A fantasy novel for readers 9 years and up, but suitable for all ages. In the sequel to ISLAND OF FOG, the young shapeshifters have made it safely into Miss Simone's world. Now they're about to meet their alternate kinds.
The people of the new world make use of special "energy rocks" from deep within the ground to power homes and advance technology. But the superstitious centaurs are convinced that the mining of these rocks incurs the wrath of Mother Nature, and demand a return to an older, simpler lifestyle. Meanwhile, the village in the north is under constant attack from harpies and dragons, and the villagers desperately need help.
Hal and his friends join forces to deal with these serious issues. Together, with their individual talents, they can conquer any problem... or so they've been told.
They end up in the heart of dragon country, down in the Labyrinth of Fire beneath an oozing volcano. Their quest forces them to question the extent of their shapeshifting abilities, and this leads to a shocking discovery that is likely to start a war.
Keith Robinson is the author of the ISLAND OF FOG fantasy shapeshifter series for all ages, featuring creatures from myth and legend. Currently 15 books.
Also available is the ISLAND OF FOG LEGACIES series, currently 5 books. This series takes place 20 years after the original adventures.
Visit the official Island of Fog page for more information. And don't forget the ISLAND OF FOG CHRONICLES, currently 3 books.
By day, Keith is a self-employed website designer. Originally from England, he moved to the United States in 2001 where he now resides in the sticks of Chickamauga, Georgia.
This is an excellent second book in the series. I know this series is slated for kids 9 and up and I do agree that young adults will love these books, but I also love them and I'm an adult. This story picks up where book 1 ends and the kids are going on their first mission and learning their new skills. I really enjoyed following along as the kids developed a little more and learned a few new lessons along the way. I'm looking forward to their next adventure!
Fred, the narrator, does another amazing job with this story. He has a very unique voice and this type of book is perfect for his voice. He does an excellent job with all of the different voices in this story. It is very easy to know who is talking at all times. Great job!!
Hal and his friends are safe in Miss Simone's world and trying to find their bearings, but Miss Simone already has work for them. While Dewey might feel torn between his human and centaur sides on his mission, and Lauren having to deal with baby stealing harpies might test her greatly. It is Hal that has the most dangerous mission, he must enter the dragons lair.
I really enjoyed this book the action and suspense of the missions the children must undertake, of course with their friends by their sides. But watching each of the children grow as people, creatures, and as friends, all of them. This book is well written and fast paced and should keep the attention of even the most reluctant of readers. I had the audio version of this book where narrator Fred Wolinsky really gives it his all, his gives this book a life of its own, he makes you feel as if you are there and part of the team. He is a awesome narrator and I can't wait to find more of his works.
Part two of the Island of Fog series does not disappoint as the children go on their first mission.
The author does a great job of developing the children. They are not only discovering their new skills in their "monster" forms but also learning how to work together as a team and coming to grips with their responsibilities.
Again there is a fair amount of science mixed in with the fantasy as the children which makes this book stand out as something really different than the normal kids with super powers book.
In this book the kids learn more about the virus that decimated their home planet, Earth and how explore some of the new technologies in the fantasy world.
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second audiobook in The Island of Fog series. This is a mixture of post-apocalyptic fiction mixed with pure fantasy aimed at middle grade audiobook listeners. This would be a terrific audiobook series to listen to in the car or on a plane during a family vacation.
The main characters are all twelve years old and have recently left their home island where they had been sheltered in seclusion since birth. They discovered themselves to be shape-shifters. Each child has a specific form that they can change into at will.
This is where the fantasy portion of the story takes over. One child is a dragon, one is a harpy, one is a centaur and one an ogre.
The kids are needed to communicate with the creatures of Miss Simone's world, but some of them are apprehensive.
They have good reason to be worried. The harpies and dragons are constantly attacking the human villages. Dragons have even been known to eat humans.
It is up to the kids including Lauren, Hal and Dewey to travel to the dragon stronghold which is located at the Labyrinth of Fire.
Can they convince the dragons to cease and desist? Or will they end up making matters worse and starting an all-out war?
Fred Wolinksy has a talent for creating multiple distinct voices; one of the kids even speaks with a minor lisp.
The story is fast-paced and will hold the attention of even the most restless middle-grade child. It has lots of action, kids that accomplish what adults can't and lots of interesting creatures and characters. This is the perfect middle-grade adventure series.
If you haven't yet read ISLAND OF FOG or LABYRINTH OF FIRE, I suggest that you purchase these terrific audiobooks right away.
I give this audiobook a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First, a disclaimer... I personally know Keith. He lives in the next town over and we often cross paths at signings or each other's homes. :) As that is out of the way, I'll go forward with my review.
First, the star rating. I gave it a 4, while giving the first book a 5. Book 2 is better written and one can clearly see Keith growing as an author. So, why is book one higher? Honestly, because the premise behind the book caught me by complete surprise, which isn't easy. And, since that was out in the open by book 2, there was no more "Ah-ha" value for me. Still, book 2 is an incredible read.
