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Will Wilder #1
The Relic of Perilous Falls
Fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Peter Lerangis's Seven Wonders series will embrace this epic adventure in a rollicking new series by a New York Times bestselling author.
Will Wilder didn't mean to unlock his otherworldly gift. But that is exactly what happens when Will "borrows" a sacred relic believed to protect the town of Perilous Falls for nearly a century. Even though his intentions are good, the impulsive twelve-year-old unwittingly awakens an ancient evil endangering all of Perilous Falls.
As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, it is up to Will to confront a nightmarish enemy and set things right before it is too late. Along with his sweet--if lethal--great-aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of supernatural artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one twelve-year-old boy can change the world.
Will Wilder didn't mean to unlock his otherworldly gift. But that is exactly what happens when Will "borrows" a sacred relic believed to protect the town of Perilous Falls for nearly a century. Even though his intentions are good, the impulsive twelve-year-old unwittingly awakens an ancient evil endangering all of Perilous Falls.
As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, it is up to Will to confront a nightmarish enemy and set things right before it is too late. Along with his sweet--if lethal--great-aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of supernatural artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one twelve-year-old boy can change the world.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2016
221 people are currently reading
1492 people want to read
About the author
Raymond Arroyo
24 books245 followersRaymond Arroyo is an award winning journalist, a New York Times Bestselling author, and a producer. He is the news director and lead anchor of EWTN News; creator and host of the international news magazine The World Over Live seen in 200 million households each week. Arroyo lives in the Washington DC area with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
March 12, 2016
This book was a mess! Don't read this book.
I feel like an idiot for having spent so much time and so many words getting worked up about religious influences in a highly sub-par children's book. I need to go outside and make friends.
I feel like an idiot for having spent so much time and so many words getting worked up about religious influences in a highly sub-par children's book. I need to go outside and make friends.
July 26, 2016
This book does for Catholic traditions what Rick Riordan has done for Greek and Roman mythology with his Percy Jackson novels. Although, honestly I think Percy Jackson has a slight edge, Will Wilder is a very enjoyable read.
It is fast paced, full of action, suspicion, danger, monsters, friendships, rivalries and relationships. My one criticism would be that the author sometimes indulges in over describing scenes, which interferes with the plot, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure story with a good heart. I look forward to seeing how the series will develop.
It is fast paced, full of action, suspicion, danger, monsters, friendships, rivalries and relationships. My one criticism would be that the author sometimes indulges in over describing scenes, which interferes with the plot, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure story with a good heart. I look forward to seeing how the series will develop.
May 31, 2017
Another surprisingly good book for 2017. I think the best way to describe this book is like Indiana Jones Jr. It was a lot of fun and the tie in of fantasy adventure and history/religion was really interesting. I think my favorite character was Simon. I really like his and Andrew's friendship and they had me laughing whenever they were together. I'm excited to see more of Will and his and Marin's gifts. Overall, very good book with a fun Indiana Jones-esque vibe.
May 4, 2017
What happens when you take [a sometimes literal] leap of faith? What happens when you decide to accept the truth even when it's not tangible?
The book reminds me a lot of Harry Potter, but with a Catholic take. Faith is magical; evil is in the guise of demons, and good takes the form of angels and saints. In a way, it's more deadly because of how much does rely on faith.
The faith of a child is strong. The gifts that God gives us must be honored and mastered.
Jacob Wilder is a soldier in World War II. He is a Seer - someone who can see spirits - who is searching for a relic of Saint Thomas. His finger, to be exact. Jacob is part of a group called the Brethren, led by Abbot Anthony, who ends up prophesying about one of Jacob's descendants.
Fast forward quite a few years (likely 73, since the book was released in 2016 and the WWII scene was in 1943). Will Wilder is Jacob's 12 year old great-grandson and lives in Perilous Falls, a town that Jacob founded. Will is your typical pre-teen: he has a loving family, friends who egg him on, the desire to go on vacation, a bit of a selfish way of thinking especially when it comes to disobeying his parents...
...oh, and he sees shadows. Very much like his great-grandfather (not that Will knows that).
