Kiki Strike Bk. 2:
The Empress's Tomb
by Kirsten Miller

    THE EMPRESS'S TOMB by Kirsten Miller
    Category:  Fantasy
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  10/2/07
    Publisher:  Bloomsbury
    Reviewed by:  Carrie Spellman
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Get ready for the next adventure...  The Irregulars have returned!  On the agenda this time around are the following
    things:

    Finish mapping the Shadow City.  Since Livia and Sidonia Galatzina, (supposed) Queen and Princess of Pokrovia,
    and Kiki's mortal enemies, managed to get an incomplete copy of their map, it's more important than ever that The
    Irregulars finish what they started.

    Stop Lester Liu.  He got away last time, and they aren't about to let that happen again.  But when Oona seems to
    throw herself in the middle of the whole thing, no one is sure what to do or who to believe.

    Keep Ananka in New York.  Ever since Ananka joined The Irregulars, her grades have been plummeting.  Now
    her mom wants to send her to a boarding school on some farm.

    Find the squirrels.  Trained squirrels are attacking people, and someone is painting life-size pictures of them all over
    the city.  And he seems to know who The Irregulars are.

    And those things are just the beginning.  This is a book of secrets, and misunderstandings, and sneaky dealings.  
    No one is quite what they seem, not even the people you might think you know.  And you can't be too careful
    about who you trust, or who you don't.

    I admit that I had a moment, a split second of concern about this book.  I loved the first one (INSIDE THE
    SHADOW CITY) so much, and second books are historically a letdown even when they're good.  After the first
    page, I was thrilled to admit I was completely wrong to doubt.  By the end, I was groveling at Kirsten Miller's feet!

    Strong memorable characters, well-written, fast paced, exciting, touching, hilarious...  And, of course,
    indispensable information like how to appear mysterious, how to know if your house is haunted, how to take
    advantage of the power of scent, and much, much more.

    You absolutely must read this book.  Trust me.