Our Davy hasn't changed, but his surroundings have. Too much Scottish politics, too many names, too much silliness in the romantic plot (though I liked the girl well enough), too many odd diversions (why did we need the lengthy Scottish folktale?), and not enough danger, swordplay, or Alan for my taste. I'm well pleased to know what happened to Davy, though he's as thick as two short planks, but I don't think I need to own it right now. ( )

A brilliant sequel to Kidnapped. It follows directly on from where we left off in Kidnapped and is the continued story of Davie Balfour and Alan Breck. Stevenson is a master craftsman with the pen. ( )

No, this isn't as good at Kidnapped. I fully admit to being a sap in saying that I enjoyed it, for it isn't the high-flying adventure story that the first book is - at all. No, here we have Davie in loooooooove. I do think though that this book is still best for the connections it has to Kidnapped - whether it be David doing right by the people who helped him before, or the rare and wonderful appearances of Alan Breck. And yet, even in this somewhat strained circumstances, I still liked him - and her, as well. ( )