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kathydavie's review against another edition
2.0
Second in the W.A.R.P. science fiction series for middle grade readers. Set in London, it involves time travel.
You don't stand a hope of understanding this mess without having read The Reluctant Assassin, 1.
My Take
Do NOT miss the “Might Have Been” chapter. Without it, you’ll be even more confused.
It’s not just a trip back in time, it’s a trip into the slimy, vicious underworld of Victorian England with its cant and outlook. And Colfer does very well at setting this scene. He certainly makes Otto stand out *eye roll*, and you’ll be laughing your head off in between wondering what is going on.
To get an idea of how bad Box’s War is, imagine the Communist takeover of Russia only it spreads throughout the world with the same type of massacres, the same sort of manifesto, and the killing of anything fun or beautiful. The only country that has held out are the French. Yeah, who knew?
Colfer really swings wide on this, making the bad guys so amazingly bad and full of clichés. The professor’s kitchen defies description. For good reason, although he does have the most appalling luck as he keeps dying. I am curious as to why the Thundercats don’t try to stop the professor.
It’s an intricate plan that requires betrayal, daring, and luck with a cast of colorful characters on both sides. It’s chases, attacks, and the roar of cannon. It’s also a time of disappointment for Lunka. What she was indoctrinated to believe is not what she expected and another hero appears for her.
I did not, however, buy into Boxite Chevie at the end. How stupid can she be? After all that’s happened, why haven’t the two Chevies merged? Why didn’t Boxite Chevie question Traitor Chevie? Of course, Vallicose is pretty much of an idiot as well. This ending was where it fell down for me.
It’s certainly full of action, craziness, and yanks you back and forth all over the place. And probably worth reading if only to be prepared when book 3 comes out in 2015.
The Story
Unfortunately, Colonel Box came up with his own ideas for the time tunnel, and Chevie’s appearance in Victorian London has sped those plans up. A very bad thing as history originally had flooded Box out and washed his plans away. Now…well, now he has every chance of succeeding as young Chevie finds out when she awakens to her life as a Boxite cadet and her own growing insanity.
Not to worry though, she’s so out of step with the current Boxite regime that they plan to execute her. Unless…she can go back and stop the Blessed Colonel and prevent the world’s destruction.
Or let the madness overtake her and let the world spiral down.
The Characters
Chevron Savano is a young FBI consultant who got caught up in Box's and Smart's opposing plans in The Reluctant Assassin. Traitor Chevie is the original Chevie starting to reassert herself. Just last night, she was merged with this Chevie through a time paradox. DeeDee Woollen was the Boxite Chevie's best friend until she was executed.
Victorian London, 1899
Young Riley was a magician/assassin's assistant in Victorian London who sought to escape his master, the conjurer/murderer-for-hire Albert Garrick. Now he's the Great Savano, and Riley has inherited Garrick's Orient Theatre. Tom is the half-brother for whom Riley has been searching. Bob Winkle, a.k.a., Bob the Beak, is the young grifter Riley rescued. The Trips are Bob's brothers who are finally getting decent food and learning.
King Otto Malarkey, a.k.a., Commodore Pierce, is king of the Rams, the premier London street gang, with a hair obsession, and is demanding tribute, unreasonable tribute from Riley. The rest of the Rams' inner circle includes Pooley; Barnabus "Inhumane" Malarkey, Otto's younger brother; Noble; and, Jeeves. Farley is posing as the Rams' tattooist. As Pierce, Otto moved into Tibor Charismo's house on Grosvenor Square. Mick Figary is his Irish mother's son, who works for Commodore Pierce as a butler, and is as duplicitous as Otto. The Hidey-Hole is the Rams' headquarters. Pig Boy wants to make more of himself.
Colonel Clayton Box was part of W.A.R.P. until his megalomania set him down the path of changing history and the opportunity to make the world more efficient. Major Anton Farley was also known as The Hangman, and he was beatified by the Blessed Colonel himself.
His men include Sergeant "Rosy" Rosenbaum, a.k.a., the Evangelist, and Corporal Sonny Aldridge.
