In one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters, best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel have high hopes for the future. Zed desperately wishes to join the ranks of the Mages Guild, where his status as Freestone's only half elf might finally be an asset. Brock, the roguishly handsome son of merchants, is confident he'll be welcomed into the ranks of the Merchants Guild.
But just as it seems the boys' dreams have come true, their lives take a startling turn . . . and they find themselves members of the perilous Adventurers Guild.
Led by the fearsome Alabasel Frond, the guild acts as the last line of defense against the Dangers-hungry, unnatural beasts from otherworldly planes. And when the boys uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Freestone, Zed, Brock, and their new allies-Liza, a fierce noble, and Jett, a brave dwarf-must prove their worth once and for all.
This start of a thrilling new series is sure to be a hit with readers who like their fantasies clever and action-packed, with tons of humor and heart.
I should probably start at the beginning, Zed wrote, when things first went wrong?.
Zed, Brock, and their friends may have saved Freestone from destruction, but the fight against the Dangers is far from over. No one knows what to expect next from the dark power that forced the elves to abandon their city. And the influx of elf refugees in Freestone strains resources and brews resentment among the townspeople. Things have shifted between best friends Zed and Brock, as well, with their friendship crumbling under the weight
of the secrets they're keeping from each other.
When tensions reach an all-time high, Queen Me'Shala, leader of the elves, approaches the Adventurers Guild with a mission. She wants a small group of adventurers to go behind the king's back on a covert mission to save her city, and Zed, Brock, Liza, Jett, Micah, and their elven friend Fel join the quest. To face a powerful form of magic thought to be extinct, the adventurers will have to learn how to rely on each other and fight harder than ever before.
Don't miss this second installment of Zack Loran Clark and Nicholas Eliopulos's Adventurers Guild trilogy, where the stakes are raised, the action is breathless, and the dangers will stop even the bravest of hearts.
Disney was kind enough to send me both of these books for review.
I love this series. It's a great middle grade read. You have a world that's been overtaken by monsters. Only a few cities have survived. Freestone is one of them. Their wall and The Adventurers Guild keep them safe. As for Freestone itself, it's isolated to the walls of it's city. It's become a city with guilds. Those who belong to a noble guild are almost always assured to continue in that guild when the choosing day rolls around. Those is lower guilds or no guild don't have a lot of options.
This story is about two friends who have developed a friendship despite the differing guilds. Zed is half elf (and that's not a good thing). His mother belongs to the servants guild. She hopes her son will have more. He wants to be in the magic guild (he has a little after all). Brock's family belongs to the merchants guild. He's worked hard to gain a place in it too. Their friendship is genuine. And when the choosing doesn't really go as planned, they are thrown in with two new friends trying to survive in a guild where most people die young.
I love how this story takes someone considered "lower" and someone considered "higher" and has them the best of friends. I love how they team-up with others that they may never have had any contact with to survive an adventure they never would have chosen themselves. But they band together and become strong friends.
As with the first book, the second book in this series is a great middle grade read. It combines normal things that kids will relate to like brushing their teeth with fighting monsters and magic. It creates a place where kids can see how hard making choices are. NOT whether or not to brush your teeth but things like how discrimination and race make people funny. And whether or not you just do what everyone wants you to or do what's right in your heart.
The relationships between the four main characters and the added new one is this book will keep kids interested, I know it did me. The characters are complex and interesting. They aren't perfect but they are easy to like. These guys do have you thinking and that's an important quality for a middle grade book. It's not predictable and it holds the reader in this world that has lots of issues. I loved that even kids could make an impact on this world.
The story moves quickly, again holding you in the story. There is a lot of fighting with monsters, action that will draw in the boys and strong girls that will draw in the girls.
Certainly can't wait for book three!
Val is giving away her review copies of these two books.
Hardback of book 1
Paperback ARC of book 2
US addresses only
I grabbed the first book at NYCC last year because it sounds fun, glad to hear it delivers!
ReplyDeleteI liked the Iron Trial series
ReplyDelete"What's your favorite middle grade book? Val's is anything Rick Riordan!" I'll say just about any Lemony Snicket book!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite middle grade book is The Name of This Book is Secret.
ReplyDeletemy daughter is a big reader
ReplyDeleteI dont have a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI loved Suzanne Collins's Gregor the Overlander series even if it was on the younger side. The kids absolutely adore the Diary of Wimpy kid series.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember anything other than the Nancy Drew books that I read in middle school.
ReplyDeleteThe books I used to like to read in middle school was the Bobseine Twins.
ReplyDeleteI like Percy Jackson!!
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net
The Harry Potter books.
ReplyDeleteI'm too old to remember that far back! LOL
ReplyDeleteI like the Middle School books by Patterson.
ReplyDelete