I like that there is a Jacob Wilder Day in town, though the mayor wants to get rid of in. Phooey on her! There is a museum with different relics of saints and a church with St. Thomas' finger, both of which Jacob also established. Those buildings, the relics, and other aspects of town have created what Will's great-aunt Lucile calls a stronghold against evil.
And evil it is. The first chapter (the one with Will) is a great example of how we can welcome evil into our lives.
I don't like Father Cash. I feel that he's demeaning and a bit disrespectful.
I became suspicious of almost everyone not introduced in the first chapter. This includes Captain Balor and Valens Ricard. By the end of chapter 12, I also didn't trust the mayor.
Strange things begin to happen, not only to the Wilders but to the entire town and others around them.
And the prophecy begins to unfold as the river's secrets come to life.
Will texts in complete sentences! That is awesome.
In the face of danger, friendship rears its head. Due to Sunday school, Boy Scouts, logic, and tenacity, Will and his friends Andrew and Simon make it through their trials.
Andrew is a borderline bully, especially with Simon. But he grows in this book (probably because of the real evil he faces)! I felt bad for him when Will ragged on him for literally slipping when he tried his best to avoid disaster. Even if he was a horrid person, that alone (an accident) would have made me feel for the kid.
Cami is another of Will's friends. She is awesome, and I enjoy her scenes immensely. Her brother, Max, is quite interesting, and makes the reader's heart warm.
The ending is a great cliffhanger and definitely makes me want to continue reading!
The book reminds me a lot of Harry Potter, but with a Catholic take. Faith is magical; evil is in the guise of demons, and good takes the form of angels and saints. In a way, it's more deadly because of how much does rely on faith.
The faith of a child is strong. The gifts that God gives us must be honored and mastered.
Jacob Wilder is a soldier in World War II. He is a Seer - someone who can see spirits - who is searching for a relic of Saint Thomas. His finger, to be exact. Jacob is part of a group called the Brethren, led by Abbot Anthony, who ends up prophesying about one of Jacob's descendants.
Fast forward quite a few years (likely 73, since the book was released in 2016 and the WWII scene was in 1943). Will Wilder is Jacob's 12 year old great-grandson and lives in Perilous Falls, a town that Jacob founded. Will is your typical pre-teen: he has a loving family, friends who egg him on, the desire to go on vacation, a bit of a selfish way of thinking especially when it comes to disobeying his parents...
...oh, and he sees shadows. Very much like his great-grandfather (not that Will knows that).
I like that there is a Jacob Wilder Day in town, though the mayor wants to get rid of in. Phooey on her! There is a museum with different relics of saints and a church with St. Thomas' finger, both of which Jacob also established. Those buildings, the relics, and other aspects of town have created what Will's great-aunt Lucile calls a stronghold against evil.
And evil it is. The first chapter (the one with Will) is a great example of how we can welcome evil into our lives.
I don't like Father Cash. I feel that he's demeaning and a bit disrespectful.
I became suspicious of almost everyone not introduced in the first chapter. This includes Captain Balor and Valens Ricard. By the end of chapter 12, I also didn't trust the mayor.
Strange things begin to happen, not only to the Wilders but to the entire town and others around them.
And the prophecy begins to unfold as the river's secrets come to life.
Will texts in complete sentences! That is awesome.
In the face of danger, friendship rears its head. Due to Sunday school, Boy Scouts, logic, and tenacity, Will and his friends Andrew and Simon make it through their trials.
Andrew is a borderline bully, especially with Simon. But he grows in this book (probably because of the real evil he faces)! I felt bad for him when Will ragged on him for literally slipping when he tried his best to avoid disaster. Even if he was a horrid person, that alone (an accident) would have made me feel for the kid.
Cami is another of Will's friends. She is awesome, and I enjoy her scenes immensely. Her brother, Max, is quite interesting, and makes the reader's heart warm.
The ending is a great cliffhanger and definitely makes me want to continue reading!
Read
January 21, 2016Fun and fear combine in this a terrifically entertaining tale for teens set in Will Wilder's hometown of Perilous Falls.
Will is twelve. He has a little brother and sister, as well as a loving mom and dad. He has a cadre of great friends, particularly Andrew and Simon.
