Going Wild #3: Clash of Beasts by Lisa McMann

My name is Kelly, and I've finally found someone who appreciates my talents. Dr. Gray sometimes seems crazy and scary, but I'm proud to work on his secret project for the government. I'm not sure how the government plans to use the hybrid chimeras, maybe new super soldiers, but Gray must have something fantastic in mind. I'm proving my value by collecting DNA from different animals, although I feel sorry for scaring and hurting them. I guess that's the price to pay for advancements in science. It's hard to remember the times before Charlie came to Arizona; her arrival started all of my problems. Maybe not all of them. I don't miss my parents, and I was surprised how easy it was to hypnotize and make them forget me. That hurts a little, but I can't wait for the day when everyone will be amazed by my new abilities. 

You should read the previous books to understand the relationships between characters. Kelly joined the "bad guys", but her defection was due to insecurities and hurt feelings. Her parents were going through a divorce, and they were ignoring her when they weren't yelling at her. Her friends understood the danger of the bracelets and wanted to keep one from Kelly, but she interpreted that as an insult and a lack of trust. The bracelets were the backbone of the series, as they gave the wearers abilities associated with different animals. Charlie, the main character, had five abilities and had the least number of complications from the bracelet. Much of the plot dealt with Charlie and her friends researching possible new animals to add to their bracelets. Conversely, Maria's bracelet made her turn into a howler monkey, although other scientists fixed that problem. The plot stretched science fiction, as Dr. Gray was experimenting with hybrid human/animals. His goal was to change everyone on earth into hybrids, although Kelly and the team didn't know. They were starting to question Gray's sanity, so there was anticipation as to what they would do. Overall, this series has been a fun read, and I recommend you give it a shot. Lovers of science fiction, adventure, and animals should be entertained.

Hazy Fables #2: Zombie, or Not to Be by Kyle Sullivan

My name is Edda, and my mom has been changed into a human! I don't know how this terrible thing happened, but my Aunt Agonista is behind it. She's replaced my mom as Lead Scientist, and all she cares about is making money. She's trying to get rid of the renewable resources in Deadmark, and she wants to go back to using fossil fuels. I don't know how she's convinced the elected council to go along with her ideas, but craving human brains can make them lose their focus. Most of the zombies in Deadmark seem to support Agonista, but I know I can count on my vampire friend Bram to help me. However, how can I get anyone to believe the truth about my aunt? And how did she change my mom into a human? 

I found this book randomly in my library's catalog. It flip-flops the world between zombies and humans. Okay, the zombies still eat human brains, but pollution, wasted resources, and global warming are destroying the earth. Most of the zombies believe in science, but Edda is experiencing a lapse in faith. She's doesn't trust following the scientific method anymore. The fun aspects of the plot are how it mirrors real-life concerns for saving the planet, and how the solution to all problems is based in science. Saving the environment is at the center of the conflict. There's also a movement promoting the humane treatment of humans, despite the zombies' natural, uncontrollable thirst for brains. The contrast between "serious" efforts to save Deadmark from Agonista with zany, zombie-life make the book entertaining. Now, if you don't have a tolerance for grossness and silly humor, you won't enjoy the book. Overall, the book amused me, although I can't say I highly recommend you read it. It will appeal to the right audience, so give it a shot if you think that applies to you.

Children of the Periapt: Escape From Elmsmere by Cimone O'Byrne

My name is Vinnie, and I knew I needed to escape from Elmsmere Academy. I was stolen from my parents, dumped in that prison, and I could see it sucking the life out of the other gifted kids. My invisibility came in handy when I wanted to be alone, but it wouldn't help me get past the field of flowers. Liliana said they wouldn't kill me, but I wasn't so sure. I needed to help Kitty get out of there too, as Seekers took gifted kids away when they turned twelve; she'd be twelve in a month. No one knew where they'd be taken, and Kitty's older sister recently disappeared. I knew I had to get back home, but I promised to help Liliana find her sister. I never imagined where that adventure would take us, but the bigger surprise concerned Kitty. Who was she?

This book is the first in a series that follows the trio of gifted kids. Vinnie can turn invisible, and Liliana is able to speak to, and control, plants. Kitty is the most mysterious character, as her past is unknown. No one knows her gifted talent, and she carries a rare emerald periapt. The periapt is a crystal charm worn by gifted children on their bracelets. Kitty's past story is revealed near the book's climax, but the author saves other secrets for the sequel. I'm sure she'll become the center of the next conflict. Liliana's character is dynamic, since she begins the story as a timid, loner character. In the end, she learns to assert herself and discovers more power than she imagined. A message learned is that people who see injustice and do nothing are just as bad as those performing the injustice. People should act when they see something wrong. While I enjoyed the plot and characters, there were elements of the book that could have been improved. The transitions in time could have been better, as some of them were pretty abrupt. Also, characters sometimes stated things that should have been easily inferred by readers. It was redundant. Overall, the story was entertaining and interesting, and it should appeal to lovers of shortish speculative fiction novels. Give it a shot if it sounds like it's up your alley. 

Potion Masters #3: The Seeking Serum by Frank L. Cole

My name is Gordy, and my grandfather is crazy. He has a manifesto that will rock the world of the Elixirists and all the people unaware of magic potions. My mother has been kicked out of B.R.E.W., the organization controlling the use of potions, so now everyone in the world seems to be out to arrest us, capture us, or take away our abilities. However, my ability differs from everyone else, since I can brew potions without having all the necessary ingredients. At this point, I don't know if B.R.E.W. or my grandfather is worse, but something needs to be done. Even though my mother wants to keep me safe, I'm the only one who can stop my grandfather. 

I wish this conclusion to the trilogy had been written two years ago when I finished the previous book. The potions were used frequently, but I didn't know the purpose for most of them. A glossary of spells was located at the back of the book, but who wants to keep referencing that when reading? The plot also included different groups of people, but it was unclear how they all differed. Again, things would probably have been clearer if I'd read the previous books more recently. Read the first two books first! Gordy was the main character, and his grandfather was the main antagonist. Pitting a child and grandparent against each other was an unusual conflict. However, Gordy was conflicted, as B.R.E.W. had done questionable things to Elixirists, so he wasn't sure if they weren't actually worse than his grandfather. This added to the suspense, since the resolution of the conflict was less clear. What would the world look like in the end? Gordy was aided by two non-Elixirist friends who added nice twists to the plot. Max contributed humor to the events, as he was looking for excitement and adventure. Adilene created a subplot, as she really wanted to be an Elixirist, but she was too old to manifest the skills. Or was she? Overall, I enjoyed the series and recommend you read the books straight through. Unlike me.

Jinxed #2: Unleashed by Amy McCulloch

My name is Lacey, and I can't believe I spent the past month in a coma. I remember rescuing Jinx from Carter, but I don't remember anything after chasing my cat through some locked doors. Jinx. I now remember my baku is gone, but I'm still determined to find out what's happening at Moncha Corp. Luckily, my friends are talking to me again and are willing to help, but shockingly, I've been expelled from the Profectus elite academy. They say it's because I only have a level one beetle now instead of a required level three baku. I wish I could remember what happened after I saved Jinx, but I'm sure something else important happened behind those locked doors. It has something to do with Monica, the founder of Moncha, and her partner, Eric Smith, is up to something. He's planning to roll out a new update for bakus, but it can't be anything good. 

You must read the first book in the series. This book develops into more of a mystery, as Lacey tries to figure out what's going on at Moncha Corp. Some of the things I mentioned above were actually shared in more detail in book one, but Charlie has forgotten them now. Her memory returns, with the help of Jinx, but Eric Smith's update is the major conflict in this book. His deviousness and technical capabilities create uncertainty about which characters and bakus might have been corrupted. Lacey's relationship with Tobias is rekindled, but Lacey's best friend wonders if he can be trusted. The author includes phrases here and there that spread doubt around to various characters. However, I was surprised by a secret revealed by Lacey's main school nemesis. The fun part of the series is the bakus, as they're the robotic pets people have come to rely on. They're like personal computers/cellphones wrapped up in cute packages. (Except for Lacey's new beetle named Slick) Slick has a history with Lacey that began back in the first book, so their relationship is complicated. The two Jinx books are a fresh spin on science fiction and take technology to the "what if?" stage. Overall, I highly recommend these books for your reading pleasure. I don't know if there's going to be a third book, but the resolution of this one leaves the door open. 

