Sometimes when I read a book, I feel like the author has a direct line into my heart and writes words that I have needed to hear to know that I am not alone.

I think we are now starting to see authors quarantine books. And I think we are going to find a lot of themes of what it means to be a friend and what it means to stand up for what you believe in especially when those you love believe something completely different. And if they all resonate the way Seanan McGuire‘s dead, I think I am really going to dig this next wave of books.

I love the fairy tale cadence to this series and how they feel like they could be read to children, but there's also so much emotional depth and nuance.

"For readers of Kelly Barnhill and Cat Valente's Fairyland books, adventure and danger lurk Along the Saltwise Sea in this new book by Seanan McGuire's latest open pseudonym, A. Deborah Baker.

Be sure to explore the myriad wonders that can be found Along the Saltwise Sea.

After climbing Over the Woodward Wall and making their way across the forest, Avery and Zib found themselves acquiring some extraordinary friends in their journey through the Up-and-Under.

After staying the night, uninvited, at a pirate queen’s cottage in the woods, the companions find themselves accountable to its owner, and reluctantly agree to work off their debt as her ship sets sail, bound for lands unknown. But the queen and her crew are not the only ones on board, and the monsters at sea aren’t all underwater.

The friends will need to navigate the stormy seas of obligation and honor on their continuing journey along the improbable road.

Writing as A. Deborah Baker, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Seanan McGuire takes our heroes Avery and Zib (and their friends Niamh and the Crow Girl) on a high seas adventure, with pirates and queens and all the dangers of the deep as they continue their journey through the Up-and-Under on their quest for the road that will lead them home....

Welcome to a world of talking trees and sarcastic owls, of dangerous mermaids and captivating queens in this exceptional tale for readers who are young at heart in this companion book to McGuire's critically-acclaimed Middlegame and the sequel to Over the Woodward Wall."

I would give almost anything to have Seanan McGuire's work ethic!

Three and a half
Perhaps I enjoyed the first book too much because honestly as much as I was excited to continue exploring this world with these characters I just wasn't as satisfied with this story. The plot is simple as our intrepid characters find themselves working aboard a pirate ship that's unlike any they had imagined. So far so good and I was enjoying the mysteries aboard ship but for this reader the end just came so suddenly and felt somewhat jarring. I did enjoy the writing however and obviously hope the next instalment will enthral me as much as the first.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Huge thanks to Tor for not only giving me access to an e-arc, but sending me a physical arc too!

Along the Saltwise Sea is the sequel to Over the Woodward Wall, and is written by A Deborah Baker (pen name for Seanan Mcguire, for those not in the know).

Over the Woodward Wall is a spinoff from Middlegame that was a magical middle grade adventure and the sequel is no different.

My favourite part about Mcguire's writing is how she can strike deep into the core of you even from a child's perspective. I truly felt myself traversing the Improbable Road with Avery, Zib, the Crow Girl and Niamh. I was scared for them, I felt for each individual's feelings and story, and wanted them all to succeed.

Although I did guess the plot a little early on into the book, I know this is a middle grade adventure and so plot threads aren't as heavy or twisted up as they can be in adult or YA so I completely forgave this. I enjoyed the book immensely, and I'm always so sad when I can only get 200 or so pages of Mcguire's writing.

The setting was a stark difference to the first book as this was set on the sea - a good change of setting and change of pace as in the first book we were introduced to a lot of characters. This book built on those characters and their stories, and what makes them tick as well as what they want. It's so hard for me to explain how crazy it is in my head trying to imagine characters from Middlegame matching up to characters in the Up-and-Under - and I LOVE it.

I absolutely cannot wait for the third book - I'm unsure how many are planned for this series but I'd highly recommend picking them up if you are a fan of Middlegame.

Along the Saltwise Sea is the second novella in The Up-and-Under series, written by A. Deborah Baker (aka Seanan McGuire). This series started as a children's book referenced in another one of McGuire's worlds (Middlegame), but I feel like it has quickly gained a life of its own. Also, before I dive into my review, can we take a moment to appreciate that cover? It's to die for.

Once up a time, two children, Avery and Zib, climbed Over the Woodward Wall. Now they're stuck in the Up-and-Under, and what an adventure that has been! Two have become four, and now there are four children (only two humans) on this adventure.

The children have unintentionally found their way to the coast of the Saltwise Sea, where they come across a pirate queen's cottage. One night there costs them a week out on the waters and yet another adventure that they couldn't have planned or prepared for.

Now, I may be in the minority here, but I think I loved Along the Saltwise Sea even more than Over the Woodward Wall. I feel like both the children and the story have really grown to fit the world, and it shows.

Or maybe I'm just a sucker for nautical stories. Either way, I adore the events that transpired in Along the Saltwise Sea. If you read and enjoyed the first part of this adventure, or even if you read Middlegame and want to know how the story goes, I would strongly suggest picking up Along the Saltwise Sea and giving it a read.

Everything about this journey has felt so unbelievable and yet so organic. Each part flows smoothly onto the next, even as the world changes and new scenery pops into the foreground. I'm gobbling up all the details to this world; you better believe me.