Box life in the modern alternate timeline
Sister Clover Vallicose and Sister Lunka Witmeyer are a couple of Thundercats, silent assassins in charge of party security who are working as guards at the academy. Vallicose is a True Believer, rabidly so, while Lunka is simply out for herself. Director Waldo Gunn is in charge of the academy. He's a hero of Box's War and a master assassin.
In the modern original timeline
Luis Chavez was young Box's companion. Too bad he didn't know Box was a psychopath. Clayton Sr. loves what a sharpshooter his son is. His mother, Nancy, is thrilled when Box Jr. leaves.
It's all Professor Charles Smart's fault, for he's the one who stabilized the time tunnel to Victorian London. Felix is the professor's son.
The Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (W.A.R.P.) was established shortly after by the FBI as a place to stash witnesses. In the past. Emergence Day is the day Box's revolution began. Jax are slang for Jacques, French spies. Homodermy is a type of taxidermy that specializes in humans.
The Cover
The cover is deep with deep explosive reds through to a splash of yellow and down into the blacks that create the London skyline and Big Ben as the bomb explodes.
The title refers to the day the Colonel Box began The Hangman’s Revolution.
You don't stand a hope of understanding this mess without having read The Reluctant Assassin, 1.
My Take
Do NOT miss the “Might Have Been” chapter. Without it, you’ll be even more confused.
It’s not just a trip back in time, it’s a trip into the slimy, vicious underworld of Victorian England with its cant and outlook. And Colfer does very well at setting this scene. He certainly makes Otto stand out *eye roll*, and you’ll be laughing your head off in between wondering what is going on.
To get an idea of how bad Box’s War is, imagine the Communist takeover of Russia only it spreads throughout the world with the same type of massacres, the same sort of manifesto, and the killing of anything fun or beautiful. The only country that has held out are the French. Yeah, who knew?
Colfer really swings wide on this, making the bad guys so amazingly bad and full of clichés. The professor’s kitchen defies description. For good reason, although he does have the most appalling luck as he keeps dying. I am curious as to why the Thundercats don’t try to stop the professor.
It’s an intricate plan that requires betrayal, daring, and luck with a cast of colorful characters on both sides. It’s chases, attacks, and the roar of cannon. It’s also a time of disappointment for Lunka. What she was indoctrinated to believe is not what she expected and another hero appears for her.
I did not, however, buy into Boxite Chevie at the end. How stupid can she be? After all that’s happened, why haven’t the two Chevies merged? Why didn’t Boxite Chevie question Traitor Chevie? Of course, Vallicose is pretty much of an idiot as well. This ending was where it fell down for me.
It’s certainly full of action, craziness, and yanks you back and forth all over the place. And probably worth reading if only to be prepared when book 3 comes out in 2015.
The Story
Unfortunately, Colonel Box came up with his own ideas for the time tunnel, and Chevie’s appearance in Victorian London has sped those plans up. A very bad thing as history originally had flooded Box out and washed his plans away. Now…well, now he has every chance of succeeding as young Chevie finds out when she awakens to her life as a Boxite cadet and her own growing insanity.
Not to worry though, she’s so out of step with the current Boxite regime that they plan to execute her. Unless…she can go back and stop the Blessed Colonel and prevent the world’s destruction.
Or let the madness overtake her and let the world spiral down.
The Characters
Chevron Savano is a young FBI consultant who got caught up in Box's and Smart's opposing plans in The Reluctant Assassin. Traitor Chevie is the original Chevie starting to reassert herself. Just last night, she was merged with this Chevie through a time paradox. DeeDee Woollen was the Boxite Chevie's best friend until she was executed.
Victorian London, 1899
Young Riley was a magician/assassin's assistant in Victorian London who sought to escape his master, the conjurer/murderer-for-hire Albert Garrick. Now he's the Great Savano, and Riley has inherited Garrick's Orient Theatre. Tom is the half-brother for whom Riley has been searching. Bob Winkle, a.k.a., Bob the Beak, is the young grifter Riley rescued. The Trips are Bob's brothers who are finally getting decent food and learning.
