Review: Halt's Peril - John Flanagan

Synopsis: Rangers walk the line between life and death every day, but never before has that line appeared so thin or death felt so certain. Hot on the trail of the Outsiders - a cult that's been making its way from kingdom to kingdom, conning the innocent out of their few valuables - Will and Halt are ambushed by the cult's deadly assassins. Pierced by a poisoned arrow, Will's mentor is near death and in dire need of the one antidote that can save his life. Time is not on Will's side as he journeys day and night through the harsh terrain to Grimsdell Wood in search of the one person with the power to cure Halt: Malkallam the Sorcerer.

Review: I have put off writing this review as long as I can. No, I haven't put it off because I have such dreadful things to say about it; I put it off so that I may think of what to say about it. Unfortunately, there really isn't anything in Halt's Peril to excite particular interest in a positive or negative way.

It is a good installment, and fairly suspenseful, though its ending is easy to guess. Mr. Flanagan isn't an Author who allows permanent evil to befall main characters. Like all of the books, his dialogue is funny, but movie-ish, though I must say that some of the interactions between the characters in this volume are particularly funny. I am also pleased to report that Flanagan does not try to tackle any battles, but a few minor skirmishes. He can do that, and I must admit that his avoidance of trying to write a real battle improves the books considerably.

Still, I wish he wasn't writing any more books in the Ranger's Apprentice series. Four was a perfect number; six was really pushing it. But ten?! (And I hear rumors that there is to be an 11th.) Even the best of series need to end, otherwise they become dull and slightly irksome.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Others in the Ranger's Apprentice Series:1)The Ruins of Gorlan
2)The Burning Bridge
3)The Icebound Land
4)The Battle for Skandia
5)The Sorcerer of the North
6)The Siege of Macindaw
7)Erak's Ransom
8)The Kings of Clonmel
9)Halt's Peril
10)The Emperor of Nihon-Ja
11)The Lost Stories

Review: The Kings of Clonmel - John Flanagan

Synopsis: When mankind seeks protection from the world's many dangers, they put their faith in warriors, kings, gods, and even money. In the neighboring kingdom of Clonmel, a mysterious cult has sprung up, promising defense against lawless marauders in exchange for people's riches. Their sermons are attracting audiences from miles around, but there's a dark side to this seemingly charitable group, prompting Halt, Will, and Horace to investigate. What the trio uncovers could threaten the safety of not only Clonmel, but their homeland of Araluen as well.

Review: This one was way better than The Sorcerer of the North, The Siege of Macindaw, or even Erak's Ransom. It picks up where The Siege of Macindaw left off - Will is a full-fledged Ranger, he and Alyss are well aware of each other's feelings (but don't worry; it isn't mushy), and Will is making quite a name for himself.

But best of all - Halt is once more a prominent character, which I really think is what The Sorcerer of the North and The Siege of Macindaw was lacking. Not only that - we Readers get to learn a lot more about Halt's past. I confess that I am divided about that. On one end, it is interesting to finally discover more about the Ranger, but at the same time Halt is one of those characters that Readers aren't meant to know a lot about. A layer of mystery is supposed to surround them; it is part of what makes those sorts of characters so appealing. I think that if Flanagan reveals too much more about Halt, he runs the risk of ruining him (please don't!!).

Flanagan blessedly sticks to mere skirmishes and single-combat scenes, which he can write without it being a huge muddle. That is another plus for this book - the story doesn't become bogged down with scenes that the Author just isn't cut out to write. There is no serious build-up of suspense - no massive revelations of secrets (except Halt's past, but if you have read The Icebound Land, it won't come as too big of a surprise) - and I found it perfectly fine. It reverted back to what was more at the heart of The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge: the villain's overall intentions are clear enough, which leaves room of the Author to focus on the villain himself; how he is accomplishing it, how he operates.

