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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
SPOILERS:
....
I really enjoyed this follow up to The Gauntlet. BUT they never wrapped up how Ahmad got the game and I really wanted some sort of like "one month later" moment where he gets to talk to his sister and tell her what happened and have him finally really remember that he'd been there before. I liked that he didn't remember that he had been in the game but there was never a real moment of discovery where you really feel like he totally remembers what happened.
....
I really enjoyed this follow up to The Gauntlet. BUT they never wrapped up how Ahmad got the game and I really wanted some sort of like "one month later" moment where he gets to talk to his sister and tell her what happened and have him finally really remember that he'd been there before. I liked that he didn't remember that he had been in the game but there was never a real moment of discovery where you really feel like he totally remembers what happened.
I was really excited about The Battle after I read The Gauntlet a couple of years ago. The Battle was just okay for me, and I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.
This book focuses on Ahmad, Farah's brother. I don't know why but I just wasn't as interested in his story as I was in Farah's. It did have a video game sort of feel to it, which seems right up Ahmad's alley. I'm not really a video game person, so I wonder if that's part of it.
The story was interesting, and I'm glad we got to see Ahmad years after the events of The Gauntlet. The game has definitely changed, which we see throughout the book. It's less Jumanji and more Ready Player One. At least, from what I know about Ready Player One. I still haven't read it, so I can't say for sure. But this book does have more of a video game feel than a board game feel to it.
I was intrigued that the game managed to rebuild itself into a more modern version of the one we saw in The Gauntlet. It was harder to picture, and I felt like we didn't the descriptions we saw in the first book. It was a lot harder to picture in this book, and I felt like the rules weren't as clear in this book as they were in the first one.
Ahmad's drawings sounded pretty cool- I found myself wondering if he was drawing the places in the Gauntlet, and if he didn't remember what had happened there. This version seemed somewhat familiar to him, but since it was really different, I wonder if he knew it was familiar but couldn't place it. That's what made me wonder if he had remembered what happened years earlier and if maybe the drawings were a way to figure out or remember what had happened. I could be completely off with this, of course, but I did think about that quite a bit at the beginning.
My Rating: 2 stars. The Battle was just okay for me. It was nice to see what happened to Ahmad and Farah after the Gauntlet was destroyed but I just wasn't as interested in this story as I wanted to be.
This book focuses on Ahmad, Farah's brother. I don't know why but I just wasn't as interested in his story as I was in Farah's. It did have a video game sort of feel to it, which seems right up Ahmad's alley. I'm not really a video game person, so I wonder if that's part of it.
The story was interesting, and I'm glad we got to see Ahmad years after the events of The Gauntlet. The game has definitely changed, which we see throughout the book. It's less Jumanji and more Ready Player One. At least, from what I know about Ready Player One. I still haven't read it, so I can't say for sure. But this book does have more of a video game feel than a board game feel to it.
I was intrigued that the game managed to rebuild itself into a more modern version of the one we saw in The Gauntlet. It was harder to picture, and I felt like we didn't the descriptions we saw in the first book. It was a lot harder to picture in this book, and I felt like the rules weren't as clear in this book as they were in the first one.
Ahmad's drawings sounded pretty cool- I found myself wondering if he was drawing the places in the Gauntlet, and if he didn't remember what had happened there. This version seemed somewhat familiar to him, but since it was really different, I wonder if he knew it was familiar but couldn't place it. That's what made me wonder if he had remembered what happened years earlier and if maybe the drawings were a way to figure out or remember what had happened. I could be completely off with this, of course, but I did think about that quite a bit at the beginning.
My Rating: 2 stars. The Battle was just okay for me. It was nice to see what happened to Ahmad and Farah after the Gauntlet was destroyed but I just wasn't as interested in this story as I wanted to be.
This was just ok for me. There is too much deus ex machina for my liking. It’s also plot-driven/action, which I tend to enjoy far less than character-driven/emotional - especially when the plot is a bit sloppy. The kids enjoyed it, though. In the end it’s intended for them, not me.
