SKELLIG: The Tales of Conor Archer, Vol. 2

By: E.R. Barr
Publisher: Telemachus Press
Publication Date: March 22, 2020
ISBN: 978-1948046862
Reviewed by: Kathy Stickles
Review Date: May 5, 2025

Since I did not read volume one of The Tales of Conor Archer, I was not sure what to expect given that volume two was a 400-page book that picked up just a couple of days after the end of the first story. Happily, it was like meeting a bunch of friends and catching up on their lives briefly in the first few pages and then jumping right into a new adventure. SKELLIG: The Tales of Conor Archer, Vol. 2 is a fabulous story that readers are going to love whether they are a fan of the first book or new to the series.

SKELLIG begins right after the conclusion of the first book, chronicling the tragic events that happened in Tinker’s Grove, a small town in the United States. Conor’s Aunt Emily quickly decides that the best way to keep him safe is to send him to Ireland to be with his godmother. In Ireland, she feels that he will be protected and will have the time he needs to deal with all that has happened and all that he has learned about himself. Of course, nothing is ever as easy as the plan. As soon as Conor gets off the plane, he finds himself getting into trouble again: there is a war criminal from Japan who has lived for more years that you can count who wants Conor dead, plenty of Otherworld beings that are out to end him, not to mention a very wealthy landowner who is after him and is definitely more than what he seems.

Thankfully, Conor never expects his life to be easy. With the help of some old friends and a bunch of new friends (including a wisp, his godmother, some tinkers, a shapeshifter named Colly, and an archangel) Conor jumps right into a new quest to find some mythical items that will make him the true king and enable him to defeat the evil that is after him. As the adventure and the cast of characters go between this world and the Otherworld, the action and excitement never stops. Can Conor and his friends save both worlds and themselves? Will Conor become king? SKELLIG is the ultimate good versus evil story and you will not be disappointed as you follow all of these wonderful heroes and creatures on their journey.

There are so many fabulous things to point out about SKELLIG. First, the characters are incredible and each one is such an integral part of the story. I’m not sure who is more fun to read about: the boy who will be king, the boy that turns into a wolf, the dog placed in the real world to protect his future king, the archangel who tries to help at every juncture but is not allowed to interfere, and the list goes on and on. The personalities and backstory of each character are very well-developed and the world-building and descriptive writing are absolutely riveting. Any reader will feel completely immersed in every scene regardless of what world is being described at that moment. This author is very serious about his research into the culture, folklore, and land that is Ireland and that is such a huge asset to the historical parts of the story. Finally—and this was a welcome surprise—the illustrations by Howard David Johnson are gorgeous and a fabulous addition to the text.

I would highly recommend SKELLIG: The Tales of Conor Archer, Vol. 2 to any reader out there who enjoys a great adventure, a bit of history, a fantasy story that is never short on action, or simply a well-written book that will hold your interest. You will not be disappointed in any way.

Quill says: It is such a pleasure to read the second book in a series where, even if you have not had a chance to read the first, you can just pick up the next and jump into it without having the feeling that you do not understand what is going on or who the characters are. As a reader, that is something that I really appreciated.

For more information on SKELLIG: The Tales of Conor Archer, Vol. 2, please visit the author's website at: www.talesofconorarcher.com