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nicolemhewitt's review
5.0
For a giveaway of this book, head to this review on Feed Your Fiction Addiction. (Ends 11/12/19)
A uniquely interactive middle grade fantasy adventure that puts the reader right into the story! I’ve never read a book quite like this before, and I doubt you have either. First off, the book is told in second person POV—“you” are the star of the show. The book starts out with you waking up in a strange world. You (conveniently) have no memory of who you are and your goal is to regain your memories and return home—wherever that may be. Except this place you’ve ended up in is … strange. And thus begins your fantasy adventure!
The book incorporates lots of interactive elements. You discover that you are an actual human in a world of stories, and you therefore have the ability to write or draw things into existence. Because of this, you often get to create your own aspects of the world via a Mad Libs type fill-in. The reader then imagines their own creation in the story, which is great fun! In addition, there are places that you can draw things, puzzles you need to solve, and even a Choose Your Own Adventure element at one point. It all leads to a unique reading experience that truly makes you feel part of the adventure!
The story itself is engaging and humorous (it does sometimes veer toward middle-grade-level gross-out humor, which isn’t my favorite, but I concede that lots of kids love it). And the book has a madcap cast of supporting characters you’re sure to love, from a crazy French stoat who hypnotizes his enemies with an insane dance to a ninja girl, to a group of wacky outlaws. Basically, this book is great fun—I read it almost straight through and never had the urge to set it down. The book deserves accolades for its creativity alone, but the story will also draw kids in and get them excited to read about their own crazy adventure into a world of imagination!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
A uniquely interactive middle grade fantasy adventure that puts the reader right into the story! I’ve never read a book quite like this before, and I doubt you have either. First off, the book is told in second person POV—“you” are the star of the show. The book starts out with you waking up in a strange world. You (conveniently) have no memory of who you are and your goal is to regain your memories and return home—wherever that may be. Except this place you’ve ended up in is … strange. And thus begins your fantasy adventure!
The book incorporates lots of interactive elements. You discover that you are an actual human in a world of stories, and you therefore have the ability to write or draw things into existence. Because of this, you often get to create your own aspects of the world via a Mad Libs type fill-in. The reader then imagines their own creation in the story, which is great fun! In addition, there are places that you can draw things, puzzles you need to solve, and even a Choose Your Own Adventure element at one point. It all leads to a unique reading experience that truly makes you feel part of the adventure!
The story itself is engaging and humorous (it does sometimes veer toward middle-grade-level gross-out humor, which isn’t my favorite, but I concede that lots of kids love it). And the book has a madcap cast of supporting characters you’re sure to love, from a crazy French stoat who hypnotizes his enemies with an insane dance to a ninja girl, to a group of wacky outlaws. Basically, this book is great fun—I read it almost straight through and never had the urge to set it down. The book deserves accolades for its creativity alone, but the story will also draw kids in and get them excited to read about their own crazy adventure into a world of imagination!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
singerji's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
biteintobooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book... So unique, so creative, so funny. It was a BLAST to read this book and feel involved in the story. I can totally see this being a series devoured by children, who all hold their pencil while reading this book. I can't wait to read the second book!
Full review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
Such a fun, fun book! Also for adults. The humor, fantasy and creativity in this book is of the charts! I can totally see why this book has such a high rating on Goodreads. Now I just hope more people would pick up this book!
This book... So unique, so creative, so funny. It was a BLAST to read this book and feel involved in the story. I can totally see this being a series devoured by children, who all hold their pencil while reading this book. I can't wait to read the second book!
Full review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
Such a fun, fun book! Also for adults. The humor, fantasy and creativity in this book is of the charts! I can totally see why this book has such a high rating on Goodreads. Now I just hope more people would pick up this book!
iamnotyourally's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
chelton's review
5.0
Prince S. has been captured by the sadistic Queen Rulette, and only you—yes, YOU—can rescue him. But you won’t be alone. Among the denizens of Astorya, a land where stories from the human world become reality, there’s a cadre of Couriers ready to aid in your quest: a French stoat who knows how to tango, a telepathic chameleon, a ninja with a passion for fire, a Pegasus mixed with a centaur mixed with a sheriff, and an expert navigational dung beetle. But perhaps most importantly, you have your trusty pencil. And with it, you control your own story.
It’s not every day you get to star in your own action-adventure story, but that’s exactly what authors Drew Callander and Alana Harrison offer in their debut novel. Told in second person, the duo have taken all the fun of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure books and cranked the interaction way up. Rather than picking pages to propel the action forward, you’re given the chance to directly make your mark on the tale by adding illustrations, storytelling via fill-in-the-blanks, and even solving puzzles. While there’s a solid structure, there’s also a high level of personalization allowed.
And what a story to drop into. It’s funny. With clever puns, a healthy dose of bathroom humor, and some carefully layered jokes, Callander and Harrison punch up an already breakneck pace with a laugh a minute. Even in the most dangerous of times, whether you’re battling Rubots or confronting a group of outlaws with a unique take on a duel, every joke is mined for all it’s worth. While the world of Astorya might seem fantastically absurd, the authors’s commitment to both the jokes and the concept keeps everything feeling naturally hilarious.
Your drawings go a long way to fleshing out Astorya, but you also get some expert help from Ryan Andrews. Whimsical with a bit of an edge, his illustrations are peppered throughout, giving attractive detail to such a sprawling world. Some of the major, plot-focused illustrations are left up to you, but in a story where anything is possible if it’s written down, your work fits right in.
Mightier Than the Sword manages to get everything right by being daringly original. It sets a new standard for how books can push the boundaries of entertainment and interaction all while being wickedly funny. So take a bow—this is your story, after all.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpress.com/
It’s not every day you get to star in your own action-adventure story, but that’s exactly what authors Drew Callander and Alana Harrison offer in their debut novel. Told in second person, the duo have taken all the fun of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure books and cranked the interaction way up. Rather than picking pages to propel the action forward, you’re given the chance to directly make your mark on the tale by adding illustrations, storytelling via fill-in-the-blanks, and even solving puzzles. While there’s a solid structure, there’s also a high level of personalization allowed.
And what a story to drop into. It’s funny. With clever puns, a healthy dose of bathroom humor, and some carefully layered jokes, Callander and Harrison punch up an already breakneck pace with a laugh a minute. Even in the most dangerous of times, whether you’re battling Rubots or confronting a group of outlaws with a unique take on a duel, every joke is mined for all it’s worth. While the world of Astorya might seem fantastically absurd, the authors’s commitment to both the jokes and the concept keeps everything feeling naturally hilarious.
Your drawings go a long way to fleshing out Astorya, but you also get some expert help from Ryan Andrews. Whimsical with a bit of an edge, his illustrations are peppered throughout, giving attractive detail to such a sprawling world. Some of the major, plot-focused illustrations are left up to you, but in a story where anything is possible if it’s written down, your work fits right in.
Mightier Than the Sword manages to get everything right by being daringly original. It sets a new standard for how books can push the boundaries of entertainment and interaction all while being wickedly funny. So take a bow—this is your story, after all.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpress.com/
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