Kelcie Murphy is back in another action-packed middle grade adventure, Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu, the second book in Erika Lewis’s magical series infused with Celtic mythology, The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts.

It’s hard having a father who’s an infamous traitor. It’s even harder having a mother who’s an omen of doom.

After a summer away, Kelcie Murphy is excited to be back at the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts. But she and her friends have barely settled in when they receive a visit from her mother―the war goddess, Nemain―with a warning of coming calamity.

The Heart of Danu, the legendary source of all light and warmth in the Lands of Summer, is going to be stolen. And only Kelcie and her mates can stop it. As they travel with the rest of the students to Summer City to take part in the glorious Ascension Ceremony, Kelcie has no time for the military parade, the lavish ball, or even to visit her she’s determined to protect the Heart and her new home.

But the Lands of Summer are still not a welcoming place for Kelcie. When disaster strikes, the Queen, the High Guard, and even some of her schoolmates suspect Kelcie is to blame.

As the world is plunged into darkness, Kelcie will have to does she keep fighting for a place that may always see her as a traitor’s daughter, or for a future greater than the war to come.

As usual, things are both up and down for Kelcie Murphy. She now lives with her gramma and has spent most of the Summer with her cousin and uncle. But, another Realm is trying to invade hers, ancient evils are talking, goddesses are leaving cryptic messages, and her new friends have tried to drown her to get her to access her new powers.

Which is pretty par for the course for Kelcie.

We spent a lot of time learning new powers and establishing that the woods are dangerous. We were there for more than a few chapters and it took us quite some time to get back to the Academy.

Despite a rather slow opening, and not getting to the titular problem until halfway through the book, Kelcie Murphy and the Heart of Danu is actually action packed.

(Slow and action packed, what a strange review, I know.)

All in all, it’s a solid sequel, and continues to touch on themes of friendship, forgiveness, and family.