If you haven't read Pearl North's Libyrinth first, you'd best go back and do that now.  Otherwise you'll definitely be lost when you begin this book.  There are a lot of names and a lot of people and a lot of events that have already occurred, and you're not going to get one of those "What Went Before" things at the start.  In fact, it's been a little over a year since I read Libyrinth - I started to think perhaps I ought to go back and read it again for a refresher course.

The Boy from Ilysies focuses on Po, a young boy who had a minor(ish) role in the first book.  He turns out to be the only Ilysian male (Ilysies is a place where females rule) at the Libyrinth.  He has to learn how to forget his Ilysian ways and integrate with the Singers, Libyrarians, and handful of other peoples to become one community.  Easier said than done.  His ways are so different, mixing in is difficult - especially when everyone around him doesn't make it any easier.

But when he's framed for a crime that puts the Libyrinth on the brink of starvation, he must set out with a group to find something that will solve everything - the mythical Endymion's rose.  Will Po be able to find himself and change enough to save everyone from the dangers they face?

Again, that's a simple taste of what's in this book.  A lot of it focuses on Po's internal conflicts, and yet Pearl North still manages to seamlessly blend in all the necessary action and dialogue.  Very nice.  And there's plenty of action and dialogue to be had.

There's so much that could be said about this book - the unique ways that North has crafted the Ilysian culture and how it clashes with the Singer culture.  The Ancients and their amazing technology.  This whole story is set in a future so far ahead, it's difficult to comprehend since so many things are so far from what we know.  You'll find yourself searching for remnants of today, and aside from things like books and farm tools, you won't find a lot.  It's one of those books that's so far in the future, it's hard to actually remember that this is supposed to be Earth and not some distant fantasy land.  I mean, I knew her imagination rocked - I just didn't realize that it rocked this hard.

It's because of that I think these books would be ideal for Hayao Miyazaki films, if you've ever seen some of his movies.  They remind me of Nausicaa and the Castle in the Sky, they really do.  In fact, I'm tempted to write Miyazaki and tell him these would make for sweet films.  Even better, the protagonists are young so they're right up his alley.

It did take me some time to get used to Po, though.  Because he's 15, he's just a kid to me (I'm 27), so some of the things he was doing kind of made me think, "Whoa," whereas others I wanted to think, "Come on guy, grow up a little."  But you have to keep in mind how dramatically different his culture is - even to our present day one.  That may make him difficult to relate to for some readers (like myself), but if you forge ahead, you'll end up next to him at the very least, instead of completely with him (if that makes any sense).

And you know what?  A few final things that I just have to say - Censor Siblea totally deserved it and I didn't feel sorry for him in the least, and high-five to Po for killing that guy (er, not Siblea, a different guy).  Oh, and Baris could have been punched a few more times if you ask me.  Little punk.

This book ends on a cliffhanger, so once you finish, you'd better be prepared to wait because she's still got one more book to write.  No doubt she's working on it now, but be patient.  A rushed writer will deliver awful results - and I think the final book in the Libyrinth Trilogy will be well worth the time.

NT

P.S. If you  hope for scientific explanations on certain things, you won't get them.  In that light, elements of the book kind of remind me of The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman.

Thanks to pestyside for adding this!

Recommended: Yes