daniellesalwaysreading's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the sequel. The plot was very original (at least I have never seen it before), and although some of the characters were borrowed from other authors, it was a very enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy books.
sharonskinner's review
1.0
This might be a decent story, but there are too many good books out there to spend time with one that is poorly written.
Lazy writing: protagonist's description via looking in the mirror, not just once, but twice!
Passive voice throughout the narrative. I think the word "was" is used in nearly every sentence.
Non-specific description: a dire lack of sensory details beyond sight and touch left me ungrounded and rudderless in the setting.
Cliche: in one case, twice in the same paragraph, which is when I decided I'd had enough.
Lazy writing: protagonist's description via looking in the mirror, not just once, but twice!
Passive voice throughout the narrative. I think the word "was" is used in nearly every sentence.
Non-specific description: a dire lack of sensory details beyond sight and touch left me ungrounded and rudderless in the setting.
Cliche: in one case, twice in the same paragraph, which is when I decided I'd had enough.
rouver's review
3.0
Interesting kid's book. Good enough I want to see what else Eoin McNamee has written. I'd recommend it for a quick read.
jerefi's review
2.0
I would say this is a pretty average young adult fiction book. It was entertaining and a quick read, but it didn't overly impress in anyway either: mediocre.
crowyhead's review
3.0
Eoin McNamee brings us a good first venture into the realm of middle-reader speculative fiction. There are elements of Philip Pullman and Garth Nix here, and it also reminded me a bit of Jeanette Winterson's recent children's novel, Tanglewreck. It's less ambitious than Tanglewreck, though, and I'm inclined to see that as a good thing, since that one really got mired down toward the end.
In contrast, The Navigator moves along at a fast clip and refuses to get too involved in the mechanics of the world (which is not to say that the background is not detailed), and it's a cracking good yarn for younger readers. As an adult, I felt that at times the author relied too heavily on coincidence (or providence?) to move the plot along, but that didn't keep me from devouring this in short order. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel eventually, but I didn't feel the need to rush right out and get it. Overall, this is a seriously solid novel and well worth reading, but it's nothing breathtaking.
In contrast, The Navigator moves along at a fast clip and refuses to get too involved in the mechanics of the world (which is not to say that the background is not detailed), and it's a cracking good yarn for younger readers. As an adult, I felt that at times the author relied too heavily on coincidence (or providence?) to move the plot along, but that didn't keep me from devouring this in short order. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel eventually, but I didn't feel the need to rush right out and get it. Overall, this is a seriously solid novel and well worth reading, but it's nothing breathtaking.
iceangel9's review
3.0
The first book in The Navigator trilogy. Owen is a young boy whose father died in a terrible accident. He often goes off into the woods to his own special den. One day he sees a strange uniformed man in the woods. The man tells him "It has begun" and Owen finds himself involved with a group of Resisters who are trying to keep the evil Harsh from destroying time itself. The Resisters, or some of them at least, believe Owen is the Navigator, the only one capable of stopping the Harsh. A cute series young boys will enjoy.
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