King Otto Malarkey, a.k.a., Commodore Pierce, is king of the Rams, the premier London street gang, with a hair obsession, and is demanding tribute, unreasonable tribute from Riley. The rest of the Rams' inner circle includes Pooley; Barnabus "Inhumane" Malarkey, Otto's younger brother; Noble; and, Jeeves. Farley is posing as the Rams' tattooist. As Pierce, Otto moved into Tibor Charismo's house on Grosvenor Square. Mick Figary is his Irish mother's son, who works for Commodore Pierce as a butler, and is as duplicitous as Otto. The Hidey-Hole is the Rams' headquarters. Pig Boy wants to make more of himself.
Colonel Clayton Box was part of W.A.R.P. until his megalomania set him down the path of changing history and the opportunity to make the world more efficient. Major Anton Farley was also known as The Hangman, and he was beatified by the Blessed Colonel himself.
His men include Sergeant "Rosy" Rosenbaum, a.k.a., the Evangelist, and Corporal Sonny Aldridge.
Box life in the modern alternate timeline
Sister Clover Vallicose and Sister Lunka Witmeyer are a couple of Thundercats, silent assassins in charge of party security who are working as guards at the academy. Vallicose is a True Believer, rabidly so, while Lunka is simply out for herself. Director Waldo Gunn is in charge of the academy. He's a hero of Box's War and a master assassin.
In the modern original timeline
Luis Chavez was young Box's companion. Too bad he didn't know Box was a psychopath. Clayton Sr. loves what a sharpshooter his son is. His mother, Nancy, is thrilled when Box Jr. leaves.
It's all Professor Charles Smart's fault, for he's the one who stabilized the time tunnel to Victorian London. Felix is the professor's son.
The Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (W.A.R.P.) was established shortly after by the FBI as a place to stash witnesses. In the past. Emergence Day is the day Box's revolution began. Jax are slang for Jacques, French spies. Homodermy is a type of taxidermy that specializes in humans.
The Cover
The cover is deep with deep explosive reds through to a splash of yellow and down into the blacks that create the London skyline and Big Ben as the bomb explodes.
The title refers to the day the Colonel Box began The Hangman’s Revolution.
queen_cocolatis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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? No
4.0
Love this book. Mostly because Otto is in it. And he’s my favorite from Airman.
The ending doesn’t really link up well with the third book, but that’s okay, because book 3 is still my favorite.
Honestly, with the prison break, they should have called Otto and had him contact Conor from airman. By the timeline he should be in London, haha! And he does have a good track record with impossible prison breaks
The ending doesn’t really link up well with the third book, but that’s okay, because book 3 is still my favorite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Blood, Death, and Violence
Minor: Xenophobia and Vomit
High religious fever with one of the characters.dejahentendu's review against another edition
3.0
An improvement on the first book, which was enjoyable, but mediocre. This one is a witty send-up of theocracies, with continued character development, and some enjoyable twists.
laurak23's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in the WARP series. I got the first one, [b:The Reluctant Assassin|10915176|The Reluctant Assassin (W.A.R.P., #1)|Eoin Colfer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357233284s/10915176.jpg|15831503], as a selection frpm the SYNC YA Audiobook website this summer. I really enjoyed it, and was glad to see that the second book was available at my local library.
After the events of the first book, Chevie's world is not the same. Ah, the implications of time travel! The so-called "butterfly effect"! I thought this was handled in a clever way. I liked reading about Chevie's troubles with the ruthless leaders of the Boxites.
All the Victorian escapades were exciting as well. I was surprised to see Otto Malarkey a lot more in this book. His character cracked me up.
Also, I kept picturing the Thundercats, Sisters Lunka Witmeyer and Clover Vallicose, like the cat people from Doctor Who. Which, of course, made me laugh, especially during the scenes with King Otto.
I will say that reading the text was a bit more "difficult" than the audiobook, because of the phonetic spelling for the different accents and dialects.
Anyway, I look forward to the next book in the series!
After the events of the first book, Chevie's world is not the same. Ah, the implications of time travel! The so-called "butterfly effect"! I thought this was handled in a clever way. I liked reading about Chevie's troubles with the ruthless leaders of the Boxites.
