This final book in a middle-grade fantasy trilogy sees a young teen and her friends protect her twin siblings while trying to save her father's soul.
In her previous adventure, 13-year-old Makenna Grace Gold defeated a seven-headed Red Dragon in China. She's the Virago, a "Protector of Protectors" who shares a heroic lineage with Joan of Arc. However, a Souler has taken her father Michael's soul to the Under Realms. It's the work of Sir Malvado Seaton—the Dark One—who wants to keep Makenna's infant siblings, Noah and Emi, from spreading a sense of hope around the world. Marigold Frith, the fairy Prelate, sends Makenna's classmates Sam Taylor and Stephen Levine down to the Under Realms to retrieve Michael's soul. Fairies Bree and Dee Delphine stand in as magical doppelgängers of Sam and Stephen on Earth while they're away. And to keep Makenna's mom, Misty, from worrying about her husband, the fairies secretly turn Fluffy, the Virago's loyal worm, into Michael's double as the Gold family visits China. The heroes must be ready for anything as Seaton flies in his private jet to Shanghai; his wicked, two-tailed cat, Savannah, arrives early and tries to attack the twins in their room at the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel. Meanwhile, the real Sam and Stephen infiltrate the underworld after giving DuGaiman, a half-troll bouncer, the runaround. Thanks to Sam's knowledge of a particular video game, they manage to track the Souler through hell's numerous levels. The danger for Makenna increases when Ms. Creante, an Alghanii Demonesse, heals from her last battle and reenters the fray.
In Bialys' third series installment, the author performs a narrative victory lap, securing his trilogy a permanent place on his readers' shelves. The tale expands the cast but maintains an excellent pace and a perfect balance between comedy and drama. Self-doubt torments the principal characters as much as any vampire cat might; indeed, Ms. Creante reminds Makenna, "you have yet to win a battle all on your own." Later, in the Under Realms, a being named Orsin feeds Stephen from the tree of knowledge, and the boy experiences a vision in which Sam and Makenna get married as adults. Stephen and Sam nearly have a falling out over this possible future, and Bialys offers a potent illustration of young love. Seaton eventually tempts Makenna with a vision of herself as the most popular, graceful student at school (even the obnoxious Heather Stern worships her); the vision could be reality—if only she'll give up the twins. Fluffy, in the guise of Michael, provides comedic relief as he struggles with being human. Bialys also offers plenty of quick jokes for adult fans, as when Marigold threatens to withhold DuGaiman's tickets to a Celine Dion show. Such consistently entertaining details keep the story fresh and buoyant despite the darker themes. The sparkling prose never bogs down, and it's a joy to meet creations with clever names, such as Ms. Judged. In the end, Virago's adventure ably delivers a fine message of selflessness.
A nuanced and grand fantasy-series finale.
Mystical and expressive, Michael Bialys’ fantastical feat follows a young teen who, with the help of her friends, endeavors to seek back her father’s soul and protect her two siblings from the threat of a vengeful villain.
“The Chronicles of The Virago: Book III the Triumviratus” is the third volume in the series and can be read as a standalone novel. Makenna Grace Gold, The Virago, and a “Protector of Protectors” had just conquered an enormous seven-headed dragon, lying high in the sky over Shanghai’s Huangpu River in China.
However, her father Michael Gold’s soul had shortly after been taken by a Souler to the Under Realms. Makenna, who has a direct lineage with the hero Joan of Arc, is tasked with protecting her twin siblings otherwise known as twin-gift, and a force of pure good, who were given to Earth by the Enlightenment One to offer hope to the world. Her two classmates, Stephen and Sam, are therefore tasked by the fairy Prelate to descend to the Under Realms, intercept the Souler and retrieve Mr. Gold’s soul and return it to him. Will this perilous journey plunge them into worse trials? Will Makenna succeed in keeping the twins, Noah and Emilyne Gold, away from the treacherous and cruel Seaton?
