Entries Categorized as 'Older Readers'
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Adventure, Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Animals, Brian Jacques, Funny, Hares, Hedgehogs, Long Read, Mice, Moles, Otters, ravens, Redwall, Scary, Snakes
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Young Bisky the mouse and his friends at Redwall are determined to find the four great jewels that were hidden long ago by Gonff, the prince of thieves. Unfortunately, this treasure is also sought after by the raven Korvus Skurr and his hoard of sinister Doomwytes. Solving riddles, braving danger, and meeting many allies along the way, the Redwallers may still be up against more than they bargained for.
I must admit I didn’t go into Doomwyte expecting much. However, I ended up pleasantly surprised. Several funny moments, some riddles, plenty of adventure, and a new sort of villainous threat. I think what really pulled it off for me, though, is the lack of character stereotypes. After so many books in the series, there starts to be almost a standard for “the abbot character,” “the hero character,” and so on. But this one felt fresh and different, while still keeping in the same general feel as the other books. I’d say Doomwyte is worthy to sit on the shelf with the rest of the Redwall series.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Cornelia Funke, Inkheart, Long Read, Sad, Scary
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A year after the events in Inkheart, Dustfinger has finally found somebody to read him back to the Inkworld. However, Orpheus, a conceited man with the gift of reading, tricks Dustfinger and leaves his assistant Farid behind. Fearing the book’s original tragic end for Dustfinger, Farid asks Mo’s daughter Meggie to read him to the Inkworld as well, which she does, but she comes along. What they find is a very messed up Inkworld that seems to be writing its own story. Meggie tries to help Fenoglio (the author of the book they are now in) fix the story, while Farid attempts to save Dustfinger from disaster.
And if you think that was complicated, wait ’til I tell you that I left out two or three plot lines! In other words, Cornelia Funke’s brilliant sequel is deeper than the original. Inkspell raises multitudes of very good questions, such as, “What would it be like for a man to be the god of a world?” To find out the answer, you’ll need to stay tuned for not only Inkspell, but also the sequel Inkdeath, as Inkspell ends at quite the cliffhanger. Well worth the time to read it.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Incredibook!, Older Readers, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Animals, Bryan Davis, Dragons, Long Read, Oracles of Fire, Scary
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If a sin is committed in Second Eden, a way will open for evil to get in. Oracle of Fire Acacia, son of Shem Elam, and former underworld slave Paili all arrive in Second Eden to stop such a crisis. Meanwhile, Ashley, Walter, and dragon Thigocia have all come to Second Eden as well. All of them realize how crucial the success of their mission is to the survival of the universe. But will they recognize the threat before it is too late?
At the same time, Billy Bannister tries to find out why his friend Bonnie and her mother have both taken off for fear of dragon slayers. It will take a trans-dimensional journey and many old friends to unravel the mystery that ultimately will bring them back to an ancient enemy.
I’m always left with a sense of just having gotten off a roller coaster when I finish these books. All of the characters have something to learn, something to accomplish, and are all important to the story. This may be overwhelmingly complicated, but that’s what makes this so good. It’s a depth of story that I don’t usually see in fantasy. Although Last of the Nephilim is a little bit slower than Bryan Davis’ other books that I have read, it is still well worth reading. I’m looking forward to the hair-raising conclusion that must be coming in Bones of Makaidos.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Older Readers, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Animals, Bryan Davis, Dragons, Long Read, Oracles of Fire, Scary
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Back in present day, Enoch’s Ghost continues from where the Dragons in Our Midst series left off. Ashley, Walter, Karen, and Thigocia are beginning their search for Gabriel and Makaidos. But it’s not long before a sinister plot is uncovered—Mardon is taking steps to merge Hades, Earth, and Heaven. Even with help from Sapphira Adi, Walter, Ashley, and the others are up against great odds. Multiple storylines grow and build, leading to a powerful climax across three dimensions.
I did enjoy this book, but I must admit that it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Having persevered through the enormous Eye of the Oracle (and consequently feeling like I’d run my brain through a fruit pulper!) I was ready to get back to a present-day setting, with maybe a simpler plot and something I could actually wrap my mind around without strain. “A search for missing family members, with adventures along the way,” I told myself, settling in to read. Well, not quite. A lot of the history and technology from Eye of the Oracle ties into Enoch’s Ghost, and the results are far from simple. All told, it’s masterfully put together, and I’ll certainly be reading the final two books. I’m just finding the Oracles of Fire series to be a little too over the top for me to really enjoy as much.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Incredibook!, Mysteries, Older Readers, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Bryan Davis, Echoes from the Edge, Long Read, Sad, Scary
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When his spy father and musical mother are found dead and he has to go into a witness protection program, Nathan Shepherd is left with only a few clues about what happened to his parents. A mysterious mirror in a strange box left him in his father’s will leads Nathan to the conclusion that his parents are really alive. But with this realization comes the discovery of some very weird parallel universes (yes, I did say universes), dragging Nathan and his new friend/sister Kelly into a mystery which only becomes more complicated as they unravel it.
Because of the complexities of the plot, you’ll have to stay focused to finish Beyond the Reflection’s Edge. It really is so complicated, intriguing, and fast-paced that I couldn’t stop thinking about the story, even when I wasn’t reading it. The characters come across as very real, and Nathan especially inspired me in a positive way. This is definitely a new entry on my favorites list, and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the next one!
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