Book: The Sorcerer In The North
Author: John Flanagan
Rating: 6.5/10
In book 5 of the Rangers Apprentice series, Will is an Apprentice no longer. Now a fully fledged Ranger he is assigned to the quiet area of Seacliff fief.
A ranger's role is numerous, he must assess the strengths and weakness of the baron and the fief he looks over,act a a law enforcer and remain independent.
And Will isn't too pleased with what he finds. The Baron and his battle master have got lazy. Their knights and men-at-arms are poorly trained and they are too comfortable.
So consequently when a shipload of Skandian raiders turn up they are completely unprepared and out matched.
The long standing treaty between Araluen and Skandia doesn't ban individual raiding but it's thoroughly discouraged by the Oberjarl Erak, a good friend of Will's after abducting him into slavery then having Halt and Will help save his land.
So Will is the only one who can reason with the Skandians and try to stop the attack.
Fortunately the Skandians realise who it is but they must have supplies to make it through the winter and have little choice but to raid. Will comes to a solution. Throwing the Skandians and banquet and giving them animals from the barons prime stock both saves the villages and teaches the Baron an important lesson.
Then Will receives a message from Halt ,his old master, and Crowley the Ranger corps commander asking him to meet them.
And when he arrives he finds he's being sent undercover as a travelling minstrel.
Strange things are happening in the north, incurable illnesses, strange lights and sounds and rumours of sorcery. And when the area involved is the only thing stopping a Scotti invasion, Will must gather the truth fast.
But the real danger lies not in the dark magic around Grimsdale wood but in the castle itself. Lord Orman is hated and is a suspect to his fathers illness. A nephew called Keren is mainly in power. A friendly fellow who makes Will feel at home. An added bonus is that his contact is Aylss, One of his closest friends and a member of the diplomatic service.
But when the truth is revealed Will and Orman must flee the castle and seek the dark magician Malakallam's help to heal Orman as he comes down with the same illness. But in doing so Aylss is left behind and is caught.
With Sorcery, betrayal and twists and surprises at almost every page turn this book is yet another brilliant book in a great series.
A thoroughly worthwhile read as is the whole series so far. aimed more at kids/teens it's still a very enjoyable book and If you've never read any of these series you don't know what you've been missing.
I found the story and adventurous as the previous 4 and you can tell it's only going to get better.my slight criticism is that it ends on a cliff hanger which is good. But leaves a little too much not filled in, that being said it's just more to look forward to in the next book.
Hope you found this review helpful,
The Devonian Book Reviewer
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Friday, 26 August 2011
Sunday, 21 August 2011
BOOK REVIEW: I Am Number Four (Pittacus Lore)
Book: I Am Number Four
Author: Pittacus Lore
Rating: 7.5/10
There were nine of them in the beginning. The last known survivors of the planet Lorien. They were younger when the Mogadorians invaded. Every Loric has a partner of the other side. Garde and Cepan. Garde are the warriors, the ones who have powers. Cepan are tasked with training Garde and protecting the knowledge of Lorien.
Nine Garde and their Cepan's escaped the planet .As they escaped a charm was placed on them., they can only be killed in number orderand when One gets killed a scar appears on the remaining. All were young without powers. They traveled to the nearest habitable planet, Earth.
Number 4, currently called John Smith, is living in the U.S.A. Number 1 and 2 have been killed.The warning charm scars are on his leg.
Then there's a third. Number 3 has been Killed. John is next.
Him and his Cepan Henri have been on the run for years but when they reach paradise,Ohio they stop. Despite now being the target John wants a normal life for awhile.
He settles down but when his powers start emerging thing start going bad.
Magazines printing stories on Mogadorians, Henri getting kidnapped and John's rescue attempt are the first major things to occur.
Then they find Number 6. With both 4 and 6 together it cancels out the charm protecting them all. And the Mogadorians find them. It becomes a desperate battle of powers and guns against beasts and soldiers who largely outnumber them.
Can they survive? and How will other Garde survive now the charm is lifted?
This is a very good book and I don't think my review really stresses how well it's written. It's maddeningly light on the circumstances but slowly more get revealed and I'm sure even more will be in other books. I really enjoyed it as it was quite a complex storyline and background yet the way it is written doesn't confuse you at all. A very good read and a very interesting book. Definitely would recommended reading.
Hope you found this review helpful,
The Devonian Book reviewer
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Author: Pittacus Lore
Rating: 7.5/10
There were nine of them in the beginning. The last known survivors of the planet Lorien. They were younger when the Mogadorians invaded. Every Loric has a partner of the other side. Garde and Cepan. Garde are the warriors, the ones who have powers. Cepan are tasked with training Garde and protecting the knowledge of Lorien.
Nine Garde and their Cepan's escaped the planet .As they escaped a charm was placed on them., they can only be killed in number orderand when One gets killed a scar appears on the remaining. All were young without powers. They traveled to the nearest habitable planet, Earth.
