Friday, February 12, 2016

Sequel Review: "The Invaders"

Spoilers may lurk for those who haven't read The Outcasts. You might be able to get away with hopping into the series starting with this book, but I think you'll have a deeper appreciation for the book if you read The Outcasts first. 

The Short:

The Invaders
Brotherband Chronicles, Book 2

By: John Flanagan

5/5 Stars (for intended age group)

What: Following the loss of the Andomal, Hal and the Herons set out on a quest to find Zavac and retrieve the treasure.

Recommended to those who like: Fantasy, Clean, Sailing, Middle Grade/ Teen, and have read Book One 

The Long:

If you’re ever looking for books for a boy who doesn’t like reading, I’d highly recommend John Flanagan as an author. His books feature young men, are easy, quick reads, and have a ton of adventure and action in them.

Hal and the Herons have set out to retrieve the Andomal and escape Hallasholm. However, storms, pirates, and infighting oppose their progress. Can they overcome their differences to complete their quest and regain their honor?

For adult readers, this book might be a four-star work. It’s not written at a very high reading level. However, for teens and middle grade readers the language and style are perfect. (There is an instance of foul language in the book, so take that into consideration when recommending it to anyone). 

The book’s a bit slow to start, but once the action gets going, it’s quite enjoyable. All of our favorite characters from book one have returned and they show some real character growth between the two books. Themes of the novel include teamwork and leadership.

You might be able to get away with not reading Book 1 prior to starting The Invaders; however, I think you’ll have a much greater appreciation for the characters if you read the books in chronological order. Readers of the Ranger’s Apprentice series will likely appreciate the connections between the two series.

Do you enjoy reading books for younger readers? 

I may be slow to respond to comments this weekend. Happy Valentine's Day/Singles Awareness Day!

3 comments:

  1. I quite enjoyed this book, even though I still struggled with the showing vs telling thing. Plus, it was great when they finally got a girl (can't remember her name?) involved, even though I felt that at places the author was trying too hard to make her likeable. (No one is stunning but doesn't notice it. Just saying.) But in other words I really enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I haven't read any of the books in this series yet, but it really does sound very interesting. I'll have to check them out when I get the time. :) Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the comments, both of you! Sorry for the late reply.

    ReplyDelete

Feel free to share your thoughts below. I reserve the right to remove vulgar, hateful, or rude remarks from the comments. Thanks for sharing!