For those of you who are already familiar with the Mistmantle Chronicles, you will already be familiar with many of the characters and the basic story line. This is a continuation of the adventures of Urchin,who is now a squirrel of the circle, and a veritable figure of respect, with a page of his own, Corr. The island is under the peaceful and benign reign of King Crispin, the squirrel who found Urchin on the shore and accepted him as his page when he (Crispin) was a Captain. But all is about to change. The otters feel upheavals in the water; a rage tide is coming, a sort of hurricane accompanied by waves of tremendous size. The King and his friends must get all the creatures of Mistmantle to safety, and soon, before it is too late. But that is not all. A slightly insane squirrel with "a touch of Husk about him" believes that the Heart has chosen him as the priest, the captain, and the king of Mistmantle. He gathers a few followers about him, and attempts to leave the island, just as the rage tide is coming on. Urchin, along with the King, Fingal, Captain Padra and his dear friend, Sepia, attempt to reason with him and save the children who are being brought along by their well-meaning parents. The first wave hits, and something terrible happens; Sepia is lost. Urchin's last view of her is a small figure, clinging to a boat as it is washed out to sea. And, as everyone knows, any creature of Mistmantle who leaves by water,cannot return by water, and no creature has ever returned three times, not by any way. But that is not all. Two young hedgehogs, Firtle and Ouch, go missing. And with the rains and winds and the instability of the earth, who knows if they will ever be seen alive again? Brother Juniper receives a prophecy; one must come, one must go. Sorrow must come before joy. Corr, a voyager, only the fourth one in all the history of the island, sets out in a small boat to search for Sepia. Only he can leave and return through the mists with impunity. Will he find Sepia? Will she be safe? Is she even still alive? Meanwhile, Crispin feels his old wound troubling him again, and knows that it will never be completely healed. But can even he do what will be required of him? Little Myrtle draws snowdrops, for hope. But can there really be hope in these dark and sorrowful times? Will there ever really be joy, after all this? I can guarantee that you will be moved by this book, and leave thirsting for the next one. I have to confess though, I'm still not quite sure whom these series are about; Crispin? Urchin? Fingal? Padra? Juniper? Cedar? I can only conclude that it is about every character you meet, a sign of a truly great book.