Spy School #8: Spy School Revolution by Stuart Gibbs

My name is Ben, and everyone thinks Erica, the best spy in school, tried to blow me up at the CIA. Of course, I know that isn't true, since I'm still alive. I managed to meet with her, and she said some secret, evil organization forced her to attack me. I'm about the only one who believes she's not a traitor, and I'm going to help her in thwarting this organization's plans. That will be a challenge seeing as this group's been behind many of our country's most well-known conspiracies, including assassination attempts and the stock market crash. I thought telling my parents about my secret life as a teenage spy would complicate things, but my dad actually thinks it's pretty cool and exciting. My mom and he are looking forward to going into witness protection. Hopefully, I won't get myself killed or arrested for helping Erica.

I somehow skipped reading the previous book, but it didn't affect appreciating this one. The author blended adventure with humor to create an entertaining spy story. The book opened with Ben's parents discovering he hadn't been attending a private science school for the past couple of years and then jumped to everyone surviving a missile attack. Ben was the brains of the series, as he always managed to solve the various problems. This was balanced with his very average abilities in all other areas of spying. In addition to stopping the evil plans of a secret organization, the characters are informed of double agents lurking within the CIA. Consequently, all new characters should be treated with suspicion, since any of them could be working with the bad guys. Erica does all of her super spy things again, but she reveals a surprising secret, considering this is the eighth book in the series. It will be interesting to see how this twist develops in the future. The format of all the books is the same, so you need to enjoy young CIA spies going on unusual missions. The plot includes light-hearted moments that you'll find amusing. Give it a shot if this sounds like it's up your alley. 

Going Wild #2: Predator Vs. Prey by Lisa McMann

My name is Charlie, and I never knew my dad worked on a secret project before becoming a teacher. It was related to the bracelet that gives me the powers of five animals, but it was terminated when Dr. Victor Gray started getting dangerous ideas. He was creating hybrid soldiers, and now he's kidnapped my dad to work on the project again. To make matters more complicated, my friend Maria had a bracelet too, and she started looking like a howler monkey when she got stressed. It was kind of hard to hide that from her mother. Luckily, my mom remembered an emergency letter my dad wrote ten years ago, and it put us in contact with his former colleague, Dr. Quinn Sharma. It's nice to now be working with someone who knows what's going on, but do we really know what Dr. Gray is up to? And how are we supposed to stop his squad of hybrid animal soldiers?

You should read the first book in the series, but this sequel is much more interesting and adventurous. The first book was set in Charlie's new middle school, but this one fully embraces the conflict surrounding the bracelets. It seems Dr. Gray plans on making more bracelets, but what he plans to do with them is unknown. The plot is impossibly realistic, as the bracelets give the wearers animal abilities. No one can fly, and no one has x-ray vision. However, Charlie's bracelet knows when she needs the strength of an elephant, the speed of a cheetah, and the healing powers of a starfish. Charlie's friends have their own bracelets with different abilities, and complications develop. Maria's problem is especially unpredictable and causes her a lot of stress. Middle school is hard enough without a problem like this. The most important question involves another friend named Kelly, as she lies about her bracelet. Why? What is she up to? The use of animal abilities makes the powers impressive and relatable. We're familiar with the abilities, but the characters and readers will still have trouble identifying the animals. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and hope to read Clash of the Beasts soon. 

Jinxed #1 by Amy McCulloch

My name is Lacey, and all I want in this world is to become a companioneer for Moncha Corp. I know I have a special talent for working on bakus, robotic pets created by Moncha, and I've worked extra hard to get the best grades. Carter gets angry when I beat him in school competitions, but I'm okay with that. I was shocked and devastated when I got a rejection message from the elite Profectus academy, but I later received another message saying I was accepted. Strange, but I'll take it! I've learned that baku battles are the most important thing going on at Profectus. I didn't buy a level-three baku like everyone else; I found Jinx at the bottom of a ravine. I totally repaired his mangled body and got him working. However, I know there's something very different about him, as he's more independent and can think for himself. I must keep this to myself, because I don't know what will happen if Jinx's owner ever finds out.

