First published 2017
Stig competes in the annual Maktig competition when an unexpected visitor arrives at his door in Hallasholm. The stranger brings a desperate request that pulls the Herons away from Skandia's warrior contest and onto the open ocean. Empress Justina's son has been seized by pirates in the southern city-state of Byzantos. The kidnappers have taken the boy to Santorillos, a volcanic island where their fortress sits protected by steep cliffs and a lagoon formed inside an ancient crater. The brotherband slips away under cover of night and sets course for dangerous waters. They must navigate stormy seas and battle seasoned pirates to reach the nearly impossible stronghold. The rescue mission tests every skill the Herons have learned, and failure means more than losing one boy. The stability of an entire empire hangs in the balance as Stig leads his crew toward their most perilous adventure yet.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, action, young-adult
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, rescue
Setting: Byzantos, Hallasholm, Santorillos, Skandia
432 pages · Hardcover · Viking Books for Young Readers