Jaxter Grimjinx and his family of thieves returns in a suspenseful follow-up to The Vengekeep Prophecies, in which the High Laird is being robbed and the Shadowhands ("elite thieves-for-hire") are vanishing.
Like the first book, this one opens with a spectacle: Nanni's funeral. But, as with the Festival of the Twins in the previous book, the event is an excuse to loot. It's "an old thieving tradition.... When you decide to retire, you fake your death," explains Jaxter's Da to the Dowager Annestra Soranna, and houses are robbed during the funeral. But this makes the Dowager uncomfortable. She's an upstanding citizen--and sister of the High Laird. That's not the only cause of discomfort; another is the way the conversation turns to the Sarosan plight. The Sarosans, a peace-loving people, request an audience with the High Laird and are "promptly arrested" and labeled enemies of the state. In addition, five magical relics have been stolen from the High Laird, and the Shadowhands come to recruit Jaxter, his Ma and Da to help solve the mystery of their vanishing group.
Farrey cleverly gets readers new to the series up to speed without treading water for diehard fans. Jaxter's best friend Callie and his nemesis Maloch both return, but this book stands on its own. With humor, plot twists and sly political parallels, Farrey invents a tale that will bring back readers for the third installment. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness