hrusewif's review
3.0
It was ok. I really had high hopes for the series after coming to J.L. Bryan from the Paranormals Series (Jenny Pox, etc). The writing style is very similar, but where Paranormals still translated into a more mature 15-18+ YA novel series despite the simplistic writing style, The Song of Magic Series (of which Fairy Metal thunder is book 1 of) is definitely a very simplistically written series that translates into being meant more for Young Adults in the 12-14 range.
But don't take that as I didn't like the book. Overall I enjoyed (and finished) it, and the story was interesting and one that I haven't seen explored much with fairy authors... I only really found it disappointing in that, for me personally, there wasn't enough depth or actual character development, and that compared to Paranormals, it's certainly meant for a younger age range in the YA category. I just wouldn't recommend it for anyone looking for a more mature YA novel centered around fairies. BUT, if you enjoy the more whimsical Fairy story with little to no violence, conflict, etc, then this is certainly a cute story you'll enjoy.
But don't take that as I didn't like the book. Overall I enjoyed (and finished) it, and the story was interesting and one that I haven't seen explored much with fairy authors... I only really found it disappointing in that, for me personally, there wasn't enough depth or actual character development, and that compared to Paranormals, it's certainly meant for a younger age range in the YA category. I just wouldn't recommend it for anyone looking for a more mature YA novel centered around fairies. BUT, if you enjoy the more whimsical Fairy story with little to no violence, conflict, etc, then this is certainly a cute story you'll enjoy.
bickleyhouse's review
4.0
This was a charming story of some high school kids who would be rock musicians. Their struggling local rock band is about to split up and part ways, after a failed audition at a club in a larger city. But then Jason, the guitar player, follows a goblin who has stolen some jewelry from his mother's jewel cabinet. He follows the goblin into the fairly world (through a door in a tree in the back yard of a woman who later turns out to be a Gate Guard), where he catches him and persuades him to give back some of the jewelry he has stolen.
While Jason is waiting, he hears some beautiful music being played. He observes some fairy musicians playing for a group of human kids! The human children are dancing vigorously to the music. After the music is over, the children collapse, exhausted, and slowly disappear back into their own world.
The fae musicians then take a break, leaving their instruments unattended. Jason sneaks over and steals the instruments, and runs all the way back to the tree, forgetting the goblin and jewelry. This is where the "fun" starts, as Jason and his bandmates discover the special characteristics of the fae instruments.
Of course, Queen Mab is not happy, once she realizes the instruments are gone.
It's a fun story, written for a YA or juvenile audience, with virtually no objectionable material (unless you don't like "fairy tales," in which case you wouldn't be reading anyway). Also, it is part one of a series, and it just so happens that the ebook includes part two, called Fairy Blues.
While Jason is waiting, he hears some beautiful music being played. He observes some fairy musicians playing for a group of human kids! The human children are dancing vigorously to the music. After the music is over, the children collapse, exhausted, and slowly disappear back into their own world.
The fae musicians then take a break, leaving their instruments unattended. Jason sneaks over and steals the instruments, and runs all the way back to the tree, forgetting the goblin and jewelry. This is where the "fun" starts, as Jason and his bandmates discover the special characteristics of the fae instruments.
Of course, Queen Mab is not happy, once she realizes the instruments are gone.
It's a fun story, written for a YA or juvenile audience, with virtually no objectionable material (unless you don't like "fairy tales," in which case you wouldn't be reading anyway). Also, it is part one of a series, and it just so happens that the ebook includes part two, called Fairy Blues.
jcbyrne71's review
1.0
Oh this book was terrible. I finished it but it was a day of my life I will never get back - and a waste!
Jason chases a goblin into the Farie realm to get back some earrings stolen from his house. While there he steals fairy musical instruments and brings them back to his friends who have a band. They start playing magical music.
Oh it was PAINFUL. I would give it zero stars if I could.
Jason chases a goblin into the Farie realm to get back some earrings stolen from his house. While there he steals fairy musical instruments and brings them back to his friends who have a band. They start playing magical music.
Oh it was PAINFUL. I would give it zero stars if I could.
michalice's review
4.0
Jason, Mitch, Dred and Erin are all members of the Assorted Zebras.