All the Victorian escapades were exciting as well. I was surprised to see Otto Malarkey a lot more in this book. His character cracked me up.
Also, I kept picturing the Thundercats, Sisters Lunka Witmeyer and Clover Vallicose, like the cat people from Doctor Who. Which, of course, made me laugh, especially during the scenes with King Otto.
I will say that reading the text was a bit more "difficult" than the audiobook, because of the phonetic spelling for the different accents and dialects.
Anyway, I look forward to the next book in the series!
jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
Inhalt:
Nur eine kurze Begegnung hat das gesamte 21. Jahrhundert verändert: Anstatt wieder in ihr bekanntes Jahrzehnt zurückzukehren, ist Chevie nun keine FBI-Agentin mehr, sondern eine Kadettin des "Boxitenreiches". Doch Kadettin Savano hat sich einige Probleme eingehandelt, an denen nur die "Verräterin" schuld ist. Immer wieder flüstert diese Stimme in Chevies Ohr ihr ungehörige Dinge zu. Dinge, die gar nicht sein können...
Unterdessen im Jahr 1899: Der Grosse Savano, besser bekannt als Riley, hat sich unterdessen einen Namen als Zauberer gemacht. Als aber die Rammböcke Riley einen unerwarteten Besuch abstatten, geht alles gründlich schief. Denn einer der Rammböcke ist ein Doppelagent und handelt im Auftrag von Colonel Box...
Meine Meinung:
Band eins: Der Quantenzauberer
"Der Klunkerfischer" ist der zweite Teil von Colfers neuer Reihe und beginnt gleich nach Band eins. Obwohl diese Geschichte ebenfalls recht in sich abgeschlossen ist, macht es meiner Ansicht nach mehr Sinn, die Bücher in chronologischer Reihenfolge zu lesen. Auf diese Weise durchschaut man das Beziehungsgeflecht besser und versteht auch die Handlungsweisen der Figuren.
Wieder überzeugt der Autor mit viel Witz, gut versteckten Anspielungen und einer rasanten Geschichte. Chevie und Riley haben sich weiterentwickelt, was man gleich auf den ersten Seiten feststellt. Vor allem Chevie finde ich in diesem Buch sehr interessant dargestellt: Einerseits unsere alte Chevie und dann ist da die neue, vom Boxitenreich geprägte Kadettin Savano.
Ausserdem treffen wir auf ein paar neue und alte Bekannte, vor allem der König der Rammböcke tritt aus seinem Dasein als Nebenfigur heraus und wird zu einem wichtigen Begleiter. Aber dieses Mal richtet Colfer sein Auge auch auf die Feinde unserer Helden. Die Thundercats begleiten Chevie auf ihrer ungeplanten Reise ins Jahr 1899. Der Autor nimmt sich hier sehr viel Zeit, die Gedanken, Gefühle und Beweggründe dieser Frauen aufzuzeigen. Diese Kapitel fand ich deshal sehr spannend zu lesen. Solch genaue Analysen der "Bösen" findet man in Jugendbüchern ansonsten sehr selten.
Dennoch konnte mich "Der Klunkerfischer" ein ganzes Stück weniger überzeugen als Band eins. Es gab nur ein paar kleine Dinge, die ich am "Quantenzauberer" auszusetzen hatte. Zitat meiner Rezension zum ersten Teil:
"In der Geschichte geht es rasant zu und her, Dinge explodieren, gestorben wird ab und zu auch. Manchmal wurde es mir fast etwas zu viel, wenn man bedenkt, dass es ein Jugendbuch ist. Aber anscheinend ist das heutzutage normal. Auch körperlich wird gekämpft, an einigen kleinen Stellen fand ich es jedoch etwas übertrieben. So, als bräuchte es noch ein paar Seiten mehr. Doch Colfer kann schreiben und das gut, und somit sind auch diese Stellen schnell verwunden."