This book was more than I expected. The author built a world based on our addiction to technology and our love of pets. Moncha's image was so stellar that it was predictable that something was wrong with them. If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't. The actual antagonist wasn't clear for most of the book, but there were clues for readers to focus on. Carter was Lacey's main antagonist, and he got especially vicious as the book went along. The baku battles were at the heart of Profectus, but it was surprising how readily the characters embraced them. I mean, their baku companions could be destroyed and become unrepairable. Teams received points if they could fix bakus back to 90% of their functionality by the next day. Jinx was the most entertaining character, as his actions were unpredictable. The robotic cat seemed to have an unspoken mission, and he often scampered away from Lacey. Other students and faculty thought she couldn't control her baku, which technically was true. The underlying problems at Moncha were revealed around the plot's climax, and it will be interesting to see where the sequel goes. I've already started reading Unleashed and recommend you give the series a shot.

Psi Chronicles #3: True Son by Lana Krumwiede

My name is Taemon, and there must be a way to bring peace between Deliverance and the Republik. I thought removing psi from Deliverance would help, but General Sarin of the Republik fears we'll ally with the nation of Nau against them. The people of Deliverance have no weapons, and I'm the only one left with psi. I will use it according to guidance from the Heart of the Earth, but I won't use it to kill any humans. The Republik sees us as traitors, and Gevri is especially angry with me. He blindly follows his father's orders and will use his dominion to attack others. The conflict between our nations began when the prophet Nathan created Deliverance. However, the Republikites don't understand that his actions actually saved their nation. My hope is the Heart of the Earth and the truth can unite us once again. 

Once again, for some reason, I waited eight years to read the conclusion to this trilogy. Geesh, I hate when I do that! The plot pits an ultimate conflict between a nation of pacifists against a military invasion. Taemon has the internal conflict of knowing he can use psi to end the hostilities, but he won't use it to harm others. The problem becomes more complicated, since the people of Deliverance pressure him to use his abilities to protect them. In contrast, the Republik sees Taemon as a dangerous threat and doesn't believe his words of peace. Taemon has an additional conflict with the general's son that boils down to a feeling of betrayal. The son wants his father's approval but begins to question his father's motives and strategies. Taemon travels into the forest to commune with the Heart of the Earth. He hears the voice in his head but begins to wonder if it truly exists. Has Taemon been following the guidance from his own ideas? Although my specific memories are fuzzy, my past posts seem to show I enjoyed the previous two books a little more than this one. However, the series comes to an entertaining and satisfying conclusion, and I recommend you give it a shot. 

Going Wild #1 by Lisa McMann

My name is Charlie, and I hated when my family moved from Chicago to a small town in Arizona. However, the biggest change had nothing to do with the move. I found a box addressed to me in the garage, and I thought I'd found a cool athletic band. You know, the ones that track your heartbeat and calories burned. I didn't notice anything strange until I attended soccer tryouts. The other girls said I was running super-fast, and it helped me score a goal. I was feeling great until I was kicked in my knee, and I was certain my leg was broken. It swelled up to a huge size and was all kinds of shades of purple and blue. Imagine my surprise when I woke up the next day, and my knee was back to normal. I didn't know what was going on with my body, and it terrified me. I couldn't control what my body was doing.

This book set the groundwork for the rest of the series. Most of the story described Charlie's efforts to survive middle school after manifesting some enhanced abilities from a mysterious bracelet. I expected her to become the super hero her friend expected, but she spent most of her time trying to figure out how to control the powers. They popped up unexpectedly and didn't always end positively. Consequently, most of the book felt less like a speculative fiction and more like a regular middle grade fiction where the main character just wanted to fit in. The bracelet saved a couple abilities for later, so this provided a little more suspense to the story. The mystery of the bracelet was introduced early on, but it wasn't explained until the last fourth of the book. I can't say I fully understood the premise of the problem, and some events were less "believable". The sequel will clearly address the conflict surrounding the bracelet head-on, as the antagonists made a late appearance in the plot. I'm curious to see where the story goes, so I've already reserved a copy of the sequel Predator Vs. Prey. Give the series a shot. 

Seven Wonders #5: Legend of the Rift by Peter Lerangis

My name is Jack, and I only have a few more months to live. All of us Selects will die on our fourteenth birthdays if we can't find a way to reunite all seven Loculi. Each one enhances an ability, the Loculus of healing has been very handy, but they must be destroyed in order to correct history. Unfortunately, the followers of Massarym and Karai are fighting over the fate of the Loculi, and my friends and I are always caught in the middle. We must travel to the last two Wonders of the World, collect the last two Loculi, and travel through the rift to an ancient world. Hopefully, we'll save Aly and end this curse that's been killing Selects for centuries. Recent events give me hope that we'll be successful, but there's still a nagging feeling that something unexpected will complicate things. 

I enjoyed this conclusion to the series, but I wish I'd read the previous book more recently. It'd been six years, so I'd forgotten most of the past events. However, this book contained plenty of action, mystery, and suspense to carry the plot without knowing past details. Jack was leader of the Selects and displayed the uncertainty of being thrust into that position. His decisions were complicated by new revelations about characters and past events. This all created tension and suspense to keep the plot interesting. It was a bit unusual that the touch of a Select was necessary to activate the Loculi. Imagine several kids holding hands and touching the Loculus of Language to understand what someone else was saying. It made sense, but it was strange. It was also unusual that there wasn't a clear antagonist for most of the book. The main conflict was like fulfilling a quest to return the Loculi through the rift, but there wasn't an actual bad guy until the book neared the end. Overall, I really enjoyed the series and recommend you give it a shot. You'll probably appreciate it more than I did, because you'll read all the books straight through. You won't wait six years to finish the series!

Nightmare Academy #3: Monster War by Dean Lorey

My name is Charlie, and I must do something about the monsters invading earth even though I've been exiled from the Nightmare Academy. No one else has a chance of defeating the Fifth, but it may be beyond my abilities too. I'm the only Double-Threat fighting against her right now, since Pinch turned his back on humans. The Headmaster says my only hope of defeating the Fifth is to retrieve the Sword of Sacrifice from the Smith in the Netherforge. This weapon can kill any nether creature, but we don't know the sacrifices required to get it. The Director is determined to Reduce my friends and me, but no one will believe the truth about what he did to the Guardian. My only hope of saving all humanity is to retrieve the Sword of Sacrifice.

You should read the previous two books first, since this one concludes the trilogy. Theodore was Charlie's best friend, and he added an element of levity and humor to the plot. His boasting masked his fear and insecurity, but he always stepped up when he was most needed. Despite his presence, this book had a more serious tone to it, as people were dying to a formidable army of monsters. Main characters experienced dramatic sacrifices in order for Charlie to receive the magic sword. Theodore had an ongoing conflict with his father, the General, as his father didn't provide him with any love or support. Living up to parent expectations can be a huge problem. The plot jumped around quite a bit, since Theordore and Charlie could open portals to almost anywhere in the world or the Nether. It could have been confusing, but it all made sense. My biggest issue was with the trilogy's conclusion. Yes, the conflict was pretty much lessened, but it wasn't resolved. The author admitted this at the end and said there was more story to tell. However, this was written in 2010, and I haven't found a continuation of the plot.

A Dragonborn Novel #2: Fireborn by Toby Forward

My name is Cabbage, but don't ask me why my mentor, Flaxfield, gave me that wizard name. Something strange is now happening to Flaxfield's spells, and we've realized it's from wild magic. Even our simplest spells turn to flames that burn out of control. He was once almost killed when a harvest spell engulfed him in a blazing inferno, but strangely, I walked right through the fire to save him. I'm able to summon a magical cat that eats the runaway flames, but Flaxfield isn't sure how I can do that. We know the wild magic originated with a girl named Bee, but her mentor stole her ability to wield fire. He was never a very good wizard, and now he's changed. He's turned into something that's dangerous. Somehow, we must figure out a way to combat this new kind of magic.

This book is part of the Flaxfield Quartet, although my local library listed it as A Dragonborn Novel. I reread my review of the first book from eight years ago, and I was confused. I wrote, and the synopsis on Goodreads confirmed, that Flaxfield died, so how was he a main character again in the second book? Another reviewer said the story in Firstborn preceded the first book, but that wasn't made clear anywhere. The rules of magic weren't shared, so I didn't understand how the spells worked. That was important, because the whole conflict was based on magic that was out of control. Finally, I've always had a problem with books and multiple settings, and at one point, this book had five settings. A couple of them weren't necessary and didn't add much to the plot. It became distracting and made remembering events trickier when reading over many sittings. Overall, I enjoyed the story about an apprentice wizard and his mentor battling an out-of-control magic. The author included a few surprises to characters that made the book even more interesting. I liked the concept of this book, but the ending wasn't satisfying. The conflict was stopped, for the time being, but it was clearly not resolved. It will need to be taken care of in a future book.