Jason chases after a goblin, Grizlemor, who has stolen his mother's jewellery, and ends up following him into Fairy Land, where he sees a group of musicians playing amazing music. Struck with an idea, Jason decides to steal their instruments for his band mates and himself and takes them back to human world.
The instruments not only have the ability to change to the players needs, e.g. from harp to piano, but also to draw in crowds. Fame has never come so easy to the Assorted Zebras, but it doesn't all go as planned and soon they are hiding from a hunter looking for the instruments, and fighting off a unicorn.
Although I do have a copy of Jenny Pox for my kindle app on my pc I had not got around to reading it before I started Fairy Metal Thunder. From the minute I started reading Fairy Metal Thunder I found myself really enjoying it and was so engrossed in the book that I was disappointed to see it come to an end.
I really enjoyed J.L. Bryans writing style. Each character has their own personality, and it was easy to fall in love with them all and their own little quirks. The world created for Fairy Land was easy to imagine, not only the world itself but also the inhabitants and thier homes, mot importantly were the unicorns which I adored.
I loved how the Assorted Zebras rocketed to fame imeediately and would have loved to have seen their concert, and although I disagreed with some decisions they made, especially about keeping the instruments, I am really looking forward to what they get up to in the next book.
Jason chases after a goblin, Grizlemor, who has stolen his mother's jewellery, and ends up following him into Fairy Land, where he sees a group of musicians playing amazing music. Struck with an idea, Jason decides to steal their instruments for his band mates and himself and takes them back to human world.
The instruments not only have the ability to change to the players needs, e.g. from harp to piano, but also to draw in crowds. Fame has never come so easy to the Assorted Zebras, but it doesn't all go as planned and soon they are hiding from a hunter looking for the instruments, and fighting off a unicorn.
Although I do have a copy of Jenny Pox for my kindle app on my pc I had not got around to reading it before I started Fairy Metal Thunder. From the minute I started reading Fairy Metal Thunder I found myself really enjoying it and was so engrossed in the book that I was disappointed to see it come to an end.
I really enjoyed J.L. Bryans writing style. Each character has their own personality, and it was easy to fall in love with them all and their own little quirks. The world created for Fairy Land was easy to imagine, not only the world itself but also the inhabitants and thier homes, mot importantly were the unicorns which I adored.
I loved how the Assorted Zebras rocketed to fame imeediately and would have loved to have seen their concert, and although I disagreed with some decisions they made, especially about keeping the instruments, I am really looking forward to what they get up to in the next book.
mimifrancis's review
3.0
Jason plays guitar in a teenage garage band called the Assorted Zebras, but they have no fans, no gigs, and they’re going nowhere. Even worse, Jason has a crush on the lead singer, but she already has a near perfect boyfriend.
Then Jason steals instruments from the fairy world, and soon the band is enchanting crowds, but the new gear is brimming with dangerous and destructive magic. The band struggles to gain control of their instruments and avoid supernatural bounty hunters sent by Queen Mab of Faerie to track them down… (Summary courtesy of Goodreads)
Fairy Metal Thunder is a fun, quick read that takes the reader on a wild journey through the land of Faerie and into the world of the rock star. J.L. Bryan leaves no stone unturned in his quest to bring the reader into a world no one has ever seen before. His take on Faerie is creative and intriguing. I especially enjoyed how he brought all sorts of mythical creatures to life, including not only fairies, but also ogres, goblins, elves and even unicorns. There were a couple of parts when Bryan took the story to the land of Faerie that seemed to drag a little, with a bit too much detail thrown in. But I understand that Bryan was trying to create a world that no one has ever seen, so over-explanation is necessary at times.
Perhaps my favorite parts of Fairy Metal Thunder take place in the human world (or man-world as the mythical creatures call it) when the Assorted Zebras are playing the stolen fairy instruments. Bryan manages to capture the excitement and intensity of a crowd of people really enjoying a good rock show and he brings that to life for the reader. He doesn’t rely heavily on descriptions of how the instruments are played or why the crowds reacted they way they did, yet he still manages to get the feeling of intense excitement across to the reader; you just seem to know and understand after reading. I appreciated the fact that he knew his readers would understand what it is like to be swept up by the music and carried away. Bryan keeps it simple.
Bryan also built a good cast of supporting characters, such as Hoke the Elf, Jason’s sister Katie, Mrs. Dullahan and Jason’s parents. I thought Jason’s parents were very well-portrayed. They were your typical “we don’t trust you or your friends with the multi-colored hair who are in a band” parents. I felt sorry for Jason having such mistrusting parents, actually. Jason’s sister was a riot, she kept me laughing. Hoke the Elf was an oddity, but an interesting one and Mrs. Dullahan was just the right kind of scary.
About the only thing that I didn’t like about Fairy Metal Thunder was the abrupt ending. Literally, I am reading along and then BAM, it’s over. It seemed like a strange way to end a book. I know that the book has sequels but I just didn’t care for the way it ended at all.
I think this would be a great book for tweens. I am not sure older, more sophisticated teenagers will take the time to pick it up, but I know quite a few eleven to fourteen year olds who would enjoy it.
Then Jason steals instruments from the fairy world, and soon the band is enchanting crowds, but the new gear is brimming with dangerous and destructive magic. The band struggles to gain control of their instruments and avoid supernatural bounty hunters sent by Queen Mab of Faerie to track them down… (Summary courtesy of Goodreads)
Fairy Metal Thunder is a fun, quick read that takes the reader on a wild journey through the land of Faerie and into the world of the rock star. J.L. Bryan leaves no stone unturned in his quest to bring the reader into a world no one has ever seen before. His take on Faerie is creative and intriguing. I especially enjoyed how he brought all sorts of mythical creatures to life, including not only fairies, but also ogres, goblins, elves and even unicorns. There were a couple of parts when Bryan took the story to the land of Faerie that seemed to drag a little, with a bit too much detail thrown in. But I understand that Bryan was trying to create a world that no one has ever seen, so over-explanation is necessary at times.
Perhaps my favorite parts of Fairy Metal Thunder take place in the human world (or man-world as the mythical creatures call it) when the Assorted Zebras are playing the stolen fairy instruments. Bryan manages to capture the excitement and intensity of a crowd of people really enjoying a good rock show and he brings that to life for the reader. He doesn’t rely heavily on descriptions of how the instruments are played or why the crowds reacted they way they did, yet he still manages to get the feeling of intense excitement across to the reader; you just seem to know and understand after reading. I appreciated the fact that he knew his readers would understand what it is like to be swept up by the music and carried away. Bryan keeps it simple.
Bryan also built a good cast of supporting characters, such as Hoke the Elf, Jason’s sister Katie, Mrs. Dullahan and Jason’s parents. I thought Jason’s parents were very well-portrayed. They were your typical “we don’t trust you or your friends with the multi-colored hair who are in a band” parents. I felt sorry for Jason having such mistrusting parents, actually. Jason’s sister was a riot, she kept me laughing. Hoke the Elf was an oddity, but an interesting one and Mrs. Dullahan was just the right kind of scary.
About the only thing that I didn’t like about Fairy Metal Thunder was the abrupt ending. Literally, I am reading along and then BAM, it’s over. It seemed like a strange way to end a book. I know that the book has sequels but I just didn’t care for the way it ended at all.
I think this would be a great book for tweens. I am not sure older, more sophisticated teenagers will take the time to pick it up, but I know quite a few eleven to fourteen year olds who would enjoy it.
anjanavasan's review
4.0
Fairy Metal Thunder was just... Fun! There's no other way to describe it. I loved fairytales as a kid, it was the best part of being young! J.L.Bryan has pretty much created a YA fairytale, a world complete with faeries, goblins, elves, trolls, unicorns.. the works. This book was a light and happy read and made me feel like a little girl who believes in magic. Wonderful and highly entertaining!
anastaciaknits's review
4.0
This was a kindle book I picked up for free earlier this year. It was a quick read, only took a few hours to read. It starts off real enough, & then rather abrumptly shows its fantasy side, & that's when the story really starts to take off.
