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owlyreadsalot's review
3.0
There's so much to love in this book, and I mean A LOT. The mythology is never-ending, going on for most of the book, with something to learn about on almost every page. And for me, it was a definite plus, as half (if not most) of the mythological creatures in here I either didn't know about or their name was different than what I was brought up knowing them as. There was a new understanding about where these creatures come from, the festivals that are held, and the creepiness of it all.
"A harbinger of what?' Violet was staring back at me with eyes so wide I thought they might roll out of her head. 'Of evil!' I repeated. 'They're the decapitated heads of old sorcerers. They grow feet like birds. Their ears turn into wings.' 'The decapitated heads of old SORCERERS?' 'It's not as bad as it sounds. They use a cream on their necks. Detach them from their bodies themselves.' 'Self-decapitation. Right. So it's even worse than it sounds.' 'Some cultures believe that they come to warn you when something terrible is about to happen.' V looked a bit unsure. 'You mean, more terrible than it?"
For anyone wanting to learn more about Hispanic folklore, in a fun and spooky creative way, this is a book to pick up. But, be aware that there are words or phrases that have not been translated in this novel. Yes, most of it is explained right after, or translated as it goes, but a few are lacking an explanation. Even so, it's something that makes this even more entertaining, as it becomes more of an interactive novel for the reader.
Then there are the characters that continue to make all of the aforementioned an even better reason to pick this book up. There's Charlie who keeps growing tons more as the story progresses, his mom that I can't get enough of in here (even though she's only in parts of it), Violet (V) that has much to contribute in here (have a few issues with how perfect she's portrayed in here, but not enough to keep me from liking much of her character). And the list goes on.
"My mind flashed to El Justo Juez, to El Cadejo-- arguably two of the most powerful and legendary sombras of all time. El Justo Juez is, like, the king of Salvadoran folklore, the headless horseman who roams the night, hunting criminals and outlaws; and El Cadejo, who takes the form of a huge white dog, is literally the divinely appointed guardian of the human race. They'd each saved my life on multiple occasions and were two of the cleverest sombras I'd ever met; they would know what to do."
Even with me really enjoying much of this novel, I felt it could've done with it being a bit shorter as it's categorized for middle graders. Either that, or having it marked for a young adult audience since that would have been more understanding in the length of it. Also with it reading, in some parts, for a more older audience. If only a bit above the age group, but definitely doable for middle graders. And a great startup into the culture for sure!
***I received this copy from Simon & Schuster, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
"A harbinger of what?' Violet was staring back at me with eyes so wide I thought they might roll out of her head. 'Of evil!' I repeated. 'They're the decapitated heads of old sorcerers. They grow feet like birds. Their ears turn into wings.' 'The decapitated heads of old SORCERERS?' 'It's not as bad as it sounds. They use a cream on their necks. Detach them from their bodies themselves.' 'Self-decapitation. Right. So it's even worse than it sounds.' 'Some cultures believe that they come to warn you when something terrible is about to happen.' V looked a bit unsure. 'You mean, more terrible than it?"
For anyone wanting to learn more about Hispanic folklore, in a fun and spooky creative way, this is a book to pick up. But, be aware that there are words or phrases that have not been translated in this novel. Yes, most of it is explained right after, or translated as it goes, but a few are lacking an explanation. Even so, it's something that makes this even more entertaining, as it becomes more of an interactive novel for the reader.
Then there are the characters that continue to make all of the aforementioned an even better reason to pick this book up. There's Charlie who keeps growing tons more as the story progresses, his mom that I can't get enough of in here (even though she's only in parts of it), Violet (V) that has much to contribute in here (have a few issues with how perfect she's portrayed in here, but not enough to keep me from liking much of her character). And the list goes on.
"My mind flashed to El Justo Juez, to El Cadejo-- arguably two of the most powerful and legendary sombras of all time. El Justo Juez is, like, the king of Salvadoran folklore, the headless horseman who roams the night, hunting criminals and outlaws; and El Cadejo, who takes the form of a huge white dog, is literally the divinely appointed guardian of the human race. They'd each saved my life on multiple occasions and were two of the cleverest sombras I'd ever met; they would know what to do."
