Tag: Max and the Midknights series

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights: The Tower of Time by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights: The Tower of Time by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

As Max longs for answers about her twin, she turns to Mumblin the Magician for help going back in time. But he tells her there’s no spell for that. So the kids head out to find answers for themselves.

Review

This was so fun! It’s a great story – meaty, and it didn’t feel like it was over too soon. It was fun to spend time with Max and her friends once again.

References to the earlier books – Max and the Midknights, and Max and the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins (♥♥♥½) – reward series readers, but newcomers would probably be all right starting here. The story definitely makes more sense, though, with the context of the earlier books. This is a series I have really enjoyed and look forward to – I think kids will love it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Battle of the Bodkins by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Battle of the Bodkins by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Long ago, in the land of Byjovia, a selfish prince was ready to become king. His fairy “dogmother” siphoned off his more problematic personality traits and put them in a jar. But when the jar broke, an evil copy of the prince emerged – a “bodkin.”

While that bodkin was exiled, Max and her friends have discovered a bodkin in present day Byjovia. It seems as though there are even more bodkins now, and they are preparing for an invasion. It will be Max’s job – along with the Midknights – to invade the bodkins’ home and stop them.

Review

I got such a huge kick out of Max’s first adventure, I knew I had to read book two. This is fun and suspenseful. The Midknights really have their hands full with the evil bodkins.

As with the first book, the pacing of the story is great – peril on top of peril, but nothing so far fetched that it pulls you out of the story. There’s a larger cast here – the Midknights plus the key adults in the kingdom as well as a few new friends. I call this a graphic novel, but it really is more of a highly illustrated story – prose along side line drawings. It’s a terrific format for the story.

I think kids will love Max’s new adventure. There are some nice tidbits in the book about Max’s origins – and an interesting twist to launch the kids into their next adventure. Fans should not miss this one. I am looking forward to reading book 3.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

While Uncle Budrick enjoys being a traveling troubadour, Max would rather be a knight. When Max and Budrick visit Byjovia – Uncle Budrick’s home – they discover that the kind king is presumed dead and his evil brother has taken over. But thanks to some new friends, Max – and the Midknights – might be able to save the day.

Review

This was PURE FUN! I loved the whole story. The characters are delightful. The humor is pitch perfect – funny without beating you over the head with gags. The pacing of the story was excellent – every so often there was a new challenge and a new opportunity or friend.

If there’s a “message” to the story it’s that gender or family history shouldn’t force you into any role. Even though Max is a girl, she should get to train as a knight if that’s what she wants. And if her friend wants to be a writer instead of working with horses like his dad, so be it. But really, the message is secondary to the fun story full of magic and creatures and challenges and chances to be heroic.

I can’t say enough about how much I loved this book. Book 2, Battle of the Bodkins, is out now. Why not pick up both and check them out?!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥=Outstanding! Amazing! Special!