His Aunt Lucille is delightful, if a bit unusual. However it is primarily the reader who is the one who gets the chance to see her in action, vigorously upholding the Wilder family traditions, and caring for the church and the relic which resides in it. The relic is the finger of St. Thomas, and was brought home after World War II by Will's great-grandfather.
You know you're in for something special when a YA book opens with a quote from King Lear by Shakespeare. And a very apt quote at that, referring to "monsters from the deep".
You'll see...!
When the story begins, Will has caused a serious accident to his brother. Wanting to fix this, he and his pals break into the church to recover the relic, which has specific healing powers. The troubles they go through to get the relic reminded this reader a bit of the Indiana Jones movies, in a very fun and hair-raising way. Once Will has gotten the relic, he unfortunately lets it get into the wrong hands. All heck breaks loose and it's not very sweet. It's a smelly vat of oil, foul odors and creepy vicious monsters rising from the surrounding waters of Perilous Falls. The author portrays the creatures as vividly as he handles the characters we are rooting for, which makes a wonderful balance and keeps the reader going right until the last page.
Fortunately, Will's Aunt Lucille just looks like a sweet old lady. When she begins to help Will, along with several of her friends, the fight between good and evil really gets amped up. The twists and turns are a lot of fun. Many will be unexpected, even if you are an adult.
I have always loved children's books and YA books, as I was an inveterate reader from an early age. Will Wilder is an excellent twelve year old character; real and enthusiastic but not too sensible all the time. He is loyal and staunch, with a good heart.
Young readers will be entranced by every page. Author Raymond Arroyo definitely has the touch!
Will is twelve. He has a little brother and sister, as well as a loving mom and dad. He has a cadre of great friends, particularly Andrew and Simon.
His Aunt Lucille is delightful, if a bit unusual. However it is primarily the reader who is the one who gets the chance to see her in action, vigorously upholding the Wilder family traditions, and caring for the church and the relic which resides in it. The relic is the finger of St. Thomas, and was brought home after World War II by Will's great-grandfather.
You know you're in for something special when a YA book opens with a quote from King Lear by Shakespeare. And a very apt quote at that, referring to "monsters from the deep".
You'll see...!
When the story begins, Will has caused a serious accident to his brother. Wanting to fix this, he and his pals break into the church to recover the relic, which has specific healing powers. The troubles they go through to get the relic reminded this reader a bit of the Indiana Jones movies, in a very fun and hair-raising way. Once Will has gotten the relic, he unfortunately lets it get into the wrong hands. All heck breaks loose and it's not very sweet. It's a smelly vat of oil, foul odors and creepy vicious monsters rising from the surrounding waters of Perilous Falls. The author portrays the creatures as vividly as he handles the characters we are rooting for, which makes a wonderful balance and keeps the reader going right until the last page.
Fortunately, Will's Aunt Lucille just looks like a sweet old lady. When she begins to help Will, along with several of her friends, the fight between good and evil really gets amped up. The twists and turns are a lot of fun. Many will be unexpected, even if you are an adult.
I have always loved children's books and YA books, as I was an inveterate reader from an early age. Will Wilder is an excellent twelve year old character; real and enthusiastic but not too sensible all the time. He is loyal and staunch, with a good heart.
Young readers will be entranced by every page. Author Raymond Arroyo definitely has the touch!
March 8, 2016
I, for whatever reason, didn't care much for Percy Jackson. As an adult, I get why I didn't like it, but I also understand why the kids are so excited about the series. A lot of people have tried to do something similar and it hasn't always work, but Will Wilder is the closest I've seen anything come in terms making it happen, and it ends up being an interesting read with some curious choices.
In the story, Will is a kid in a small town with a history. Will is also a little irresponsible, breaking someone's shoulder during some horseplay. There's a relic of St. Paul in the local church, and a local man approaches him to get it for him, as it has healing properties and could help his hurt friend, but it ends up reawakening a multigenerational war in the process as he pursues the relic.
It's kind of a crazy story, and perhaps most noteworthy is the use of the Christian imagery to get the plot going. It's not crazy overt, it's not a stealth religious book proselytizing, but there are some bible stories mixed in along the way and I can see how that can turn off some readers. Beyond that point, though, it turns out that the book balances humor, action, and adventure in a really interesting and accessible way. This could end up being a pretty great series, especially if it tones down the religiousness a bit.
