Review: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Graphic Novel

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Graphic Novel by Michael Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sophie and Josh are working their summer jobs when they are plunged into a battle that has been happening for centuries … literally.  It turns out that Nicholas Flamel is Josh’s employer, and he is over 600 years old.  Nicholas discovered the Book of Abraham the Mage (better known as the Codex) and has been brewing the elixir of life every month for centuries.  Dr. John Dee is a former student of Nicholas and has been hunting him in order to take the Codex for himself.  Who else will join this adventure?  What hidden truths will the twins uncover? 

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Graphic Novel is a reimagining of the original tale.  Readers who have enjoyed the Alchemyst series will find this adventure just as appealing.  Those who are new to the story will be clamoring for more.  The graphics are wonderful, and the story is great, but readers should know that this is almost all character development and leaves everyone without a lot of answers.  A good adaptation and I can’t wait for the next installment.

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Review: The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade

The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade by Claudia Gray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Audrey has moved to a new town and must attend a new school.  Lucky for Audrey, she makes friends right away; unlucky for Audrey, she discovers a haunted mansion near her house.  These three teens decide they want to figure out why Audrey has waking dreams and sees ghosts.  While all of this is going on, Audrey is trying to deal with her boyfriend being a distance away and the fears/anxieties she is constantly overwhelmed with.  What is with this haunted mansion?  Why does Audrey go into fugue states and finish with a key?

The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade is a stand-alone novel based on the Disney Ride.  I will be honest and say that I have not been to Disney in over 15 years, so I don’t know this ride, yet I still enjoyed this book.  The characters were fun to get to know and the storyline was easy to follow.  I’m sure there are hidden gems for those who have experienced the ride, though.  This adventure is quick, and the topics are light yet also important.  A fun read for all ages. 

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Review: Mister Magic

Mister Magic by Kiersten White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mister Magic was a long-running TV show with a strong fan base.  Even after the show is mysteriously canceled after an accident, fans can’t seem to forget the lessons they learned.  No one can find copies of the videos or knows who the host was.  There were five cast members who were known as the Circle of Friends who didn’t stay in touch but felt something was missing.  It has been thirty years and the Circle of Friends are getting together for a podcast about the show.  What secrets will they discover about the show?  What is waiting for them at the remote desert compound where the show was filmed?

 

Mister Magic is a standalone thriller that was a little confusing as the characters were introduced but smoothed out as the story progressed.  There is a lot to take in and digest about the topics presented. This is defiantly not a light read. I found myself rereading some pages at the end to make sure I understood what was going on. Fans of thrillers will enjoy this book but don’t rush it to the top of your TBR pile. 

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Review: Out of the Dawn

Out of the Dawn by P.C. Cast
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The green mist may have killed the men who breathed it in, but it also gave powers to some of the women.  Everyone’s abilities are different.  Some can heal, others grow plants, and some have great physical strength.  Mercury and a small group of survivors begin to create a small community where they can start over.  Their group may want to live well with the earth, but other survivors have harsher plans.  What threat will this group face next?  Will the world survive this next stage of human existence?

Out of the Dawn is the second book in the Into the Mist series.  The events of this book transpire soon after book one and even though it had been some time since I read the first volume, I easily remembered the key events as new plot points were uncovered.  Goodreads does not have the third book listed (yet), but the ending of this novel is not the end of the series.  Major events are wrapped up but there are many things still to be settled.

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Review: The Bone Hacker

The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tempe has been called into another case.  This one involves a person struck by lightning.  She does her due diligence in her investigation and suddenly finds herself looking into a much larger case that goes back many years.  The victims don’t seem to have anything in common … except where their bodies were found.  Were these random victims?  Were they connected to the local gang violence?  What will others do to keep Tempe from the truth?

The Bone Hacker is the twenty-second book in the Temperance Brennan series.  With so many homicide and medical examiner thrillers available now (not counting the other 21 books in this series), it can be hard to find something new and refreshing.  The Bone Hacker does this by traveling to a different part of the world with some unusual shenanigans along the way.  Overall this is not a great read, but for a summer escape, I was pleasantly surprised.

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