My name is Moria, and I've written this book about my troubled brother, James Moriarty. Our father has sent us to Baskerville Academy where we're fourth-generation legacies, descendants of the school's founder. Our family Bible is critically important to the school, and it's been stolen from its display. James has received clues regarding it, but he's become frustrated by the cryptic messages. However, his roommate Sherlock Holmes seems to have all the answers and has enlisted my help. Lock's superior air annoys my brother, but he thinks it's imperative that James pass this test. Before coming here, my father seemed worried and gave me directions in case he disappeared. Now, I'm wondering if James is in the same danger. I know it has something to do with the Moriarty family Bible, but who's behind it all?
I must admit I started this book awhile back and didn't finish it, but the synopsis still interested me. It will probably most appeal to mature middle grade readers. The book doesn't really fit the supernatural theme of my blog, but it has that kind of feeling. The Bible has a mystical power that is the center of generational rituals. Sherlock's logical and analytical manner of speaking may turn off many readers, just as it irked the characters in the book. The story is told as a young version of a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel with Moria's voice being the narrator. The setting is in modern-day America, whereas the original stories took place in old England. Young readers will probably miss the many references to the classic series. Make no mistake, this book will make you think; it's a mystery. Sherlock is unable to ignore clues, so he's constantly analyzing situations and evidence. You'll do the same and find yourself challenged to figure out what's going on before he reveals the truth. As you can tell, this book will not be enjoyed by all, but most lovers of mysteries will like it. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, but the secrets revealed during the resolution have intrigued me. We'll see.
My name is Elliot, and I accidentally freed Thanatos from his prison under Stonehenge. I was only trying to save Virgo, a girl from the Zodiac Council, but Thanatos said he'd help my mom's illness. Well, the Daemon lied. Now, he's searching for the Chaos Stones that he'll use to get revenge on Zeus and torment the mortals on Earth. Virgo needs to recapture him, and she'll lose her immortality if she fails. My problems don't seem as important, but I've got to find some way to protect my mom and save our farm. The neighbor lady is determined to tear down our home to develop the land. Virgo and I have contacted Hermes, who led us to his dad Zeus, and now we're enlisting the help of other gods and goddesses. I'm afraid to share all my problems with them, but I'm wondering if the Chaos Stones may be my answer.
This book shared a funny adventure full of unique gods, goddesses, and other immortals, although unique is probably an understatement. Virgo had a superior way of speaking to Elliot and thought human life was silly and illogical. However, the gods and goddesses were very supportive of Elliot. Hermes jumped at the chance to help and was happy to use the apps on his new iGod and to give fashion advice. Zeus was pretty cool and easygoing. He rocked flowery clothes and embraced the human way of life. His tendency to flirt and get married weren't admirable qualities, but his resolve to help Elliot was the backbone of the group's efforts. You don't often read about supernatural beings so determined to help a human. It's usually humans trying to impress the gods. When I checked out the book, I didn't realize it started a series. This book dealt with acquiring the Earth Stone, and it looks like each additional sequel will involve finding the other Chaos Stones. Thanatos wants them too, so he'll be the recurring antagonist. A prophecy says he can't touch Elliot, so that complicates his efforts. Overall, the book was a fun change of pace from some serious books I've recently read. Give it a shot if you're ready for a silly adventure. I plan to read Simply the Quest soon.
My name is Matt Thorson, and my family is descended from the Norse god Thor. While my brothers chose to play team sports, I've chosen to excel at boxing and wrestling. We all wear magic amulets, but my temper tends to activate mine. I always manage to find some way to disappoint my dad. The rune reader has announced I'll represent the Thorson family and fight the serpent during Ragnorak. However, I overheard my grandfather talking about the decision, and I was shocked by what he said. I've now run away to find other descendants of the gods who will help me in my quest. Surprisingly, Fen and Laurie are my first two recruits. They are related to Loki, and the wolves have always been enemies to Thor's family. We must find a way to work together or everything on Earth will be destroyed.
I enjoy adventures based on mythology, and this book fits that description. This first book deals with Matt assembling a team of descendants from gods to fight the battle of Ragnorak. Fen clearly despises Matt and is overly protective of his cousin Laurie. These dynamics continue throughout most of the plot and add another layer of conflict. Laurie is sick and tired of the boys trying to keep her out of the action and wants to be a full contributor to the group's efforts. Matt comes off as a goody-goody character, as he's from a sheriff's family. The positive is he's an honorable and understanding leader, but the negative is that he's not ready to make hard and questionable decisions. These attributes are a direct contrast to Fen, who's judgmental and hates to avoid a fight. Their team grows to seven members, but that number changes toward the end of the book. They're searching for artifacts to help Matt defeat the serpent, and Loki's wolves are a constant threat. Fen has a history with them, so the interactions are personal for him. Overall, I'm enjoying this adventure of Norse mythology and have already started reading the sequel, Odin's Ravens.
My name is Zach, and everyone in my family can use an object to perform one kind of magic. However, my parents and sister don't know that I can perform magic with any magical object. I let them think magic skipped me, so I can attend public school with my friends. Today, I came home and told my mom I'd organize the artifacts in our attic. I fell off a stool, tumbled into a mirror, and ended up in another world. Everyone here can perform magic, except for me, and my friends are behaving really differently. I wonder how this world's Zach is doing in my world, and I've got to find some way to get home. Unfortunately, I tried to go back through the mirror again, but I made a big mistake. Now, I fear I may be stuck here forever.