Even with me really enjoying much of this novel, I felt it could've done with it being a bit shorter as it's categorized for middle graders. Either that, or having it marked for a young adult audience since that would have been more understanding in the length of it. Also with it reading, in some parts, for a more older audience. If only a bit above the age group, but definitely doable for middle graders. And a great startup into the culture for sure!
***I received this copy from Simon & Schuster, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
hamckeon's review
3.0
I rounded up because I like reading and learning about new folklore. However, I found this novel to be repetitive and formulaic for the first few hundred pages.
bellabooks0423's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
frazierlauren12's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
misunosa's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
thedizzyreader's review
4.0
Devoured this delightful sequel in a day! Charlie Hernandez is back with some friends old and new, which is good because this last Morphling is going to need all the help he can get when Queen Joanna is kidnapped and the dead walk again... The action doesn't let up as a slew of dangerous mythological beings stand in the way of Charlie and Violet's rescue mission. Or are they? So much adventure and mystery! And just when you think Charlie's got it all figured out... PLOT TWIST! Fast, funny, and full of lame puns that will have you laughing out loud. It's morphin time!
phyrre's review
4.0
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Overall
Not gonna lie, the moment I saw these covers, I knew I had to have the books. Pictures just don’t do them justice. They’re absolutely gorgeous. In fact, when I got book three, my brother-in-law saw it come in, and he immediately stopped what he was doing and had to come look because it caught his attention. Book covers almost never do that (because he’s weird). I’ve actually been meaning to start this series for some time now. I even bought books one and two so they could sit on my shelf and judge me. However, when I saw that book three was in the pipeline, I thought I’d just go ahead and wait so I could read them all together, and what a good choice that turned out to be!
The Charlie Hernández trilogy is a set of fast-paced fantasy adventure books that feature fun (and dangerous) quests, an interesting squad, a hopeless (but well-meaning hero), a strong female sidekick, and a whole host of creatures straight out of Hispanic folklore.
This series is absolutely packed chock full of action and adventure. At times, it became a little overwhelming, but I for sure didn’t want to put it down, either. While all the books tie together in general, each one also has its own little subplot that wraps up neatly by the end, which I rather appreciated. I mean, I’m not against cliffhangers in general, but it’s kind of nice to find books that don’t end on massive cliffies. I absolutely loved this world, and frankly, I’m kind of disappointed to have to leave it. Oh, sure, it’s full of danger and mayhem, but aren’t all the best worlds?!
My Thoughts
- Calejo’s writing style continues to be funny and delightful, easy to read and pulling me forward from one page to the next. These books are on the larger end of middle grade, especially this one. I hardly even noticed, though, as the whole thing just flew by. Charlie’s narrative is quippy and funny. Sure, sometimes the puns and jokes with his friends are a little groan-inducing, but that’s half the fun, isn’t it? (Plus, have you ever heard preteens talk with their friends? Can confirm, it’s a bit cringey.)
Charlie is back, with his same barely-capable self, getting into trouble that he can’t always get out of again. What can I say? It’s part of his charm. I really enjoy how easy Calejo’s writing style is to read, and I think it’ll be a big win for middle graders who have trouble getting into books.
- Charlie finds himself smack dab in the middle of danger . . . again. This time, though, the whole world is at stake. And he won’t be able to do this one alone. Do you have a deep-seated love (or fear) of zombies? Well, strap in, because they’re getting a bit of a remake. It’s not necessarily zombies in their traditional sense that’s the big threat in this book. It is, however, a necromancer. Because how cool is that?! The stakes are so much higher than the first book, because the Big Bad isn’t necessarily coming just for Charlie. It’s coming for the world. No pressure, right?
