GREGOR and the Marks of Secret
Anyone who's read through my book reviews knows that I adore the Gregor the Overlander books, which are actually The Underland Chronicles. The Marks of Secret was Suzanne Collins's fourth installment in a five-book series. I know because the flap copy includes the word "penultimate," which I happen to know means "next to last."
Like the penultimate of the penultimate series books I read, I found that this one didn't truly stand alone, since it leaves us decidedly on the precipice of cataclysm. Yeah, it's "use your big words Monday" here in Arizona. Or something. The last "penultimate" book I read was Snicket's The Penultimate Peril, which, although leaving the Baudelaires in the company of Count Olaf for the first time ever, didn't really bug me. The other book to which I refer is the penultimate Harry Potter book, which, like the recent Gregor book, leaves us on tenterbooks (although in this case, the term means waiting for someone else's book to come out, says Kelly with a nod to tem2 and writerross). But I digress. Wildly.
In Gregor and the Marks of Secret, no Prophecy is clearly in play, although one is repeatedly mentioned for the future. I'm guessing book 5 will be Gregor and the Prophecy of Time, but we'll see. Anyhoo -- Gregor takes young Boots to the Underland for a quick visit with Mom, who is still in the infirmary as a result of something that occurred in the Curse of the Warmbloods. When word of trouble among the "nibblers" (giant mice) reaches Regalia (the capital of the Underland), Gregor and his friends go to investigate and trouble ensues and, well, that's pretty much the book in a nutshell (or in "short shrift" form).
Collins's writing is terrific and has you whizzing along at amazing speeds. And resenting anyone who tries to get your attention for any other reason at all. Even if they are your children. In point of fact, I resented my own bladder when I had to put the book down for a few seconds adjust to toilet-sitting, and then again to get back up and wash my hands. That's how compelling the story and the writing are, folks. My recommendation? Go and see for yourselves!
In other book news, I started reading a YA whose title I loved yesterday, and abandoned it at 80 pages because the voice sucked and I couldn't stand the thought of spending any more time with the MC. And it's a lighthearted book, even. Just so you know, I won't be reviewing it, since I couldn't fairly do so due to my refusal to read it. Feh.
Like the penultimate of the penultimate series books I read, I found that this one didn't truly stand alone, since it leaves us decidedly on the precipice of cataclysm. Yeah, it's "use your big words Monday" here in Arizona. Or something. The last "penultimate" book I read was Snicket's The Penultimate Peril, which, although leaving the Baudelaires in the company of Count Olaf for the first time ever, didn't really bug me. The other book to which I refer is the penultimate Harry Potter book, which, like the recent Gregor book, leaves us on tenterbooks (although in this case, the term means waiting for someone else's book to come out, says Kelly with a nod to tem2 and writerross). But I digress. Wildly.
In Gregor and the Marks of Secret, no Prophecy is clearly in play, although one is repeatedly mentioned for the future. I'm guessing book 5 will be Gregor and the Prophecy of Time, but we'll see. Anyhoo -- Gregor takes young Boots to the Underland for a quick visit with Mom, who is still in the infirmary as a result of something that occurred in the Curse of the Warmbloods. When word of trouble among the "nibblers" (giant mice) reaches Regalia (the capital of the Underland), Gregor and his friends go to investigate and trouble ensues and, well, that's pretty much the book in a nutshell (or in "short shrift" form).
Collins's writing is terrific and has you whizzing along at amazing speeds. And resenting anyone who tries to get your attention for any other reason at all. Even if they are your children. In point of fact, I resented my own bladder when I had to put the book down for a few seconds adjust to toilet-sitting, and then again to get back up and wash my hands. That's how compelling the story and the writing are, folks. My recommendation? Go and see for yourselves!
In other book news, I started reading a YA whose title I loved yesterday, and abandoned it at 80 pages because the voice sucked and I couldn't stand the thought of spending any more time with the MC. And it's a lighthearted book, even. Just so you know, I won't be reviewing it, since I couldn't fairly do so due to my refusal to read it. Feh.