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WARNING: There WILL be spoilers for Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves, so if you haven’t read it yet, stop reading NOW. There will also be a few mild spoilers for Escape From Lucien, so if you want to avoid those, skip the review and go buy the book!
When we last left our heroes, Emily had decided to face the voice inside the Amulet head on – no more denying that the force has sinister motives of its own, while Navin has become a bonafide Colossus pilot-in-training. We learned that Max wasn’t always a villain, with much of the installment devoted to telling his backstory and exploring his relationship with the voice in the Amulet.
When Escape From Lucien picks up, Max has reassured the Elf King that he will defeat the new Guardian Council, while the Cielis Guard is intent on sending down a team to activate a distress signal within the deserted town of Lucien. Before their plan can be carried out, Max leaves the Stonekeepers with an ultimatum: board his ship or watch as he destroys theirs. Emily, Trellis, and Vigo have no choice to obey him – but his request is far from what they expected. Meanwhile, Navin, Alyson, and two of their guardmates were forced to crash-land on Lucien during Max’s attack, and with no supplies and no transportation, it’s up to them to make sure the Guard’s mission is carried out.
As always, Kibuishi tells a rich, surprising, and engaging story. His plot twists are never predictable, and I’m constantly impressed with the depth he’s able to give his characters. Trellis, in particular, embarks on a new story arc that I’m excited to see play out. It’s a fast-paced and satisfying read – that is, until the ending, when you realize that you’ll have to wait at least another year for the next installment!
The only complaint I have is that I wish we got more of Emily’s internal thoughts and developments. For the past several installments, she hasn’t gotten to shine much beyond the stalwart, brave hero type – she always does the right thing, is always working to save everyone, and while she’s clearly the bomb, it’s been a while since I feel like I’ve seen her truly developed. Of course, these installments are rather short, and it’s hard to given every single character their due in every book. We’ve been getting a lot of important Max and Trellis developments, so I understand Emily falling by the wayside a bit. I’m confident we’ll be seeing more and more of her soon.
As always, Kibuishi’s art is breathtaking! You don’t get to illustrate the 15th Anniversary Editions of Harry Potter for nothing! Fans won’t be disappointed with this excellent addition to the Amulet series.
