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amotisse's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful adventure!
Any adventure with books, libraries, curious people and creatures is enough to get me in!
My daughter borrowed this one from the school library for me...I've been reading too many at once to finish it but loved it.
Had an open ending...maybe there's more?!
Any adventure with books, libraries, curious people and creatures is enough to get me in!
My daughter borrowed this one from the school library for me...I've been reading too many at once to finish it but loved it.
Had an open ending...maybe there's more?!
tani's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I probably never would have picked this book up, but I loved The Shadow Campaigns, so I thought I would give this a try. I'm not much of a middle grade reader, to be honest, but I thought this was really cute. If I had a child, I would certainly read this one to him or her. And although middle grade tends too far toward the simplistic for me to generally get enthusiastic about it, I enjoyed this and will read more of it.
For me, the biggest strength of this book was the main character, Alice. She's spunky and clever, and she doesn't let expediency overwhelm her sense of morality. I enjoyed the innovative solutions that she came up with for her problems, and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book.
The concept is also a lot of fun. What avid reader doesn't love the idea that there's actual magic in books? For now, it remained a fairly simple concept, but there are definitely hints that it will be explored more thoroughly as the series progresses, especially in terms of its moral implications, and because it's Django Wexler, I have faith that it will be done well.
In short, I enjoyed this short and easy read, and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
For me, the biggest strength of this book was the main character, Alice. She's spunky and clever, and she doesn't let expediency overwhelm her sense of morality. I enjoyed the innovative solutions that she came up with for her problems, and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book.
The concept is also a lot of fun. What avid reader doesn't love the idea that there's actual magic in books? For now, it remained a fairly simple concept, but there are definitely hints that it will be explored more thoroughly as the series progresses, especially in terms of its moral implications, and because it's Django Wexler, I have faith that it will be done well.
In short, I enjoyed this short and easy read, and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
sleeka's review
5.0
The Shadow Campaigns series brought me here and now I can confidently say that Mr. Wexler has become one of my favorite authors ever. Alice's gotta be the most badass 12-year-old I know. Well done!
momloves2read's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
jjahnavi's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
booksnorkel's review
3.0
Not as strong as I wanted, and there was a lot of things that needed to be explained a little better. But overall an interesting concept that if I can find the second book in this series for cheap I will read it.
Following Alice after her father's death she is shipped off to parts unknown to live with an estranged uncle who has a library so large it has it's own building. Alice soon discovers that there are books in the library that she shouldn't open. They are in fact prisons for creatures too dangerous to be let loose upon the world and they are too magical to stay in their own. They have to be contained in books and only special readers can fight and then later bring them into our world and control them. Older readers have become corrupt using their apprentices to fight and steal from each other for more powerful creatures to have control over. Alice is caught in the middle and has to not only be her uncle's apprentice, go into books to enslave the creatures contained within, but she also has to decide which side she is on in a power struggle where there seems to be no clear good guys or bad guys.
This book did have a lot of lag time. I found myself skimming parts and wishing there was a bit more trimming of the fat if you will. But the style was good though I don't think I would want to pay full price for a hardcover.
For both girls and boys, grades 5 and up who like reading, fantasy, and suspense.
Following Alice after her father's death she is shipped off to parts unknown to live with an estranged uncle who has a library so large it has it's own building. Alice soon discovers that there are books in the library that she shouldn't open. They are in fact prisons for creatures too dangerous to be let loose upon the world and they are too magical to stay in their own. They have to be contained in books and only special readers can fight and then later bring them into our world and control them. Older readers have become corrupt using their apprentices to fight and steal from each other for more powerful creatures to have control over. Alice is caught in the middle and has to not only be her uncle's apprentice, go into books to enslave the creatures contained within, but she also has to decide which side she is on in a power struggle where there seems to be no clear good guys or bad guys.
This book did have a lot of lag time. I found myself skimming parts and wishing there was a bit more trimming of the fat if you will. But the style was good though I don't think I would want to pay full price for a hardcover.
For both girls and boys, grades 5 and up who like reading, fantasy, and suspense.
charlieswrittenadventures's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
msvenner's review
3.0
J.K.Rowling spoiled me on kid lit. This is a nice, engaging story and is great for the 8-12 crowd that like magic and adventure. It just lacks the nuances and finesse of the best of the genre.