by Geoff Rodkey
296 pages of danger, suspense and adventure – it’ll surprise you
Deadweather Island is miserable; hot and humid, desolate and dull. It sits to the west of Sunrise, totally cut off from the rest of the world by the pirate-infested waters of the Blue Sea. Egg is acutely aware of the oppressive weather and landscape. He knows nothing but the dreary life on the island, the endless work on the ugly fruit plantation and the constant fear of attack by his brother, sister, tutor or pirates who work the plantation too. On the day of his thirteenth birthday Egg’s father mysteriously decides to sail the whole family to Sunrise Island on errand. Egg’s father meets with his lawyer and then heading into the fancy island inn for lunch, meets the wealthy and powerful, Mr. Pembroke. Mr. Pembroke feigns interest in the plantation and brings the family to his hilltop home full luxurious comforts and delights. As a highlight to the trip he treats them to a hot air balloon ride that unfortunately ends in terrible accident leaving Egg alone in the world.
With the loss of his family the Pembrokes take Egg in. They treat him to the best weeks of his life. He is never hungry. He has all the books he could wish to read. He becomes friends with Millicent, the Pembroke daughter. It seems as though his life might be turning around and then Egg discovers Mr. Pembroke is not all he claims to be. His generosity is not because he feels responsibility for the loss of his family, but because Egg has something he wants – the Deadweather plantation. Egg knows that Pembroke will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Egg must run for his life. He must get back to Deadweather and that seems impossible. How can a boy who has nothing escape from a man who has everything – wealth, power, and authority.
Read The Chronicles of Egg – Deadweather and Sunrise to discover how the first leg to the journey unfolds as one disaster leads to the next adventure that leads to the next challenge only to begin again. Egg is caught in the race of his life, or rather the race for his life. It is uncertain whether he can survive.
I have to say it took me a while to get into the book. It was hard for me to like the characters at first. I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend time with them, but by the end I wanted them to stay a little longer. I like resourceful, kind Egg a lot. I wonder how Millicent will cope. I even have a soft spot for Guts. I’ll be looking for the next Chronicle of Egg and will be ready to reading the moment I open the cover.