Leider hat es Colfer meiner Meinung nach bei Band zwei viel zu bunt getrieben. Es wird massenweise und nebenher gestorben und die Geschichte wird durch etliche Kampfszenen künstlich in die Länge gezogen. Nun konnte ich es leider nicht mehr nebenher abtun, denn oft fühlte ich mich durch die ständigen Blutbäder und Kämpfe enorm gelangweilt. Ich wollte, dass die Geschichte weitergeht, und nicht, dass der jetzt doch wieder aufsteht und sich schon wieder ein Kampf oder eine Schiesserei entwickelt.
Deshalb fand ich vor allem die erste Hälfte sehr zäh und die alte Begeisterung wollte sich nicht so recht einstellen. Danach zieht es etwas an und das Buch lässt sich flüssiger lesen. Dennoch fehlte mir einfach etwas. Etwas, das an anderer Stelle wieder zu viel war. Viele Szenen fand ich völlig übertrieben und fast schon sinnlos oder zumindest wenig glaubwürdig.
Fazit:
Es ist sehr schade, dass bei "Der Klunkerfischer" ausgerechnet die negativen Punkte für mich überragen. Dies hat mir die Freude an der Handlung im Allgemeinen stark eingedämmt. Kurz gesagt dachte ich während des Lesens oft nur "Ja, ist schon gut", weil einfach immer irgendwo draufgehauen wird.
Trotzdem ist das Ende sehr versöhnlich und natürlich werde ich auch den nächsten Teil lesen. Dieser verspricht, ebenfalls spannend und einfallsreich zu werden. Ich hoffe nur, dass das nächste Buch nicht so eintönig werden wird wie dieses hier.
Nur eine kurze Begegnung hat das gesamte 21. Jahrhundert verändert: Anstatt wieder in ihr bekanntes Jahrzehnt zurückzukehren, ist Chevie nun keine FBI-Agentin mehr, sondern eine Kadettin des "Boxitenreiches". Doch Kadettin Savano hat sich einige Probleme eingehandelt, an denen nur die "Verräterin" schuld ist. Immer wieder flüstert diese Stimme in Chevies Ohr ihr ungehörige Dinge zu. Dinge, die gar nicht sein können...
Unterdessen im Jahr 1899: Der Grosse Savano, besser bekannt als Riley, hat sich unterdessen einen Namen als Zauberer gemacht. Als aber die Rammböcke Riley einen unerwarteten Besuch abstatten, geht alles gründlich schief. Denn einer der Rammböcke ist ein Doppelagent und handelt im Auftrag von Colonel Box...
Meine Meinung:
Band eins: Der Quantenzauberer
"Der Klunkerfischer" ist der zweite Teil von Colfers neuer Reihe und beginnt gleich nach Band eins. Obwohl diese Geschichte ebenfalls recht in sich abgeschlossen ist, macht es meiner Ansicht nach mehr Sinn, die Bücher in chronologischer Reihenfolge zu lesen. Auf diese Weise durchschaut man das Beziehungsgeflecht besser und versteht auch die Handlungsweisen der Figuren.
Wieder überzeugt der Autor mit viel Witz, gut versteckten Anspielungen und einer rasanten Geschichte. Chevie und Riley haben sich weiterentwickelt, was man gleich auf den ersten Seiten feststellt. Vor allem Chevie finde ich in diesem Buch sehr interessant dargestellt: Einerseits unsere alte Chevie und dann ist da die neue, vom Boxitenreich geprägte Kadettin Savano.
Ausserdem treffen wir auf ein paar neue und alte Bekannte, vor allem der König der Rammböcke tritt aus seinem Dasein als Nebenfigur heraus und wird zu einem wichtigen Begleiter. Aber dieses Mal richtet Colfer sein Auge auch auf die Feinde unserer Helden. Die Thundercats begleiten Chevie auf ihrer ungeplanten Reise ins Jahr 1899. Der Autor nimmt sich hier sehr viel Zeit, die Gedanken, Gefühle und Beweggründe dieser Frauen aufzuzeigen. Diese Kapitel fand ich deshal sehr spannend zu lesen. Solch genaue Analysen der "Bösen" findet man in Jugendbüchern ansonsten sehr selten.