All in all, I enjoyed The Kings of Clonmel. It felt much more like Flanagan's first two books - which are, in my opinion, surprisingly the best, - and I hope that Halt's Peril (which I just went out and bought) is just as good, if not better.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Other Books in the Ranger's Apprentice Series:

1)The Ruins of Gorlan
2)The Burning Bridge
3)The Icebound Land
4)The Battle for Skandia
5)The Sorcerer of the North
6)The Siege of Macindaw
7)Erak's Ransom
8)The Kings of Clonmel
9)Halt's Peril
10)The Emperor of Nihon-Ja
11)The Lost Stories

Review: The Road to Vengeance - Judson Roberts

Synopsis: Determined to find and fight his brother's killer, Halfdan knows he must first gain experience as a Viking warrior. He's been lucky so far. He gained passage on a ship and is quietly learning the strategies of war and conquest from the hardy crew. Now, with a prisoner in tow - the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat - Halfdan is finally starting to earn some respect, and a name for himself.

But he is not looking for praise. Halfdan is only biding his time, gaining strength and skill for his ultimate quest. Time and again his proves himself on the battlefield, using clever strategy and an uncanny talent with a bow. Halfdan is growing as a warrior, but will this be enough to beat a savage murderer?

Review: I should have re-read the other two books before I launched into this one. I must sadly confess that while I remembered most of the events from the others, it took me over half of the book to recall who was who. But that may not be my fault. When you have so many Viking characters whose personalities blend into one, and whose names are so bloody similar (I am complaining at three in particular: Tore, Torvald, and Toke), I don't think reading the books one after the other would have helped much anyway. But, to give Mr. Roberts credit, his Vikings have more personality than most, and Halfdan is fairly likable.

I have no complaint against the storyline - it has been good ever since the beginning. And the battle sequences aren't horrible to read, though certainly not masterpieces. One thing that usually irritates me about Viking stories is it is really hard to find a likable character. They are Vikings, and the common picture of Vikings is plundering, killing, drinking, and liking women a bit too much. Not an entirely inaccurate portrayal, from all historical accounts, but these qualities do make it hard to accept a Viking as a main character/hero. Halfdan, though, does his best to be good. He's out for revenge - and for a completely legitimate reason, - so he always tries to keep his head clear by not drinking nearly as much as his comrades. He does raid and kill, and he doesn't like it - he doesn't see his killings as a good aspect of his character, and when they invade Frankia, he isn't too happy, because he doesn't like killing people with whom he has no quarrel. And when he claims a woman as a captive, he swears to see that no harm comes to her, nor does he ever harm a woman's honor when he has ample chance to.

Which brings me to content. I read the Strongbow Saga with some nervousness because while Judson Roberts has never been explicit, he doesn't shy away from the blunt truth that invaders raped women. I was worried when Halfdan captured Genevieve in Dragons from the Sea. I saw there being serious trouble with her and the other Danes, and I didn't doubt that Judson Roberts would devote some time to relating such incidents. Never fear, Readers - nothing happens. And while there are plenty of alludements to taking pleasure in the opposite gender, it never goes beyond alludements. Genevieve does tell Halfdan about how a man she was betrothed to tried to have his way with her before their wedding, but it doesn't go anywhere, and there are no physical details. And then there is a scene between Halfdan and Genevieve, which irritated me to no end because I could now no longer respect them. Much to my surprise, though, there are no explicit details. In fact, Mr. Roberts never actually says (though it is quite plain what happened) what passed between them.

So, a note for the Strongbow Saga: there are no explicit details, but such things are definitely mentioned. And while the gore certainly isn't as detailed as in a Michael Cadnum book or even The Adventures of a Young Sailor trilogy, Judson Roberts doesn't skip over where and how much the blood is gushing out. But the storyline is good and it is quite clear that the Author has done his historical research. For once, other than in Rosemary Sutcliff's books, I feel like I'm reading about authentic Vikings.

I look forward to the sequel (whenever that is released).

Overall Rating: {{{{

Others in The Strongbow Saga:

1)Viking Warrior

2)Dragons from the Sea

3)The Road to Vengeance

Review: The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan

THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE READING HEDGEHOG!

The Eagle

Rated: PG-13

The year is 140 A.D. It's been 20 years since the Ninth Legion went missing in the mountains of Scotland, and it's up to Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) to find out what happened. His own father was the commander of the Ninth, and by discovering what fate befell the fearless leader, Aquila could restore his failing reputation. Crossing Hadrian's Wall and navigating the treacherous highlands of Caledonia won't be easy though, especially since Aquila's only traveling companion is his British slave, Esca (Jamie Bell). Along the way, Aquila will attempt to make peace with his father's memory as he and Esca confront the savage tribes of the land and attempt to recover the lost legion's golden emblem -- the treasured Eagle of the Ninth.

