My name is Hal, and my Heron brotherband has become Erak's most trusted crew. The Temujai have been trying to find a way into Skandia, so they can conquer the surrounding lands. We've already helped to strengthen a key Skandian outpost and quelled a raid, but Erak fears the Temujai may discover another way into our country. It's unlikely they'll try crossing the icy, perilous rivers to the north, but we're not sure what secrets might be found in those barren lands. We've sailed up the river, portaged the rapids and are exploring the area around the lake. We've noticed a few Temujai patrols moving along the shore, so we need to discover where they go at night. A few of them aren't a problem, but a huge army of warriors would be disastrous.
I always enjoy books written by John Flanagan, and this book was no exception. The Skandians are comparable to your image of Vikings, but most of this book takes place on land. The most enjoyable part of this series is Hal's inventiveness and imagination. The Heron ship epitomizes his ingenuity with its creative design and devastating Mangler weapon. Hal's uncanny knack for foreseeing enemy options allows him to develop remarkable battle strategies. Unlike some of the books in the series, most of this book involves fighting, strategizing, or preparing for battle. It doesn't include as much nautical vocabulary as usual, although those descriptions are still present. I don't mind, but some readers might let it bother them. The pages before Chapter One define all of the sailing terms you'll need to know. Flanagan develops an exciting adventure that builds to a suspenseful climax. The survival of the Heron is actually in peril, and it's unclear if it will withstand the dangers. Overall, I loved the book and recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Princess Eilonwy, and I can't believe that Assistant Pig-Keeper Taran tried to keep me from going on Gwydion's quest for the Black Cauldron. The boy sometimes lacks any sense at all, but I believe he has a good heart. Arawn uses the cauldron to create his army of undead, so it must be destroyed. Taran and I have been reunited with our group of friends, and we've been joined by two others. Adaon will lead our small band, but we've also added Prince Ellidyr. He's a pompous, troublesome sort, and Taran seems to have rubbed him wrong. Our job was to guard the horses, but we were attacked by powerful, unbeatable warriors. So, we're now headed to the swamps where we hope to find the missing cauldron. It was Taran's silly idea, but I suppose it may work out in the end.
You should read the books from this trilogy in order, starting with The Book of Three. Once again, Taran is the main character and finds himself in the middle of the most important events. Ellidyr's character really causes Taran to consider what makes others tick. The prince is a royal pain in the butt, but Taran learns to put the mission first. Saving the kingdom is more important than achieving glory for himself. Based on comments by Prince Gwydion and Dallben, I still get the feeling there's something extra special about Taran's character. There's nothing remarkable about him, but other characters are willing to trust him and believe in his leadership. The ongoing plot is a battle of good versus evil. The Cauldron-born were the main evil warriors in the previous book, but the warriors in this book are especially difficult to fight. If one warrior is killed, the others absorb his energy and become stronger. The enemy actually becomes more powerful as its warriors die. Overall, this trilogy has withstood the test of time, and I can easily recommend it for your enjoyment.
My name is Joss, and the egg of a silver dragon actually rolled down a hill and landed at my feet. Silvers are very rare, and Lysander is growing unbelievably quickly. I think it has something to do with quicksilver. He just started flying, and he even carried me on his back. However, we were attacked by Edward Lennix and his Raptor, but somehow Lysander escaped through a portal to another world. We returned right away, but I must be more careful about keeping my dragon a secret. My sister Allie and I will ride him away someday where we can live freely. Allie thinks I messed up our plans when a mysterious traveler found me, but the woman knows all about dragons. She bought us from the Zolls so we can go live with her. Allie doesn't trust the woman, and I’m starting to realize I probably should have listened.
I randomly found this book at my local library. The story is told from three different settings. There's Joss and his sister, the Lennix family, and then a modern setting with a girl named Sirin. The modern setting is referred to as the Lost World, although that's not clear until the portal is breached. It took awhile to understand how Sirin's story fit into the dragon plot, but it finally got there in the last chapter. Consequently, her story felt more like a distraction in this book, but it will clearly become a key element in the sequel. D'Mara Lennix is a wonderful villain, as she plays the role of cold, despicable matriarch. She sometimes presents a kind persona the same way a spider traps prey in its net. An interesting twist is her relationship with her husband. The man resents her condescending and controlling behavior, and the friction makes the husband unpredictable. Their kids are mostly following in their parents' footsteps, but they each have distinct personalities. Their behaviors display the clear dysfunction found in the family. Overall, I enjoyed the book more than I anticipated, and I plan on reading the sequel whenever it gets published.
