Gr 4 Up—In this series installment, Grissom and Perkins continue the action-packed fantasy adventure of a young goblin and wolf duo, Rikt and Fish-breath, as they wander through the Realm of Evonia, trying to evade bounty hunters and fulfill the prophecy foretold by a mysterious fortune teller. Overpowered and nearly defeated, the pair are rescued by a strange couple called Ms. Evelyn and Mr. Domo, who take them to their safe haven for orphaned creatures in the Whispering Woods: a boarding school called Underwood. Rikt's initial reluctance to accept the too-good-to-be-true offer is well-grounded, as the goblin boy and his lupine companion join the ranks of other unlucky, wandering creatures who have been forced to give up their beliefs in magic and legends and comply with the school's teachings. Aided by a troll serving girl named Oola, who is Mr. Domo's daughter and the rightful heir to Underwood, they devise an elaborate escape plan and discover a well that leads to a reverse world in which missing orphans have aged into zombie-like slaves, thus setting the stage for the next installment. This high-drama quest builds in intensity as the unlikely hero and his wolf fall in and out of danger, offset by Rikt's comical, well-timed quips and gags. The endurance of friendship and loyalty play out in the classic good versus evil story, which will appeal to readers of similar series like "Amulet" and "Bone." VERDICT Recommended for older school-age and middle school readers, as well as fans of high fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons.—Rebecca Jung