Entries Categorized as 'Adventure'

True to the Old Flag

Our rating: *½

At the start of the American Revolutionary War, young Harold joins the British side with his father. He becomes a talented scout, helps win several battles, has narrow escapes from the enemy, and manages to be around for almost every part of the war.

Here’s a book that is remarkably interesting for the fact that it is about the British side of the American Revolution. The battles are done well, at points Henty even has me (an American) rooting for the British. And yet, for some reason, the story keeps getting sidetracked into Indian fights. About seven long chapters in the book are solely about Harold and his friends fighting Indians. Even though the main story is good, it is rather annoying to have the war grind to a halt so that Harold can rescue his cousin from Indians. However, hearing the British side of the story makes the book worth reading anyway.

Circles of Seven

Our rating: *****

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.

The Legend of the Firefish

Our rating: ***½

Packer Throme, burdened with an uncertainty and a guilt about his life, resolves to sneak aboard the Trophy Chase, a fine ship manned by the pirate Scatter Wilkens. Or rather, the recent pirate. Wilkens has turned fisherman in the quest to find and hunt the legendary Firefish, fearsome creatures that bring a high price on the market. Packer has information about them and hopes to join in with the intent of learning enough of the trade to help out his hometown. But things are not as easy as they seem, and soon even Panna, his love back home, is swept into adventure.

A very interesting read with much food for thought. From what I gathered, it employs the “turn the other cheek” policy to the point where, boiled down, it’s almost saying that it is wrong to fight or resist when you are confronted or even accosted by an evil person. And I believe there is something to be said about fighting for justice. However, the main theme throughout is really trusting God with everything, including your life. That, I agree with wholeheartedly. I’m still mulling over the rest; it’s a well-crafted novel. The Hand That Bears the Sword, part two of the trilogy is available as well, and The Battle for Vast Dominion, the concluding book, has just been published the beginning of this year.

The Candlestone

Our rating: *****

Several months after the conclusion of Raising Dragons, Bonnie’s father suddenly appears on the scene, claiming that Irene (Bonnie’s mother) is, in fact, still alive, but in critical condition. He insists that the only way Irene can recover is if Bonnie goes with him, so despite suspicion, Bonnie and her father depart for Montana. Billy, Professor Hamilton, Walter, and Billy’s mother uncover more clues and decide that things are not as they seem. They set off to the rescue, guided partly by a book that contains some of Merlin’s prophecies. But unknown dangers await both Bonnie and Billy, trials that will put to test not only their courage, but their faith.

I’m not sure whether the appropriate word to sum this book up would be “Wow” or “Whoa.” Both are entirely applicable. Plot twists and mysteries completely pack this book, and you can hardly stop to catch your breath between chapters while racing through with that age-old question of, “What happens next?” A very, very powerful story. I did rate it five stars, but I should note that in my personal opinion, it ranks at more like four and a half. However, this is entirely due to the fact that I have a rather severe case of medical phobia, and so a great deal of the content in The Candlestone I found to be unnerving. Setting that aside, this story is not to be missed!

The Bark of the Bog Owl

Our rating: ***½


In the island of Corenwald, 12-year-old Aidan Errolson longs for some adventure and writes often to King Darrow, asking for some kind of quest. (None of his fifteen letters are answered, however.) One day he hears the bark of the bog owl and meets Dobro Turtlebane, one of the feechiefolk, tribes of people who warn each other never to go near “civilizers.” The same day, Bayard the Truthspeaker pays a visit and proclaims that Aidan will someday be the Wilderking, the prophesied king who will come out of the forests and swamps.

And so the Wilderking Trilogy begins. This book is a fantasy, but is only so because it takes place at an unreal island. It seemed a little slow to me, but it’s still good. The Bark of the Bog Owl is written well so that it has some adventure, but is not gory.