Race to the End of the World: The Mapmaker Chronicles (A L Tait, Hachette)

In a world believed to be flat, King Orel is determined to learn what lies beyond the horizon. Is it true that a ship will fall off the edge and into the claws of Genesi, the Dragon of Death? After a tip-off from his spies that the King’s mortal enemy has the makings of a complete map of the world, Orel creates a tournament, sending three teams to map the world by sea with a handsome prize for the winners. Young Quinn, a 14-year-old mama’s boy with an eidetic memory, is selected to join the ragtag team aboard the Libertas that is captained by the intimidatingly large and powerful Zain. They race against two other teams made up of noblemen and sailors to the end of the world. Though the story is at times predictable, Race to the End of the World is an exciting dip into the world of cartography and sailing. Great white beasts and would-be pirates will capture the attention of young readers. This is the first book in a new series for children aged 9-12, with books two and three due in 2015. It is recommended for fans of adventure books from Emily Rodda and Andrew McGahan.

Louise Fay is the special orders manager at Dymocks Adelaide

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Category: Reviews