*I received a copy via the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*
Years after The Gauntlet, the Architect returns with a new partner, MasterMind, to take revenge on the Mirza family. Now twelve-years-old, Ahmad Mirza must face their latest creation, The Battle. Ahmad is forced back by the Architect to a brand new Paheli. A slicker and more modern update raises the stakes, and with New York frozen in time, Ahmad must beat the game again before it beats him.
Like the first book, the story is structured around three challenges that Ahmad and Winnie must complete to defeat MasterMind’s game. Riazi again gives readers not much time as our characters must rush all over the city of Paheli. Ahmad remembers little from his past adventure, so he’s just as confused as Winnie is. What definitely carries on the from the debut is the fast-paced mix of monsters and high-stakes battles for survival. I loved the descriptions of the new Paheli, it’s an entirely new landscape with some familiarity with Ahmad and returning readers. The world-building of the novel and game design shines through. The old Paheli isn’t there anymore, but parts of it still manage to linger with a more significant emphasis on the steampunk design this time around. I enjoyed the level of detail given to the setting. I’m obviously not the intended audience, but this book is good fun, full of action and adventure.
A similar issue I had with The Gauntlet was the disparity in characterisation between the lead, now Ahmad, and its secondary characters. The Battle introduces Ahmad’s classmate, Winnie, as his companion into Paheli. Throughout the novel, you really get a feel for Ahmad and watch him grown as a person, but Winnie is not as fully developed. She’s a smart and confident girl but doesn’t really impact the story as much you’d expect and felt like a paper character meant to just tag along with Ahmad.
Overall, I have no doubt that younger readers will enjoy the new Paheli landscape with high-rise landscapes, flying cars and familiar faces. A surprising reveal at the end makes me wonder where the future of Paheli could lead. I personally didn’t enjoy The Battle that much which is quite disappointing, especially when I adored the first one. I absolutely loved The Gauntlet, but its sequel doesn’t match up with the magic of its predecessor. It is a solid and fascinating return but to those who loved the world created before may be disappointed by its execution.
Years after The Gauntlet, the Architect returns with a new partner, MasterMind, to take revenge on the Mirza family. Now twelve-years-old, Ahmad Mirza must face their latest creation, The Battle. Ahmad is forced back by the Architect to a brand new Paheli. A slicker and more modern update raises the stakes, and with New York frozen in time, Ahmad must beat the game again before it beats him.
Like the first book, the story is structured around three challenges that Ahmad and Winnie must complete to defeat MasterMind’s game. Riazi again gives readers not much time as our characters must rush all over the city of Paheli. Ahmad remembers little from his past adventure, so he’s just as confused as Winnie is. What definitely carries on the from the debut is the fast-paced mix of monsters and high-stakes battles for survival. I loved the descriptions of the new Paheli, it’s an entirely new landscape with some familiarity with Ahmad and returning readers. The world-building of the novel and game design shines through. The old Paheli isn’t there anymore, but parts of it still manage to linger with a more significant emphasis on the steampunk design this time around. I enjoyed the level of detail given to the setting. I’m obviously not the intended audience, but this book is good fun, full of action and adventure.
A similar issue I had with The Gauntlet was the disparity in characterisation between the lead, now Ahmad, and its secondary characters. The Battle introduces Ahmad’s classmate, Winnie, as his companion into Paheli. Throughout the novel, you really get a feel for Ahmad and watch him grown as a person, but Winnie is not as fully developed. She’s a smart and confident girl but doesn’t really impact the story as much you’d expect and felt like a paper character meant to just tag along with Ahmad.
Overall, I have no doubt that younger readers will enjoy the new Paheli landscape with high-rise landscapes, flying cars and familiar faces. A surprising reveal at the end makes me wonder where the future of Paheli could lead. I personally didn’t enjoy The Battle that much which is quite disappointing, especially when I adored the first one. I absolutely loved The Gauntlet, but its sequel doesn’t match up with the magic of its predecessor. It is a solid and fascinating return but to those who loved the world created before may be disappointed by its execution.
Quick fun read, but didn't realize it was the second in a duology. Nothing says I needed to read the first novel, but I felt like a bit of context was missing initially with the story...
Also, there's nothing on the back or cover indicating this is book 2.
