Princess Alara of Miu and her bodyguard's father are missing. The only clue the two companions have is a riddle her father left her. Following the cryptic riddle, the two find themselves beneath a volcano with two of their other friends from the above world. Deciphering the clues, Alara discovers that the volcano is about to erupt and her and her friends are the only ones that can not only save Miu, but there neighbor city, Bahku. Too bad, thinking her father's sceptre was the answer to her problem, she stuck it in a hole in a cavern beneath the volcano and opened a bridge to Bahku. Now both cities will most likely get destroyed by the lava from the eruption. Can Alara, Septah, and their two friends save their world?

Action from the start, readers will enjoy the fast-paced nature of this book. The characters seem a little too impulsive, even for 12 year olds, and Alara's reasoning for believing her father has disappeared despite logic seems flawed. The characters, however, are likable in many other ways and help the reader to get sucked into the story. Recommended for fantasy/adventure and books about shapeshifters fans, but this book is hard to step into if you haven't read the first book. ( )

Not having read the first book in The Land of Miu Series, it took me awhile to get into the story. Princess Alara and her bodyguard, Siptah travel and plot how to save their city and find their respective fathers. Included in the story are two human girls, Kate and Emma, who hold the key that will solve their plight. "The King's Riddle" does capture the imagination; young girls will enjoy the idea of turning into kittens and using that ability to travel through small spaces. ( )

I read book # 1 first to get an idea of the background of book #2. It was a fast read and good for upper elementary/ middle school students. Two worlds are involved - the human world and the land of Miu. The human world is not a very big part of the story, but two children, Kate and Emma, are important characters in the story. Princess Alara and her body guard in training, Siptah come from the land of Miu and can change into kittens when they are under 13 if they are traveling to the land of humans.
Alara and Siptah go to get Kate and Emma when their fathers are missing and they receive a strange message. In this story they are trying to save their fathers, save their land, and at one point save Kate and Emma.
There are good themes of friendship, trust, courage that are developed in this story. An enjoyable book for kids who enjoy fantasy. ( )

This second book in author Karen Lee's Land of Miu series continues the adventures in the land of Miu where the people resemble cats (get it, miu) and, before the age of 13, can transfer into kittens. Princess Alara and Siptah discover that their fathers have gone missing. They receive a message which seems to suggest they need the aid of Kate and Emma, the two human girls who they met in Land of Miu #1 if they are to solve the mystery.

There is less action and no real villain as there was in the first book. Instead, there is more character development especially for Alara and Siptah. Their friendship is tested and the two must learn to work together again if they are to save their fathers and prevent the possible destruction of the country. This is a fun, fast read and I have no doubt middle graders will enjoy it just as much as the first. ( )

This is the second book in a series about a fictional people living under our feet. Two children of the Miu people, one princess Alara, the other her bodyguard to be Siptah, discover a plot and go in search of their parents who have disappeared. There is a riddle to guide them which they believe is by the kings hand (the father of Alara). Along the way they encounter some adventures that finally lead to a solution.

Whilst reading the book I could not discover whether this book was meant as a childrens book or actually for adults. If for adults, the writing style does not suit the public (as for children, I'm hardly a judge there anymore ;-). The book is a very easy read in terms of language. The plot however is very haphazard with the Miu children and their human 'help' wandering of around the area without any obvious aim (or logical build up in the story).

As I did not read the first part in the series, the setting of the plot was also quite misty at first as it builds on the first book without explaining much of what happenend there. Finally, the author should be carefull while using 'local' slang in a book without any explanation. It helped that I'm a bit of a petrol head, but otherwise the use of the word ute would not have meant anything (I actually do know that it means Utility Vehicle, or a pick-up truck, but it is plain aussie slang at that...). Also there are still a few grammar and spelling mistakes left that I noticed.

All in all not the book it could be if targeted at adults. Maybe if targeted at children (which seem a suitable public as nothing really scary happens). ( )