Scarlet Morning

Featuring sympathetic main characters, pirates, a colourless world of salt and ice and a diverse cast of engaging characters, 'Scarlet Morning' revolves around the lives of orphans Viola and Wilmur, left on the colourless island of Caveat for 15 years. Craving the world beyond their narrow existence, the two set sail with a crew of pirates after making a deal with Captain Cadence Chase. They face the challenge of uncovering the events which made Dickerson’s Sea such a brutal and hostile environment, while also potentially unlocking the key to saving their world.

The two friends become separated and we follow their dual storylines through experiences with pirates, traders, island-dwellers and security forces, along with strange beasts and the magic of a world turned topsy-turvy by bizarre happenings in the past. Lushly-described settings and magical use of language bring their journeys together. The richly-drawn and beautifully described characters face countless challenges—some terrifying and some hilarious—which offer intrigue and keep the reader interested. While the 40 or more named characters and multiple mysterious events may be too much for younger readers in the target age range to keep track of, persistence is rewarded as some of the mysteries are unveiled.

'Scarlet Morning' does feel like the first of a series, with multiple new characters and settings along with new layers of mystery to unfold, before a somewhat sudden end. It is easy to imagine how the many storylines and ideas will continue to unfurl over multiple books, and how the cliffhanger ending might pay off as the story develops further. Stevenson’s world-building prepares us well for this journey, and it is certain to be enjoyed by followers of Stevenson’s earlier works and fantasy style.

Lovers of the genre will enjoy the quick pace, fast-paced events and well-drawn characters, and I suspect this will become a favourite to revisit. A good read for those more capable 8 - 12 readers who can appreciate multiple storylines, characters and mysteries, and a series to watch out for as future instalments land.