The summary above should give you a good idea of what to expect. I didn't realize this was the third book in a series when I chose it, but it didn't affect my understanding of the plot. The main character got thrown into a reverse world. The reverse Zach, named Jak, presented a creative twist to the conflict. The world switch enabled him to perform magic for the first time, and he was overjoyed with the change. He wasn't really motivated to correct the switch with Zach. The plot moved so quickly that there wasn't time to develop the characters. The book's opening pages listed the characters along with their descriptions, and that was as deep as the characterization went. I was expecting the comparable characters in the alternate worlds to be opposites, but they were just different. Zach's best friend was still his best friend, only buff and popular, and his archenemy/school diva was now nice, not Zach's close friend. Even though Zach and his friends were thirteen years old, the book could easily be enjoyed by younger readers. There weren't any subplots, and the entire focus (except for Jak
) was on getting Zach home. Overall, it was a fun, quick read, and I recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Hector, and few of my former friends suspect I'm secretly working for the armies of Prince Lucas. It helps to have an ability to speak with the dead, and I hope to sneak my way into the Iceland fortress. Others call me Blackhand as the dark magic slowly takes over my body, and my murdered brother's voice still counsels me. I often wonder what's become of my close friend Drew, but I suspect he's been killed by now. The wolf was changing, and he didn't have the stomach to become king. The Lionguard and the panther's armies are spreading death and destruction across Lyssia. I will take my place alongside Prince Lucas when the resistance is finally quashed, although I still have small doubts in the back of my mind. The cats have never shown much loyalty to other Werelords, but I'm sure they'll make an exception for me.
This book has come a long way from the first one in the series. Full-out war is going on between the armies of the Werecats and the supporters of Drew, the Werewolf destined to rule the realms. The fighting and violence are again at the forefront. My pet peeve is when books tell the story from multiple settings, and this series has consistently done that. I hadn't read the third book in awhile, so the various settings and dozens of characters became muddled. I couldn't clearly remember their roles or their corresponding type of animals. Most of the main characters maintain human forms and only transform into animals when fighting. Supporting characters and soldiers are often human and are subservient to the Werelords. I still hold out hope for Hector's character, as there are still moments where he remembers a bit of humanity. He started out as Drew's best friend but has slowly morphed into a murderous sorcerer. I can hope, but he's nearing the point of eternal evil. Overall, the series is a creative adventure, although you must have a tolerance for violence and ruthlessness to enjoy it. It's testing my resolve, but I guess I'm stubborn to finish all the books.
My name is Ostin, and Hatch is regrouping his forces after Michael sacrificed himself to destroy the island of Hades. My friends and I stole Hatch's super ship and escaped, but we needed to refuel in Fiji. Unfortunately, our options were limited. Hatch foresaw our plans and captured my friends in the Electroclan, so our ability to stop him is dwindling. My hope right now is to enlist the help of Tuvalu natives to put up some kind of defense. With no weapons or transportation, I'm not sure how we're going to do it. However, something strange happened last night that shook Jack and I. We both had the same dream, but was it really a dream? It seemed impossible, but the message we saw spoke of a "sun god". What does it all mean?
You need to read the previous books before reading this one. This book ended the series, and it was strange to have Michael Vey absent from most of the plot. Also, the natives and Ostin became the central characters in this book. That was the biggest difference I noticed from the previous six editions. I missed having the Glows around, using their electric powers to win the battles. Actually, the whole Electroclan was pretty much nullified by Hatch's RESAT, so more customary tactics were utilized by Ostin. Hatch threatened his usual methods of torture and death, while Ostin and the natives tried to find guns and other weapons. Ostin's never had any super powers, so his superior intelligence was their not-so-secret weapon. The climax of the series was explosive and will please fans of Michael Vey. I read the books as they were being written, and it was hard to wait a year between sequels. Luckily, you'll be able to enjoy them in one continuous string, and I recommend you give them a shot.
My name is Christopher, and I was happy being an apothecary's apprentice for Master Blackthorn. He freed me from the orphanage and has been very kind. However, now I don't know what to do, since I've been accused of his murder. He had given me a locked cube containing a cryptic puzzle and wouldn't help me solve it. Then, he struck me across the face and ordered me out of the stop. I was stunned. When I returned, I found him hanging by ropes, blood dripping from the gashes across his body. Maybe it was the cult rumored to be killing other apothecaries, but Master Blackthorn didn't believe the cult existed. Clearly, someone was searching for something specific in the shop, and it's now my mission to solve the mystery and his murder.
Christopher is an endearing character due to his loyalty and the mutual affection with Master Blackthorn. That's why it's so surprising when the master gets angry and slaps his apprentice. The second half of the book unfolds into a mystery as Christopher tries to decipher the puzzle left by Blackthorn. It's clear the puzzle will lead to a legendary "fire" that could change the course of the country. Christopher's efforts are complicated, since there's a reward for his capture and a secret cult is searching for the "fire". The time period is also an important element due to the conflict between Catholics and Puritans. The threat of a coup to overthrow the king is a distinct possibility. In addition, Christopher has no rights due to his role as an apprentice. He had no right to speak against adults and other apothecaries, and he wasn't allowed to keep property left to him by Blackthorn. It's hard to function without having any rights and literally everyone searching for him. His best friend's father was very anti-Christopher, so that hampered his friend's support. Overall, the book was very engaging, and I recommend you give it a shot. Lovers of mystery and the culture in old England will have no trouble getting into the action.
