The Lighthouse War

In this second of a trilogy, Adrian McKinty continues the story of Jamie O'Neill, an American teen living in Ireland, who helped save an alien world in Book One, and is now being called on to help that world again. Fantasy books can easily stray into cliche, but McKinty manages to keep the Lighthouse series fresh. You really believe it could be true. Jamie and his best friend, Ramsey, are the kind of friends who would tackle and solve wild mysteries. Makes me want to buy the next ticket to Ireland and go find my own adventure. I highly recommend the book.

The Lighthouse War is a rare find. It is a rousing story that is the middle book of a trilogy and still stands on its own. Jamie O'Neill and his friend Ramsay have been back in Ireland for a year since their previous adventures on Altair. There is still part of Jamie that wants to be on Altair with the only girl who ever liked him. When a signal from Altair arrives on Earth and Ramsay decodes it, they learn it is a call for help that was sent from a hundred years in the past. The only way to return to Altair is to use the Salmon of Knowledge. Unfortunately the Salmon needs to be recharged. In the process of charging it they need to explain what they are doing to Jamie's mom and Ramsay's brother. The four of the them are transported to Altair, but into their enemies' stronghold. While Jamie and Ramsay escape, their companions are captured and made hostages. More problems are in store as Jamie learns that Wishaway, his girlfriend from his previous trip, had given up on his return and married Lorca, another companion from their first adventure. Somehow Jamie needs to rescue his mother and Ramsay's brother and not hand over the Salmon to the Alkhavans who want to use it to invade Earth. Adrian McKinty has penned a tale in which the characters are stretched to their utmost. They are interesting and sympathetic. The interaction between Wishaway and Jamie is especially well done. The world of Altair is complex as well with several competing societies. I will look forward to reading the final book in the series. Armchair Interviews says: This is the second of three books in the Lighthouse Trilogy, but it stands very well on its own.