Characters: We see the characters grow in the story. They seem much more mature in book two—almost, too mature. As a father of pre-teens, it's spot on! Stuck somewhere between childhood and adulthood, they must also struggle with their new roles as heroes in a new place.
Plot: It was well thought out. Each child has his/her own goal and objective, though some aren't as central to the story. This makes the book move along at a nice pace, giving every character a part to play in the bigger scheme. It works well.
Would I do something different? Of course! That's the way we authors are. We like to create and come up with stuff. But, this was a great read!
The characters in Robinson's work truly feel like and act like children in that pre-adult stage. He really knows how to appeal to the hopes and fears of readers of this age group without pandering or condescension. Robinson’s prose lacks a unique style, but it’s refreshingly clean and free of the amateurish chunkiness too often seen in even big-name authors (I'm looking at you, Dan Brown).
In “Labyrinth of Fire” (actually, it’s a maze if one wants to quibble), a few scenes get glossed over in order to the get action going. But it’s hard for me to complain too much when, say, the parents put up less of a fight about their children facing dreadful dangers than parents normally would. At least they protest rather than act in a ways totally inauthentic. And when we get to the danger and the action, it is fun and requires true courage, creativity and perseverance from the children. I’m eager to start the third book in the series.
This was a very entertaining second book in the Island of Fog series. It was chock full of mythical creatures, adventure, danger and even a few life lessons about getting along with other species and beings of different cultures.
Hal and his entourage of friends were all likeable, believable characters. They acted and thought as you would expect pre-teens to act and think, despite their unique and incredible powers as shapeshifters of various kinds. It was fascinating to see how the kids pooled their skills and abilities together as a cohesive team to cope with all the challenges thrown their way.
The action scenes were well-written and exciting, especially those that took place in the dragons' lair, the Labyrinth of Fire.
This is a great series for children, young adults and adults alike. I, for one, intend to continue on with it.
An exceptional sequel with great character development
I’m surprised that the book is very enjoyable and yet I’ve not heard about the series before (or it even turned into a movie/series. I read the first book and found it fun, but skeptical how the writer is going to explore the characters, but seems that he did it well. All the characters are given more depth, with dialogues easily distinguishing between each other and interactions developed. Also interesting that the shapeshifting aspect was explained and became part of the plot. Even if the characters are taken out of the story, there are a lot of interesting elements of magic and fantasy in the world building, that I find the writer has cleverly explained. The world is supposed to be parallel to our own but is not exactly a copycat of Harry Potter or Narnia, but seems more ‘mature’ in certain ways. I think this is my niggle with the book, that in some plot or issues, the story is quite complex but the characters are 12 years old children (and seemed to aim at them) so maybe that’s why this series have a bit of a hard time finding the audience for it.
Nevertheless a recommended book for children/YA who’s interested in fantasy and more complex storyline, instead of bad vs good.
Note: I highly recommend reading Book 1 (Island of Fog) before reading this book.
Our hero kids (Hal, Robbie, Abigail, Darcy, Dewey, Emily, Fenton, and Lauren) from Book 1 continue on with new adventures in this tale. As they settle into their new homes and town in Miss Simone’s world, they also learn more about their abilities. Each will face challenges. There’s child-stealing harpies and dragons with a taste for human flesh. These shape-shifting kids will rise to the occasion!
Not all of the villagers are happy to have yet more shape shifters in their mist. The kids have to deal with some bullying and town politics. The centaurs want the humans to stop mining all together, but the mined ore provides energy for the human homes, making their lives easier. Miss Simone talks all the parties into allowing Dewey (who can shift into Centaur form) to be the one to decide after he has investigated the matter. This is the start of the missions the kids will be sent on to negotiate with the magical creatures and humans alike.
Our heroes are all around 12 going on 13 and love’s first blush is in the air. It was rather cute to see that in the midst of all the deadly serious events of the book. In Book 1, they really were just kids with school, play time, a few chores, etc. But in this book they are coming of age and adults are looking to them to make major decisions or take on actions that will affect many. The kids didn’t always do the exact right thing, but they all rose to the challenge. I was especially proud of how the harpies were handled. Totally did not see that coming! And it was harsh! That made the whole scene so much more powerful.
The whole book had a faster pace and more adventures than Book 1. I definitely enjoyed it more. We get to meet some of the first generation of shape shifters and through Dewey, we learn more about how the shape shifters were made. The dragons and their society were interesting to learn about. Plus there are these holes between the destroyed, polluted Earth and Miss Simone’s magical world that we learn more about. Fairies, wood nymphs, ogres, lizards of various types, and of course, a manticore! There was never a dull moment in this tale.
