Darkwhispers - A Brightstorm Masterpiece
We are living in a golden age of children’s literature,
every week a new book hits the shelves and an explosion of worlds, languages, dilemmas
and characters pour from pages heavy with personification, imagination and creativity.
You could say that this sector is over saturated with the alternative world,
steampunky, magical texts however in this crowded market one writer stands
clear of the rest. With the release of the second book in the Brightstorm
series Vashti Hardy has further cemented her position as the matriarch of the
alternative worlds.
Darkwhispers – A Brightstorm Adventure is simply
spectacular, a master piece and is a clear indication of the quality of books
that Hardy is surely destined to deliver us. And we as readers should recognise
this book for what it is. Yet more worlds are created with detail and depth
that combines the vastness of Abi Elphinstone’s Rumblestar and Sky Song with a
clarity and simplicity that means that despite the intricacies and seemingly
boundless horizons, it is simple to follow and keep up as our heroes are
separated and end up on their own personal journeys.
We re-join Lontown with the shocking news that famous
explorer Ermitage Wrigglesworth has gone missing whilst searching for a
mystical four continent. The existence of which has long been debated and subsequently
consigned to rumour. However Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm are on the case and
upon spotting a colleague of the evil Eudora Vane breaking into Wrigglesworth
house and removing a book, they sense that all may not quite be as it seems.
A large armada of explorer ships set off to search for
Wrigglesworth and to find out what really lays beyond the furthest reaches of
current civilisation. What follows is a relentless romp through a heavily
layered and at times unsettling 429 pages. Note this is nearly a hundred pages
more than Brightstorm – A Sky Ship Adventure and it feels deliberate. This book
is different. Yes, the heroes, the tone, the imagination and the little unique
features are still there (no thought wolves though I am afraid) but this feels
weightier.
The emotions that the characters experience have grown
alongside the characters themselves. Arthur and Maudie are on the cusp of
adulthood now and in a similar way to the Harry Potter series it feels almost
like Hardy wants her readership to grow up with the characters. That’s not to
say this should be placed in the Young Adult section of your favourite retailer
but it feels more powerful – and that’s saying something considering the twins
find their dad’s dead body in Book 1. Without giving too much away it is hard
to put into words but upon finishing the book I had to take a moment to just
sit and digest the punches that Hardy throws at you in this wonderful story.
Less time is spent with some of the characters in Hardy’s
debut in this sequel yet somehow you feel you finish by knowing them so much
better. There are laughs (as always) and stand out moments that make you close
your eyes and wish to be living Hardy’s imagination. However there are also
moments of utter sadness, loss and self-reflection where you truly question how
you would behave in the same situation. One particular moment in the book didn’t
sit well with me and that is perhaps I would’ve behaved differently, therefore
showing that rather than it being a fault of the book it’s more a success of
asking those truly difficult questions. For that reason I think this is more of
a Year 5/6 book and I would be a little reluctant to pitch it further down the
school like I would the first in the series.
With Brightstorm 1 we were given a world of intrigue, uniqueness
but almost understated familiarity. With Wildspark – Hardy’s second book which
gets nowhere near the attention it deserves – we were treated to a world of
excitement and secrets. With Darkwhispers it feels like the board was swept
clean and she started all over again, skills honed on the previous two books
and a masterclass in children’s writing delivered. This really is, that good
and should have driven Hardy to the top of your to be read pile!
