A fast-paced, quick read with plenty of action and some very close calls, The Glass Gauntlet will get a grip on you (LOL) from the beginning. Ronan, Sammy, and Greta are three young people who have joined forces with the Blood Guard to protect the world from the villains of the Bend Sinister. The problem? Well, there are several, starting with the fact that Ronan's father is a leader within the Bend Sinister. Prior to this volume of the tale, Ronan's dad had actually ordered an underling to kill him. His mother, one of the Blood Guard, says that he probably only did it in a panic and didn't really mean it. But how do you get over something like that? Then there's the small fact that the baddies are trying to bring about some major end-of-the-world event AND they are trying to steal the souls from Pures, people with (you guessed it), pure spirits. It doesn't make for a lot of warm and fuzzy moments between father and son. Throw in an immortal companion who seems to have a perpetual teenage outlook on life, a strange contest called The Glass Gauntlet, killer Dobermans, bad guys who have awesome mental powers and things get intense.
This series has the feel of several recent best sellers - Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, The Name of this Book is Secret, etc. We have the close band of young friends, they are in training with talented adults with some amazing skills, the bad guys also try to recruit teens and kids, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Yet with all the similarities, the story doesn't feel like a generic copy. And there is plenty of humor to balance the dangers. For instance, Ronan's first name is actually Evelyn, but he is a boy. Their immortal friend Jack Dawkins does things like wear shirts that say "YOLO," but with the final O crossed out. (I told you he was a perpetual teenager.)
If you enjoy stories with a cast of faithful friends who are trying to save the world and bad guys who are very easy to dislike, plus lots of action and laughs, then try The Glass Gauntlet.
I read an ebook provided by the publisher through NetGalley. For more information about the books and their author, check out his website.
No comments:
Post a Comment