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heyshay07's review against another edition
3.0
It was an entertaining book. To be fair, I listened to it on CD while driving home from a trip so I didn't really read it. Also, the disk was scratched so I missed some of the book at the end. Barnaby Grimes is an entertaining character and I liked his narration of the story and getting his percpective. The book wasn't super extraordinary, and I had a hard time getting into it. The mystery was easy to figure out. Super quick and entertaining. Boys will probably like it a lot.
mackle13's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
Surprisingly gruesome for being a kids book, but not overly gory. I think younger kids would love it, and maybe find it a little frightening - though the easily frightened, in a bad way, and over-protective parents might stear away from it.
I wish I liked it more than I did, though. It's one of those books that, while told in first person, feels distant. I never really clicked with it, and never really felt the terror of the situation. Also, I had the mystery figured out in, like, the first 5 pages, and you know that it ends well since it's sort of told as a flashback, so maybe that takes something of the edge off?
Fast read, enjoyable enough, and I loved the illustrations by Riddel. I'll still probably get the next in the series, even though I didn't love it, more because I'm hoping there's a payout to the potential.
Surprisingly gruesome for being a kids book, but not overly gory. I think younger kids would love it, and maybe find it a little frightening - though the easily frightened, in a bad way, and over-protective parents might stear away from it.
I wish I liked it more than I did, though. It's one of those books that, while told in first person, feels distant. I never really clicked with it, and never really felt the terror of the situation. Also, I had the mystery figured out in, like, the first 5 pages, and you know that it ends well since it's sort of told as a flashback, so maybe that takes something of the edge off?
Fast read, enjoyable enough, and I loved the illustrations by Riddel. I'll still probably get the next in the series, even though I didn't love it, more because I'm hoping there's a payout to the potential.
thekatz's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
greenbeanteenqueen's review against another edition
CURSE OF THE NIGHT WOLF is the first in the new BARNABY GRIMES series from the authors of THE EDGE
CHRONICLES. The story combines mystery, history, horror, action-adventure, and the paranormal into a perfectly
scary story for tweens. The black and white drawings add a chilling effect to the story. The characters are brilliantly
drawn and the villain is perfectly evil.
Barnaby’s story will continue in RETURN OF THE EMERALD SKULL, and from the preview in my copy of
CURSE OF THE NIGHT WOLF, his adventures are going to get much scarier!
CHRONICLES. The story combines mystery, history, horror, action-adventure, and the paranormal into a perfectly
scary story for tweens. The black and white drawings add a chilling effect to the story. The characters are brilliantly
drawn and the villain is perfectly evil.
Barnaby’s story will continue in RETURN OF THE EMERALD SKULL, and from the preview in my copy of
CURSE OF THE NIGHT WOLF, his adventures are going to get much scarier!
bibliocat4's review against another edition
3.0
I like the old fashion feeling of London in this book. It was predictable but I thought it was pretty good anyway.
ronmccutchan's review against another edition
4.0
A breezy little paranormal romp from my favorite writer/illustrator team, Stewart & Riddell. The plotline is a bit sophisticated for the age level, though if a reader can manage Dickens, they'll definitely be able to manage this.
cweichel's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book.
I was hooked in first few paragraphs by Barnaby Grimes description of his terrifying transformation. It is perfect for elementary readers who like a bit of terror. I gave it four stars because I can instantly think of a handful of kids who will enjoy it. In fact I already know who I am going to give this to first.
I was hooked in first few paragraphs by Barnaby Grimes description of his terrifying transformation. It is perfect for elementary readers who like a bit of terror. I gave it four stars because I can instantly think of a handful of kids who will enjoy it. In fact I already know who I am going to give this to first.
feuillycakes's review
3.0
This book wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything amazing either, in my opinion. My initial impression was that it was very wordy and action-focussed, as though a 14 year old boy had gotten hold of a thesaurus. It reads like a book for a preteen, which I believe it is, so I’m going into this knowing it wasn’t written for me.
I appreciated the descriptive writing, as it painted a vivid picture in my mind and really helped set the scene well, especially of the wolf transformation in the prologue. I enjoyed the plot and the way it sped through without adding in any fillers. I did know what had happened with Old Benjamin from the start, not because it was obvious but because I read this book way back when it was almost new, so I can’t comment on how suspenseful it was. Even so, the quick pace of the story didn’t give me a chance to be bored.
My main issue was honestly the narration. First person is hard to get right, and I think this failed at it. It would have read better as a third person narrative since it was written like it should have been that way. Barnaby’s voice is mostly ‘I did ____’ ‘I thought _____’ and my least favourite: ‘I made a mental note to _____’. In a first person point of view it is assumed everything written is a thought, and the spoon feeding of each line grated on my nerves. It goes without saying these are his thoughts so why say ‘I thought’ as though it’s in question? It’s very juvenile to me and once again I am not the target audience, but I do feel that style of narration would have been best suited to third person.
If anything it’s an average story. I don’t feel like I wasted my time reading it, and I’ll be glad to let someone else have a turn with it who will enjoy it as it is, maybe someone in a more suitable age range for it.
To end this review I’ll comment on the end: I really liked that the ending/final confrontation was actually the beginning of the book. It made me excited to realise that I had already had a peak at the ending and hadn’t ever realised, so kudos for that, it was great!
I appreciated the descriptive writing, as it painted a vivid picture in my mind and really helped set the scene well, especially of the wolf transformation in the prologue. I enjoyed the plot and the way it sped through without adding in any fillers. I did know what had happened with Old Benjamin from the start, not because it was obvious but because I read this book way back when it was almost new, so I can’t comment on how suspenseful it was. Even so, the quick pace of the story didn’t give me a chance to be bored.
My main issue was honestly the narration. First person is hard to get right, and I think this failed at it. It would have read better as a third person narrative since it was written like it should have been that way. Barnaby’s voice is mostly ‘I did ____’ ‘I thought _____’ and my least favourite: ‘I made a mental note to _____’. In a first person point of view it is assumed everything written is a thought, and the spoon feeding of each line grated on my nerves. It goes without saying these are his thoughts so why say ‘I thought’ as though it’s in question? It’s very juvenile to me and once again I am not the target audience, but I do feel that style of narration would have been best suited to third person.
If anything it’s an average story. I don’t feel like I wasted my time reading it, and I’ll be glad to let someone else have a turn with it who will enjoy it as it is, maybe someone in a more suitable age range for it.
To end this review I’ll comment on the end: I really liked that the ending/final confrontation was actually the beginning of the book. It made me excited to realise that I had already had a peak at the ending and hadn’t ever realised, so kudos for that, it was great!
julieputty's review
3.0
Amusing, brisk, forgettable, and oddly put-down-able, this might be a good choice for a young reader who likes a bit of blood and a bit of a challenge.
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