Quest for the Wishing Stone

April 1, 2024
In this third episode, the Junior Dungeoneers plunge into the unmapped Abyss in a desperate bid to save their teachers, their renowned role model, and (supposedly) their world. With seemingly little agenda beyond making sure that earnest points about the virtues of leadership, teamwork, kindness, trust, and forgiveness continue to be thoroughly hammered home, the authors follow 2023's Dungeoneer Adventures: Wrath of the Exiles with a story arc involving a flurry of clashes with the Exiles (formerly met foes and academy dropouts) and random encounters with subterranean monsters. All of the above is related in a hybrid mix of uninspired text and humorous grayscale visuals. Driven by the disappearances of both idolized adventurer Shane Shandar and most of the Dungeon Academy's faculty, human Coop Cooperson leads his multispecies Green Team to the rescue (with reformed bully Zeek Ghoulihan invited to tag along so he can prove his sincerity). They arrive just in time to destroy a dangerous Wishing Stone (which is supposed to destroy all the magic in the Land of Eem). In a scene that will take fans of The Lord of the Rings directly back to the Mines of Moria, the Green Team battle a monstrous villain on a crumbling stone bridge. The tale ends with a party back at the academy, and the young heroes' parents arrive by train for joyous reunions. A weak volume focused more on life lessons than action or logic. (Illustrated fantasy. 8-11)

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