The first 2/3rds of this book were quirky enough to be enjoyable despite my lack of interest in the plot. However, this story just falls to pieces in The first 2/3rds of this book were quirky enough to be enjoyable despite my lack of interest in the plot. However, this story just falls to pieces in the 3rd act, when the previously established characterization and light-hearted fun take a dark turn before abruptly ending in the final 2 pages of the book (with little wrapping-up or satisfactory conclusion). I feel like Mr. Crook's editors failed him when they let him end the book this way.
On a positive note, the illustrations are really, really well done. I would almost say that Mr. Crook is a top-shelf illustrator (and actor). [image] ...more
Auxier's debut book Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is one of my favorites, so I was pretty anxious to read his next book. It's possible that my eAuxier's debut book Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is one of my favorites, so I was pretty anxious to read his next book. It's possible that my expectations for this book were unreasonable, but overall I was pretty thoroughly underwhelmed with The Night Gardner. Where Peter Nimble incorporated several of my favorite aspects of young adult literature (road-trip style fantasy adventure with magical items, plenty of characters who become important later in the story, and plenty of twists), The Night Gardner repeatedly failed to hold my interest.
This haunted house story is about 100 pages too long. The first 2/3rds of the book (260 pages) set up the mood and introduce the characters, of which there are only 10 (and at least 1 is of no consequence to the story). There weren't enough surprises in this chunk for my taste, and I felt like it could have been more entertaining if done in fewer pages. Some of the characters were not fleshed out very well, and the motivations for some of the characters to stay at the haunted house were questionable.
Going in to the third act I thought we might finally start to delve into some of the mysteries that had been hinted at up to this point. It is suggested that the curse had affected previous generations of the occupying family, and wouldn't it be neat if some element from these past generations came to play a role in the current story? This is something that is done well in the Locke & Key series. But no, we're stuck firmly in the present. There is also a question of some certain missing people, and wouldn't it be neat if their fates turned out to be anything-but-the-completely-obvious-answer that every reader will assume from the beginning? Sigh.
And I know it isn't fair to keep comparing this to Auxier's previous hit, but Peter Nimble had beautiful chapter head illustrations. Night Gardner had the same design for the first page of each chapter repeated over and over again. I'll still read Auxier's next book, but I probably won't pick up Night Gardner for a re-read anytime in the foreseeable future....more
I really, really enjoyed this on-going puzzle story. The numerous reveals at the end were extremely gratifying.
My only complaint is that this book isI really, really enjoyed this on-going puzzle story. The numerous reveals at the end were extremely gratifying.
My only complaint is that this book is chock full of fly-by-night references. The kids are constantly talking about the newest video game systems (Nintendo 3DS and Sony PSP off the top of my head), modern social networking websites (Facebook and Twitter), and children's books which have recently been adapted into major motion pictures, but may not necessarily be considered "classics" in the long run (Hunger Games). These are the most notable offenders, but this product placement seemed to occur in every other chapter. The point of my complaint is that this story was excellent, and may have had a chance to be a beloved book for many years, but children in 15 years are just going to be confused by these references to technology and fads that have long been out dated.
This annoying, short sighted product placement had me thinking this was a 2-star book until I got past that and managed to get sucked in to the puzzle the characters were attempting to solve. It steadily built up to a 4-star story, and then the final announcement on the last page capped it off at 5 stars. Probably still only a 4.5 if I'm being honest, but Goodreads hasn't enabled fractions....more
I enjoyed this book slightly more than I did Neil Gaiman's Coraline, with which it shares many similarities.I enjoyed this book slightly more than I did Neil Gaiman's Coraline, with which it shares many similarities....more
I wanted to like this book more than I do, but this thinly veiled Oz-esque story about creator/character rights just didn't deliver. The solution to tI wanted to like this book more than I do, but this thinly veiled Oz-esque story about creator/character rights just didn't deliver. The solution to the mystery (and resolution to the story in general) is unsatisfying and I found the main protagonist to be annoying. Many parts of the story didn't feel like they fit, and were possibly intended as tributes to stories which I was previously completely unaware even existed. Mysterly River didn't make me want to track down the original sources, but gets an extra star for having a map by Mark Buckingham printed on the front and back inside cover....more
**spoiler alert** I had a lot of problems with this book, but before I bash it to much let me just clarify that I did enjoy it and do plan on reading **spoiler alert** I had a lot of problems with this book, but before I bash it to much let me just clarify that I did enjoy it and do plan on reading the next (and final) installment of this series, Havoc. That being said, there were several areas I found to be lacking.
The pacing of the book felt very slow in the first half of the book. I would have liked Kady's San Francisco reveal to come about 100 pages earlier. I have a feeling I am going to read the next book and think that the story from the two books combined would have made one really excellent 250 page story.
Some seemingly unimportant characters (remember Heather, Luke's friend from the first chapter?) are set up and then never mentioned again. Maybe she plays a role in the second book. On the other hand other characters, such as Kady's cat Marlowe, aren't ever given what I feel is a proper introduction and then come out to be major, mysterious players.
Seth's motivation for going into Malice is pretty questionable. He already saw Luke die there, so Seth isn't going in to rescue him. Inquisitiveness and boredom don't justify his actions here, but then I guess if he didn't go it would be a pretty short, boring book.
The artwork during the comic sections is exceptionally amateur, and it's hard to figure out what is happening in some panels. I've peaked at the next book, Havoc, and noted that the artwork appears to be much more refined in that volume.
Why does Kady never tell Seth and Justin that she has been to Malice before? Why do they not question where she got the Shard from or why it is in her bedroom? I realize there is a lot of time between chapters, and that this conversation could have happened between "Killing Time" and "Descent," but I would think this is a major enough plot point to warrant a mention.
Having mysterious villains is fine, but so little is explained about what Icarus Scratch and Miss Benjamin actually do that I can't help but not care about them.
And finally, I realize that this is intended to be a multi-part story, but the ending of this book is kind of weak and not very much of a cliff-hanger at all. Of course Seth is going to remember his time in Malice. Did we need to spend 10 pages making us think that he wouldn't? I think the weak bridge between volumes is one more vote in favor of combining Malice and Havoc into one book.
I'm gonna stop picking this apart and go read Havoc now. Maybe some of these loose ends will be tied up....more
My favorite book of the year (so far). Rookie sensation Jonathan Auxier knocks it out of the park on his first novel. I thought some of the big revealMy favorite book of the year (so far). Rookie sensation Jonathan Auxier knocks it out of the park on his first novel. I thought some of the big reveals are a little predictable, but I had to remind myself that the target audience is much younger than I. Bonus points for the author doing his own chapter title illustrations. I would recommend this to fans of Neil Gaiman's The Gaveyard Book. ...more
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