“The academic, in his grubby, paint-splattered robes of faded ‘viaduct’ blue, turned the crank lever with his free hand.”

From Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell’s The Edge Chronicles: The Winter Knights.

Quint’s life has quickly become a very complicated one with the death of the Most High Academe Linius and the temporary return of Quint’s father, the legendary Wind Jackel. Still recovering from the evil Gloamglozer monster, the Edge is trying to find a balance once again. The vacant position of Most High Academe is filled by both the Professor of Light and the Professor of Darkness. The Professors soon each sponsor an individual for the Knights Academy; while the Professor of Light chooses Quint, the Professor of Darkness chooses Vilnix Pompolnius. Quint tries to keep in touch with his friend Maris after the death of her father, but her mean new guardians make it difficult. The floating city of Sanctaphrax becomes more buoyant over an overwhelming winter, threatening to break free and float away, but repeated voyages sent for stormphrax failed, which results in Quint and the Vilnix being promoted. The wicked Vilnix has been up to endless trouble, which nearly results in Quint and Maris’ deaths, and even helps build the conflict between various groups in the Knights Academy. With time quickly out, Quint gathers his friends for a last-ditch plan to heal a Cloudeater before everything is destroyed.

This fantastical adventure series is built of several character-following trilogies put together to create a complete world. The illustrations scattered throughout the book highlight characters and places that are definitely odd, but it also seamlessly creates the foundation for the highly imaginative world. As the second book in the Quint Trilogy, The Winter Knights creates a captivating story that will instantly pull readers into the action-packed fantasy world of The Edge Chronicles.