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fantasybooknerd01's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
WITH THE CROSSOVER PARADOX by Rob Edwards, we return to the Justice Academy for his fun and energetic tale of Grey and the gang.
However, things are not exactly fun and frolics as Grey enters his second year at the Academy. One of the things that has altered quite drastically is that the gang has kind of gone their own separate ways. Sevenfourthirty is shacked up with some new Brontom students, Pivli is finding her own path after being imbibed with powers, Dex is off doing her own thing and Grey's possible love interest returns with a new boyfriend in tow.
Not a good start, but as the way of all stories, things become far more complicated from there when a beloved member of the teaching team is murdered and Grey is seen as the main suspect for her death. Not only that, the murdered teacher is related to a member of the gang, and this has a massive impact on the dynamics of the gang.
As we are more established in this second outing, it is nice to return to this world of educational cosiness and satisfying to return to the characters that Rob Edwards introduced us to in the first book The Ascension Machine (I mean, it's only been a week, but I did miss them!)
There are new trials and tribulations for the gang, in particular Grey who, as the rest of the group have gone their own ways, feels more and more isolated as he enters the second year, and subsequently experiences a growing feeling of disconnect from the Academy and his friends. On top of that, his current predicament compounds his isolation as he comes under suspicion.
The book feels a little more insular than The Ascension Machine, and instead of zipping about the galaxy most of the action takes place in the Justice Academy, and the setting works well to highlight how cut off Grey feels.
At times, especially with the murder and investigation, it feels more like a cosy mystery as Grey and his companions look for clues and information. However, it swiftly changes direction when secrets from the past are discovered. and puts the whole of the academy in danger.
The Crossover Paradox builds on the story of Grey in this second outing for the unknown boy. He is still as clever as ever and is also his usual charming self throughout the book.There is some character growth in the story, even if at times he does return to type and runs away from his problems. In addition we get the introduction of new characters, which all add to the story and move it along. Not only are there new heroes (mainly in the form of Apogee), but there is the introduction of new villains to add to the mix.
In addition to this, there are the clever nods to the superhero mythos mixed with excellent characterisation and fast paced writing that bounces along keeping the reader turning the pages.
With The Crossover Paradox, Rob Edwards has expanded the universe really well. It's an excellent story that is accessible to both younger readers and older readers like me.
wittyandsarcasticbookclub's review
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The Crossover Paradox will be available for purchase on March 8th. I will do my best to avoid giving spoilers, but it is a sequel, so there is a slight possibility that something will sneak through. You’ve been fairly warned.
I loved The Ascension Machine, book one in the Justic Academy series. Book two continued on excellently, with new obstacles to overcome and even bigger danger. The Crossover Paradox raised the stakes and never let up on the gas.
The main character, Grey, is a roguish character who is trying to make a clean try after lying to everyone for the majority of the previous year. He is back at the Justic Academy, under his own name (well-not really, but that’s a mystery yet to be solved), ready to put the last year behind him. Unfortunately, someone has other plans. When someone is murdered, it is up to Grey and his group of friends to find the real killer- before Grey takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit.
The story went in unexpected ways, keeping me invested and highly entertained. I loved seeing how smart Grey was, and the way his unconventional past aids him in the situations he finds himself in. He’s such a great character! For a mostly reformed conman, he has a strong sense of right and wrong which I loved. I’m all about the morally complicated characters, but I really do love a character who is more good than not. He’s an easy character to root for.
The Crossover Paradox introduces a few new characters, but some of the original group see less time. While I missed one of the characters (no names given), there was major setup for a future storyline involving him that I’m both excited and scared for. The rest of the supporting cast, so to speak, continued to elevate the book and take it in new directions. I loved that they were all important throughout the book and each character could offer something unique.
This book is meant for middle grade readers and did a great job of remembering that. While there is some violence and a bit of romance, it avoided going over the top with either. Instead, author Rob Edwards balanced each element of the book and tied it all together wonderfully. At the same time, there was a real sense of danger and no character was “safe”, which added to the enjoyment of the book. The Crossover Paradox is a fantastic continuation of the Justice Academy series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I loved The Ascension Machine, book one in the Justic Academy series. Book two continued on excellently, with new obstacles to overcome and even bigger danger. The Crossover Paradox raised the stakes and never let up on the gas.
The main character, Grey, is a roguish character who is trying to make a clean try after lying to everyone for the majority of the previous year. He is back at the Justic Academy, under his own name (well-not really, but that’s a mystery yet to be solved), ready to put the last year behind him. Unfortunately, someone has other plans. When someone is murdered, it is up to Grey and his group of friends to find the real killer- before Grey takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit.
The story went in unexpected ways, keeping me invested and highly entertained. I loved seeing how smart Grey was, and the way his unconventional past aids him in the situations he finds himself in. He’s such a great character! For a mostly reformed conman, he has a strong sense of right and wrong which I loved. I’m all about the morally complicated characters, but I really do love a character who is more good than not. He’s an easy character to root for.
The Crossover Paradox introduces a few new characters, but some of the original group see less time. While I missed one of the characters (no names given), there was major setup for a future storyline involving him that I’m both excited and scared for. The rest of the supporting cast, so to speak, continued to elevate the book and take it in new directions. I loved that they were all important throughout the book and each character could offer something unique.
This book is meant for middle grade readers and did a great job of remembering that. While there is some violence and a bit of romance, it avoided going over the top with either. Instead, author Rob Edwards balanced each element of the book and tied it all together wonderfully. At the same time, there was a real sense of danger and no character was “safe”, which added to the enjoyment of the book. The Crossover Paradox is a fantastic continuation of the Justice Academy series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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