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Smith, Alexander Gordon
8 Reviews
(4)
YA
Marlow, Pan, and Night find themselves in Hell and must fight evil demons--and even the Devil himself--to save themselves and the whole world. This third and final volume is not for the faint-hearted--violent, graphic imagery takes priority over plotting and characterization. That said, the gore fits with the subject matter as the series reaches its epic conclusion.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
(4)
YA
Fifteen-year-old Marlow and the other Hellraisers find themselves on the run from an enemy with horrific powers and limitless resources. Failure doesn't just mean a fate worse than death for Marlow--it means total annihilation of the world. This dark fantasy suffers from slim characterization and an overabundance of detail that slows the pacing of what would otherwise be an action-packed chiller.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(4)
YA
Cal, Daisy, and Brick wake up one day to discover anyone who gets too close suddenly wants them dead. Along with a few others, these teens discover they are the vessels for supernatural beings who must fight to save the human race. Though it's over-dependent on physical and emotional violence, readers will be swept up in this fast-paced story.
Reviewer: Jenn Matters
(4)
YA
Alex, Zee, and Simon have finally escaped from the high-security penitentiary/scientific laboratory Furnace. But Alfred Furnace and the monstrous creations he designed there are also out and rampaging, and the boys learn of further unimaginably vicious plots. The addition of new character Lucy adds interest, but the emphasis on chase scenes, violent fights, and cliffhanger endings remains.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(4)
YA
This volume concludes the Escape from Furnace series, which follows the adventures of boys incarcerated in a vividly violent prison and subjected to Frankensteinian experiments. Alex both eludes a new villain and gains a surprising understanding of Alfred Furnace, his long-standing nemesis. The predictable body count and plot twists reach new heights, but Alex grows ever more heroic in this sweeping finale.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(4)
YA
More death and destruction surround Alex (Lockdown, Solitary) as he's subjected to biological transformations by the warden. As one of the silver-eyed, black-suited monsters, he must decide how to use his power. Thin on character development and moral complexity, the book thrives on violent battles between good and evil, ornamented with a few nods to the value of friendship.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(4)
YA
Foiled in their attempt to escape from a sadistic penal institution for boys, Alex and Zee (Lockdown) struggle to survive solitary confinement, avoid becoming "specimens" subjected to pseudo-scientific experimentation, and discover a new escape route. Unrelenting action and violence leave little time for character development, but horror fans will relish the monstrous villains and labyrinthine underground world in this second installment.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(4)
YA
Alex, a teenage burglar and bully, is framed for murder and incarcerated in the Furnace, a private prison governed by monstrous men with an insidious agenda. Despite many obstacles, Alex makes friends, improves his character, and plans an escape. Gory cruelties and unpredictable threats provide most of the impetus for the story. A shameless cliffhanger closes the volume.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
8 reviews
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