has turned into an adventurer and has even lost an eye. And hey, if Edmund can find confidence in himself, and use his mind to solve problems and work for a better life and a better world, then there is help for all of us.
Characters: Edmund is back and most of the time it almost seems as if he has some semblance of control over his stuttering. It certainly feels that it lessens quite a bit more as the novel progresses, so I'm hopeful that it will continue into the third book. He is also growing a little more confident about his worth, though not much. Still, he is growing, and his successes and failures only make him more endearing.
Ah, Pond. What can I say about you? Never change. Yeah, I think that about sums it up. Pond is pretty darn awesome and is a worthwhile friend and companion to Ed, which is great. I love that they are so loyal to each other, especially after all they've been through, and that Pond has no problem pushing Ed to broaden his horizons a bit and to step a bit out of his comfort zone, which leads to some fun scenarios involving Pond trying to talk up Ed as a romantic prospect to numerous women.
Becky the dog was not as cool as Thorax, but by the end of the book she had certainly impressed me. We basically follow her from puppy to fully grown and she is a fierce protector who even manages to fight and scare goblins and magic users alike.
And the award for my favorite character in this book goes to...Abby! I'm not going to lie, in the first book I knew that Molly and Ed would not work out, mostly because I thought Molly was not exactly the nicest to Ed, and she just rubbed me the wrong way. That being said, I do feel sorry for how this book ended for her. But, if Ed can finally get over his infatuation with Molly, maybe he'll see that the perfect companion to his life is right there. Abby has a very sharp mind and it is obvious that Edmund finds her attractive. I was almost instantly drawn towards Abby's character, and hoped she would be a main character.
Now I just hope for a happy ending in book three. Robert Evert is getting better with each book, and I'm sure that the best is yet to come. I will be impatiently awaiting the next installment.
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