A Review for:
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| *found on Google images |
IF WE SURVIVE
by Andrew Klavan
This
is probably the most political, emotional, and intense action ride I've
ever read in a Young Adult novel. Andrew Klavan has done it again with
this stunningly beautiful epic that lays open the truth about some
misunderstood politics. Here is the plot . . .
"High schooler
Will Peterson and three friends journeyed to Central America to help
rebuild a school. In a poor, secluded mountain village, they won the
hearts of the local people with their energy and kindness.
But in
one sudden moment, everything went horribly wrong. A revolution swept
the country. Now, guns and terror are everywhere—and Americans are being
targeted as the first to die.
Will and his friends have got to
get out fast. But streets full of killers . . . hills patrolled by
armies . . . and a jungle rife with danger stand between them and the
border. Their one hope of escape lies with a veteran warrior who has
lost his faith and may betray them at any moment. Their one dream is to
reach freedom and safety and home."
There is not much weaknesses in this novel that I could catch. The pacing is a little slow for the first chapter or two but it rewards you with a ton of action by the third chapter. (and the chapters aren't long). Also, a girl named Meredith may seem too calm and surreal for some readers. But I thought she was one of the best characters.And she has a spiritual
strength that actually emboldens the plot more than anything else.
The characters are deep.
The main character, Will, is so relatable it's creepy at times. His fears, his
pains, all that haunts him from home, and his emotions about girls are all so real. A man named Palmer Dunn is the rugged,
good looking hero, and ex-marine that leads. And a shallow blonde
named Nicki, learns to how become real and strong.
The story is bold, the theme relevant, and the soul of the plot is stark, edgy, and beautiful.
10 out of 10 stars!
A Review for:
IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE
by Alicia A. Willis
In Search of Adventure: A
Tale of Courage and Devotion had some extremely well developed
characters. The action is spaced out nicely and it is very family
friendly in aspect of content. Here is the synopsis:
Enter
In Search of Adventure, the thrilling second installment of The
Comrades of Honor Series! Packed with action at every bend, this tale
takes up the story of Nathaniel de Lance, once the page of Sir Robert.
Now
a young man and belted knight, Sir Nathaniel takes young Kenneth Dale
for his squire, a boy left destitute by a stroke of ill-fortune. Quickly
learning to trust and care for each other, Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth
become fast friends, little knowing how much they will need their mutual
comradeship.
Taking advantage of his liberty as a knight, Sir
Nathaniel leaves his boyhood home to visit old friends. The small
journey quickly takes an unexpected turn, however, and climaxes into a
perilous adventure. Old enemies revisit the scene, creating hazards that
require all of Sir Nathaniel’s strength and valor to overcome. Trapped
in a hostile country, the question arises: Will he ever return?
Join
Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth in their rousing adventure and witness the
perils that strengthen their courage. Their friendship is extraordinary –
but will the rewards of their devotion be greater still?
A novel
of adventure, comradeship, and suspense, as a valiant knight seeks to
overcome his merciless foes and retain honor in a hostile land.
The story is fun and there are very few bumps on this road to
adventure. However there are some over-done sentences involving some
harmless romance (which may make some male readers roll their eyes). And
Kenneth and Sir Nathaniel seem to be too ready to cry, particularly in
the beginning. The characters always use Old English in dialogue (which
really adds to the realism factor) but may turn off some readers.
But Kenneth's teary eyed immaturity in the beginning actually
underlines his growth later in the novel. How he stops being a cry baby
to becoming a strong young warrior is really pleasant to watch.
The action will drag you to the edge of your seat. The story over all
was pretty well paced. And the novel ends on a very satisfactory note.