Michael Bialy has succeeded in writing with unrelenting malevolence. He adroitly blends magical creatures, action, suspense, and thrill with unmatched skill. With a beguiling beginning, the book does not tally in its progress and aptly introduces its characters in a well-fleshed-out manner. Readers are bound to admire Sam’s knowledge and navigating skills as well as Stephen’s gifts of clear-sightedness and insight. Makenna’s quest is clear but defies assumptions by surprising the reader with more of this quest, enhancing the thrill in the reader. It is the luscious descriptions of the settings and employable prose that give the book a high poise.
Brilliantly drawn, “The Chronicles of The Virago: Book III the Triumviratus” reflects love, friendship, determination, selflessness, and courage in all their forms. Primarily written for middle-grade children, this fine ode and five-star work by Michael Bialy is likely to appeal to a larger audience and especially fans of fantasy novels. It is well worth the read!
Mystical and expressive, Michael Bialys’ fantastical feat follows a young teen who, with the help of her friends, endeavors to seek back her father’s soul and protect her two siblings from the threat of a vengeful villain.
“The Chronicles of The Virago: Book III the Triumviratus” is the third volume in the series and can be read as a standalone novel. Makenna Grace Gold, The Virago, and a “Protector of Protectors” had just conquered an enormous seven-headed dragon, lying high in the sky over Shanghai’s Huangpu River in China.
However, her father Michael Gold’s soul had shortly after been taken by a Souler to the Under Realms. Makenna, who has a direct lineage with the hero Joan of Arc, is tasked with protecting her twin siblings otherwise known as twin-gift, and a force of pure good, who were given to Earth by the Enlightenment One to offer hope to the world. Her two classmates, Stephen and Sam, are therefore tasked by the fairy Prelate to descend to the Under Realms, intercept the Souler and retrieve Mr. Gold’s soul and return it to him. Will this perilous journey plunge them into worse trials? Will Makenna succeed in keeping the twins, Noah and Emilyne Gold, away from the treacherous and cruel Seaton?
Michael Bialy has succeeded in writing with unrelenting malevolence. He adroitly blends magical creatures, action, suspense, and thrill with unmatched skill. With a beguiling beginning, the book does not tally in its progress and aptly introduces its characters in a well-fleshed-out manner. Readers are bound to admire Sam’s knowledge and navigating skills as well as Stephen’s gifts of clear-sightedness and insight. Makenna’s quest is clear but defies assumptions by surprising the reader with more of this quest, enhancing the thrill in the reader. It is the luscious descriptions of the settings and employable prose that give the book a high poise.
Brilliantly drawn, “The Chronicles of The Virago: Book III the Triumviratus” reflects love, friendship, determination, selflessness, and courage in all their forms. Primarily written for middle-grade children, this fine ode and five-star work by Michael Bialy is likely to appeal to a larger audience and especially fans of fantasy novels. It is well worth the read!
The Chronicles of the Virago by Michael Bialys is about Makenna, the protector. She is thirteen years old and must protect her twin siblings Emi and Noah from evil forces. The twins are destined to save the world by spreading a message of hope. Makenna’s dad’s soul is captured by a souler and taken to hell. A fairy named Marigold sends Stephen and Sam to recover his soul. Stephen and Sam must travel through hell to retrieve the soul while Makenna stays on earth to protect her siblings. To keep her mother from worrying about her husband, a worm is changed into Makenna's dad. Fairies stand in as doppelgangers for Makenna’s friends while they are on their mission. Nobody will realize that the dad, Stephen, and Sam are not on earth.
The Chronicles of the Virago by Michael and Misty Bialys features fairies and supernatural creatures. I was transported to a magical and supernatural world. The story was entertaining and at times scary. The pace was steady as I kept turning the pages. Some historical events were explained, and I learned a lot from them. The characters were excellently handled. They were given names that suited them and their personalities. It was fun learning the names. My favorite character was Fluffy, the cheerful earthworm, who was able to lighten dark situations. Makenna loves her siblings, and it is an honor for her to protect them. The story is written superbly. The characters and events were described in detail. I did not need much imagination to be part of this supernatural world.