Since the stakes are so much higher, the tension of this book is ratcheted up, and the obstacles are much bigger. Charlie has a lot more to contend with, but he doesn’t have to do it alone. Violet is still there, of course, offering her much-needed assistance and guidance. But there’s also La Liga offering their magical assistance, as much as they can. Everything isn’t entirely as straightforward as that, though, because the entire magical world is divided now. Meaning Charlie has no idea whom he can trust. Not even La Liga is safe.
- This book is absolutely jam-packed full of action from page one, and it doesn’t let up until the very end. It’s got a very Indiana Jones or maybe even National Treasure vibe to it. This can be good and bad, of course, depending on what you’re looking for in a book. If you’re a hardcore fan of adventure and want something high stakes that’ll get your blood pumping with one big, crazy challenge after another, this is perfect for you. The flip side of that, of course, is that it doesn’t give the reader much chance to come up for air, and it lacks a certain emotional impact (though there are certainly emotional scenes scattered throughout it!). This really boils down to personal preference, of course, but for me, I really enjoyed the high-intensity, fast pace of the story.
- This book introduces a new character named Saci pererê, who is definitely one of my favorite characters in this series! Saci is actually a trickster from Brazilian folklore, and boy does his character reflect that. He can definitely be meddlesome and annoying with his “pranks” (which are definitely not always funny). But okay, I’ll give him some credit, it’s sometimes funny.
Despite his penchant for mischief (or maybe because of it?), he quickly won my heart. Especially as the trickster becomes the tricked and he’s forced to help Charlie against his better judgment. Particularly because the “help” isn’t always so helpful. But hey, what do you expect from a trickster? Saci definitely keeps the group on his toes, and his sarcasm and crankiness was pretty darn funny, too.
Overall
Not gonna lie, the moment I saw these covers, I knew I had to have the books. Pictures just don’t do them justice. They’re absolutely gorgeous. In fact, when I got book three, my brother-in-law saw it come in, and he immediately stopped what he was doing and had to come look because it caught his attention. Book covers almost never do that (because he’s weird). I’ve actually been meaning to start this series for some time now. I even bought books one and two so they could sit on my shelf and judge me. However, when I saw that book three was in the pipeline, I thought I’d just go ahead and wait so I could read them all together, and what a good choice that turned out to be!
The Charlie Hernández trilogy is a set of fast-paced fantasy adventure books that feature fun (and dangerous) quests, an interesting squad, a hopeless (but well-meaning hero), a strong female sidekick, and a whole host of creatures straight out of Hispanic folklore.
This series is absolutely packed chock full of action and adventure. At times, it became a little overwhelming, but I for sure didn’t want to put it down, either. While all the books tie together in general, each one also has its own little subplot that wraps up neatly by the end, which I rather appreciated. I mean, I’m not against cliffhangers in general, but it’s kind of nice to find books that don’t end on massive cliffies. I absolutely loved this world, and frankly, I’m kind of disappointed to have to leave it. Oh, sure, it’s full of danger and mayhem, but aren’t all the best worlds?!
My Thoughts
- Calejo’s writing style continues to be funny and delightful, easy to read and pulling me forward from one page to the next. These books are on the larger end of middle grade, especially this one. I hardly even noticed, though, as the whole thing just flew by. Charlie’s narrative is quippy and funny. Sure, sometimes the puns and jokes with his friends are a little groan-inducing, but that’s half the fun, isn’t it? (Plus, have you ever heard preteens talk with their friends? Can confirm, it’s a bit cringey.)
Charlie is back, with his same barely-capable self, getting into trouble that he can’t always get out of again. What can I say? It’s part of his charm. I really enjoy how easy Calejo’s writing style is to read, and I think it’ll be a big win for middle graders who have trouble getting into books.
- Charlie finds himself smack dab in the middle of danger . . . again. This time, though, the whole world is at stake. And he won’t be able to do this one alone. Do you have a deep-seated love (or fear) of zombies? Well, strap in, because they’re getting a bit of a remake. It’s not necessarily zombies in their traditional sense that’s the big threat in this book. It is, however, a necromancer. Because how cool is that?! The stakes are so much higher than the first book, because the Big Bad isn’t necessarily coming just for Charlie. It’s coming for the world. No pressure, right?
