flamesplash's review against another edition
3.0
This is a solid follow up to Hollow Earth and involves time travel! The story is fine but doesn't really pop with me. I think they need to reveal a little bit more about the monks of the island and have a little more action off the island. The Hollow Earth society kinda just pops up and we don't really know much about them to be afraid of.
dandelionsteph's review against another edition
I don't recall exactly why, but I think I hit a point where I didn't believe the book would "get to the good part".
octobertune's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating: 3,5 - I am not sure how I found out about this series, perhaps from a tweet from one of the authors (John Barrowman, who I followed because he played Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood), but I knew that I wanted to read it because I thought the summary was quite interesting. I bought the first book, and was pleasantly surprised, even though it was a book written for children I enjoyed it very much. It wasn't the best story I've ever read, but I did like it enough to want to read the rest of the series.
Bone Quill starts off, I think, a couple of days after the events from Hollow Earth. The twins are under house arrest while the grown ups search for their mother. I didn't really remember anything that happened in the previous book, because it'd been a while since I've read that. But luckily, there was a sort of 'previously on...' page in front of the book. I am going to start a petition to force every author to do this at the beginning of their sequels, because that would save so much precious (re)reading time! (Of course, rereading a book is not that bad, but if you just want to start the sequel without having to reread the rest of the series, a 'previously on...' page would come in handy).
I liked the story in this book very much, loved how the twins started to find out their powers were much more than they had thought they were. They found out they can sort of travel back in time through paintings, and they also find out they are not the only ones who can do this. We learn more about the island, and about the events that happened in the middle ages after the vikings attacked. We are introduced to some new characters, and we see most of the older characters again which I liked (I really liked Zach and Jeannie).
This book was still a multiple POV story, and it was still a bit confusing whose pov the story was being told from sometimes. Because like with the previous book it sometimes seemed like the chapter was from Em's POV, and then it would change to Zach's POV sentences later. I did get used to this a bit more thanks to the previous book, but it was also still a bit annoying in my opinion. Also of course the story happens in two places - or I should say two times - at once. Present day (with Em and Matt) and the middle ages (with Solon), and I liked that.
In the end, I liked Bone Quill and I will definintely be reading the third book in the series, because I just want to know how the story ends. It ended with a kind of cliffhanger, and I HATE CLIFFHANGER GODDAMNIT! Ugh. Yeah, will definitely be reading The Book of Beasts soooooooooon-ish.
My opinion on this book in one gif:
Bone Quill starts off, I think, a couple of days after the events from Hollow Earth. The twins are under house arrest while the grown ups search for their mother. I didn't really remember anything that happened in the previous book, because it'd been a while since I've read that. But luckily, there was a sort of 'previously on...' page in front of the book. I am going to start a petition to force every author to do this at the beginning of their sequels, because that would save so much precious (re)reading time! (Of course, rereading a book is not that bad, but if you just want to start the sequel without having to reread the rest of the series, a 'previously on...' page would come in handy).
I liked the story in this book very much, loved how the twins started to find out their powers were much more than they had thought they were. They found out they can sort of travel back in time through paintings, and they also find out they are not the only ones who can do this. We learn more about the island, and about the events that happened in the middle ages after the vikings attacked. We are introduced to some new characters, and we see most of the older characters again which I liked (I really liked Zach and Jeannie).
This book was still a multiple POV story, and it was still a bit confusing whose pov the story was being told from sometimes. Because like with the previous book it sometimes seemed like the chapter was from Em's POV, and then it would change to Zach's POV sentences later. I did get used to this a bit more thanks to the previous book, but it was also still a bit annoying in my opinion. Also of course the story happens in two places - or I should say two times - at once. Present day (with Em and Matt) and the middle ages (with Solon), and I liked that.
Spoiler
They eventually met each other near the end of the story, thanks to the twins being able to travel through time and I really hope they'll meet each other more often.In the end, I liked Bone Quill and I will definintely be reading the third book in the series, because I just want to know how the story ends. It ended with a kind of cliffhanger, and I HATE CLIFFHANGER GODDAMNIT! Ugh. Yeah, will definitely be reading The Book of Beasts soooooooooon-ish.
My opinion on this book in one gif:
caroleheidi's review against another edition
5.0
I confess that I only bought the first book in this series to fuel my John Barrowman obsession and didn’t really have very high expectations of it. Then I read it and loved every second and desperately wanted book two already.
Luckily for me, Liberty recieved Bone Quill for review (having borrowed my copy of Hollow Earth and loving it, too) so I didn’t have to wait long before I could borrow it.
I raced through Bone Quill because it was fast-paced and gripping, the story carying on from where it left off at an unrelenting speed.
There was the all the previous excitement of the Animare with added time-travel and the complications that brings to any story.
The two storylines of past and present, previously not directly connected, suddenly become intertwined and the peril notches up several levels. Matt and Emily suddenly find themselves having to choose between their family and the world – a choice no 12 year olds should have to make – and they hit all of the obstacles you would expect, plus a couple of extras (such as flaming Hellhounds).
The world of the Hollow Earth series is beautifully crafted, rich and well-thought out and so carefully described that it is very easy to lose yourself in it and really feel like you are there with the characters. Everything is covered, not just the sights but the smells and sensations – the world-building is one of my favourite things about this series because it is so thorough.
If you liked Hollow Earth then you will love Bone Quill, no second book syndrome here!
Luckily for me, Liberty recieved Bone Quill for review (having borrowed my copy of Hollow Earth and loving it, too) so I didn’t have to wait long before I could borrow it.
I raced through Bone Quill because it was fast-paced and gripping, the story carying on from where it left off at an unrelenting speed.
There was the all the previous excitement of the Animare with added time-travel and the complications that brings to any story.
The two storylines of past and present, previously not directly connected, suddenly become intertwined and the peril notches up several levels. Matt and Emily suddenly find themselves having to choose between their family and the world – a choice no 12 year olds should have to make – and they hit all of the obstacles you would expect, plus a couple of extras (such as flaming Hellhounds).
The world of the Hollow Earth series is beautifully crafted, rich and well-thought out and so carefully described that it is very easy to lose yourself in it and really feel like you are there with the characters. Everything is covered, not just the sights but the smells and sensations – the world-building is one of my favourite things about this series because it is so thorough.
If you liked Hollow Earth then you will love Bone Quill, no second book syndrome here!
m3l89's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a very good idea, however I got confused as I hadn't read the prequel (local library service didnt have it), but that isn't the fault of the book. I don't think I would be fussed about reading the prequel.
elri1327's review against another edition
5.0
awesome!! there are no words to describe the unique ingenious of this story and world!!!
heyshay07's review against another edition
3.0
I had a really hard time getting into the book until about half way through when the characters time travel back to middle-ages Era Mina and the story gets more interesting. There was a lot of jumping around between Matt and Emily's story and Solon's story in the beginning which gets kind of tedious, but ultimately does have a point at the very end. I don't like that the story never really resolves the main conflict in the book. I did like that we FINALLY get to know what happened to the mom. I still don't really like the omnipresent tone of the narrator that gives insight into all characters. It makes the story disjointed. I think the authors should have stuck just to the kid's point of view. I have that complaint about the first book as well. There was some mild swearing but nothing bad. Good school library book.
livimarie's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mzpolarbear's review against another edition
5.0
I have to wait another year to find out what happens!
This was a fun filled, action packed, fast paced sequel to the Hollow Child. Matt and Em are still trying to find their mom, learn more about their powers, as well as come to terms with the fact that their mom and grandfather bound their father in a painting!
Matt and Em are learning new things about their powers every day, including that they can now use their drawings to enter paintings and travel through time! This opens a whole new world on their quest to find their mom and learn more about the Hollow Earth, their family history, and the history of the island.
I could not put this book down...I don't want to wait a year...but I will because I know the story is going to be awesome!
This was a fun filled, action packed, fast paced sequel to the Hollow Child. Matt and Em are still trying to find their mom, learn more about their powers, as well as come to terms with the fact that their mom and grandfather bound their father in a painting!
Matt and Em are learning new things about their powers every day, including that they can now use their drawings to enter paintings and travel through time! This opens a whole new world on their quest to find their mom and learn more about the Hollow Earth, their family history, and the history of the island.
I could not put this book down...I don't want to wait a year...but I will because I know the story is going to be awesome!