The Luck Uglies #2: Fork-Tongue Charmers by Paul Durham, Petur Antonsson (Illustrated by)

I've been waiting a long time for this book to come out.  I loved the first book and couldn't wait to read more of this tale.  If anything, this one is even better than the first book.  Mr. Durham didn't disappoint me!

HarperCollins and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It's being published March 17th, so you can get a copy tomorrow.

Rye is the daughter of the High Chieftain of the Luck Uglies.  She doesn't share that knowledge with people because it's a dangerous secret.  Her father has forbidden the Earl to enter the part of town that Rye and her family and friends live in.  It's the poorest part of town anyway, so it just means the Earl won't be pestering folks and trying to run them out of town.

The new constable, though, is another type altogether.  He's not afraid of the Luck Uglies and he's sadistic and mean.  He's making up crimes to punish people and make them afraid of him.  When Rye gets mad at him for naming her mother a traitor, she throws a fish at him.  Now she's on his list, too.

The only safe place for them is back on Pest, an island in the sea.  It's where her father and mother grew up but they're not welcome there.  Grandpa is an angry old man who has given up on the citizens of the town.  

When they find the warships have followed them to Pest, they try to get him to talk to the townfolk about danger.  He refuses to, so Rye and her mother and friends try to convince them.  It takes a small distraction to get their attention.  And then the weapons they have really aren't enough.  But they manage to turn the boats away.  Rye thinks they're safe.  Wrong...

There's lots of action, secrets are revealed and Rye proves herself during this battle.  She's smart, determined and knows how to do the right thing.  I just gobbled this book up and am already waiting for the next one.  I don't where it's going to lead, but I do know it won't be boring!