BLOG TOUR (REVIEW): THE CHANGELING KING by Ethan M. Aldridge

Series: Estranged (Book 2)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (October 1, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006265389X
ISBN-13: 978-0062653895

Praise for ESTRANGED Series
“A splendid tale of faery magic and adventurous siblings, all told in gorgeously rendered watercolor panels: this is exactly my kind of thing.” —Ben Hatke, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Zita the Spacegirl trilogy
“It’s got dragons. It’s got drama. It’s got depth. And it’s got me impatiently awaiting Ethan M. Aldridge’s next eye-popping adventure.” —Tim Federle, award-winning author of Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate!
“A compelling story about finding identity in a world where magic dangers lurk just around the corner. I loved Estranged!” —Molly Ostertag, author-illustrator of The Witch Boy
“As richly imagined in the full-color illustrations, the worldbuilding is both accessible and as familiar as those genre stalwarts… this should easily resonate with preteen and teen fans of both Holly Black and Neil Gaiman.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Worthy of inclusion in any fantasy collection.” —School Library Journal
“[F]un, daring, and dark…with themes and art that fall into the realm of Neil Gaiman, Michael Ende, and Jim Henson. Coupled with the beautifully toned watercolor art, the interdependence of and tension between the two protagonists makes this book stand out.” —Publishers Weekly
“The deliciously captivating start to this adventure series will leave readers hungry for more.” —Booklist

Enter a world of faerie magic and epic adventure in this spellbinding sequel to Estranged—a rich fantasy graphic novel perfect for fans of Amulet.
After years of pretending to be human, the changeling Edmund Carter has assumed his rightful role as Cinder, king of the World Below. But not everyone at the royal palace is happy about his return.
Meanwhile, Ed is adjusting to human life in the World Above. His birth family treats him with a kindness he never knew growing up in the Fay court, but Ed misses the sense of purpose he had as a knight.
When a mysterious new threat emerges in the World Below, Cinder must call on Ed and their older sister, Alexis, for help. But nothing can prepare them for the family secret that awaits at the end of their perilous quest.
With over two hundred pages of gorgeous watercolor paintings, The Changeling King invites readers on an epic journey through a magical world—one they will not soon forget.

You can purchase The Changeling King at the following Retailers:

MY REVIEW

I received a copy of The Changeling King for an honest review. What follows is my opinion and mine alone. There was no compensation for this review.

I found this book to be a solid sequel. It begins shortly after the events of book one. Though the reader doesn’t get to see the human Parents’ reactions to Ed/Cinder’s truth, you do see that here is a set of parents who are fairly understanding. There is a part where you may want to say something about them, but honestly, I can see where the stress is coming from.

Where the first book questions who is really family, the second book brings out the issues of family duty and where you may fall in that spectrum. Each character isn’t sure about where they stand and it is interesting to see that in a life threatening way.

The art is still beautiful, probably even more so. You get more of the world, the world lore, and the book ends with a string cliffhanger that not only changes the Underworld, but the world of humans too.

Like with the first book, I gave this one to my son. He was super excited to have it in his hands and has theorized again on what will happen. For him, this book is an all star book and one he will love for a long time to come.

Likewise, I found the story enjoyable and the artwork is great. I still recommend this for all ages and it may lead to some interesting conversations about acceptance, love, and what is expected of family.

Final rating: 4/5

Photo Content from Ethan M. Aldridge

Ethan M. Aldridge is a bestselling author and illustrator. He is the creator of the fantasy graphic novel ESTRANGED (a Junior Library Guild selection, Indie Bestseller, and YALSA Great Graphic Novel For Teens), and it’s follow up THE CHANGELING KING (coming fall 2019).
Ethan was raised in a small town in Utah. Growing up, Ethan’s favorite things to draw were monsters and whatever dinosaur he liked that week. He now does more or less the same thing for a living. Ethan lives in New York City with his husband, Matthew, and their dog, Kitsune.
Ethan has had the pleasure to create work for HarperCollins Publishers, Penguin Random House, and EA Games.

WEEK ONE – REVIEWS

DECEMBER 9th MONDAY Insane About Books REVIEW
DECEMBER 10th TUESDAY Nay’s Pink Bookshelf REVIEW
DECEMBER 11th WEDNESDAY JeanBookNerd PODCAST
DECEMBER 11th WEDNESDAY Wonder Struck REVIEW
DECEMBER 12th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
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WEEK TWO – REVIEW & CREATIVE INSTAGRAM PICTURE
DECEMBER 16th MONDAY Casia’s Corner REVIEW
DECEMBER 17th TUESDAY BookHounds YA REVIEW
DECEMBER 18th WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn’s Books REVIEW
DECEMBER 19th THURSDAY Life Within The Pages REVIEW
DECEMBER 20th FRIDAY For The Love of Fictional Worlds REVIEW

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