My name is Taran, and I dream of being warrior hero. Alas, I can only call myself Assistant Pig-Keeper. I can't even do that job well, since Hen Wen, the oracle pig, has escaped her pen and is now lost in the forest. I had no choice but to follow her trail, but I happened to come upon the great Lord Gwydion. Unfortunately, we were captured by the Cauldron-Born, and I've been forced to mourn Gwydion's death as he was buried under the rubble of the Spiral Castle. I must now complete his quest to warn Caer Dathyl that the Horned King is amassing a fearsome army of Cauldron-Born. These warriors, risen from the dead within the Black Cauldron, cannot be stopped. I feel I should complete the mission alone, but I've been joined by an infuriating girl, a wandering bard, and a strange creature named Gurgi. I pray we do not cross paths with the Horned King along the way.
Lloyd Alexander was my favorite fantasy author back when I started teaching, so I thought I'd revisit some of his books. Taran has aspirations to become a hero, but the adventure transforms him. The loss of Gwydion causes him to become selfless, and he's determined to warn the kingdom of the impending dangers. He also finds himself missing the small farm he once wanted to escape. The most fun comes from his interactions with Eilonwy. This girl constantly questions his intelligence and stifles any signs of cockiness. She carries a powerful sword but won't let Taran touch it, although it seems like it should be destined for his hands. The bard adds some amusement due to his magical harp. He's prone to exaggerate, and the harp strings tend to snap when he goes too far. Overall, I'm enjoying this book once again and plan to start the The Black Cauldron soon. Books written many years ago aren't any less entertaining today, so give this series a shot.
My name is Horace, and bad information has resulted in my small force of soldiers being trapped in an old fort. An army of mercenaries four times our size has us surrounded, and I can't see any easy way to escape. Luckily, I have Gilan, the Ranger commander, with me, but he's at a loss for ideas too. I suspect we're being detained here while another force lays siege to Castle Araluen, but that would never work without assistance from someone within the castle. Still, I wonder. We've managed to repel the enemy's efforts to penetrate our fortification, but we won't be able to hold out much longer with our supplies running low. Gilan and I were surprised this morning when we found a message attached to a Ranger arrow. My daughter Maddie is hiding somewhere outside our fortress walls.
This book continued the style of other books by Flanagan. The action-adventures taking place in medieval-type settings has always appealed to me. Maddie is the star of the show and puts her Ranger skills into practice. She's an intriguing character, since she's a blend of princess and Ranger. There's never been a female Ranger, and other characters are often skeptical of her abilities, even her father. Maddie must remain incognito, so she's not taken hostage by the rebels. With all that, the survival of her parents and the kingdom is depending on her talents as a fourth-year apprentice. The plot clearly builds to an exciting climax between the Red Fox Clan and the royal troops, although the author stacks the odds against the king's supporters. However, if you've read other books by Flanagan then you'll know you can never underestimate the Rangers, Sir Horace, and the Brotherband. Overall, the book does not disappoint, and I strongly recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Max Einstein, and I am the smartest twelve-year-old in the world. Unfortunately, Dr. Zimm of the Corp wants to capture me, so I can help his organization make evil weapons and more money than they'll ever need. It's clear that I'm no longer safe in New York, so Ben (teenage billionaire and head of CMI) has flown my team over to Ireland to help the people of Siobhan's hometown. It's what we do. People in the town have become seriously ill from drinking tainted well water, so we need to figure out a sustainable way to solve the problem. When we're done here, I hear there's another water issue across the planet. It seems there's a shortage of water, and local officials are using the situation to make money off the citizens.
Well, here's another series where I didn't start by reading the first book. It will probably appeal to a select audience of middle grade readers. While the conflicts were big and important to the world, they didn't create much tension in the plot. I didn't get a sense of urgency as I read, and the obstacles were easily overcome. Some readers might be turned off by the many references to science, physics, and Einstein, although I enjoyed them. The group of kid geniuses used science and technology to resolve the problems, so the solutions were realistic and feasible. Including a team member who wanted to replace Max as leader added an amusing angle to some events. The other team members didn't take him seriously, but the situation added a twist to a climax. Overall, this was a fun book that can be enjoyed by many young readers, and you may want to give it a shot.