Number 4, currently called John Smith, is living in the U.S.A. Number 1 and 2 have been killed.The warning charm scars are on his leg.
Then there's a third. Number 3 has been Killed. John is next.
Him and his Cepan Henri have been on the run for years but when they reach paradise,Ohio they stop. Despite now being the target John wants a normal life for awhile.
He settles down but when his powers start emerging thing start going bad.
Magazines printing stories on Mogadorians, Henri getting kidnapped and John's rescue attempt are the first major things to occur.
Then they find Number 6. With both 4 and 6 together it cancels out the charm protecting them all. And the Mogadorians find them. It becomes a desperate battle of powers and guns against beasts and soldiers who largely outnumber them.
Can they survive? and How will other Garde survive now the charm is lifted?
This is a very good book and I don't think my review really stresses how well it's written. It's maddeningly light on the circumstances but slowly more get revealed and I'm sure even more will be in other books. I really enjoyed it as it was quite a complex storyline and background yet the way it is written doesn't confuse you at all. A very good read and a very interesting book. Definitely would recommended reading.
Hope you found this review helpful,
The Devonian Book reviewer
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Sunday, 14 August 2011
BOOK REVIEW: The Recruit (Robert Muchamore) Cherub 1
Book: The Recruit
Author: Robert Muchamore
Rating: 8/10
James Choke is 11 and seemingly always in trouble. He's clever but lazy. Quite often in fights ect ect.
Then he does something stupid and is in big trouble. Accidentaly he cuts someones face open on a nail.
He's expelled from school but also the biggest gang in the neighborhood is after him. The girl who he cut is their leaders sister.
His life is down the pan, and then his mum dies.
Taken into care, cautioned by the police and then arrested stealing beer he's just sinking lower and lower.
Then he wakes up at CHERUB.
CHERUB is a secret organisation teaching kids to be spies.
The training is mental, especially seeing as James can't swim. He is given a new last name: Adams. And has 3 weeks to learn to swim before the 100 day basic training starts.
It's not looking good but James's partner in training has tried to pass it a number of time and knows every trick in the book. But that doesn't stop James from almost failing on numerous occasions.
Then he passes and gets his first mission.
Situated in the hippie camp of Fort Harmony James and Older agent Amy must investigate the possibility of a terrorist attack at an upcoming oil conference.
But after a few weeks of mud, being beaten up and investigating what they come across is very bad.
A terrorist organisation called Help Earth is planning an anthrax attack on the oil delegates.
Worse still James gets infected.
Rushed to hospital it doesn't look good.
Will James survive?
What will happen at Fort Harmony?
And what will the head of CHERUB say about James first mission experience?
Read this book to find out.
This is the first book in one of my favourite series I've ever read. Anyone would be crazy not to give it a go.
Although a lot of this book is setting the scene It's a brilliant read and the rest of the series should be even better. It's aimed mainly at teens but I believe anyone from 12+ will find this to be great.
Robert Muchamore is a great writer of these books.
Buy these books
Hope you found this review helpful,
The Devonian Book Reviewer
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Author: Robert Muchamore
Rating: 8/10
James Choke is 11 and seemingly always in trouble. He's clever but lazy. Quite often in fights ect ect.
Then he does something stupid and is in big trouble. Accidentaly he cuts someones face open on a nail.
He's expelled from school but also the biggest gang in the neighborhood is after him. The girl who he cut is their leaders sister.
His life is down the pan, and then his mum dies.
Taken into care, cautioned by the police and then arrested stealing beer he's just sinking lower and lower.
Then he wakes up at CHERUB.
CHERUB is a secret organisation teaching kids to be spies.
The training is mental, especially seeing as James can't swim. He is given a new last name: Adams. And has 3 weeks to learn to swim before the 100 day basic training starts.
It's not looking good but James's partner in training has tried to pass it a number of time and knows every trick in the book. But that doesn't stop James from almost failing on numerous occasions.
Then he passes and gets his first mission.
Situated in the hippie camp of Fort Harmony James and Older agent Amy must investigate the possibility of a terrorist attack at an upcoming oil conference.
But after a few weeks of mud, being beaten up and investigating what they come across is very bad.
A terrorist organisation called Help Earth is planning an anthrax attack on the oil delegates.
Worse still James gets infected.
Rushed to hospital it doesn't look good.
Will James survive?
What will happen at Fort Harmony?
And what will the head of CHERUB say about James first mission experience?
Read this book to find out.
This is the first book in one of my favourite series I've ever read. Anyone would be crazy not to give it a go.
Although a lot of this book is setting the scene It's a brilliant read and the rest of the series should be even better. It's aimed mainly at teens but I believe anyone from 12+ will find this to be great.
Robert Muchamore is a great writer of these books.
Buy these books
Hope you found this review helpful,
The Devonian Book Reviewer
UK:
USA:
Germany:
Spain:
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