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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Bosch is back! This book (and probably the rest of the series) reads a lot like Bosch's Secret series, except this time we follow the adventures of Max Ernest's little brother, Clay. There's a bit less mystery in this installment than in the first book, but that doesn't detract from the excitement. And there are certainly still plenty of questions to be answered. My only complaint is that Clay seems to be missing an obvious fact: his ability to talk to animals, including the dragon, is his magical gift. While I spotted Amber before she was named, her role in the story still surprised me.
As someone who liked "Bad Magic" for veering off into a different sort of weirdness than its predecessor of the Secret series, it's rather disappointing to see this book dovetail right back into the Terces and Midnight Sun territory. Complete with sophomore book's quest for mythical creature that may tip the scales of fate. The story of "Bad Magic" with a secret summer camp setting and magic using delinquent secondary characters are largely dropped for Clay bonding with the new character of Brett and a new magic mythology that doesn't tie in to the previous book's system at all.
Also, dragons are cool but the amount of endless narration about how dragons are so beyond amazing and everything else is just sad and insignificant compared to them got very tiresome. Especially when there's a whole didactic conversation about how dragons aren't male or female per se, and use plural we/they pronouns because they are so amazing they cannot be contained with singular address. There's even one character being called rude for calling the dragon an it, but then later the narrator refers to the dragon as it through repeated usage. It's just sloppy.
Also, dragons are cool but the amount of endless narration about how dragons are so beyond amazing and everything else is just sad and insignificant compared to them got very tiresome. Especially when there's a whole didactic conversation about how dragons aren't male or female per se, and use plural we/they pronouns because they are so amazing they cannot be contained with singular address. There's even one character being called rude for calling the dragon an it, but then later the narrator refers to the dragon as it through repeated usage. It's just sloppy.
Ok well let me be honest, this isn't my favorite book that he has written. The art style is different, i prefer the other style. The plot was okay, not so crazy about dragons. But sequels aren't always the best, if a third book is coming out, I'm still going to get it.
I always love Bosch's work, and I've been obsessed with him ever since I reread the secret series two years ago. The way he's able to write his characters, and how they act like realistic children, is something that isn't all too common with a lot of authors, thankfully, Bosch NEVER fails at writing good character's. And I especially love his writing style, it's fun, and original, it's a little similar to Limony Snicket's work, but also completely different. Snicket's work feels more.. writerly? Whereas Bosh's work feels more conversational, as if you're having someone tell you the story. I also love how he educates the reader about cool facts as well, and the way he perfectly incorporates what seems like random nonsense into the narrative. These fun educational rambles seem like nonsense, and you'd think that they drag the story (since many people do complain about author's rambling, or sentences being too long) but this writer-- THEY DO IT PERFECTLY!! BOSCH, YOU GENIUS YOU!
This book is just brimming with personality, and I couldn't help but smile and genuinely enjoyed it as I was reading it. What I love about Bosch's writing is that it's whimsical, nonsensical, but it's those things in the BEST way possible.
I really loved the story of this book, it was so outside the box, something new, original, and refreshing, and I love this spin-off (at least that's what I'm assuming it is) of the Secret Series. The story is well done, well executed, believable (which is saying a lot, since it's about a camp full of magical kids) and just overall perfect. I wish I had started with the first book of this series, but I didn't! :(
This book makes up for that perfectly though! It explained to me what happened, has given me some backstory, and caught me up on Clay's adventures. Clay is a well written character who goes from being an outcast, to being a leader, and his development is perfectly done. All in all, a fantastic book by one of my favorite authors who I ABSOLUTELY SIMP for.
This book is just brimming with personality, and I couldn't help but smile and genuinely enjoyed it as I was reading it. What I love about Bosch's writing is that it's whimsical, nonsensical, but it's those things in the BEST way possible.
I really loved the story of this book, it was so outside the box, something new, original, and refreshing, and I love this spin-off (at least that's what I'm assuming it is) of the Secret Series. The story is well done, well executed, believable (which is saying a lot, since it's about a camp full of magical kids) and just overall perfect. I wish I had started with the first book of this series, but I didn't! :(
This book makes up for that perfectly though! It explained to me what happened, has given me some backstory, and caught me up on Clay's adventures. Clay is a well written character who goes from being an outcast, to being a leader, and his development is perfectly done. All in all, a fantastic book by one of my favorite authors who I ABSOLUTELY SIMP for.
I LOVE DRAGONS! I LOVE MAGIC!! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER?? AWESOMENESS!!! Not only did this book bring back characters from the original Secret Series but it also included a very well placed Harry Potter reference (which will get me every time!) I love this series so much because the concept of magic is much more attainable than in other book series. Even the concept of dragons and dragon tamers is more realistic than in any other book I have read. I am so excited to see what's next for Clay and the Worms and how the author will incorporate the Midnight Sun and Terces Society in the next novel and it will be exciting to see the dynamic between the older Max-Ernest, Cass, and Yo-Yoji while throwing Clay into the mix and how that whole family reunion will turn out! So excited!!! ALSO DRAGONS EXIST!!!!
Gut Instinct Rating: 4
Characters: 5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 4.5
Excitement Factor: 4.5
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.78
Characters: 5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 4.5
Excitement Factor: 4.5
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.78
"They held their breath, fearing the worst: The dragon had decided to eat them after all"
[a:Pseudonymous Bosch|543080|Pseudonymous Bosch|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1484267819p2/543080.jpg] is hilarious
[a:Pseudonymous Bosch|543080|Pseudonymous Bosch|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1484267819p2/543080.jpg] is hilarious
SO AMAZING!!! I LOVE PSEUDONYMOUS BOSCH SOO MUCH!! He's my favorite author ever and a GIGANTIC influence on my writing style. This book was just another amazingly awesome, majestic, and fantastic book to add to his others C:
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
god the voice actor for this audiobook is insufferable. He reads the last book too and his Valley Girl voice for every female character is going to drive me crazy. As well as the over the top Mexican accent he does for Pablo. but anyways The book is okay but only if you've read the secret series as well. Bad Magic was an okay stand-alone with some easter eggs, where as this one is just more worldbuilding. I don't even like their interpretation of dragons really. Also the way he wrote the billionaire dad was super weird. Bosch must have nice parents or something because he can't write bad ones very well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Abandonment