The Sign of the Black Rock

(Three Thieves - Book Two)

by
Scott Chantler

Kids Can Press, September 2011, 112 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-55453-416-6

Genre: Young Reader
Subgenre: Comic / Fantasy / Adventure
Reviewed: 10/2/2011

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Comic Page

Eudora, Mortimer's Grigs scarred and down-trodden wife, leaves the inn after her husband insults her. In the rain, she runs into the three thieves: Dessa Redd, Topper, and Fisk. Though Eudora never speaks, she offers the safety and comfort of the Black Rock Inn stable to Dessa and her two friends.

Captain Drake, the leader of the Queen's Dragons, appears at the inn. Captain Drake tells Grig about the thieves and also inquires as to whether the wine he is drinking is Medorian. While taking the captain's horse into the stables, Grig overhears Dessa and her friends talking. Grig pretends to befriend the three thieves and locks Dessa and Topper them in his storeroom while leaving the large etin outside in the stables.

Dessa and Topper find a crowbar and escape from the storeroom and find themselves in the inn's pantry. While peaking out of the pantry doorway, they see Captain Drake talking with Grigs. Grigs is asking the captain if there is a reward for the thieves. Finding a long cloak in the pantry, Dessa hops on Toppers shoulders and try to make it out the front door of the inn, but the door opens in front of them and more of the Queen's Dragons pour into the room.

Just as Dessa thinks they have escaped, Grig spots them. He begins to follow them and soon has them cornered. How will Dessa and Topper get of of the mess that they find themselves in with a money-hungry inn keeper hot on their trail and and inn filled with the Queen's Dragons?

The Sign of the Black Rock is fantasy graphic novel is the second book in the Three Thieves series by and is written and drawn by Scott Chantler. This book is intended for Young Readers ages 8 and up.

Review

The Sign of the Black Rock is a vey interesting story that takes place during one rainy night at the Black Rock Inn. Dessa, Topper and Fisk are just looking for a warm and dry place to spend the night when they stumble into more trouble than they are prepared for. Little do they know how close they will be to being captured by Captain Drake and the Queen's Dragons.

The continuing story of Dessa, Topper, and Fisk on the run is a fast-paced and exciting tale. The artwork by Scott Chantler is, once again, excellent and the coloring is better than it was in the first book, where the colors were a little muted.

Young Readers should really enjoy this story. All of the characters are interesting and kids will really bond with Dessa. I really like Topper and would like to learn more about him. Fisk is still quite a mystery. Why does he only have one head? What exactly is an etin anyway? I hope that we get to know more about him in the next five books.

If you child is having trouble find a love for reading, like my daughter did, try picking up a copy of the books in this series. Yes, they are comics. I know some parents don't want their kids reading comics. But speaking from a teacher's point of view, if a child finds a book that they love, be it a chapter book or a comic book, it really doesn't matter what type a book it is in the long run. If they get bitten by the Reading Bug, they will find chapter book eventually. Comic books, or graphic novels, can be a good transition into chapter books. A fun and interesting comic could be the one book that starts them down the path of a life of reading books for pleasure.

Overall, The Sign of the Black Rock is another great book in a series that promises to be quite wonderful. The storyline, the artwork, and the characters keep the user highly interested in this story. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Dessa, Topper and Fisk. I just hope that they can keep out of the hands of Captain Drake and the Queen's Draongs so Dessa can hopefully find her missing brother.

I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.