But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. Twelve-year-old Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it. On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review. As an adult, I wish these stories within a story had been a little longer so that I could settle in more to the story.Īll in all I enjoyed the lore and myths and the overall uniqueness of this island and look forward to the next in the series. It also shows a lot of potential in where the series can go. This approach is perfect for young readers to help them feel a sense of accomplishment when finishing a mini-story. The story is fast-paced in that no mini-story is longer than two chapters.

This creates mini-stories, or stories within a story. In between the chapters is a short version of the lore followed by a chapter specifically relating to that lore. As Tor and friends seek out the Night Witch the chapters and narrative follows the places that are mentioned in The Book of Cuentos and learn that these so-called fairy tales are a bit more real than expected. Emblem Island is full of myths and lore and all the inhabitants grow up learning about these fairy tales in a book called The Book of Cuentos. Part of what makes this book unique is how the story is structured.

But instead of a wish he receives a curse that could have only come from the Night Witch. In the hopes that the wish-god can change his emblem, he submits this as a wish on Eve. Tor was born with the leadership emblem, but he’d much rather be able to breathe underwater.

Some marks identify what role you will have in society while others are skills that have a bit of a magical touch to them. On Emblem Island, every individual has a mark on their wrist denoting a specific unique skill. In The Curse of the Night Witch three kids go on an adventure to find the Night Witch and remove a curse.

Curse of the night witch book