Laine deftly balances setting up an atmosphere of mounting tension throughout the undersea realm with the sense of inviting familiarity that keeps readers returning to a fantasy world. Alessia remains kind and inquisitive but showcases her moxie from the start, with the telling, funny scene of manipulating a bully. To give a central protagonist mind control powers is a bold choice, as it’s one of the more “sinister” powers to give to a hero, one that invites temptation, especially as she seeks to master her abilities and resolve what she euphemastically tells a sea-bishop is her “family matter.”
The novel’s length invites readers to immerse themselves in this surprising undewwater realm, and Laine’s continual inventiveness (mermonkeys, nereid newscasters, clamshell beds) freshens up the magic-school storytelling. Narrative momentum at first is inconsistent, as Alessia goes from her life with her landfaring stepfather back to Atlantis, meeting old and new friends and fearing her mother’s return. But Laine understands how deeply series readers invest in these relationships, and her plotting, once the story really gets going, continually upends expectations, making clever use of illusion and mind control magic, and eventually challenging Alessia to work with a most unexpected ally to face a threat bigger even than the New Current. Lovers of the genre will find this worth the plunge.
Takeaway: The epic continuation of an Atlantean magic school adventure centers surprise and mounting tension.
Great for fans of: Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, Z Brewer’s Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
★★★★☆
The fantasy novel unfolds over a backdrop of thrills, friendship, the drive for supremacy, and the determination to rein in one’s urges. As Alessia and her pals navigate the complexities of Atlantis, including its political and social issues, their voyage becomes exhilarating. Throughout the undersea city, their adventuring finds them facing hazardous tasks, through which the concept of kinship comes into sharp focus. Even as disagreements and periods of uncertainty put their friendships to the test, the children are strengthened over time.The story pays close attention to the psychological well-being of its cast, in particular of the three Sensates who have anomalous powers. This trio is torn between listening to their evil, internal alternate-self voices and attempting to regulate the uses of their powers for good. Their struggles demonstrate inescapable but manageable urges to dominate others, and their ultimate choices direct the plot.The book includes several twists and exposed secrets that spice up its plot. Some are introduced without enough prelude, though, and others are rushed through. As a result, scenes like the consequential entry of Cariesa and the unanticipated demise of a main character are muted and jarring, though some also foreshadow mysteries for future series entries.In the fantasy sequel Alessia in Atlantis: The Jellyfish Jailbreak, young people in an underwater community dodge political intrigues, hoping to help maintain peace, order, and an alliance with those on the land.In the fantasy sequel Alessia in Atlantis: The Jellyfish Jailbreak, young people in an underwater community dodge political intrigues, hoping to help maintain peace.Written for middle grade readers, Nathalie Laine’s fantasy novel Alessia in Atlantis: The Jellyfish Jailbreak follows a girl who learns astonishing secrets during an intriguing underwater adventure.Now twelve years old, Alessia returns to the underwater cities of Nethuns. She faces school exams to prove her competency and other hassles too. Meanwhile, catastrophic air blows around the people above the sea in the wake of the escape of a former land dweller who committed one of Atlantis’s most heinous crimes. In Alessia’s view, the mayhem is the responsibility of her exiled mother, Cariesa, the rebel leader of Atlantis. Besides avoiding the impending conflict between the people on land and those in the sea, Alessia and her friends navigate obstacles such as resistive and wary sea creatures. It is key, however, that she keeps her mind-controlling powers from luring her toward pursuing dominance.
★★★★★
In Alessia in Atlantis: The Jellyfish Jailbreak by Nathalie Laine, we learn that Alessia has some incredible empathic powers. At twelve, she’s still discovering how to use and control them. Her year at the Lost City of Atlantis school had taught her much, but she still had a lot to learn. Her evil mother keeps interfering, causing havoc, and trying to kidnap Alessia to steal the girl’s powers. But Alessia has friends in the underwater nation and with their help, she can find and stop her mother before the threat that’s been unleashed can cause further havoc. Alessia’s mother is behind the escape of one of the most dangerous prisoners in the history of Atlantis and the threat this presents is terrifying.
Nathalie Laine’s middle-grade novel, Alessia in Atlantis, is the second book in the series. As before, readers will be riveted by the unfolding plot that will grab their attention right from the beginning. This includes a little bit of mind control and some humor, mixed in with the fear that grips Alessia every time she thinks that her mother is near. The plot is electrifying and advances the story with power and speed, much like the Percy Jackson and Harry Potter series. The characters are well-developed and believable, with engaging dialogue to help move the story along. Magic, intrigue, mystery, and the legendary lost city of Atlantis blend well together in this story that takes readers on a journey of adventure and discovery both above the water and below. A fantastic adventure.
