The Weeping Tide
by Amanda FoodyAlso by this author: The Accidental Apprentice
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books on February 1, 2022
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Barclay and his friends must save an island city from the Legendary Beast of the Sea in this exciting second book in the Wilderlore series, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and How to Train Your Dragon.
Something is wrong at the Sea. The weeping tide, a carnivorous algae bloom, is eating up all the fish. Beasts are terrorizing the nearby Elsewheres. And Lochmordra, the Legendary Beast, is rising at random and swallowing ships whole.
Barclay’s teacher, the famous Guardian Keeper Runa Rasgar, has been summoned to investigate, and as her apprentice, Barclay gets to join too. But Runa’s nemesis has also been called to the Sea, and he’s brought apprentices of his own. When the not-so friendly competition between them grows fierce, it’s Barclay—the only one from the Elsewheres—who can’t seem to keep up.
The key to stopping Lochmordra lies in his mythical home, but as the flood of the weeping tide encroaches, time is running out to find it. If the rival groups can’t cast aside old grudges and learn to work together, soon the Sea will be destroyed completely. And all the while Barclay must ask himself: is there truly a place for him in the Wilderlands?
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Pokemon-esque creatures that bond with and fight alongside humans.
- A vast, rich world filled with danger and wonder.
- Soul-searching and trying to find one’s place in a world that’s bigger than it seems.
- Adorable creatures that come in every shape and size.
- Even some rather dangerous ones, too!
- A squad that’s hecka fun to adventure with.
Many thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books and Turn the Page Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I have waited for this book ever since the moment I set down the first book, The Accidental Apprentice. The series is pitched as being for fans of Nevermoor, and while I think that certainly stands, it’s got a very Pokemon and Digimon feel to it (both of which might be horribly dated, but oh well! It’s my blog and I’m old.) To me, the series has an old-school nostalgia feel with some fresh new ideas, which is the perfect blend in general. After the first book, though, I couldn’t wait to dive back into Wilderlore and go on another adventure!
The Weeping Tide returns to the world of Wilderlore . . . but this time to the Sea! Where there are plenty of new creatures, sea-faring adventures, danger lurking around every turn, well-kept secrets, and something lurking in the deep.
I was not at all disappointed in this book. I think I actually enjoyed it even more than the first one. We got to see some old favorites from the first book, plus a squad of new characters who were equally charming and fun. Not to mention new monsters, all with a Sea theme this time, which I absolutely love. Monster in the deep is one of my favorite tropes, and I’m always a fan of ships and sailing, so everything about this book just worked for me. Except, you know, the fact that I now have to wait . . . again . . . for book three! I mean, it’s worth it, but boy do I want the third book already, especially after the way this one ends!
This review may contain mild spoilers for book one.
Move over Wood, the Sea is here . . . and she promises adventure and dangers galore!
During the first book, there were plenty of hints dropped that the subsequent books would touch on the other biomes. So I wasn’t disappointed when I noticed that The Weeping Tide deals with the Sea. Yes, capitalized, because that means it’s the Beast portion of the world, as opposed to the un-magical Elsewheres. Silly Elsies don’t know what they’re missing.
And let me tell you . . . the Sea is horrifying. But also beautiful. But also . . . probably not somewhere you want to visit. I mean, I totally would . . . but I’ve been known to do highly illogical, ill-advised things on a regular basis. You can think of the world of Wilderlore as being like Pokemon if the Pokedex entries were literal. Foody doesn’t pull punches when it comes to danger, while still keeping it kid appropriate. Which makes for a high-stakes, fast-paced, sea-faring adventure!
“What is it?” Barclay rasped.
“Take a look over port side.”
Heart pounding, Barclay dashed to the edge of the Bewlah and peered into the shadowy waters.
An eye the size of the entire ship stared back at him.
Barclay screamed and floundered away from the rail. The Sea was not the adventure he’d been waiting for. The Sea was a nightmare.
Two words for you: Sea. Shanties.
Because you can’t set a book on a chain of islands with a seafaring lifestyle without having sea shanties, right?! There are several different versions of sea shanties in this book, but I absolutely loved them! Someone (way more talented than I am, obviously) needs to set them to music and make them a thing.
I felt The Weeping Tide displays a lot more culture than The Accidental Apprentice did, which makes sense, because Barclay is experiencing a new place for the first time. The Sea is definitely different from the Wood, but it’s hard not to fall in love with it, dangers and all. I was just enamored with the different aspects of life on the islands that make up the Sea. Plus, instead of mushrooms? They have full-on apothecaries that get to study really dangerous and exciting species, which is obviously the realm in which I would exist in this world. I have officially found my niche!
I found a letter, and the message warned
That my bones would sleep in the ocean’s bed
Unless I turned back to the old life I’d led.
But when I came to the Sea, the land of storm,
I left behind where I was born,
So I kissed the earth one final time.
Then I sailed in search of that grave of mine.
If you missed our main trio, they’re back, with more grand adventures, more mysteries to solve, and maybe even a little bit more soul-searching.
If you thought Barclay had it tough in the last book, coming to grips with accidentally bonding with a Beast—which he’s been raised to think of as a horrible, evil thing—then it may not come as a surprise to find that he’s still struggling with his place in this new world he’s been thrust into. Not only is he wildly behind his peers in terms of knowledge and know-how, since he wasn’t raised in the world of Beasts, but he has a much harder time getting a grip on his Lore and powers.
I always felt that Barclay was a very relatable character, and that’s still the case in this book. On the surface, it’s easy to see why Barclay might feel like the odd man out of his group or why he might struggle to find his place in the world of Beasts. What I love, though, is that Barclay isn’t the only one with personal struggles because—surprise!—all people tend to have personal struggles. I felt that Barclay not only started growing into himself in this book, but I also think he starts paying more attention to the people around him, and it’s such a lovely character growth to get to see!
“Wait—wait! I need to show you something. It’s important.”
A crash thundered from within the Guild House, followed by shouts and muffled grunts. “Klava! My shoes are not food! Give them—uff—Those are genuine leather—Runa!“
Runa smiled at Tadg. “On second thought, why rush things? What is this important thing you need to show me?”
The Weeping Tide introduces a new trio of characters to add to the squad, even if they get off to a bit of a rocky start.
I honestly can’t decide how much to say about this, because I think part of the fun (and surprises) is from meeting these characters and finding out who they are. So I don’t want to say too much. What I will say is that while there’s definitely tension there between the two groups, they make for a heck of a fun squad. These girls bring some new, unique powers to the table with their unique Beasts. Plus, their personalities are just so much fun. I really hope they’ll be recurring characters that come back in future books, because I really enjoyed the new dynamic they brought to the group!
While Shazi hacked at the reeds with her saber and Hasu squeezed the mud out of her pants, far in the distance, Cecily shouted, “I found some bones! I found some bones!”
“Gross!” Hasu called back, but then that same golden, hexagonal light glowed around her, and she vanished and reappeared at Cecily’s side in the distance.
Maybe Cyril is right, Barclay thought. Girls are terrifying.
One of the new characters is an amputee, and I really appreciated the way Foody handles it.
I am not an amputee myself, but my aunt was. Like the character in this book, she lost her knee and lower leg. Even though she always put on a brave front, there were days we knew it bothered her. While Shazi has a little bit of an advantage, being able to use her Lore to make using a prosthetic a bit easier, Foody doesn’t shy away from broaching the difficulties that are inherent in having a limb amputated. I really appreciated the honest discourse about it. At no point is Shazi unable to do things, but it’s also not necessarily easy for her, either. This book does an absolutely fantastic job of humanizing all the characters, and this is only one example of that.
“Really?” Barclay asked, aghast. He didn’t know what a Werelion was, but that sounded awful.
She chuckled. “No. It was an accident when I was seven. There was a sandstorm, and a Karkadann got spooked . . . they’re like angry unicorns. There’s lots of them in the Desert. Anyway, it landed on my leg, and my calf and knee had to go.”
“I’m sorry,” Barclay told her.
“It’s fine. But it hurts every day—not because it’s still healing or anything, but because my brain sometimes thinks my foot is still there.”
I would be remiss if I didn’t end this review by talking about how much I absolutely love the new Beasts we encounter in this book!
This was one of my favorite things about the first book, so it makes sense that I’d continue to love it, right? Just like animals, Beasts come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as adorable as they are terrifying. And of course, everyone has different opinions about what constitutes each. Since the characters vary so much, it makes sense that their Beasts would, too, and I love seeing all the different types. Plus, each Beast has its own personality, which is extra fun!
Instead, Mar-Mar just shrieked. Hasu and Viola both covered their ears, but Tadg, face-to-face with the Beast, rolled his eyes as though bored. “Yes, I know you’re happy to be home. We need a ride.”
“That’s a happy noise?” Hasu asked. “He sounds like he wants to kill us!”
“Oh, he does. But I keep reminding him that killing people is rude.”
About Amanda Foody
Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After a double life as an accountant preparing taxes for multinational corporations, she now spends her free time brewing and fermenting foods much more easily obtained at her local grocery store. She lives in Boston, MA with a hoard of books guarded by the most vicious of feline companions, Jelly Bean.
Her books include The Shadow Game series and more. Her middle grade debut, Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice, hits shelves March 30, 2021, and her next YA novel, All of Us Villains, co-authored with Christine Lynn Herman, releases on November 9, 2021.
Enter to win one (1) of three (3) sets of the first two books in the WILDERLORE series! The first two books include WILDERLORE: THE ACCIDENTAL APPRENTICE and WILDERLORE: THE WEEPING TIDE. Open USA only. There will be 3 winners.
Giveaway starts: Monday, January 31, 2022
Giveaway ends: Monday, February 7, 2022 at 12:00 a.m. CST
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January 31
Turn the Page Tours – Welcome Post
February 1
Stacialovestoread – Spotlight
The Bookwrym’s Den – Book Review
February 2
The Momma Spot – Book Review
Book Butterfly in Dreamland – Book Review
February 3
A Court of Coffee and Books – Spotlight
Lauren’s Bookshelf – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
February 4
WritingRoseReads – Book Review
Uponthebooktower – Book Review
February 5
Confessions of a YA Reader – Book Review
Kait Plus Books – Book Review
February 6
Books, Tea, Healthy Me – Book Review
Balancing Books and Beauties – Book Review
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Hey, Pokémon is definitely still a thing. They’re still releasing games for it anyway, and my nephew (~8-years-old) loves them. Still. I wouldn’t want to run into real life LITERAL Pokémon anywhere. I’ll stick to the video games.
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Hey, Pokémon is definitely still a thing. They’re still releasing games for it anyway, and my nephew (~8-years-old) loves them
Yes, they are! New ones are coming in several months, and I can’t wait. 😀 I’m glad that this generation gets to share my obsession. xD