Book Review: The Curse of the King
I love it when I get to review the next installment of a series--because I have a terrible habit of not being involved with a series until it is done/almost done. Anyways, here we are.
This is the book that when the librarian brought it out to me from the back (it hadn't been put on the hold shelf yet), I had to refrain from some mild squealing. I LOVE this series so much. A lot of people were disappointed with the third, and they're definitely entitled to their opinions. The fourth steps it up in a lot of ways.
Ally, Jack, Cass and Marco are on an epic quest to reunite the powers of Atlantis. How? By retrieving the lost seven loculi, which are hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Easier said than done as the majority of the Seven Wonders no longer exist. But it's all complicated by their timeline--because of their genetic mutation, G7W, if Ally, Jack, Cass and Marco cannot complete their task, restoring Atlantis and uncovering their cure, before they reach the age of fourteen, they will die.
But everything is unclear now--who is good? The Karai Institute or the Massa? Who is using them for their genius skills (yielded from their unstable metabolic pathways), and who actually wants to save their lives? And what if to save their own lives, other sacrifices must be made? It all continues as they take on the next wonder: The Statue of Zeus.
As I've said before, I appreciate the actual scientific plausibility of their genetic mutation (reminder: Peter LeRangis has a degree in biochemistry from Harvard), even if it isn't real. That's a rarity in literature. What's even more rare? Having parents in a YA book that are not either terrible deadbeat parents or clueless, worthless morons. In the last book, we got introduced a little more to Jack's father who, it turns out, is well-connected, useful and genuinely cares about his son and would do anything for him. In this book, we meet Ally's mother, who (while not as useful as Jack's father because she doesn't own an international genetics conglomerate), is still a good parent. This is a refreshing thing for children's lit/ YA--especially YA fantasy.
A good story with good morals, and quirky writing throughout. And a cliff-hanger that will make you want to shoot the writer.
4 stars for this one.
This is the book that when the librarian brought it out to me from the back (it hadn't been put on the hold shelf yet), I had to refrain from some mild squealing. I LOVE this series so much. A lot of people were disappointed with the third, and they're definitely entitled to their opinions. The fourth steps it up in a lot of ways.
Ally, Jack, Cass and Marco are on an epic quest to reunite the powers of Atlantis. How? By retrieving the lost seven loculi, which are hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Easier said than done as the majority of the Seven Wonders no longer exist. But it's all complicated by their timeline--because of their genetic mutation, G7W, if Ally, Jack, Cass and Marco cannot complete their task, restoring Atlantis and uncovering their cure, before they reach the age of fourteen, they will die.
But everything is unclear now--who is good? The Karai Institute or the Massa? Who is using them for their genius skills (yielded from their unstable metabolic pathways), and who actually wants to save their lives? And what if to save their own lives, other sacrifices must be made? It all continues as they take on the next wonder: The Statue of Zeus.
As I've said before, I appreciate the actual scientific plausibility of their genetic mutation (reminder: Peter LeRangis has a degree in biochemistry from Harvard), even if it isn't real. That's a rarity in literature. What's even more rare? Having parents in a YA book that are not either terrible deadbeat parents or clueless, worthless morons. In the last book, we got introduced a little more to Jack's father who, it turns out, is well-connected, useful and genuinely cares about his son and would do anything for him. In this book, we meet Ally's mother, who (while not as useful as Jack's father because she doesn't own an international genetics conglomerate), is still a good parent. This is a refreshing thing for children's lit/ YA--especially YA fantasy.
A good story with good morals, and quirky writing throughout. And a cliff-hanger that will make you want to shoot the writer.
4 stars for this one.
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