**Vault Reviews were posted previously on the main MonsterLibrarian website and are transferred here in an effort to preserve our history. Efforts have been made to ensure the books are still available, but formats, covers, and other details may have changed.**
Mirrorstone, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7869-5147-5
Available: New
The Stone of Tymora story continues as Maimun, an orphan with a mysterious past, travels from the desert city of Calimport to the icy port city of Waterdeep looking for the Stone of Tymora, which was taken from him by someone wearing a shadowmask. As time and distance separate Maimun from the stone, he slowly becomes more and more debilitated until it threatens his life. In addition, Maimun is being pursued by a demon, who is in a race against a pirate who also wants the stone. Maimun is threatened by both desert and ice and finally has to face a dragon who isn’t too keen on Maimun’s having the stone. Adding to that, he is dealing with the death of his friends, and his girlfriend is more interested in being a pirate that returning his affections. Luckily, he has Captain Deudermont and the crew of the Sea Sprite to watch his back.
The Shadowmask is told in first person, as Maimun relays his story to a pirate to keep himself alive. The dialogue of the pirate will remind the reader of Captain Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean. This is a true compliment to this character as the reader will easily be able to picture him interrogating Maimun – wanting him dead, but too intrigued by the boy’s story to end his life. The story is full of high adventure that will keep the reader riveted to the tale as much as the pirate himself is caught up in it. One warning though, readers should start with the first book of the Stone of Tymora series, The Stowaway. The Shadowmask is for anyone who loves story of high adventure and magic.
Contains: Violence
Review by Bret Jordan