The second installment of Andrew Houlston’s Pagalan Chronicles continues the adventures of Morganuke Beldere, who, abandoned as an infant, sets out on a globe-spanning quest to find his origins—and discovers that only he can save the realm from all-out war.

Set in the imagined world of Pagalan, the story focuses on Morg, who has been told by a wise man that he will find the answers he seeks in a place called Denesthear. Following that revelation, Morg and a small group of friends— which includes love interest Melinor and childhood crush Calarel—set out to find the mythical place.

Their search, however, is plagued by seemingly endless sub-quests: finding an ancient map; surviving giant whales, erupting volcanoes, and tsunamis while sailing across the sea; and fighting off a diversity of monstrosities on remote islands, to name a few. Complicating matters is an escalating war in which entire nations could be wiped out by relentless invaders who are being helped by people who look eerily similar to Morg.

Like the first novel, this volume is fueled by plentiful action and brisk pacing. Another strength is the mystery surrounding Pagalan’s past; the author offers hints about “a great catastrophe where historical records about the civilizations at that time disappear completely.”

The thinness of overall description in some sequences hampers the story, however. Additionally, the book suffers from a common problem of bridge books (a novel in the middle of a series), lacking the freshness of the first installment (when readers discover an exciting new realm, new characters, etc.) and the satisfying conclusion of the final novel (this novel’s ending is simply a respite until Book 3).

While not a remarkable novel by itself, this is a solid adventure fantasy that sets up the next volume well. The third installment should take the narrative into unexplored territory, including shining a light on Pagalan’s mysterious history.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.