Official Review: Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand
Posted: 12 May 2021, 09:06
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand" by E. L. Seer.]
Ethan Fox doesn't remember his past before the accident. The story is that his parents were in a cult, which is how he came to have strange symbols tattooed on his hands. He now lives with his foster parents, George and Betsy Fox. On vacation, he meets a girl named Hayley who doesn't seem to remember who she is or where she came from. As they are walking along the beach, a blue rabbit with yellow polka dots leads them down a strange staircase to a new world. Will the two come to find out who they really are? What is this strange world they find themselves in?
Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand by E. L. Seer is technically classified as a children's book, but I would put it in the young adult category. The author recommends this for ages 9 to 12. While it's a clean story with little violence and no language, it's more complex than elementary (or even most middle school) children would be able to handle. I would recommend it to teenagers or adults who enjoy puzzling over complex fantasy worlds.
I enjoyed the exceptional creatures the author created. For example, there's something called a copycat. Among other talents, it can copy almost anything its owner desires but will return to normal after its name is spoken three times.
The characters, likewise, were interesting. I most enjoyed Irvin, a mimic who's constantly spouting something nonsensical. As a mimic, he can shapeshift into almost anything. Plus, he's a good cook. Unfortunately, it was difficult to get to know the characters well because so many were introduced so quickly. The sheer number of characters in the book is mind-numbing, which leads to my main complaint.
The speed with which the reader is introduced to this new world is problematic. Within the span of only a few pages, we meet all sorts of new creatures and explore a giant castle full of wonders. It happened too quickly for me, leaving little time to absorb the descriptions in order to fully understand or picture the scene.
In fact, I spent most of the book confused. Just when I was getting a handle on one setting, the story would be moving in an entirely different direction. Not only is there the main castle, but there are also ruins, an underwater city, a forest, an old west town, and more. Honestly, it made me want to stop reading the book.
Because the story tried to do too much in too few pages, I couldn't give the book a perfect score. Therefore, I rate Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand 3 out of 4 stars. I've also given it this rating because it's inappropriate for its intended audience. However, it was interesting to read. If I wasn't trying to review it, it might have been easier to sit back and enjoy the ride. This is why I didn't give it a lower score. The author has a great imagination, and I would love to see a few of the settings and elements of the plot expanded upon. If the excess were removed, this would be a book I would read over and over.
******
Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Ethan Fox doesn't remember his past before the accident. The story is that his parents were in a cult, which is how he came to have strange symbols tattooed on his hands. He now lives with his foster parents, George and Betsy Fox. On vacation, he meets a girl named Hayley who doesn't seem to remember who she is or where she came from. As they are walking along the beach, a blue rabbit with yellow polka dots leads them down a strange staircase to a new world. Will the two come to find out who they really are? What is this strange world they find themselves in?
Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand by E. L. Seer is technically classified as a children's book, but I would put it in the young adult category. The author recommends this for ages 9 to 12. While it's a clean story with little violence and no language, it's more complex than elementary (or even most middle school) children would be able to handle. I would recommend it to teenagers or adults who enjoy puzzling over complex fantasy worlds.
I enjoyed the exceptional creatures the author created. For example, there's something called a copycat. Among other talents, it can copy almost anything its owner desires but will return to normal after its name is spoken three times.
The characters, likewise, were interesting. I most enjoyed Irvin, a mimic who's constantly spouting something nonsensical. As a mimic, he can shapeshift into almost anything. Plus, he's a good cook. Unfortunately, it was difficult to get to know the characters well because so many were introduced so quickly. The sheer number of characters in the book is mind-numbing, which leads to my main complaint.
The speed with which the reader is introduced to this new world is problematic. Within the span of only a few pages, we meet all sorts of new creatures and explore a giant castle full of wonders. It happened too quickly for me, leaving little time to absorb the descriptions in order to fully understand or picture the scene.
In fact, I spent most of the book confused. Just when I was getting a handle on one setting, the story would be moving in an entirely different direction. Not only is there the main castle, but there are also ruins, an underwater city, a forest, an old west town, and more. Honestly, it made me want to stop reading the book.
Because the story tried to do too much in too few pages, I couldn't give the book a perfect score. Therefore, I rate Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand 3 out of 4 stars. I've also given it this rating because it's inappropriate for its intended audience. However, it was interesting to read. If I wasn't trying to review it, it might have been easier to sit back and enjoy the ride. This is why I didn't give it a lower score. The author has a great imagination, and I would love to see a few of the settings and elements of the plot expanded upon. If the excess were removed, this would be a book I would read over and over.
******
Ethan Fox and the Eyes of the Desert Sand
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