Since the stakes are so much higher, the tension of this book is ratcheted up, and the obstacles are much bigger. Charlie has a lot more to contend with, but he doesn’t have to do it alone. Violet is still there, of course, offering her much-needed assistance and guidance. But there’s also La Liga offering their magical assistance, as much as they can. Everything isn’t entirely as straightforward as that, though, because the entire magical world is divided now. Meaning Charlie has no idea whom he can trust. Not even La Liga is safe.
- This book is absolutely jam-packed full of action from page one, and it doesn’t let up until the very end. It’s got a very Indiana Jones or maybe even National Treasure vibe to it. This can be good and bad, of course, depending on what you’re looking for in a book. If you’re a hardcore fan of adventure and want something high stakes that’ll get your blood pumping with one big, crazy challenge after another, this is perfect for you. The flip side of that, of course, is that it doesn’t give the reader much chance to come up for air, and it lacks a certain emotional impact (though there are certainly emotional scenes scattered throughout it!). This really boils down to personal preference, of course, but for me, I really enjoyed the high-intensity, fast pace of the story.
- This book introduces a new character named Saci pererê, who is definitely one of my favorite characters in this series! Saci is actually a trickster from Brazilian folklore, and boy does his character reflect that. He can definitely be meddlesome and annoying with his “pranks” (which are definitely not always funny). But okay, I’ll give him some credit, it’s sometimes funny.
Despite his penchant for mischief (or maybe because of it?), he quickly won my heart. Especially as the trickster becomes the tricked and he’s forced to help Charlie against his better judgment. Particularly because the “help” isn’t always so helpful. But hey, what do you expect from a trickster? Saci definitely keeps the group on his toes, and his sarcasm and crankiness was pretty darn funny, too.
emilyrainsford's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
4.5
"Evil has always drawn its power from fear, from anger. So don't hold on to any and it won't have any power over you."
After meeting Charlie and Violet in book one as they came face to face with characters from Hispanic mythology, in this second installment the pair zip all over South America, trying to find the Queen of the Sombras (shadows) and to figure out what all these creepy castles made of bone are along the way.
This weighty tome, over 500 pages long, is a non-stop odyssey with a pace that never lets up. While the first book felt a little surface level in its characterisations, this one snuck a little deeper under my skin, without ever taking its foot off the plot pedal. Lots more mythological creatures and characters are encountered from all over the Spanish and Portuguese speaking world. I particularly enjoyed the trickster Saci Pererê who ends up tagging along for much of the adventure, and the evolution of his character.
The splash of wry humour from the first book is still present, and the story has lots of trials, twists and betrayals. It even managed to get me in the feels at the end there.
My one slight niggle is that Charlie constantly uses pop culture references in his jokes that are familiar to me as a 90s kid but that I'm pretty sure my modern 11 year old would never have heard of - Looney Toons, the macarena, Scooby snacks, the movie The Sixth Sense?? I suppose it could be cultural but I just don't think modern tweens/teens are using these kinds of references. I'd almost have thought it was set in the 90s/early 00s except Violet has a phone with a flashlight.
Despite this minor irk, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and I can't wait to read the third. I'm secretly hoping to see Saci again :-P
After meeting Charlie and Violet in book one as they came face to face with characters from Hispanic mythology, in this second installment the pair zip all over South America, trying to find the Queen of the Sombras (shadows) and to figure out what all these creepy castles made of bone are along the way.
This weighty tome, over 500 pages long, is a non-stop odyssey with a pace that never lets up. While the first book felt a little surface level in its characterisations, this one snuck a little deeper under my skin, without ever taking its foot off the plot pedal. Lots more mythological creatures and characters are encountered from all over the Spanish and Portuguese speaking world. I particularly enjoyed the trickster Saci Pererê who ends up tagging along for much of the adventure, and the evolution of his character.
