Prisoner of the black hawk
Shortlisted: 2015 Aurealis Awards

THE Mapmaker chronicles (#2)
Prisoner of the black hawk
After being betrayed by a fellow scribe, Quinn is captured by ruthless explorer Juan Forden, who will stop at nothing to beat the Verdanians. On board Forden’s ship, the Black Hawk, Quinn struggles to outwit his captors, makes new enemies and unexpected allies, and encounters bloodthirsty pirates.
Prisoner of the Black Hawk continues the story that began in The Race to the End of the World. The story is filled with a wonderful sense of old-fashioned adventure with sword fights, narrow escapes, daring plans, betrayed trust and the exciting discovery of new people, ideas, animals and places.
What reviewers are saying
“Tait has gloriously met the standards set precedent in the first book in the series with this sequel. Tait has a definite knack for writing tales that grabs the reader by the heart and doesn’t let go until the very end. To say I am hooked is putting things lightly.” – This Kid Reviews Books
“The work of Australian author A L Tait, The Mapmaker Chronicles is a fantastic series for readers who love stories filled with adventure and suspense. The story has a slight edge of danger that is just enough to thrill the reader and keep pages turning.”
Kids’ Book Review
“The story unfolds in such a gripping way that I found this second book in the series almost impossible to put down and read 95% at one sitting. This series is a great read by an Australian author and children will be transported to a world of action and human endeavour in a most exciting and satisfying way … Book Three will be eagerly awaited.”
Buzzwords
“A.L. Tait gives readers another fast-paced story set on the high seas in a fantastical world filled with terrifying creatures, pirates and loyal friends… I really like both Quinn and Ash because I can see myself reacting the same way in some of the situations the two face.” Barb Hopkins
Discover the entire series
THE MAPMAKER CHRONICLES is a four-book epic adventure series for kids 9+ about a race to map the world – and a boy who really doesn’t want to go. It’s about facing the unknown, finding your feet and figuring out who you are. The series is available in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK, Lithuania and Turkey. You can find more details here.