I received this book free of charge from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: Fred Wolinsky did a great job with the narration, keeping all the kid’s voices and the beasty voices distinct. When one of the kids shifts, Wolinsky somehow manages to make the shifter version sound very similar to their human voice, which was great. He even did a few little touches like making certain conversations sound a bit different to indicate it was mindspeak and such.
Merged review:
Labyrinth of Fire by Keith Robinson Note: I highly recommend reading Book 1 (Island of Fog) before reading this book. Our hero kids (Hal, Robbie, Abigail, Darcy, Dewey, Emily, Fenton, and Lauren) from Book 1 continue on with new adventures in this tale. As they settle into their new homes and town in Miss Simone’s world, they also learn more about their abilities. Each will face challenges. There’s child-stealing harpies and dragons with a taste for human flesh. These shape-shifting kids will rise to the occasion! Not all of the villagers are happy to have yet more shape shifters in their mist. The kids have to deal with some bullying and town politics. The centaurs want the humans to stop mining all together, but the mined ore provides energy for the human homes, making their lives easier. Miss Simone talks all the parties into allowing Dewey (who can shift into Centaur form) to be the one to decide after he has investigated the matter. This is the start of the missions the kids will be sent on to negotiate with the magical creatures and humans alike. Our heroes are all around 12 going on 13 and love’s first blush is in the air. It was rather cute to see that in the midst of all the deadly serious events of the book. In Book 1, they really were just kids with school, play time, a few chores, etc. But in this book they are coming of age and adults are looking to them to make major decisions or take on actions that will affect many. The kids didn’t always do the exact right thing, but they all rose to the challenge. I was especially proud of how the harpies were handled. Totally did not see that coming! And it was harsh! That made the whole scene so much more powerful. The whole book had a faster pace and more adventures than Book 1. I definitely enjoyed it more. We get to meet some of the first generation of shape shifters and through Dewey, we learn more about how the shape shifters were made. The dragons and their society were interesting to learn about. Plus there are these holes between the destroyed, polluted Earth and Miss Simone’s magical world that we learn more about. Fairies, wood nymphs, ogres, lizards of various types, and of course, a manticore! There was never a dull moment in this tale. I received this book free of charge from the narrator in exchange for an honest review. The Narration: Fred Wolinsky did a great job with the narration, keeping all the kid’s voices and the beasty voices distinct. When one of the kids shifts, Wolinsky somehow manages to make the shifter version sound very similar to their human voice, which was great. He even did a few little touches like making certain conversations sound a bit different to indicate it was mindspeak and such.
9 of 10. This series continues to grow. Each player has their role, each role interacts with the other roles appropriately. Many authors have problems allowing multiple characters to maintain their unique traits, but not here. These feel like real people, with history and flaws.
Picking up where The Island of Fog left off, book 2 continues the adventure as this mix of shape-shifting creatures head into a new world. Great story and audio narration!
This series is a wonderful journey of a team of youths that go through amazing adventures. Relatable for adventurous souls at all ages. Loved all of them.
This second book in the Island of Fog series continues along Hal’s journey as he discovers what it means to be a dragon and struggles with his own limitations. More than anything, he wishes he could fly and, without that ability, he’s worried he won’t live up to his role of negotiator with the real dragons.
The first part of the story focuses on Lauren as the children deal with the harpies terrorizing the townspeople. The second part dives deep into the heart of the dragon’s lair as Hal goes head to head with the ferocious beasts.
This book started out a little slow and didn’t quite have the pace of the first book, which may have been due in part to the fact that it didn’t have the driving mystery Island of Fog did. It was still enjoyable though, and interesting to see how all the children with their different abilities worked together to solve the problems. Hal is a likable character and definitely someone to root for.
Excellent sequel to the Island of Fog! I was pleased to see after a quick intro chapter to catch everyone up to speed this story took off on it's own. Starting right where we left our young heroes we begin to learn of this new world and the wonderful range of creatures that inhabit it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how the humans and other species have learned to get along and the different cultures. The kids all have appropriate reactions that one would expect of that age group. Also just when I start to place this solidly in the fantasy camp, it throws some science fiction in there for good measure! Very well balanced and superb pacing. I felt that all of my questions and concerns from book one were properly addressed and just enough teasers for the future! I couldn't put this book down and I'm already planning out another block of time to download the next!
This is a great story that I would be happy to recommend to friends and family alike.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Island of Fog," the first book in this series, and was quite pleased when "Labyrinth of Fire" turned out to be just as good. Robinson's writing style is fun and accessible and this book is teeming with cool "monsters" and well-crafted action sequences (the scenes in the lair of the dragons are genuinely exciting). Looking forward to following Hal and his shapeshifter friends for many more adventures to come!
While not quite as exciting as Island of Fog, there are enough twists surprises to entertain and enthrall. I'm looking forward to the third book and truly wondering how the author manages to resolve the mess the kids are in.
For the most part, it was enjoyable to read to my children. The only crit I have is the way he ended every chapter. Like the end of a 1 hr tv show. Very anoying.