My name is Maddie, and I've become a fourth-year Ranger's apprentice to Will Treaty. It was unfair when I wasn't given a perfect score on my assessments, but I now realize bad luck is always a possibility. I wish I could travel with Will and Halt as they search for rebels called the Red Fox Clan, but I'm forced to perform my role as a princess. I've been exploring secrets within the castle while also patrolling the nearby abbey. I've heard reports of secret meetings being held there, but I haven't found any evidence yet. My mother wouldn't mind if I became romantically interested in the captain of the castle guard, but the young Skandian named Hal is much more intriguing. With my father gone, along with half the guard, I'm realizing the castle could be vulnerable to attack. The Red Fox Clan wouldn't dare lay siege to this impenetrable fortress, would it?
The first book in this series is The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning, although I read it with the title Ranger's Apprentice #12: The Royal Ranger. I enjoyed the Ranger's Apprentice series, as I watched Will grow, and The Royal Ranger series allows me to experience those feelings once again through Maddie's training. Another unexpected treat in this book is the inclusion of characters from all three of Flanagan's related series. The main conflict in The Red Fox Clan centers on King Duncan's law change that will allow female descendants to rule. Some citizens don't like the new law, especially any male heirs to the thrown. Maddie possesses many Ranger skills, although she favors her sling over the customary longbow. She's forced to conceal her abilities, since her mother will become queen. I appreciate the suspense this creates, since Maddie must perform her Ranger duties while remaining anonymous and her mother doesn't like the idea of her daughter being a Ranger. It's clear Maddie will be the most important character in quelling the uprising, but how will she manage that from the background and alone?
My name is Apollo, although you probably don't recognize me in this flabby, pimply, adolescent body called Lester. Meg and I have returned Jason's body to Camp Jupiter, but I know the armies of the Triumvirate will attack the camp within days. The prophecies I've read are confusing, and it sounds like we need godly help. However, Zeus has forbidden the gods from assisting me for fear of suffering his wrath. The prophecy also says something about a god needing to die, and I hope it doesn't mean me. I'm feeling the effects of a poisonous scratch that will cause me to become a zombie after my death. I don't want my friends trying to chop off my head after I'm dead. Camp Jupiter doesn't stand a chance against the Triumvirate's secret weapon, so I must do all I can to fulfill the prophecy.
This was the 2019 Goodreads Best Book in middle grade fiction. You should read the series by starting with the first book, The Hidden Oracle. The humorous twist to the series is how Apollo has lost all of his powers as punishment from Zeus, a contrast from other books where the main characters are often bestowed with new magical abilities. An additional twist is how Apollo bonded with Meg, but as a consequence, he's forced to obey all of her orders. It was a slow time coming, but Apollo's character is finally changing. He's always been pompous and "godly", but he now shows signs of compassion and humility. He regrets many of his past decisions and has promised to remember human feelings when he regains his powers. He's now able to place the needs of others before his own. These qualities may allow him to return to Mt. Olympus. I assume this book's sequel will end the series, as Meg and Lester will be returning to New York. Apollo seems to be getting some of his godly powers back, and there's one last foe they must face. The showdown with Nero should be the climax of the series, since he's been an antagonist from the start. Meg has some unresolved issues with him, and I'm anxious to see home things turn out.
My name is Grim, and my fathers were forced to flee from Earth with my sister, me, and the other four children. We've returned to a world where our lives are in danger, so our dads have hidden us in an orphanage. The chores stink, especially cleaning the crappers, and the way we're treated by the privileged residents makes me angry. I'm not sure what to think of my new roommate, but I think there's more to Quinn than he wants to let on. I'd love to leave this place and have my family reunited, but I know it's not safe. However, dangers have found a way inside these walls. My brother has been stricken by a mysterious plague that no one has seen before, and it's spreading its way through the orphanage.
First off, the plot took awhile to get into the conflict. The family was attacked and fled from Earth, but things slowed down when the kids entered the orphanage. There was clearly danger for the kids, but it was put on the back burner. The second half of the book was better, as the bigger conflict came back to the forefront. The kids were heirs to royalty, and their parents' rivals wanted them dead. The identity of the attacker within the orphanage was unknown which created the mystery and suspense. The dynamics of Grim's family were uncommon and were confusing at times. The two dads were very minor characters, and Grim's attitude toward his siblings seemed to change. His blood-sister had a bit of darkness, as she liked to take the heads off dolls and complain there was no blood. This detail was dropped once the kids left Earth, so why even include something like that? Grim would sometimes point out the other kids were not his siblings and then turn around and become protective of them. He had a competitive relationship with Rudy, but they became close allies as the story moved along. Overall, the book was good, so I read a related book, Simian's Lair. It was one chapter in length, and I'm not sure of its purpose.
