Review: The Assassin's Curse ✭✭✭✭✭

The Assassin's Curse by Kevin Sands
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This terrific series continues to deliver on adventure, suspense and excitement. In this story, Christopher, Tom and Sally travel to Paris undercover to discover who is trying to kill royal family members. The mystery is complex, the clues and codes are challenging, and the thrills are non-stop. This particular book in the series really reminded me of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

Young fans of Rick Riordan or John Flanagan books will love this series. The story ends in a cliffhanger; that is how I learned there was a book four in the series coming out in September! (I thought it was only a trilogy). Looking forward to Call of the Wraith.

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Children of Exile

This new series by Margaret Peterson Haddix begins with children getting on a plane to leave the people that have raised them (the "Freds") and return to their natural parents. At age 12, Rosi is the oldest child to be returned, and she is wondering why they now have to leave their beloved and peaceful Fredtown behind to go to a land of hardships and heartache that none of the children remember.

The Freds are not allowed to escort the children back, and the plane ride is a frightening glimpse into the children's new world of danger and disappointment. When Rosi and Bobo finally meet their parents, Rosi, in particular, is not exactly made to feel welcome. And what's up with the Dad's blindness and missing arm? Rosi decides to meet with another 12-year old boy, Edwe, who has suspicions of his own. Rosi then begins to realize that she and Bobo are in very real danger, and need to get away. Near the end of the book, Rosi learns more about the mysterious Freds, and the reasons they were taken away and returned.

Middle-grade fans of this author will read this book in no time. The story is an exciting one, full of surprises and twists. I felt the story got pretty far-fetched by the end, and I never really found myself rooting for Rosie. Also, the book does not have a tidy ending, and even though I know it's the start of a new series, I still think it's fair for the reader to expect a little more closure. Younger readers will be Googling the publication date of the next entry in the series.

Storm Could Be Even Better Than SYLO

Storm, The Sylo Chronicles #2 by D.J. McHale, is just as much of a roller coaster ride as the first book in the series. Tucker and his friends have made it alive to the mainland, and the adventures continue in a thrilling cross-country adventure. There are surprises and twists at every turn, as Tucker tries to find the answers behind the debilitating and vengeful civil war between the U.S. Air Force and SYLO, a division of the U.S. Navy. Along the way, Tucker learns that he may not be able to trust anyone. This is a great series for students grades 6 and up.

Wildwood

I am extremely happy this book has finally moved from my "want to read" list to my "have read" list! Wildwood seems destined to become a classic fantasy series. The author and illustrator team live in Portland, Oregon and just outside of that city is where the story takes place. Prue McKeel is watching her little brother in the park when he gets carried away by a murder of crows into the impassable wilderness. Prue and her friend Curtis enter these woods to rescue little Mac. Colin Meloy's vivid writing makes the characters and setting come alive. You'll want to have a dictionary handy for the extensive vocabulary. The gorgeous color plates and black and white illustrations add meaning to a book you will really want to treasure. Fun fact: Author Colin Meloy and illustrator Carson Ellis also make up the indie folk-rock band known as the Decemberists.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling

Have you ever heard the expression "That child behaves like he was raised by a pack of wolves!"? The Mysterious Howling, by Maryrose Wood, takes the phrase quite literally in this story about a nanny trying to get three young incorrigible children to adapt to life in a well-to-do English family after being raised in the woods. Do the parents have a devious motive for finally allowing the wild bunch inside? Tension mixes with laugh-out-loud moments in what promises to be the start of a great series.

A Flashlight-Worthy Thriller

SYLO

by D.J. MacHale

Get out your flashlights...
This fast-paced suspense story will keep you reading all night. Tucker and his friends get caught up in a frightening mystery on their normally sleepy, quiet island off the coast of Maine. SYLO has invaded,and no one knows if they are here to help or harm? If the U.S. President sent them, does that mean that all is well? When all communication with the mainland is disrupted, Tucker and his friends plan a dangerous escape to get out their important message.

If you loved this book, try the Morpheus Road series by the same author, or Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner.