In this second installment, the dairne Byx's quest is far from over.Applegate continues her otherworldly saga in this second installment of the Endling series. (Yes, the second book is called The First, while the first book was called The Last. Just go with it.) Here readers follow doglike Byx and her companionshumans Khara and Renzo, catlike Gambler, and the small and furry Tobbleas they attempt to find the traveling island of Tarok and, they hope, more dairnes, saving Byx from being the last of her species. Along the way, Applegate shifts focus from the first outing and uses Byx's narration to explore Khara's transition from a young girl to a leader. This change serves the story well, pulling readers further into the political turmoil of the land. The current reigning dictator, the Murdano, will soon be under attack by the no-less-vicious Kazar Sg'drit, who is enslaving other sentient species in his quest to build an army. Against this backdrop, Khara must rise as a leader and raise an army to stop a war even as Byx evolves from a pup to a leader in her own right. Themes of conservation, war, and human trafficking are skillfully interwoven into a world of magic and wonder. This second installment will have readers salivating for a third. Khara is explicitly described as having brown skin; absence of such specificity implies Renzo's white.Simply sublime. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The unusual gang of creatures, both animal and human, formed in Endling #1: The Last (2018) is propelled to greater heights in this second adventure that is riddled with danger and personal challenges. Tobble (a cute but fierce wobbyk), Gambler (a pantherlike felivet), and humans Khara and Renzo continue to help Byx search for other dairnes, the doglike species of which Byx fears she may be the last. Their journey takes them into a volcano, through underground tunnels ruled by gigantic insects, and to a moving, carnivorous island rumored to shelter a dairne colony. Yet throughout, signs of an impending war intrude on their quest that cannot be ignored. Themes of truth, sacrifice, and unity are pitted against that of corrupt power fueled by murder and ideas of species superiority (unsurprisingly embraced by humans). Applegate's commentary on the need for diversity and understanding is clear but not heavy handed, as Byx's party recognizes responsibilities outside of searching for dairnes. As Khara assumes leadership of her people, Byx must learn to lead herself and readers will follow without hesitation.--Julia Smith Copyright 2019 Booklist