Synopsis
Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park in The Deadlands: Trapped, the second book of this action-adventure series by Skye Melki-Wegner about five outcasts―and former enemies―who are the only hope to save their warring kingdoms from impending doom.
As bloody battle rages on between the two surviving dinosaur kingdoms, Eleri and his fellow outcasts, newly exiled from their herds, are searching for evidence to prove a mass conspiracy―a conniving cabal of carnivores have manipulated the herbivore kingdoms into war, so they can feast on the slain. But after their temporary home is discovered by a vengeful pack of raptors, the exiles must flee and soon find themselves trapped inside the Fire Peak: the volcanic heart of the dreaded Carrion Kingdom.
Before they have a chance to escape, they discover a cavern of imprisoned herbivores, who are being picked apart―literally―one by one. Can the outcasts stage an elaborate heist to free the prisoners and gather proof of the Carrion Kingdom’s vicious plans in one fell swoop?
Review
Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the audio ARC. Apologies as this one definitely languished a bit. The narration is solid again, with continued voices/accents from the first production.
Much like the first novel in the series, this is some dinosaur goodness that brings to mind the likes of The Land Before Time and We’re Back! A Dinosaur Story. But as it’s not a scifi so much as an alt-history or even entirely fantasy world, with its talking dinosaurs and hierarchical nature, Jurassic Park just does not come to mind—even if it’s the largest dinosaur IP out there. Due in part to this one’s middle grade nature too though.
As I’ve only done audio for this, I’ve not seen the formatting for the physical copies. I hope there is some type of pictures or glossary, as the children interested in this could really learn some cool stuff and it’d help with visualization.
Our ragtag group of castaways are back…well actually they’re exactly where we left them. The carnivores are still hunting them. They are still without a home or even place to hide. They still desperately need proof to stop the incoming war, to save their people. And that is the impetus for this entire sequel. While that’s some truly heavy content—not to mention the carnivores in question not only want to stop them, but to literally eat them for dinner—the author does a solid job of suffusing humor, heart, and warmth into the story. Our friends are still learning to be around each other, to truly trust, and the way they flip flop and fumble is a fantastic way to showcase accepting others and their differences. Of showing emotion and accepting the way others feel.
But while this one was big on growth and character development, it was quite loose on plotting. As it’s middle grade, I suppose that’s not such a surprise. Their trek across the desert is a huge chunk of the novel, and when they finally arrive at their destination, the Fire Peak, the climax is already in full swing. But with that being said, this is once again a perfectly enjoyable story that makes you itch to see where they head next! I look forward to tackling book three at some point.
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