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Williams, Sean
10 Reviews
(3)
4-6
New knights Eleanor and Odo (Have Sword, Will Travel) and their sassy talking-sword sidekicks join forces with a blind former king and his bodyguard to save the heir to the crown, whose grandmother is trying to usurp the throne. This second adventure's plot--wolves are fought, new lands visited, and a dragon awakened--is simple yet still diverting and should appeal to fantasy fans.
Reviewer: Janet Daniels
(3)
4-6
Best friends Odo and Eleanor are fishing for eels when they find a magic sword that changes their destiny. Suddenly knighted, Odo and his squire Eleanor take on the quest of discovering what's drying up the river. Filled with adventure, deception, fights, curses, and magical creatures, this is an entertaining new series for readers who enjoy fantasy, medieval times, and sassy talking swords.
Reviewer: Janet Daniels
(4)
YA
Clair, PK, and Q retreat to the Yard, a simulation landscape seemingly as real as their destroyed world. Trying to regroup, they discover a second Clair already exists and that their duplicity can dismantle the Yard. While this third action-packed installment (Twinmaker; Crashland) continues the series' thoughtful ethical debates about technology, the many characters are difficult to follow and connect with.
Reviewer: Jenn Matters
(4)
4-6
Twin troubletwisters Jack and Jaide are adjusting to the arrival of another troubletwister, Stefano, when they learn about the Wardens' new plan to destroy The Evil for good. The twins set out to rescue Grandma X's twin sister from the Evil Dimension, leading to a game-changing final confrontation with The Evil in this fourth installment of the predictable series.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter
(4)
4-6
Spirit Animals series.
Twin troubletwisters Jack and Jaide are adjusting to the arrival of another troubletwister, Stefano, when they learn about the Wardens' new plan to destroy The Evil for good. The twins set out to rescue Grandma X's twin sister from the Evil Dimension, leading to a game-changing final confrontation with The Evil in this fourth installment of the predictable series.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
(4)
YA
In the sequel to Twinmaker, Clair has been detained by peacekeepers and held responsible for the collapse of the d-mat system. Clair hopes to restore the d-mat and resurrect her lost friends, a plan that relies on finding Q, the AI who saved Clair. While packed with action scenes, some complex world-building elements may confuse readers, especially those new to the series.
Reviewer: Jenn Matters
(4)
4-6
Jaide and Jack search for an unknown hidden treasure at an old mansion on the outskirts of Portland to protect it from The Evil. Their trust in those closest to them will be tested, as will their still new and hard-to-control powers. This third entry generates thoughtful questions about the twins' (and the series') future, though the writing remains rather uninspired.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter
(2)
YA
In this world, you write down what you want to change about yourself, go through an instant-transportation device, and see it enacted. Libby is game for Improvement, but her best friend (and our main character) Clair is more cautious; it turns out her concern is justified. The author handily juggles ethical debates, swift action, and a well-developed setting throughout each story thread.
Reviewer: April Spisak
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2013
(4)
4-6
A week after battling The Evil in Troubletwisters, Jaide and Jack continue their training as Wardens. The twins try to convince Grandma X that The Evil has survived, but because of their inability to control their powers, along with their tendency to jump to irrational conclusions, their attempts to help become tedious. Except for the entertaining conclusion, an unremarkable second series entry.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter
(4)
4-6
Twelve-year-old twins Jack and Jaide move in with Grandma X after their house is mysteriously destroyed. The kids learn they're "troubletwisters," whose "Gifts" will help defeat "The Evil." Viewpoint switches between the twins (seemingly randomly) as the story moves along. Readers will have to look to a sequel for answers about the magical world Nix and Williams are building.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter
10 reviews
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