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tallahasseefloyd's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
kaaaaaaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and War
revytwohands87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bookshelfmystic's review against another edition
4.0
The Predator had a lot of scenes that I remember vividly from the last time I read this series. We get Ax running through the mall eating Cinnabuns for the first time. We get the infamous ant adventure, which haunted me for years. And of course, we get the big reveal about Marco's life - you all know what it is.
What I didn't remember so well was how honest Marco is as a narrator about his emotions. In the other books so far, we mostly see him as a bit of a cynical jerk who cracks jokes instead of feeling things. We get a hint of a secret side to him in The Message, when Cassie stops by his house unexpectedly. But in this book, I was a little shocked at how open he is - to himself and to whatever reader he's narrating to - at his fear, his grief, and how he uses humor to keep himself from sinking into despair. It's a tender look at a kid who went through a lot before an alien prince gave him superpowers and told him he has to save the world. These books are great at many things, but their characters and their humanity are maybe their most defining features.
Side note: I get that they're kids, but all of their plans are, like, pretty bad. If I were thrust into the situation of having to try to save the world from powerful aliens, I'm not sure I'd do much better, but they seem to think through a plan to exactly step 2 and then just give up on planning for contingencies. But heck, if I've learned anything from playing D&D, it's that waiting for a perfect plan means you'll never do anything, so credit to them for just going for it.
What I didn't remember so well was how honest Marco is as a narrator about his emotions. In the other books so far, we mostly see him as a bit of a cynical jerk who cracks jokes instead of feeling things. We get a hint of a secret side to him in The Message, when Cassie stops by his house unexpectedly. But in this book, I was a little shocked at how open he is - to himself and to whatever reader he's narrating to - at his fear, his grief, and how he uses humor to keep himself from sinking into despair. It's a tender look at a kid who went through a lot before an alien prince gave him superpowers and told him he has to save the world. These books are great at many things, but their characters and their humanity are maybe their most defining features.
Side note: I get that they're kids, but all of their plans are, like, pretty bad. If I were thrust into the situation of having to try to save the world from powerful aliens, I'm not sure I'd do much better, but they seem to think through a plan to exactly step 2 and then just give up on planning for contingencies. But heck, if I've learned anything from playing D&D, it's that waiting for a perfect plan means you'll never do anything, so credit to them for just going for it.
sizrobe's review against another edition
4.0
Ugh, a Marco book. Marco suuucks. He's just the worst. Hopefully after this book he'll have more motivation and will stop being so whiny. That ant-battle was so intense, though. Those poor kids. Also all these very, very public Scooby Doo morphing antics in super public places are starting to strain my suspension of disbelief. Are we really supposed to believe that there wasn't a single camera in that entire mall or the following grocery store?
veggiefest's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
3.75
charlesc_n's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
emmsiej95's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Marco is nearly boiled alive as a lobster.
They become ants and rival ants tear off their legs and nearly bite Marco in half.
Also, Marc's mother is alive.
Very enjoyable book. I really like the character arcs being set up in these books. I have it on good authority that those pan out, so that's nice for... I was going to say kids fiction but fiction in general, I guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Body horror
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, and Xenophobia
Minor: Torture and War
rsopher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
4.0