Kristiana’s Sfirlea’s second novel in The Stormwatch Diaries series, Legend of the Rainbow Eater, is like a dream. In fact, dreams pervade the story from the first chapter onward. But this isn’t what I mean. The book itself takes on the aspects of a dream. While reading it, the narrative and character’s actions and motivations make sense, but try to summarize it in a review and it’s like trying to describe that movie that unfolds in your head when sleeping. However, as in the best of dreams, it’s a marvelous book because of the emotional impact it has when it’s done.

Here goes a summary. In a fantasy world, a group of angels who live in an asylum, known as the Blackouts, seek out legends. This time they’re after the wishing mist—a mist that grants a user’s wish. They’ll have to follow the mischievous will-o-the-wisps to find it. The wisps, or wispies, may lead the Blackouts to the legend or to their untimely deaths depending on the wisps’ whims (say that three times fast).

Now throw in lumberjacks, maple syrup festivals, automatronic bears, gypsies, a mysterious hangman, time traveling, body snatchers, and last, but certainly not least, giant, people-eating squirrels and you have a middle grade book unlike any other.

While many other fantasy authors are enticing middle grade readers to experience a familiar world and common characters with supernatural elements (in the vein of “The football captain is a werewolf”), this story takes its readers someplace unfamiliar with larger-than-life characters and asks its readers to keep up. In many ways, it resembles M. T. Anderson’s Pals in Peril series. Legend of the Rainbow Eater challenges the reader in surprising ways. When the narrative is flowing, it interrupts it. When the big surprises seem to be done, even bigger ones are revealed. When you think it’s cute and cuddly, it rips off its fuzzy exterior to reveal its grinning skeleton underneath. Marvelous in world-building, dialogue, and description, Legend of the Rainbow Eater plops you into a one-of-a-kind adventure you never saw coming.

The two main characters here are Rose and Marek. Best of friends since the beginning of the last novel, these two are simpatico in every way. Rose is a relatable and sympathetic hero who is learning to live without her magic in a world where everyone else has theirs. She remains optimistic despite being terrorized by (I can’t reveal what) on a carousel playing a funeral dirge in high Bradbury-esque style. Marek reminds me of that older brother who acts like he doesn’t know what he’s doing but is smarter than everyone else. His friendship with Rose, and paralyzing fright of certain creatures, highlight his engaging personality.

Supporting characters are all solid. My favorites, Cade and Sephone, get a special scene apiece which adds to the overall joy of reading this novel.

The writing and style mirror the first book and are top notch. Words, pages, chapters flow by like water not because it writes down to its audience. Not at all. You won’t find the word “catafalque” in many books these days. But the narrative is an easy read because of the writer’s skill. Though this is Ms. Sfirlea’s second book, it reads like she’s written dozens before it. And it takes a special skill to write a meta-novel, but the author pulls that off too.

The novel is also illustrated in a beautiful way, arriving when least expected, and depict our beloved characters in the best of scenes.

And the humor. The book buzzes when it brings the funnies, and brings them it does. The quips and relatable humor exist as in the first book. Rose’s comment after playing Hangman for six hours straight, the clever word play with a galloping hobble, and Cade’s comment about growing silver hair from her purple tresses stand out.

Yet, Sfirlea takes advantage that others don’t in sequels and introduces some character humor. Building up her characters in the first novel and at the beginning of the sequel, she puts them at a disadvantage here with hilarious results. Prim and proper Cade, in particular, has a miserable night out with Rose because of her attire. And Aiden’s response to the Blackouts idea of who would make a good “date” for him to go to the gypsy camp had me in stitches.

As a second book, it dives directly into the events shortly after the end of the first book. If I had caught a wisp and made a wish, I would’ve wished that Rainbow Eater would orient the reader a bit more before rushing off. However, the length of the novel precludes this extra exposition, and most readers won’t miss the back story.

This all sounds like fun, but is it a rainbow-colored candy with no substance? Absolutely not. Despite the fantastic settings and extraordinary characters, the emotions they feel are as real and true as real life. Rose’s loneliness, Marek’s fear, and Cade’s concern all ring true. Later revelations on honoring the dead aren’t depicted in middle grade fantasy. A central theme of believing without knowing occurs throughout the novel. And the healing of a broken friendship near the end plays with the heart strings like they were harp strings. No matter your age, this novel has a lot on its mind, and it tells it in a deceptively light-hearted way.

Legend of the Rainbow Eater is a worthy sequel to the excellent Legend of the Storm Sneezer. Funny and poignant, creative and relatable, Legend of the Rainbow Eater is a novel to read before you sleep at night hugging a teddy bear (maybe) and dream a little dream of wishing tea kettles and rainbow promises.