The Eagle was about what I was expecting - better, in fact, because I erred on the side of caution and anticipated for it to be stupid. But it was good. Very close to the book, the few changes they made excellent, and the main characters well cast. Jamie Bell was a perfect Esca. The Romans weren't so convincing, though. Marcus was good - I like who played him, - but the other Romans just didn't feel accurate with their American accents. I know that Romans didn't have British accents, either, but somehow Brits pull it off better. But everything else felt quite authentic, and the Romans themselves are not in it much. I think the makers of The Eagle did their best in accurately replicating dress, weapons, customs, and buildings fit for that time period, continent, and people, and they did a good job.

The story starts out a bit slow and it feels a little disjointed, while they transition between when Marcus settles into his command and then when he goes on the hunt for the Eagle. I wasn't surprised, though - I knew that this part of the story would be a little difficult to translate onto the screen. In books, we Authors have the privilege of summing up day-to-day things in a few words, connecting everything quite fluidly. Doesn't work so well onscreen. But it is a relatively short part of the movie, they did a better job that I was expecting, and once Esca is introduced into the movie, things start to pick up, and when he and Marcus start on their hunt for the Eagle, it's definitely good - all the way to the very end.

If you can't ignore the American Romans and the few spots where the dialogue isn't as spectacular (I could tell when the script shifted from what's actually in the book to where the writers made something up themselves, but this doesn't happen too often), the scenery definitely makes it worth watching. It was, naturally, filmed in Scotland, and they have some absolutely spectacular shots of the highlands. And lots of pretty horses. The music is pretty good, too.

Content-wise, there isn't anything to complain about. They say the s-word only once, and it is pretty easy to miss. There is no sexual content, and while there is certainly plenty of fighting, there is no blood. The hardest part to watch is when Marcus has his leg operated on for a second time (it gets smashed by a chariot in his first skirmish). The surgeon has to reopen the wound in order to remove some shrapnel that is still embedded in it. They show the wound very briefly - not a biggie - and they don't show the operation. Marcus has a flashback of when his father left with the Ninth legion during the surgery, and then it shifts to another scene. Quite different from the book - Rosemary Sutcliff spares some time to describe the operation, and it is painful to read.

I really hope that they will continue to make more Rosemary Sutcliff books into movies. The Eagle of the Ninth isn't her very best book - it's good, but not the best, and I would love to see Outcast or The Lantern Bearers. If they stay true to the book like they did with The Eagle, they will be excellent movies. Can't wait until it's out on DVD!

Review: Battle Fleet - Paul Dowswell

Synopsis: Having escaped certain death in Australia, Sam Witchall is at last bound for home. But his frightening adventures at sea are hardly over. On the journey back to England he faces pirates, a terrible storm, and an ever-increasing desire to be done with the life of a sailor. Back home in England, however, Sam realizes how much the sea has become part of him. So when he hears that Napoleon plans to attack England, he is determined to join the Navy again. As midshipman on none other than the HMS Victory, Sam must now prepare for one of the most epic battles in history: Trafalgar.

Review: What a terrific ending to this trilogy! To end with the Battle of Trafalgar - the death of Lord Nelson - was perfect. And all of the events leading up to it were just as entertaining. Encounters with natives, smallpox, and a storm that is blessedly short in narration. The one thing I dread the most in sea-faring stories - aside from lubberly writing - is the inevitable storm scene. True, every sea-faring story does need a storm - spend months at sea, and you will run into a storm. But Authors so often drag these scenes out to an excruciating length, and they simply don't know when to stop. Drives me up a wall. Paul Dowswell has two storms in Battle Fleet, and I didn't dread them.