Dennoch konnte mich "Der Klunkerfischer" ein ganzes Stück weniger überzeugen als Band eins. Es gab nur ein paar kleine Dinge, die ich am "Quantenzauberer" auszusetzen hatte. Zitat meiner Rezension zum ersten Teil:
"In der Geschichte geht es rasant zu und her, Dinge explodieren, gestorben wird ab und zu auch. Manchmal wurde es mir fast etwas zu viel, wenn man bedenkt, dass es ein Jugendbuch ist. Aber anscheinend ist das heutzutage normal. Auch körperlich wird gekämpft, an einigen kleinen Stellen fand ich es jedoch etwas übertrieben. So, als bräuchte es noch ein paar Seiten mehr. Doch Colfer kann schreiben und das gut, und somit sind auch diese Stellen schnell verwunden."
Leider hat es Colfer meiner Meinung nach bei Band zwei viel zu bunt getrieben. Es wird massenweise und nebenher gestorben und die Geschichte wird durch etliche Kampfszenen künstlich in die Länge gezogen. Nun konnte ich es leider nicht mehr nebenher abtun, denn oft fühlte ich mich durch die ständigen Blutbäder und Kämpfe enorm gelangweilt. Ich wollte, dass die Geschichte weitergeht, und nicht, dass der jetzt doch wieder aufsteht und sich schon wieder ein Kampf oder eine Schiesserei entwickelt.
Deshalb fand ich vor allem die erste Hälfte sehr zäh und die alte Begeisterung wollte sich nicht so recht einstellen. Danach zieht es etwas an und das Buch lässt sich flüssiger lesen. Dennoch fehlte mir einfach etwas. Etwas, das an anderer Stelle wieder zu viel war. Viele Szenen fand ich völlig übertrieben und fast schon sinnlos oder zumindest wenig glaubwürdig.
Fazit:
Es ist sehr schade, dass bei "Der Klunkerfischer" ausgerechnet die negativen Punkte für mich überragen. Dies hat mir die Freude an der Handlung im Allgemeinen stark eingedämmt. Kurz gesagt dachte ich während des Lesens oft nur "Ja, ist schon gut", weil einfach immer irgendwo draufgehauen wird.
Trotzdem ist das Ende sehr versöhnlich und natürlich werde ich auch den nächsten Teil lesen. Dieser verspricht, ebenfalls spannend und einfallsreich zu werden. Ich hoffe nur, dass das nächste Buch nicht so eintönig werden wird wie dieses hier.
alicechannington's review against another edition
4.0
I was browsing the teen section in the library, and found out that Eoin Colfer had wrote another book. I'd read his series on Artemis Fowl, and I loved his sarcasm in the stories. I grabbed the book and checked it out, not knowing the book was from the series called W.A.R.P., and that it was the second book. However, being confused when I started reading the first twenty pages, I continued on because it was so interesting. Also, I'd forgotten the author uses cussing words in the stories, so there's that, however, otherwise, the book is awesome so far.
rukistarsailor's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly don't remember much about this book except that I skimmed through the last fourth of the book, and I remember thinking that the ending was predictable.
joyfultunes's review against another edition
4.0
It wasn't as good as the first one, but I still enjoyed it.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting switch on the time-travel trope where usually the time-travellers always remember every iteration of reality, purely because they are time-travellers. This features some of the characters and places from the first book, as well as plenty of new ones and more sewage than you can shake a bog brush at.
Where Garrick, the villain in the first book was particularly memorable and gave a real sense of threat to our young heroes, Colonel Box and the Thundercats, in contrast, provided more of a James Bondesque villains that was less interesting. Yes, there was the whole ‘If we don’t stop this then the world we know will be gone’ aspect, they just didn’t come up to Garrick’s level of malevolence.
The finale with the tank was nicely over the top.
Where Garrick, the villain in the first book was particularly memorable and gave a real sense of threat to our young heroes, Colonel Box and the Thundercats, in contrast, provided more of a James Bondesque villains that was less interesting. Yes, there was the whole ‘If we don’t stop this then the world we know will be gone’ aspect, they just didn’t come up to Garrick’s level of malevolence.
The finale with the tank was nicely over the top.