Mouse, about to turn 13 sails on The Huntress with her Grandma captain and helps look after her little brother Sparrow. As well as being recklessly brave Mouse is able to understand the beast chatter that all animals communicate with. The first creatures we meet are attacking terrodyls, intent on sinking their ship and letting the sharks eat their remains - huge, flying, vicious monsters that sound horrifying "killdeathdiepaindrownstrikedeathscuttlekill". (Reminded me of Patrick Ness's croc's noise "flesh...feast...tooth" in The Knife of Never Letting Go).
Mouse and Sparrow's dad has gone missing but has left some mysterious clues for Mouse to follow - herein begins a dangerous quest with battles and intrigue, a nasty traitor and more monsters, a wise cracking crow and two more books in the trilogy after this one.
Recommended, especially for lovers of His Dark Materials, The Chronicles of Darkness and The Lie Tree.
Thank you to Hardie Grant for this review copy.