I think the thing I loved the most about Along the Saltwise Sea is that it felt like we got to know all four children a bit more here. Not just Avery and Zib, but Niamn and Crow Girl as well. More than that, I feel like their individual stories are being pushed to new horizons as they grow alongside the main plot.

I'm thrilled that I got the chance to read an early copy of Along the Saltwise Sea, even though this means that I will naturally be waiting even longer for the sequel to come out. Still, I already know that it will be worth it.

Absolutely full disclosure that anything Seanan McGuire writes is an immediate pre order must purchase. I will also clarify that Middlegame wasn't my favorite thing she's ever written, even though I sincerely think it's one of the best and most well written things out there. All that said, I really did love Over the Woodward Wall, and had high hopes for this one when I read it. What I loved about this is what a deep and complex world building book this is - it's honestly lovely to read something that lets you get this wonderfully lost. If I were to read this series on its own, without any context of Middlegame they would absolutely stand on their own.

This was fun and whimsical and charming, and honestly has all the makings of a classic new children's series, and honestly a must read to me!

ARC received by NetGalley for an honest review

Thank you Tordotcom and NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Complete transparency: Seanan McGuire’s ‘Wayward Children’ series is a must-read auto-buy for me. So when I discovered this series, that relates so closely in theme and content? Obviously I dove right in! That said, the first book felt like A LOT. For a novella numbering only 200 or so pages, there were a crazy number of twists and turns and character introductions and it took a while for my brain to absorb it all.

And that is where ‘Along the Saltwise Sea’ surprised me—it is such a relatively straightforward story! Simply continuing on as our protagonists, Avery and Zib, along with their companions, Crow Girl and Niamh (a drowned girl), continue their journey along the improbable road on a quest to find the Queen of Wands and be sent ‘home’. It almost feels like our author (narrator?) realized they threw everything but the kitchen sink at us in their determination to not only introduce us to, but immerse us in the world of the Up and Under; and is now giving us the space to breathe, settle in and just enjoy the wonderful absurdity of it all.

And I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this instalment! (I mean, there are pirates, how could I not?) But not only because of the adventure—I love the descriptive language that allows me to not only envision the world, but truly step inside the minds of children and relate to their experience. And I love the interjections (both thoughtful and ridiculous) from the narrator and that offer additional insights and commentary (both subtle and blunt) on society and family and relationships and even identity and the way in which language can both provide a pattern to follow and also limit us all at once.

All in all, I definitely recommend and will absolutely be continuing on with Avery and Zib. 4.5 STARS!

Along the Saltwise Sea is the second book in the MG Up-and-Under series spun off from the adult fantasy, Middlegame by A. Deborah Baker, aka Seanan McGuire. I adored the first book, Over the Woodward Wall, so I had high hopes for this one.

Avery and Zib along with the Crow Girl, and the drowned girl, Niamh find themselves on a pirate ship for this installment in their adventures. Avery and Zib are still trying to find their way home.

This second installment had far more explication than the first and a lot of recapping so the story doesn’t advance much. What you do get is a much closer look at how the rulers, lands, and elements relate to each other in some very complex world-building.

Both Avery and Zib do some maturing when they have to consider concepts like bullying and gender.
Often, Seanan McGuire’s books grab me by the feels. This book felt like it was setting the stage for some serious emotional wreckage so I’m looking forward to what book three brings.

I quite enjoyed the second installment in The Up-and-Under series, penned by Seanan McGuire under the pseudonym of A. Deborah Baker. I found that I liked it more than the first, and I believe that this is because the characters have a tendency to linger for longer than they did in the first book. We were introduced to so many who were here and gone in the flip of a few pages, and in this one they weren't so quick to leave. I have also become more accustomed to the Crow Girl, Niamh, Avery and Zib. They're feeling more like childhood friends than strangers, and I like that.

I also keep thinking of "Middlegame", where these books originated, and I am curious to see how a reread of that book would go keeping these tales in mind. I can see how they were lauded as these special children's books in that novel, for if I were a young child reading them, I would probably find them incredibly special too. They have an "Alice in Wonderland" quality to them, and I was enamored with the books that told Alice's story when I was younger. It would only make sense that young Sarah would have felt the same.

Seanan Mcguire, A Deborah Barker's other name, is a master at writing short stories. I'm surprised and disappointed that this felt like part 2 of a novel instead of a self-contained story.

The story starts with a throat-clearing summation of the last book. We find out more about this world, but in the end, the overall plot feels weak compared to the previous book. Nothing happens but world development. When I finished, I had a strong feeling that I will enjoy this series if I read it in one sitting instead of waiting a year for the next installment. As well crafted as this world is getting, this wait will kill most of my memories of this deep, complicated world.

And this disappointment hurts as a fan of Seanan Mcguire.

Review based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

While I didn't read the first book, I was immediately drawn into the entire premise of Along the Saltwise Sea. It's a really well-written magical adventure that is fun and charming.

The Direct Sequel to Over the Woodward Wall Holds Up as both an interesting continuation of the story for Fans of Middle Game and as an middle-grade book that will interest younger readers.
I personally an interested to see if and how the continuation of Zib and Avery's journey will have a direct tie into Middle Games sequel Different Seasons (2022).
The story continued in an natural way and had great worldbuilding. It aids to the childhood imagination and does the trope of escaping to another world better than other Children's books such as the Magic Treehouse Series.
The characters have distinct personalities and interpersonal struggles that children can and will relate to.
Overall it is a fun, whimsical story that both children and adults can enjoy. It is well crafted enough that the series has the potential to become a children's classic

Young readers (and people of all ages who enjoy middle-grade fiction) will fall head over heels for this dark fairytale (though they should read the first book in the series before this one!). The cover of Along the Saltwise Sea is gorgeous. The story is unique and engaging; I believe the author's writing will appeal to fans of Catherynne Valente's Fairyland and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Unfortunately, I did find the pacing a bit slow at times. I read the first book some time ago, so I did find it helpful that the author refreshed my memory at the beginning of the sequel with a recap. However, that part of the book really slowed down my reading experience. I can't help but think about readers who will devour the first and second book back to back; the recap will be completely obsolete for them.
I will definitely be purchasing this book and its predecessor as gifts for my friends' and relatives' children!

I’m not sure if I enjoyed book one a little less than I thought or if this book is just not as good; I wasn’t the biggest fan of book one (I think I gave it like a 3.25 or 3.5 out of 5 stars). This book is by no mean horrible it’s just not the best.

The writing is probably the strongest aspect, I think...maybe? The prose is very nice to read and I think is quite transportive. I’m not the biggest fan of the narration because it makes me feel miles away from the book, but I can’t argue that the writing itself isn’t well done.

The plot is very weak in my opinion. Things happen out of nowhere and that is excused by the fact that this is supposed to be really whimsical and nonsensical. The entire first chapter of this book is entirely a recap of book one. The rest of the book is also so short that everything is smushed down and rushed.

The characters...who are they???? The author just tells the reader their personality traits and that’s it. They have no development or backstory or...anything. They’re so bland and two-dimensional to the point where you could literally switch out pieces of bread for these characters.

The setting was fine. I don’t have much to comment on it either way.

This book was fine but nothing really special or as good as book one.

A Deborah Barker’s alter egos Mira Grant and Seanan McGuire have been responsible for a high proportion of my sleep loss over the last few years. No surprise then that having succumbed to temptation to try this at 9pm, I then read until 3am and am now a wrung out, exhausted wreck. I love these books, middle grade target audience or no. Avery and Zeb’s adventures are engaging and whimsical, and there’s a distinct Alice in Wonderland/ Wizard of Oz/ the Hobbit feel to these books. This is another excellent addition.

Along the Saltwise Sea picks up right after the events of Over the Woodward Wall but not before a brief opening chapter that basically sums up everything that happened in the first book. I do enjoy when books have this because I like the reminder of the details of the previous books in a series but I also felt that in this book, it went on a little longer than I would have liked, especially with the already short page count. I'm really excited to continue this series going forward and reading what happens with Zib and Avery. It gives me a lot of similar feelings as the Wayward Children series. It is just a fun adventure and even if I don't think of the books as new favorites, I have a great time reading them and really look forward to what will come next. I'm still a little confused as to the target audience for this because I kind of think it will be enjoyed more by adults even though it also seems like it might be meant for middle grade audiences. Either way, I think people who like darker, twisted fairy tale type stories and especially people who enjoy the Wayward Children books will really enjoy this series.

ARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love how Seanan Mcguire has so many different ways of writing and yet every voice is distinctly her. This is so different from her Toby Daye series yet it still felt like a new adventure from her. I really did enjoy the additional world building pieces to this book. The Up-And-Under is coming together into a world I really want to return too.

There are just two parts of this book that made it a three star for me. First, the recap from the last book was just so long. I love the fact that our narrator mentions this fact in passing which gave me a good laugh. That still didn't make the first chapter of the book feel less like a slog. Secondly, this book was great for world building it felt less like an adventure and more of a moment to give the world time to shine. Which I did come to love more of the side characters it felt less like Zeb and Avery's story and more like the story of the Up-And-Under. I would have loved to see this as something separate from their story. That will never stop me from reading more though I am here for the long haul to see if these two kids survive the Up-And-Under.

I loved Over the Woodward Wall, the first in this Middlegame tie in series by Seanan McGuire (of which this is the second). That said, I was concerned about whether or not the series would hold up without the direct links to Middlegame. Seanan has completely put my concerns to rest - this series is compelling all on its own and sure to delight readers of Valente's Fairyland series or Townsend's Morrigan Crowe series. It's whimsical, fun, and most importantly, kind. Seanan gives her child protagonists agency, takes them seriously, and allows space for their fears and flaws. Readers of all ages can find something to love in this series, whether you're an adult interested because of the Middlegame tie in or looking to give it to some kids in your life. I'm so excited for further installments.

#AlongtheSaltwiseSea
#NetGalley
A great series for any book club. A must read for fantasy and fairytale enthusiasts.