Synopsis: The third installment of Sapphy and Conor's adventures in the powerful and dangerous underwater world of Ingo. A devastating flood has torn through the worlds of Air and Ingo, and now, deep in the ocean, a monster is stirring. Mer legend says that only those with dual blood - half Mer, half human - can overcome the Kraken. Sapphy must return to the Deep, with the help of her friend the whale, and face this terrifying creature - and her brother Conor and Mer friend Faro will not let her go without them...

Review: You don't have to have read the first two books in this sequence to be gripped by this one, but if you have you will know what to expect: - an exciting adventure story, - Helen Dunmore's wonderful lyrical way of telling, - Further insights into the undersea world of Ingo and the complications of the main characters' family life. There is much to satisfy the adult reader, particularly those who are not averse to mermaids and magic! My response was to wonder whether the author had deliberately woven in themes which seem to be about the dilemmas of adolescence. Sapphy is constantly having to ask herself questions such as: - which direction do I want my life to go in? -do I have choices and what are they? -how do I make the hard decisions that confront me? - how can I let go of the safe haven of my parents?

I reviewed and recommended the first novel in this sequence, Ingo, and this is even better. My only (tiny) reservation is that the resolution to the catastrophic awakening of the Kraken happens 80 pages before the end; the rest of the novel sets the reader up for the next episode. I thought it was going to be a trilogy! How many more volumes has Helen got planned and will Sapphy ever sort herself out?

Recommended for 10 to 14 year olds who have a taste for longer fantasy series; they will happily lose themsevles in the world of Ingo and the continuing adventures to be had there.

2007-05-14