All in all, Battle Fleet was very good - maybe my favorite out of the three. As far as I could tell, Paul Dowswell's writing is not lubberly - he seems to have a good understanding of seamanship. I was impressed with his battle sequences - not too crowded, written in a sort of aerial perspective (focusing on the whole of the fight rather than what is happening around the narrator), and just enough blood without being too gory. A few times it did almost extend into being too meaty, but overall Paul Dowswell did not waste time describing the carnage in medical-book detail.

I think Readers will find the close of Adventures of a Young Sailor series satisfying. It could possibly have the potential of having a sequel, but I really do hope that Paul Dowswell doesn't write one. For a trilogy like this, it needs to end where it is clear that more happens in Sam Witchall's life - a lot more, but like real life, it will always go on, and the Reader doesn't need to know everything that befalls him.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Others in the Adventures of a Young Sailor Series:

1)Powder Monkey

2)Prison Ship

3)Battle Fleet

Review: Prison Ship - Paul Dowswell

Synopsis: In March 1801, all of Sam Witchall's dreams for the future are dashed when he and his good Richard are framed for cowardice aboard the HMS Elephant and sentenced to die. Pardoned at the last moment, they are transported to Australia for life. But will the long and grueling 15,000-mile, six-month journey be a worse fate than hanging? And what kind of life will Sam and Richard find in the strange new colony on the other side of the earth?

Review: I don't remember much about Powder Monkey - the first book in this trilogy, - but what little I do remember I recall liking. Thankfully for me, I didn't have to re-read Powder Monkey in order to appreciate and understand Prison Ship. I wouldn't call it a stand-alone book, but what important events and characters that were in Book One are touched upon again in Prison Ship, so you'll either recall everything or you won't remember at all, but won't miss anything important because of it. Just remember that Sam was press-ganged, Powder Monkey ended with a ship sinking, and his best friend is Richard.

Prison Ship was really good - historically rich (you get to briefly meet Lord Nelson!!), exciting, likable characters, suspenseful, and just bloody enough. Paul Dowswell certainly takes the time to mention the carnage cannon shot inflicts, but he doesn't go into horrific detail like Michael Cadnum probably would. It's meaty without the excessive gore. And surprisingly the battles are pretty easy to follow. I have mentioned before the fine art of writing believable battle sequences - sea-battles are probably some of the hardest because you need a working knowledge of sea tactics and how a ship operated when it beat to quarters. But Paul Dowswell seems to pull it off fairly well - and in first person, too.

I think what was most disappointing was when Richard and Sam are shipped to Australia. The synopsis makes it sound like they have a long and brutal voyage over, but really the time they spend on the convict hulk and the transport ship is very short and quite uneventful. Actually, one could say that it is almost a pleasure cruise, compared to how it could have been. So don't expect anything spectacular and brutal during those parts. Or even when they first reach Australia, for that matter.

Their sentence in Sydney starts out pretty calm and easy. And it is only through stupid choices made by themselves that they land themselves into further trouble. It irks me to no end when characters run into trouble due to their own idiotic behavior - especially when they know what the consequences will be if they do something. Sam and Richard are perfectly aware what will happen, but they do it anyway because they are trying to impress a girl or they've been too high in their cups again. It was especially aggravating with them because overall Sam and Richard are intelligent boys, and they don't deserve a lot of what usually happens to them. But in this case . . . Most of the time I could not feel sorry for them.

Things do pick up, and situations grow brutal. Starvation, infected wounds, murder, wild animals, and even cannibalism! No, they don't run into cannibalistic natives - it's better than that! Let us just say that at one point Sam and Richard escape with two thugs, and one of them resorts to an alternative source of food. This will sound sick, I know, but I always rate a sea-faring story high when it has cannibalism. You can't have a good sea-faring story without cannibals of some kind. And this cannibal was awesome.

Over all, Prison Ship is quite good, though disappointing in a few areas and a little far-fetched in others (really, I thought the whole shark episode kind of random and odd. Maybe in an Iain Lawrence book, but not a Paul Dowswell book). Content-wise, there are only 2 s-words; they are very close to one another and toward the end. There really isn't any sexual content - a character will every once in a while made an alludement to something along those lines, but it isn't anything explicit.

I look forward to reading Battle Fleet.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Other Books in the Adventures of a Young Sailor Series:
1)Powder Monkey
2)Prison Ship
3)Battle Fleet