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A review by thecanadagoose
Evil Star by Anthony Horowitz
4.0
This is the second book in [a:Horowitz's|32590|Anthony Horowitz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1301176549p2/32590.jpg] 'Power of Five' saga, but does not succumb to the trend of being far inferior to the first. Following the events of [b:Raven's Gate|107664|Raven's Gate (Power of Five, #1)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328842690l/107664._SY75_.jpg|3327491], we follow Matt and his carer Richard trying to live normal lives. This all comes to an end after Matt accidentally uses his newfound power to injure the school bully, while also predicting an accident which destroys the school gym.
The organisation known as Nexus steps in, revealing they need Matt's help to collect a diary which contains vital information on the Old Ones, and a potential Second Gate which will allow them to be released into the world. Failing the mission to collect it, the Nexus persuade both Matt and Richard to travel to Peru to prevent the gate from being opened.
On the way to their rendezvous after landing, they are ambushed and Richard is kidnapped, while Matt escapes. He enlists the help of another boy of the same age, Pedro, in order to find Richard and stop the opening of the gate.
This novel has the same fast paced nature of the first, however it includes more detail which I felt the latter was lacking. You once again feel a connection with Matt and Pedro, that their lives are overturned so quickly. [a:Horowitz|32590|Anthony Horowitz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1301176549p2/32590.jpg] includes a recurring motif of pointlessness and failure, which helps the reader to understand the sense of helplessness that Matt feels in his task, and how he is not in control of his destiny. It is much darker than the first instalment, and ambitiously touches on the dissonance between Matt and Pedro's life - of wealth and poverty - without feeling didactic.
I much preferred this book to the first. The location is much more interesting and it tackles more issues, while also introducing new characters in a natural way. I would highly recommend this book, though I suggest reading the series from the beginning to get the full enjoyment that it has to offer.
The organisation known as Nexus steps in, revealing they need Matt's help to collect a diary which contains vital information on the Old Ones, and a potential Second Gate which will allow them to be released into the world. Failing the mission to collect it, the Nexus persuade both Matt and Richard to travel to Peru to prevent the gate from being opened.
On the way to their rendezvous after landing, they are ambushed and Richard is kidnapped, while Matt escapes. He enlists the help of another boy of the same age, Pedro, in order to find Richard and stop the opening of the gate.
This novel has the same fast paced nature of the first, however it includes more detail which I felt the latter was lacking. You once again feel a connection with Matt and Pedro, that their lives are overturned so quickly. [a:Horowitz|32590|Anthony Horowitz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1301176549p2/32590.jpg] includes a recurring motif of pointlessness and failure, which helps the reader to understand the sense of helplessness that Matt feels in his task, and how he is not in control of his destiny. It is much darker than the first instalment, and ambitiously touches on the dissonance between Matt and Pedro's life - of wealth and poverty - without feeling didactic.
I much preferred this book to the first. The location is much more interesting and it tackles more issues, while also introducing new characters in a natural way. I would highly recommend this book, though I suggest reading the series from the beginning to get the full enjoyment that it has to offer.