The three teens, thrown together in Book 1 when Cori stole a magical gauntlet and was unwittingly thrown into the role of Champion, are now tasked with locating the other pieces of Oceanforged Armour and saving their nation from destruction.
Thinking that the Loyalists will help them, Cori is shocked to discover they’re on their own.
What’s more, they have less than six months to find the hauberk tunic – the second piece of armour – and push back the Great Dark Tide that is on its way and will destroy the nation of Aquinta and everything they know.
With no other choice, Cori, Jem and Tarn set off in Jem’s houseboat, Lucky, to try and find Mutemont, the mysterious island thought to be the hiding place of the hauberk.
The issue is that nobody has travelled to Mutemont and returned for years, with the island said to have been surrounded by sea monsters in the past, so what makes the Loyalists think that three inexperienced teenagers can complete this quest alive?
In Cori, Jem and Tarn, Amelia Mellor has created three instantly relatable characters. An odd assortment, they bicker and have their moments, but like any friendship group, they have each other’s backs when it counts. Cori is the youngest and has found herself in the uncomfortable position of group leader because of her newly acquired ‘Champion’ status, but she leans heavily on Jem with her trainee witch sensibilities and the moody Tarn with his ability to converse with animals. They make a great trio.
Despite the fantasy element, or perhaps enhanced by it, there is a strong environmental theme that leans into Amelia Mellor’s fascination with the interplay between humans and nature. Given the younger generation’s heightened awareness of the uncertain future of our planet, this series is certain to appeal, both on a personal reading level and to teachers who are interested in approaching this topic in an engaging and critical manner.
Tarn’s affinity with the animal world will throw much older readers (like me – so really old) back to their Dr Dolittle days. While this may be a bit of a fun ‘what if’ question to explore, the message remains clear that a greater ‘understanding’ of animals is needed.
It’s really nice to see illustrations coming back into middle-grade fiction. Even though they are only lightly scattered throughout Oceanforged 2: The Silent Island, Alessia Trunfio’s black and white illustrations complement the text and add a sense of power and tension to the words. In addition, her stunning map at the start of the book orients the reader to the regions of Aquinta, reminding us where we have been and where we are headed with Cori, Jem and Tarn.
Full disclosure here: I had not read the first book in the series (Oceanforged 1: The Wicked Ship) before picking up Book 2 to review, so I was a little concerned about whether I’d be able to follow the story. However, Amelia Mellor does an amazing job at (re)introducing the characters and summarising what has happened before in a succinct way that is neither ‘boring’ to those who’ve read Book 1, nor confusing for those who haven’t. That being said, if I were to do this again, I’d want to start from the beginning, not because I was lost but because I want to know more about Cori, Jem and Tarn, how they met and how they managed to steal the gauntlet.
I loved this book as much as Amelia's The Grandest Bookshop in the World (and the other two in that series) and am now looking forward to following the adventures of Cori, Jem and Tarn over the next three books.
Title: Oceanforged 2: The Silent Island
Author: Amelia Mellor
Illustrator: Alessia Trunfio
Publisher: Affirm Press, $16.99
Publication Date: 31 March 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922992406
For ages: 8 – 11
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
Illustrator: Alessia Trunfio
Publisher: Affirm Press, $16.99
Publication Date: 31 March 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922992406
For ages: 8 – 11
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