Overall, a good read! One to be wary of, perhaps, depending on your sensitivity to religious material, but I surprisingly enjoyed it.
In the story, Will is a kid in a small town with a history. Will is also a little irresponsible, breaking someone's shoulder during some horseplay. There's a relic of St. Paul in the local church, and a local man approaches him to get it for him, as it has healing properties and could help his hurt friend, but it ends up reawakening a multigenerational war in the process as he pursues the relic.
It's kind of a crazy story, and perhaps most noteworthy is the use of the Christian imagery to get the plot going. It's not crazy overt, it's not a stealth religious book proselytizing, but there are some bible stories mixed in along the way and I can see how that can turn off some readers. Beyond that point, though, it turns out that the book balances humor, action, and adventure in a really interesting and accessible way. This could end up being a pretty great series, especially if it tones down the religiousness a bit.
Overall, a good read! One to be wary of, perhaps, depending on your sensitivity to religious material, but I surprisingly enjoyed it.
June 23, 2017
This gets two stars only because Arroyo has done some really great nonfiction work for adults. The book itself is a mess of cartoonish characters, sloppy Biblical references, and appallingly ham-fisted social commentary. Long review coming soon.
August 30, 2017
I read this book and I did really enjoy it. But it reminded me of other books and series. It reminded me a bit of the 39 Clue Series, it also reminded me a lot of the The Grey Griffins Series by Jon S. Lewis and Derek Benz, and also of Roland West, Loner by Theresa Linden The book does have a great pace, is full of surprises, and it is a fun read. But again as I was reading it I kept comparing it to other books and series I had read. I finished this book a few months ago and have picked up book 2, but book two keeps getting bumped in my reading list because of those nagging but's. I did really enjoy the explicitly Catholic element of the story. In many ways it is like a young Catholic Indiana Jones story. I can't wait until my son is a little older and will reread this book with him.
Will Wilder seems to have a knack for getting in trouble. He is head strong. Smart; and some might say a little too smart. But with an emerging gift and a darkness rising. Will's impulsive behaviour might put a lot more at risk than just his own hide and that of his friends and family. The book is full or surprises, and finding out that Great Aunt Lucille is much more than a curator is one of the biggest. As darkness is on the rise, Will along with his close friends must put things right and fix the mess that Will has created.
The writing in this book is very solid. It is the first of Arroyo's fiction that I have read. I am part way through a couple of his non-fiction works. The pace is good, the characters flesh out well, even if Will's growth is rather rapid. But when one is thrusted into extreme situations it is usually sink or swim and he does an admirable job of keeping his head above water. There are some great secondary characters like Shen and Bart are a great addition to the story. Along with his aunt and his friends Simon and Andrew it is time to face an ancient enemy and to battle darkness.
There are a number of illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo. These pencil sketches have a lot of details in them and help bring the story vividly to life. The book has previously been published as Kerman Derman and the Relic of Perilous Falls I am not sure I would have ever picked it up with the original title and cover. But I am glad I did for it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more in the series.
I especially enjoyed the prologue giving us some background going back to the Nazi's and WWII. It was a great set up for the story. Overall a really good read. If it was not so similar to other books and series I had read would likely have been a 5 out of 5 stars. I do look forward to reading book 2 and rereading this volume with my son in a year or two. And looking forward to more reads from Arroyo in the future.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!
Will Wilder seems to have a knack for getting in trouble. He is head strong. Smart; and some might say a little too smart. But with an emerging gift and a darkness rising. Will's impulsive behaviour might put a lot more at risk than just his own hide and that of his friends and family. The book is full or surprises, and finding out that Great Aunt Lucille is much more than a curator is one of the biggest. As darkness is on the rise, Will along with his close friends must put things right and fix the mess that Will has created.
The writing in this book is very solid. It is the first of Arroyo's fiction that I have read. I am part way through a couple of his non-fiction works. The pace is good, the characters flesh out well, even if Will's growth is rather rapid. But when one is thrusted into extreme situations it is usually sink or swim and he does an admirable job of keeping his head above water. There are some great secondary characters like Shen and Bart are a great addition to the story. Along with his aunt and his friends Simon and Andrew it is time to face an ancient enemy and to battle darkness.
There are a number of illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo. These pencil sketches have a lot of details in them and help bring the story vividly to life. The book has previously been published as Kerman Derman and the Relic of Perilous Falls I am not sure I would have ever picked it up with the original title and cover. But I am glad I did for it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more in the series.
I especially enjoyed the prologue giving us some background going back to the Nazi's and WWII. It was a great set up for the story. Overall a really good read. If it was not so similar to other books and series I had read would likely have been a 5 out of 5 stars. I do look forward to reading book 2 and rereading this volume with my son in a year or two. And looking forward to more reads from Arroyo in the future.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!
June 7, 2016
The high altar was in ruins. Elite Nazi forces—the Green Devils—had overrun the coastal town of Ortona, Italy. In the midst of the stench invading the basilica, an American soldier crept towards the exposed gold glinting within the shattered altar. Jacob Wilder knew what was inside the shining casket. As he placed the precious relics in a velvet sack, a cadaverous German officer stumbled towards him. Instantly Jacob drew his weapon, knowing what demon stood before him in the Courtyard of Hell.
The Relic of Perilous Falls is a grand adventure from its opening scenes. Young Will Wilder is as bold as his visionary ancestor—and gifted with similar powers. Black shadows creep along the periphery of Will’s vision, only to vanish when he fixes his gaze on them. Mysterious thuds pound away at the roof, alerting him to the dangers approaching his own home. Reptilian Bottom Dwellers follow the tides of the Perilous River and swarm the town. When demons emerge from the river shoals, few of the quarrelous residents comprehend what is erupting from the Hells Mouth. Will has to act quickly as he learns what it is to be a member of the secret Brethren.
Will Wilder is an endearing hero. Though reckless and impatient, he is also quick-witted, and determined to find a way to fix the grave problems his impulsivity has created. With him on the journey is the wise and lithe Aunt Lucille, a weathered veteran in the demonic wars threatening to engulf Perilous Falls.
Raymond Arroyo is an author with keen insight. His novel develops vital themes of spiritual awareness, power and division, in an engaging and accessible way.
--Kate Calina
The Relic of Perilous Falls is a grand adventure from its opening scenes. Young Will Wilder is as bold as his visionary ancestor—and gifted with similar powers. Black shadows creep along the periphery of Will’s vision, only to vanish when he fixes his gaze on them. Mysterious thuds pound away at the roof, alerting him to the dangers approaching his own home. Reptilian Bottom Dwellers follow the tides of the Perilous River and swarm the town. When demons emerge from the river shoals, few of the quarrelous residents comprehend what is erupting from the Hells Mouth. Will has to act quickly as he learns what it is to be a member of the secret Brethren.
Will Wilder is an endearing hero. Though reckless and impatient, he is also quick-witted, and determined to find a way to fix the grave problems his impulsivity has created. With him on the journey is the wise and lithe Aunt Lucille, a weathered veteran in the demonic wars threatening to engulf Perilous Falls.
Raymond Arroyo is an author with keen insight. His novel develops vital themes of spiritual awareness, power and division, in an engaging and accessible way.
--Kate Calina
October 6, 2017
Almost didn't finish it. Bleh.
The "friends" only talked to each other in insults and boasts (or complaints now and then).
The "action" parts seemed slow to me and were hard to imagine and picture. There's a chamber of water connected to a tunnel and a gate with a platform, but gators are in the water, and the characters keep swimming around to avoid them??
This was a case of "if the MC wasn't so reckless and stupid, none of the plot would happen" just like Fablehaven, except worse.
This was reminiscent of Indiana Jones in that it took Biblical theology and converted it to myths and magic spells and relics to use in the present day. God and demons are real, and it's sacrilegious to treat them like good guys and bad guys from a fairytale. Just "have faith" and the magic in the relics will work. Um, have faith in what? In the relics? This is totally twisted.
Oh, and if you have magical healing powers (or magical healing mantel and a magical healing finger bone), why would you keep it locked up in a cave??? