Entries Categorized as 'Mysteries'

Circles of Seven

Our rating:*****

Incredibook! Older Readers

Circles of Seven: Volume 3 of Dragons in our Midst (Dragons in Our Midst) (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0899571727

Price: USD 10.19
54 used & new available from USD 6.01

Picking up several months after The Candlestone, Circles of Seven finds Billy and Bonnie about to enter an evil realm of seven circles. In the seventh circle Billy must set free some prisoners, but he knows that there are also false prisoners that must not be released. After he and Bonnie enter the circles, however, Professor Hamilton and his friends discover that the realm is filled with evil New Table knights. Convinced that it’s not fair for Billy and Bonnie to be alone while swarms of bad guys populate the realm, Ashley and Walter try to help in whatever ways they can from the outside.

Trust me, this one moves fast. It has to in order to fit such an in-depth story into 415 pages! As usual Billy and Bonnie get into danger left and right, making you sit farther on the edge of your seat than you already are. Don’t despair when it seems hopeless for the story to come to a happy ending, and you’ll be just fine. Make sure you have Tears of a Dragon close at hand when you finish Circles of Seven, because you’re going to want it.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (5 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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Kneeknock Rise

Our rating:**½

All Ages

Kneeknock Rise (Paperback)
by Natalie Babbitt
ISBN: 0312370091

Price: USD 6.99
39 used & new available from USD 1.49

The small village of Instep lies at the foot of Kneeknock Rise. All of the villagers are frightened of a monster that they call the Megrimum, which lives on the rise and howls every time it rains. But the villagers are also proud of the monster, so they have a fair every year to show off the monster. One year, young Egan comes to visit his aunt and uncle at fair time, and his cousin dares him to climb Kneeknock Rise. Is the Megrimum really up there?

Although this story is quite predictable (you probably know how it ends), it is also enjoyable enough to read while waiting for the next book blockbuster. Babbitt spins a tale that will delight readers, which should influence them to read one of her better stories.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (3 votes, average: 2.33 out of 5)
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The Enchanted Castle

Our rating:****

All Ages

The Enchanted Castle (Paperback)
by Edith Nesbit
ISBN: 1598188313

Price: USD 12.56
21 used & new available from USD 12.29

Gerald, Cathy, and Jimmy are out of school for the holidays, and they discover a cave which leads to a seemingly enchanted castle. They awaken a sleeping princess, who shows them a treasure room, and a ring in it which starts a series of adventures.

I like this book. However, like most of E. Nesbit’s other books, there are temples. There are also some statues that come alive that are gods and goddesses and one of the parts near the end with the gods and goddesses is not my favorite. But that being said, this is a pretty good book.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
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Mister Monday

Our rating:****

Advanced Readers

Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1) (Paperback)
by Garth Nix
ISBN: 0439856264

Price:
19 used & new available from USD 0.10

Arthur Penhaligon suffers from asthma. On his first day at his new school, he has a nasty attack and collapses. A strange man called Mister Monday and his butler appear and, along with some considerably confusing talk, give Arthur a mysterious key, shaped like the hand of a minute clock. Then they vanish. Arthur thinks it’s all just a weird hallucination, but that doesn’t explain why he still has the key — which Mister Monday will do anything to get back. Monday sends out his Fetchers (particularly nasty dog-faced men) to retrieve the precious item, and a terrible plague breaks out that no one can find the cure for. Arthur is sure he’s the only one who can help. But how?

It might be noted that the plot has much more depth to it than I’ve managed to portray in my summary! I thought it was very interesting. A definite page-turner, though much more intense (at least at the beginning) than I’m used to reading. Overall, I was quite pleased, and I plan to read the next book, Grim Tuesday.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (8 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)
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Dragons in the Waters

Our rating:****½

Older Readers

Dragons in the Waters (Laurel-Leaf Mystery) (Paperback)
by Madeleine L’Engle
ISBN: 0440917190

Price:
12 used & new available from USD 0.89

Thirteen-year-old Simon Renier and his adult cousin Forsyth are both on a boat headed for Venezuela. Forsyth plans to deliver a portrait of Simon Bolivar to a museum, Simon is just along for the ride. On the day they leave, Simon meets Poly and Charles, two brainy kids who are roughly his own age. What could be better? Together they roam the ship, until the portrait is stolen, and they must help solve the mystery.

Wondrously complicated. I’ve heard that this is the second in a series about Poly and Charles, but Dragons in the Waters can stand on its own. You will not expect the ending, nor will you expect most of the plot twists (unless you read the blurb on the back cover and ruin it!). This could easily have been a five star book, except for some signature L’Engle weirdness that was a bit of a stretch (I won’t spoil the story by telling you what it is). However, if you’re willing to let her rearrange the universe a bit, Dragons is a gripping mystery that will keep you turning pages.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (3 votes, average: 1.67 out of 5)
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