About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is navigating the nuances of complex friendships or learning to trust their own intuition during a time of change. This third installment in the Amulet series follows Emily and her team as they search for the legendary lost city of Cielis via airship. Beyond the high-stakes fantasy adventure, the story delves into the psychological weight of leadership and the difficulty of extending trust to former enemies. It is an excellent choice for middle-grade readers who enjoy immersive world-building but are ready for more mature questions about whether the 'voices' in our heads (or our power) are always helping us. While it contains fantasy combat and some scary creature designs, its focus on teamwork and resilience makes it a constructive read for ages 8 to 14.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: The 'Ganim' are parasitic creatures that take over people's bodies, which may be visually unsettling for younger readers. There is a scene where a character is nearly consumed by shadows and another where a character is held at swordpoint. The psychological manipulation of the Amulet's voice towards Emily creates a sense of dread and isolation. 2. CONVERSATION: Be ready to discuss the concept of 'redemption.' Trellis is the son of the primary villain, and the crew's distrust of him provides a natural opening to talk about why we shouldn't judge people based on their family's actions.
Ideal Reader
A 10-year-old who loves Star Wars or high-fantasy quests and is beginning to appreciate stories where the line between 'good guy' and 'bad guy' is blurred.
Parent Prep
Preview the creature designs of the Wyverns and the Ganim if your child is sensitive to monsters. No heavy historical context is required as the world-building is self-contained. A child may ask, 'Why is the Amulet being mean to Emily if it's supposed to help her?' This is a great moment to discuss how power can be a heavy burden.
Age Experience
Younger readers (8-9) will focus on the cool robots and airship battles. Older readers (11-14) will pick up on the political intrigue and Emily's internal struggle with her identity as a Stonekeeper.
What Makes It Special
Kibuishi's cinematic art style combined with a plot that treats young protagonists with extreme emotional agency sets this series apart from standard adventure comics.
Read plot summary
Emily, Navin, and their resistance allies board the airship Luna Moth to locate the lost city of Cielis, hidden above the clouds. They are guided by Leon Redbeard and accompanied by Trellis, the disgraced son of the Elf King. The journey involves navigating dangerous storms, outrunning wyvern-riding elves, and internal battles as Emily struggles with the increasingly manipulative voice of her Amulet.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Trellis is the Elf King's son, but he wants to help Emily. Why is it hard for the rest of the crew to trust him, and would you trust him if you were Emily?
2
The Voice in the Amulet tells Emily what to do. Does the Voice seem like a friend or something else? How can Emily tell if the advice is good or bad?
3
Navin has to step up as a leader on the airship. What qualities does he show that make him a good captain even though he is young?
4
Leon Redbeard tells Emily that she needs to control the stone or it will control her. What do you think that means in real life when someone has a lot of power or talent?