Also, there's nothing on the back or cover indicating this is book 2.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Mizra is heading back to the City of Paheli for a new game, and in an updated city.
Ahmed Mizra doesn't mean to get in trouble. It just happens. This time, it really wasn't his fault that a classmate--the super smart, goody-two-shoes Winnie--hand-delivered a package to him when he was supposed to be in lunch detention. But he's about to find himself--along with Winnie--on the adventure of a lifetime when the package turns out to be a video-game and supposedly from his older sister, Farah. Ahmed is stunned to learn that this video-game is set in Paheli--a city that he thought he made up and has been sketching since he was a small child. Ahmed has very few memories of his first experience with Paheli, but he most definitely won't forget this time.
The MasterMind will make sure of that.
An intriguing follow-up to "The Gauntlet", "The Battle" sees a return to the enchanted city of Paheli and it's twisted games with a more modern look. This time, instead of three friends going through the trials, it is Ahmed and Winnie who forge a friendship through the trials, learning to trust one another as they solve puzzles, fly rickshaws, and team up with some interesting characters--some of whom are very familiar to the readers.
A Mizra is heading back to the City of Paheli for a new game, and in an updated city.
Ahmed Mizra doesn't mean to get in trouble. It just happens. This time, it really wasn't his fault that a classmate--the super smart, goody-two-shoes Winnie--hand-delivered a package to him when he was supposed to be in lunch detention. But he's about to find himself--along with Winnie--on the adventure of a lifetime when the package turns out to be a video-game and supposedly from his older sister, Farah. Ahmed is stunned to learn that this video-game is set in Paheli--a city that he thought he made up and has been sketching since he was a small child. Ahmed has very few memories of his first experience with Paheli, but he most definitely won't forget this time.
The MasterMind will make sure of that.
An intriguing follow-up to "The Gauntlet", "The Battle" sees a return to the enchanted city of Paheli and it's twisted games with a more modern look. This time, instead of three friends going through the trials, it is Ahmed and Winnie who forge a friendship through the trials, learning to trust one another as they solve puzzles, fly rickshaws, and team up with some interesting characters--some of whom are very familiar to the readers.
Not as good as the first one, unfortunately. I was less drawn into the challenges and the world. For fans of The Gauntlet, grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
What a fun sequel!! I like that we have Ahmad as a player in the game for this book and the stakes are higher with the entire New York City in danger. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Ahmad and Winnie throughout the story. It shows the building of trust and the discovery of unlikely friendships. Converting the game to resemble video games and the Mastermind being a coder was great and definitely relatable to middle grade readers!
I've been on a bit of a hunt for rpg (role playing game) middle grade fiction, and this one certainly fits the bill! It's a gentle, wonderfully diverse tale that takes place in a detailed, fantastic fiction world of Paheli, a game lower middle grade readers can get lost in. The idea of levels and playing a game with rules that seem to change as you go is one kids will really dig into.
Twelve-year-old Ahmad and Winnie are sucked into the game, inadvertently stopping everything in NYC for game play instead. They discover a game world, Paheli, that is eerily familiar to Ahmad. As they make allies, and Ahmad finds a long-lost Uncle once trapped in the game, they are introduced to levels of the "original" game that are downright dilapidated and in need of (coding) repair. The other levels, closer to the surface of Paheli, are slick, sleek and near-impossible to win.
Who's keeping the core of Paheli alive? The new coder, the Mastermind, or another force the kids have yet to uncover? And is it worth saving, or does it have another agenda, a nefarious one the kids have not even guessed at yet? Enjoy the read.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Twelve-year-old Ahmad and Winnie are sucked into the game, inadvertently stopping everything in NYC for game play instead. They discover a game world, Paheli, that is eerily familiar to Ahmad. As they make allies, and Ahmad finds a long-lost Uncle once trapped in the game, they are introduced to levels of the "original" game that are downright dilapidated and in need of (coding) repair. The other levels, closer to the surface of Paheli, are slick, sleek and near-impossible to win.
Who's keeping the core of Paheli alive? The new coder, the Mastermind, or another force the kids have yet to uncover? And is it worth saving, or does it have another agenda, a nefarious one the kids have not even guessed at yet? Enjoy the read.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/