In 2020 when I first read Urchin of the Riding Stars, the first book in the Mistmantle Chronicles, I was not too impressed. It took a while for me to get around to reading the next three books in the series, and somewhere along the way, I became a fan. But I failed to review those three middle books in the five part series, and I couldn’t finish the chronicles until Purple House Press published the fifth book, Urchin and the Rage Tide. So, here I am, finally, to say that I thoroughly enjoyed all five Mistmantle books, and I think you should read them all if you are a fantasy lover.

The heroes of this last book are all of the islanders–Urchin, King Crispin, Sepia, Queen Cedar, Juniper, Corr, and more. (There’s a list of all of the characters in the front of the Purple House Press edition of the book, and it’s a great help in keeping everyone straight.) The villain this time around is a new squirrel character, Mossberry, who reminds me of certain current politicians (who shall remain unnamed). To quote Ms. McAllister in the preface, “Mossberry uses deceitful and dishonest ways to turn vulnerable animals to himself. He doesn’t want what’s best for them. He wants to be obeyed and adored.” Enough said, except that this book was first published in 2010. In a prophetic note, Ms. McAllister writes, “Sadly there will always be those who follow someone like Mossberry, and believe me, it never ends well. Look out for the Mossberrys!”

So the challenges and threats in the book are real: a tidal wave from the ocean out beyond Mistmantle and an internal enemy, Mossberry, the charismatic megalomaniacal squirrel who causes even more damage and heartache than the storm. But the Heart is with the animals of Mistmantle, and Hope remains in the end. I would say that although beloved characters do die in this final installment of the Mistmantle story, it is ultimately a hopeful sort of story. Good wins, with some sacrifice required. Evil is defeated.

Recommended for fans of: Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga, S.D. Smith’s Green Ember books, and the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.