Author: Kirsten Miller

Publisher: Bloomsbury, 2007

Pages: 369

For Ages: 9 – 14

Rating: *** ½

Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb is a worthy sequel to Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, with just as much adventure, mystery, and fun girl power as the original. As an added bonus, there are even a couple male characters this time.

The Irregulars are back with even more worries. Someone has been freeing animals in pet shops and zoos and leaving giant squirrel murals that credit their acts to Kiki Strike. While Kiki denies the acts, she’s late and distracted at meetings.  Annaka’s parents, worried about her academic underachieving, threaten to send her to boarding school if she doesn’t shape up. Oona seems grouchier than usual and has important news she keeps forgetting to tell the group. Betty might have a secret admirer, Luz’s mother still won’t let her out of her sight, and Dee Dee and Iris think they may have discovered a perfume that will help the girls with the long list of enemies they’ve made.

Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb is another fun read for upper elementary and middle school girls.