As with most first books in a series, there's a certain amount of world & character building, which I did enjoy. There are lots of hints of action, but other than the climax at the end of the story, nothing really happens in the story, & all the hints of future development do not come to pass. Of course, this is so the reader just HAS to buy the next book to see what happens, but I just didn't get invested in the book enough to really need the next part.
I give it 4 stars, however, as it was an enjoyable read up until the end - I just wish things had been settled a bit more. It felt too much like an advertisement for the rest of the series instead of a stand alone book, but that's just my two cents.
As with most first books in a series, there's a certain amount of world & character building, which I did enjoy. There are lots of hints of action, but other than the climax at the end of the story, nothing really happens in the story, & all the hints of future development do not come to pass. Of course, this is so the reader just HAS to buy the next book to see what happens, but I just didn't get invested in the book enough to really need the next part.
I give it 4 stars, however, as it was an enjoyable read up until the end - I just wish things had been settled a bit more. It felt too much like an advertisement for the rest of the series instead of a stand alone book, but that's just my two cents.
sarakovach's review
4.0
Fairy Metal Thunder is a very original story – unlike anything I have ever read. I read it in one sitting, and had a blast reading it. I found it to be very creative and a different spin on a Faerie tale.
Jason is a not so popular junior in high school who has started playing in a garage band as a guitarist. This band gets more time playing in the garage than any paying gigs. And to top it all off, his parents do not want him to hang out with or be part of the band. So, what does Jason really gain from being part of the band? He gets to spend time with the lead singer Erin. But, Erin has a boyfriend – how does he compete with that?
One evening while watching his little sister, something really strange happens. He is introduced to the Faerie realm, and in the end, he has the answer to the band’s problems. He finds some amazing instruments that turn their world around. The problem is, he did not come across these instruments honestly, and they have their own set of issues. Will it be worth it in the end?
This was a very quick read, and very enjoyable. It was anything but predictable. You have a high school mish-mash band trying to catch a break, a burger joint where the high school kids hang out, over-protective parents, and then throw the Faerie world into the mix. I just found it fun, fun, fun!!!
Jason is a not so popular junior in high school who has started playing in a garage band as a guitarist. This band gets more time playing in the garage than any paying gigs. And to top it all off, his parents do not want him to hang out with or be part of the band. So, what does Jason really gain from being part of the band? He gets to spend time with the lead singer Erin. But, Erin has a boyfriend – how does he compete with that?
One evening while watching his little sister, something really strange happens. He is introduced to the Faerie realm, and in the end, he has the answer to the band’s problems. He finds some amazing instruments that turn their world around. The problem is, he did not come across these instruments honestly, and they have their own set of issues. Will it be worth it in the end?
This was a very quick read, and very enjoyable. It was anything but predictable. You have a high school mish-mash band trying to catch a break, a burger joint where the high school kids hang out, over-protective parents, and then throw the Faerie world into the mix. I just found it fun, fun, fun!!!
bookgoonie's review
2.0
Jason, the guitarist for the Zebras, has a crush on Erin, their singer. He is afraid to act on it, because she has a boyfriend. Kind of down and out…Jason finds his way into fairy after chasing a goblin that stole his mother’s necklace. While there he gets entranced by some magical instruments, which he steals. The band finds success with their addition, on to youtube and then a big gig break. But these instruments cause as much destruction as joy. The fairy musicians hire a hit man and his attack unicorn to bring back their instruments before Queen Mab punishes them for letting them be stolen.
This story has all you need goofy boys, music, an unattainable girl and fantasy. But I felt the two worlds, the band and fairy, didn’t integrate themselves together very well. The only connection between the two is the instruments. It wasn’t a book that I particularly enjoyed as much as I wanted to. As the worlds collide and the characters get more fleshed out, I do think the premise has potential.
This story has all you need goofy boys, music, an unattainable girl and fantasy. But I felt the two worlds, the band and fairy, didn’t integrate themselves together very well. The only connection between the two is the instruments. It wasn’t a book that I particularly enjoyed as much as I wanted to. As the worlds collide and the characters get more fleshed out, I do think the premise has potential.