Review: Plot
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 1, 2013
Okay so we get the 3 book in this series this one was hard to read for me as it I felt that it put the microsope on the main flaw in this series. But we can get to that latter on. This one will finally give the big reveal on who the bad guys are and Thunder Rock so if you are waiting to find out who the big bad is this will be it.Good1: Yet again it is Justin that takes the cake he only gets better in this one. I feel that the author is doing a fantastic job with his maturity and growth. As he is put in more situations he has to deal with other problems and his growth feels very organic.2: The cast of characters is expanded again but this is really a great strength of this author to write compelling and unique characters that grab your attention and feel like real people.3: The new setting was needed and I am glad he moved it if only for this book. The setting felt fun and new with the change of location being just overall a lot of fun.4: The magic system again gets a little update and Justin gets very very little training. But it is still fun and a good side plot story.5: The side plot with the Father was terrific I was so glad to see him move on. His wife abandoned him and his son where has she been while his son was tortured, beat, almost killed and in desperate need of a friend. But then the father was not there either.6: In this and the other books we seem to get a few different moralities. The first being that of the Mother and Fathers of both families basically that the world comes before everything else that it is not only okay for you to put your family through torture, humiliation and death as long as the greater good is achieved. Examples Mom leaving to be with the other kid, Mom while in hiding continuing to fight against family even at great risk to her son, violating sons mind to make him forget and be happy, Dad marrying and focusing on Demon Spawn, Dad focused on getting wife even tho son is is desperate need of him. The other morality is that of people willing to do anything on personal level to help those they love. In this story neither family supports or helps out in any real way instead they have other concerns but the group would do anything for each other even if it hurts what others consider the "Common Good". Fantastic writing overall if it is intentional.Bad1: As with the first two books I find the family relationship to be laking any depth or even believability. ***Spoiler*** You decide to LOBOTOMIZE your daughter because you do not like her boyfriend? Really and the Mom goes along with it because she is part of the organization? And one of the brothers goes along as well for the same reason? Are you freaking kidding me. This was so unbelievable that I felt like I was reading a different author how could the same person who writes Stacey, Bella and Harry so well right this...stuff. Not only was it unbelievable but at the end everything feels like it is all okay because she can be healed from it. The only reason she was able to be healed from it is because of a one of only two creatures in the world are friends with her. Lets put this into perspective for a moment. Lets say I decided to Lobotomize my daughter for the same reason, what would you think of me? Would you want me to retain custody? Would you want my wife to retain custody? But hey it is all okay if we can heal her right? Bad writing and bad plot filled with 2 dimensional characters.2: We still have no real magic training. Been talking about it since the first book and still we don't have it.3: This series has way to many kidnapping or captures this is the third book and by my count we have 4 already. Get another plot device this one is used up.OverallThe trip to Colombia was a joy to read and the main plot was a lot of fun with just great writing. The side plot with Elyssa was contrived and unbelievable with bad characters. It was like it was written by two authors one that we have grown to love and another that is not at all as good. Again these problems seem to center around family for some reason. I would recommend this series to a friend if only to have someone to complain about the family stuff with. No really it is a really fun read.