The splash of wry humour from the first book is still present, and the story has lots of trials, twists and betrayals. It even managed to get me in the feels at the end there.
My one slight niggle is that Charlie constantly uses pop culture references in his jokes that are familiar to me as a 90s kid but that I'm pretty sure my modern 11 year old would never have heard of - Looney Toons, the macarena, Scooby snacks, the movie The Sixth Sense?? I suppose it could be cultural but I just don't think modern tweens/teens are using these kinds of references. I'd almost have thought it was set in the 90s/early 00s except Violet has a phone with a flashlight.
Despite this minor irk, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and I can't wait to read the third. I'm secretly hoping to see Saci again :-P
slimikin's review
2.0
I love the mythology and folklore in this, but Castle of Bones is a disappointing follow-up to the first in the series. Almost 600 pages of story that reads like a video game, Charlie and Violet hopping from one task to the next, leveling up and filling their bag of holding with a Chekhov's armory of loot/information, and yet no character development, no stakes.
We're told at the beginning of the book that Charlie's choices will save or doom the world, but at no point do Charlie or Violet seem worried or frightened or conflicted about the fate of the world. Even when Charlie outright says he's terrified of the myriad varieties of threats and monsters he and Violet face over the course of the story, I don't feel it...and no wonder, when even Charlie and Violet's helpless failures prove convenient to the plot.
A mild thread of mystery attempts to provide some momentum, but even it bogs down amid all the questing hither and yon, and while its long-awaited unraveling proved a satisfying confirmation that I'd guessed the villains correctly, I was mostly just glad to finally arrive at the end of the book (barring a long-winded battle or two, anyway).
And then there's the editing. A number of spelling mistakes, a memorable instance when a sentence from one paragraph is copied almost word for word into the next, a few too many 80/90s kids references ("I see dead people") that I'm not sure the current middle grade audience will know, and the italics.
So many italics.
So many italics.
So many italics.
I kept trying to find the rhythm of Charlie's narrative voice, and every time I thought I'd succeeded, those italics would throw the whole thing off. Italics are great tools for humor and voice...but less is so much more.
From the way this book concludes, I gather there might be another sequel in the works. If so, I'm hoping Mr. Calejo (and his editors) have more success next time in balancing the incredible variety of mythology and folklore with a lean, suspenseful plot and a ruthless editorial eye.
We're told at the beginning of the book that Charlie's choices will save or doom the world, but at no point do Charlie or Violet seem worried or frightened or conflicted about the fate of the world. Even when Charlie outright says he's terrified of the myriad varieties of threats and monsters he and Violet face over the course of the story, I don't feel it...and no wonder, when even Charlie and Violet's helpless failures prove convenient to the plot.
Spoiler
(At one point, Charlie and Violet can't untie the boat they want from another boat. Almost immediately, they need both boats to help them defeat yet another foe.)A mild thread of mystery attempts to provide some momentum, but even it bogs down amid all the questing hither and yon, and while its long-awaited unraveling proved a satisfying confirmation that I'd guessed the villains correctly, I was mostly just glad to finally arrive at the end of the book (barring a long-winded battle or two, anyway).
And then there's the editing. A number of spelling mistakes, a memorable instance when a sentence from one paragraph is copied almost word for word into the next, a few too many 80/90s kids references ("I see dead people") that I'm not sure the current middle grade audience will know, and the italics.
So many italics.
So many italics.
So many italics.
I kept trying to find the rhythm of Charlie's narrative voice, and every time I thought I'd succeeded, those italics would throw the whole thing off. Italics are great tools for humor and voice...but less is so much more.
From the way this book concludes, I gather there might be another sequel in the works. If so, I'm hoping Mr. Calejo (and his editors) have more success next time in balancing the incredible variety of mythology and folklore with a lean, suspenseful plot and a ruthless editorial eye.
mwineinger's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0