Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/01/2016 Gr 5–8—Navigating the dangers, depths, and shifting alliances of the high seas is always a tricky affair. Because Lucy Bluecrowne, Maxwell Ault, and Oliver Dexter (pirate's daughter, aspiring natural philosopher, and midshipman–turned–acting prize captain, respectively) are barely teenagers, what might have been merely tricky turns into an undertaking of epic proportions. With settings ranging from the tumultuous Baltimore harbor to the magical fictional port of Nagspeake, this sequel to Milford's Bluecrowne follows the quest for a mysterious ancient engine, a weapon that could perhaps put an end to war. Beautifully written, with careful attention to historical details, the story balances steampunk elements, mythology, and action with plenty of passion, jam, and jokes. The surprising conclusion will astonish and satisfy, despite more than one deus ex machina. Wheeler's textured illustrations add movement and lucidity, making the denser and more difficult to visualize elements of the plot accessible. VERDICT An unusually rigorous romp for lovers of steampunk, mystery, and swashbuckling adventure.—Katya Schapiro, Brooklyn Public Library - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2016 Though by all rights Lucy’s late father’s ship, the Left-Handed Fate, should be hers, circumstances have landed her, her crew (including her half brother, Liao), and the schooner in the hands of impossibly young U.S. Navy Lieutenant Oliver Dexter. But Oliver doesn’t know that Lucy, Liao, and their friend Max are hunting for pieces of a powerful machine, and once Oliver catches on, he gets in on the search. In painterly prose, Milford follows the foursome as they face the looming War of 1812, a ship that appears out of thin air, and others looking for the same machine components, all while trying to piece together clues left by Max’s late father. Though the opening chapters sometimes drag, once the characters get to Nagspeake (the location of Greenglass House, 2014), the story teems with lively characters and a captivating sense of place, all driven along by the engrossing puzzle of the mysterious contraption. Although some story elements don’t come together, there are plenty of brilliant, sparkling moments. A colorful, swashbuckling caper full of heart. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.