In this third installment of the Castle in the Stars graphic novel series, the year is 1869, and Seraphin, Hans, and Sophie have returned from space with aetherite — a substance that defies gravity. In an attempt to keep this a secret from the Prussians, they hide on an English island while planning to attempt a space rescue of the King and Professor Dulac. Things go awry, and they have to leave earlier than planned, and despite continued setbacks and sabotage, they make it to Mars. The story is to be continued in the fourth installment of the series.

You definitely need to read the prior two books in this series to have any idea of what’s going on. The watercolor artwork is stunning, detailed, and really makes the book. The plot of this book is a bit shallow, and too much is left unanswered. This book would be good for older middle school or high school students as it’s a bit text heavy and contains some mature content. If you already have the first two, I’d recommend purchasing this book, but if you don’t have them, don’t start in the middle of the series.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME