Posted on October 23rd, 2009 by Samuel Walters
Patrick Carman’s innovative Skeleton Creek series concludes with its second book, titled Ghost In The Machine — a story which picks up from the suspenseful cliffhanger from the first book. Readers will find that the experience of the second book is very familiar to its predecessor. And, likewise, the story is just as successful – making good use of the established mystery elements. It’s possible that some readers may find the solution a bit too simple or straightforward, but I’m not afraid to admit, the ending was a surprise to me.
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Posted on June 1st, 2009 by Samuel Walters
“Skeleton’s Creek – Ryan’s Journal” is the first book in a new series by author Patrick Carman. Carman has already experimented with New Media in his Atherton series and, once again, he returns to the format with this new book and series which is, ostensibly, a kind of ghost story – with a secret society thrown into the overall mystery. Taking into account that this book is aimed at adolescents, the results are almost entirely positive with Carman weaving a successfully creepy and suspenseful tale, while taking advantage of the internet to augment his story. To be fair, Skeleton Creek isn’t nearly as immersive as primarily web-based series such as Gemini Division or After Judgment, but the fact that Carman is cognizant enough to take advantage of this new media to help tell his story is certainly a benefit.
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Posted on May 30th, 2009 by Samuel Walters
Stargazer is a thrilling and fitting fifth book in Patrick Carman’s Land of Elyon series. It picks up where the two previous books leave off – with Alexa Daley on board the Warwick Beacon sailing the Lonely Sea with her companions. The book effectively makes use of the previous installments of the series, particularly those of Into The Mist. This is the story of a final showdown with evil, and of finding your destiny. Once again, Carman manages to weaves a fantastical tale, filled with youthful wonder, excitement and adventure.
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Posted on May 28th, 2009 by Samuel Walters
The Land of Elyon – Into The Mist continues the tale of Alexa Daley, following the original Elyon Trilogy. In structure and tone, this book is rather different from its predecessors, told primarily as a flashback to a time long before Alexa’s original adventures. But in many respects, this is a more complete tale, from start to finish, offering some wonderful character moments, as well as the elements of charm, mystery and adventure one has come to expect from the Land of Elyon series, from author Patrick Carman. Put simply, for readers who have ventured this far into Elyon, the book is a wonderful success, a truly enjoyable, entertaining, and worthy tale.
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Posted on May 26th, 2009 by Samuel Walters
The Land of Elyon – The Tenth City is a stirring and emotional ending to the Land of Elyon story that ostensibly began in the second book, titled Beyond The Valley of Thorns. Unfortunately for the book itself, it’s very slow to begin and its central revelations, though shocking and emotional, unfold just a bit too quickly. This pacing is the story’s biggest liability, but there are also a few minor issues with the plot twists that could also prove to be a detriment. As a result, the book will end on a thoroughly satisfying note – even if the journey itself isn’t quite as enjoyable.
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Posted on May 24th, 2009 by Samuel Walters
The Land of Elyon – Beyond The Valley Of Thorns, Patrick Carman’s sequel to the Dark Hills Divide, is an expansive, fast-paced and much darker installment than its predecessor. In this book, readers learn more, a lot more about the Land of Elyon – its histories, its tragedies, and its current precarious balance between the forces of good and evil. With all of these additions, Beyond the Valley of Thorns is poised to be a significant improvement over the first book of the series. Unfortunately, the rather minimal development of the book’s main character, Alexa, keeps the book from being a true classic.
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Posted on May 22nd, 2009 by Samuel Walters
The Land of Elyon – Book 1 – The Dark Hills Divide is, simply, an enchanting book. It’s a story about magic and talking animals but fortunately, the book’s emphasis on such fantasy elements is very light, spending more time and energy on things like puzzles, riddles, and a sense of adventure. It’s these qualities that make this a book worth reading – even if the story itself may not appeal to a broad audience. In truth, The Land of Elyon isn’t quiet at the same level as Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia. However, to the credit of author Patrick Carman, the story never tries to be overly epic. It is a tale told with precision and purpose – with an economy of words that allows readers to get lost in the Land of Elyon without having to invest an inordinate amount of time in overly descriptive language or complicated plot lines.
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Posted on May 3rd, 2009 by Samuel Walters
The Dark Planet is the third and final book in Patrick Carman’s Atherton series. In many respects, this installment is superior to its predecessors with characters that are far more compelling and vibrant. The narrative is focused and tightly paced. And the entire book has some important themes such as environmentalism and the importance of youthful innocence. Admittedly, though, The Dark Planet is a departure from the first two books – with various characters taking less prominent roles compared to newcomers. This is a benefit, however, and in the end, the full breadth and scope of the world designed by the mad scientist Dr. Harding is revealed to one and all.
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Posted on May 2nd, 2009 by Samuel Walters
Rivers of Fire is the second installment of the Atherton Trilogy from author Patrick Carman. It picks up immediately where its predecessor left off and hurtles foreword at often breakneck speeds – rushing to an inevitable conclusion which, despite its predictability, manages to be thoroughly satisfying thanks to the multiple layers of character, science, philosophy, and sociology. Make no mistake, this book isn’t an exceptionally deep exploration of these concepts, but their presence certainly adds enough layers to make the story about something more than just watching some characters struggle to survive in a new and ever-changing world.
Warning: Significant Plot Spoilers Below
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Posted on April 28th, 2009 by Samuel Walters
Atherton – The House of Power is the first book in a trilogy detailing the perilous and exciting events on the mysterious and wondrous world of Atherton. The story itself is fairly straightforward, following the exploits of the downtrodden boy named Edgar. But the real value and interest in Atherton comes from the explorations readers can make after the fact. Author Patrick Carman uses the internet to provide some background information and insights into Atherton and its creator, Dr. Harding. These additional layers add more texture to the story. And going a bit further, there’s some skillful social and philosophical commentary, as well as several direct connections between Dr. Harding and another famous mad scientist: Dr. Frankenstein.
Not bad for a book aimed for adolescents.
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