View source for Bone Quill by John Barrowman and Carole E Barrowman

{{infobox2
|title=Bone Quill
|author=John Barrowman and Carole E Barrowman
|reviewer=Loralei Haylock
|genre=Teens
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1780550312
|pages=320
|publisher=Michael O'Mara Books
|date=February 2013
|aznuk=1780550316
|aznus=1780550316
|cover=1780550316
|website=http://www.hollow-earth.co.uk
|video=
|summary=A fast paced adventure that's a definite increase to the pace and excitement of Hollow Earth, the first in the series. Likeable characters that are so realistic they could jump out of the pages and excellent mythology make this a great read.
}}

Twins Matt and Em Calder have both their mother's Animare gift of bringing paintings to life and their father's telepathic Guardian gifts. This makes them an unknown to the Guardian Council - some of whom would have the twins bound, their powers trapped forever.

In their bid to escape those who would hurt them, or worse, use them for their own gains, the twins have come to Scotland to stay with their Grandfather. But now their mother is missing, perhaps kidnapped by those who want the twins, and Matt can't take any more restless waiting.

After discovering the ability to travel back in time to the origins of paintings they animate, the twins find themselves in Medieval Scotland, where Solon is trying to stop an uprising in the Order of Era Mina - the order that swore to prevent the Hollow Earth, the place where all the monsters of imagination are trapped, from being opened.

I really enjoyed Hollow Earth, the first book in this series, but felt Bone Quill was a definite increase to the pace and excitement. Picking up shortly after where Hollow Earth left off, this is much less a story about the twins trying to escape from people using them, more them trying to discover who and what they are, and solve the greater conspiracy they are unwittingly involved in.

I love the characters - the twins complement each other perfectly, with Matt's recklessness and Em's cautious fear. They feel so realistic, it's almost as if they could jump out of the pages as they jump into artworks in the book.

The evolution of the powers the twins have is a nice step up in the mythology too, opening up whole new realms of possibility. It was nice to see Solon's story - more a side note in the first book - take a more prominent role. It made sense of him in the first book.

And what a cliffhanger ending. I think many readers will be frustrated and hankering for the next instalment. A quick search didn't even turn up a title for me, which suggests we might be waiting a while. I for one will be waiting eagerly.

My thanks to the publishers for sending a copy.

Fans of this should check out Bookbag's [[Top Ten Books for Young Readers That Feature a Passage Between Worlds]] for other great fantasy reads.

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[[Category:John Barrowman]]
[[Category:Carole E Barrowman]]