The first book in the Camelot Code series, The Once and Future Geek , mixed time travel between the medieval world of King Arthur and our own, and it is a very entertaining book. The second book in the series, Geeks and Holy Grail (Hyperion, October 2019), is also entertaining (though not quite as funny; King Arthur as a modern day high school student is hard to beat....). When Morgana, sworn enemy of King Arthur, attacks the druids of Avalon, Nimue, the youngest of them, takes the Holy Grail and runs with it. King Arthur is dying, and only the Grail can save him. Desperate to keep it from falling into Morgana's hands, she stumbles into Merlin's Crystal Cave. But instead of Merlin there to help her (he's on vacation in Los Vegas, in our time), there's only his very inexperienced apprentice, Emrys. His attempt to hide the grail works, in a sense--as a small, flatulent dragon, it sure doesn't look much like a grail. But it isn't much use to Arthur as a...
The Book of Secrets, and The Book of Answers, by A.L. Tait (together comprising the Ateban Cipher duology, Kane Miller, 2019 in the US), tell of a mysterious book and the boy who becomes its protector. If you like reading about the high.jinks of the plucky medieval kids thwarting bad guys, you'll enjoy these two books lots.
Gabe, the main character, is not the sort of reader who enjoys books about plucky kids thwarting bad guys (although he's never read any). Growing up in the monastery where he was left as a foundling, he loves the books in the monastic library, and has never thought about living elsewhere. But then an old monk is attacked, and badly injured, and is barely able to hand Gabe a precious book, with an enigmatic command--"take it to Aiden." When Gabe rushes to find help for Brother Benedict, he finds instead that there's a conspiracy at foot in his monastery, and it's no longer a safe place for him or the book.
Woefully unprepared for life on the outside, Gabe is fortunate to be taken under the wing of a band of brigands. These aren't ordinary outlaws, though; instead, they are four girls who for various reasons have chosen to live outside the law. Two are sisters, hoping to save their father from the dungeon of the local stronghold, one is escaping an arranged marriage, and one is a girl whose parents have been killed.
It soon becomes clear that dangerous and powerful men are searching for Gabe and the book, and that these men are plotting against the kingdom. They've replaced the king's son with a puppet, and now the real prince has joined the band, hoping they can help him get back to his rightful place. Tons of adventures and perils await as Gabe and his new friends race to find the secrets of the book, and set wrongs right.
If you love medieval adventures, you'll enjoy these two books greatly! Gabe and co. are great characters, and the girls in particular are tons of fun! Gabe's progression from innocent babe in the wood to someone able to step up to the plate is especially pleasing. Their escapades strain credulity a bit, but without being over the top unbelievable. I'm categorizing this as fantasy, although there's no actual magic, because it's set in an alternate version of our world (mostly indicated by the politics--a king who isn't a real historical figure, but also one where paper books existed earlier than our ours), and because the book does seem to have the promise of real alchemy in it.
There's some violence, but nothing horrific, so I'd be happy offering this to readers as young as 8 or 9, the age at which I myself would have especially enjoyed them! Especially recommended to younger Ranger's Apprentice fans.
disclaimer: review copies received from the publisher
Gabe, the main character, is not the sort of reader who enjoys books about plucky kids thwarting bad guys (although he's never read any). Growing up in the monastery where he was left as a foundling, he loves the books in the monastic library, and has never thought about living elsewhere. But then an old monk is attacked, and badly injured, and is barely able to hand Gabe a precious book, with an enigmatic command--"take it to Aiden." When Gabe rushes to find help for Brother Benedict, he finds instead that there's a conspiracy at foot in his monastery, and it's no longer a safe place for him or the book.
Woefully unprepared for life on the outside, Gabe is fortunate to be taken under the wing of a band of brigands. These aren't ordinary outlaws, though; instead, they are four girls who for various reasons have chosen to live outside the law. Two are sisters, hoping to save their father from the dungeon of the local stronghold, one is escaping an arranged marriage, and one is a girl whose parents have been killed.
It soon becomes clear that dangerous and powerful men are searching for Gabe and the book, and that these men are plotting against the kingdom. They've replaced the king's son with a puppet, and now the real prince has joined the band, hoping they can help him get back to his rightful place. Tons of adventures and perils await as Gabe and his new friends race to find the secrets of the book, and set wrongs right.
If you love medieval adventures, you'll enjoy these two books greatly! Gabe and co. are great characters, and the girls in particular are tons of fun! Gabe's progression from innocent babe in the wood to someone able to step up to the plate is especially pleasing. Their escapades strain credulity a bit, but without being over the top unbelievable. I'm categorizing this as fantasy, although there's no actual magic, because it's set in an alternate version of our world (mostly indicated by the politics--a king who isn't a real historical figure, but also one where paper books existed earlier than our ours), and because the book does seem to have the promise of real alchemy in it.
There's some violence, but nothing horrific, so I'd be happy offering this to readers as young as 8 or 9, the age at which I myself would have especially enjoyed them! Especially recommended to younger Ranger's Apprentice fans.
disclaimer: review copies received from the publisher
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