Review of Heroes of Atlantis
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- Latest Review: Heroes of Atlantis by Ryan Carriere
Review of Heroes of Atlantis
[Following is a volunteer review of "Heroes of Atlantis" by Ryan Carriere.]
Heroes of Atlantis by Ryan Carriere is the first in a fantasy-based trilogy. Two seemingly unconnected stories are told through alternating points of view. The first narrator, Roeg, is a fourteen year old member of a clan he wasn’t born into. He’s an outsider with blue hair and a burnt hand from childhood, and Krukk (his adoptive uncle and the leader of the clan) won’t let him forget it. Roeg also owns a mysterious dragon rune that burns anyone else at the touch. His main goal is to go on the ‘great hunt’ with his friends and prove himself to Krukk and the clan. Meanwhile, Sephonei (the second narrator) is involuntarily taken from her home in Atlantis and made to join a duo of rune hunters. With minimal training as an apprentice, they embark on a dangerous quest that creates more questions than answers. Surprises await everyone as they journey further from Sephonei’s home.
This was a fun and fast-paced read. There was an abundance of action in both of the parallel stories which kept momentum up throughout. Both stories were solid enough to keep the reader from feeling disappointed when the narrator switched. The dual narrative style did take a few chapters to get used to, but felt quite natural afterward. I found the main characters to be likeable and pleasantly easy to root for. They were relatable and down to earth, with understandable struggles and motives. Sephonei’s wit and curiosity in times of crisis were especially refreshing. The bounty hunters were hilarious, with intriguing backstories of their own that I wish were elaborated upon further. Carriere built a detailed world complete with unique areas, various groups and creatures, and intricate history. The focus on dragon runes was different from other fantasy books I’ve read, too. This book was quite well-edited.
I do think the supporting characters were a bit one-dimensional. For example, Roeg’s friends seemed to be characterized by single, dominating traits such as an affinity for mushrooms or a hard-headed bravery. At first this was entertaining, but there were points where the traits were leaned on a bit too much and expansion would have been greatly welcomed.
Personally, I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The world is woven well and as a result, fascinating to learn about. The story is, too. I was genuinely entertained by the balanced plotline, which slowed down just enough for the action scenes to have their greatest impact. The only downfall is the lack of well-roundedness in the supporting characters. Hopefully those characters are further developed later on in the series.
I recommend this book for kids from age nine and up, or anyone interested in a fast-paced mythical adventure complete with unique dragon lore. Fans of seemingly unrelated storylines told in an alternating fashion would also enjoy this novel.
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Heroes of Atlantis
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Heroes of Atlantis by Ryan Carriere is the first in a fantasy-based trilogy. Two seemingly unconnected stories are told through alternating points of view. The first narrator, Roeg, is a fourteen year old member of a clan he wasn’t born into. He’s an outsider with blue hair and a burnt hand from childhood, and Krukk (his adoptive uncle and the leader of the clan) won’t let him forget it. Roeg also owns a mysterious dragon rune that burns anyone else at the touch. His main goal is to go on the ‘great hunt’ with his friends and prove himself to Krukk and the clan. Meanwhile, Sephonei (the second narrator) is involuntarily taken from her home in Atlantis and made to join a duo of rune hunters. With minimal training as an apprentice, they embark on a dangerous quest that creates more questions than answers. Surprises await everyone as they journey further from Sephonei’s home.
This was a fun and fast-paced read. There was an abundance of action in both of the parallel stories which kept momentum up throughout. Both stories were solid enough to keep the reader from feeling disappointed when the narrator switched. The dual narrative style did take a few chapters to get used to, but felt quite natural afterward. I found the main characters to be likeable and pleasantly easy to root for. They were relatable and down to earth, with understandable struggles and motives. Sephonei’s wit and curiosity in times of crisis were especially refreshing. The bounty hunters were hilarious, with intriguing backstories of their own that I wish were elaborated upon further. Carriere built a detailed world complete with unique areas, various groups and creatures, and intricate history. The focus on dragon runes was different from other fantasy books I’ve read, too. This book was quite well-edited.
I do think the supporting characters were a bit one-dimensional. For example, Roeg’s friends seemed to be characterized by single, dominating traits such as an affinity for mushrooms or a hard-headed bravery. At first this was entertaining, but there were points where the traits were leaned on a bit too much and expansion would have been greatly welcomed.
Personally, I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The world is woven well and as a result, fascinating to learn about. The story is, too. I was genuinely entertained by the balanced plotline, which slowed down just enough for the action scenes to have their greatest impact. The only downfall is the lack of well-roundedness in the supporting characters. Hopefully those characters are further developed later on in the series.
I recommend this book for kids from age nine and up, or anyone interested in a fast-paced mythical adventure complete with unique dragon lore. Fans of seemingly unrelated storylines told in an alternating fashion would also enjoy this novel.
******
Heroes of Atlantis
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Heroes of Atlantis by Ryan Carriere
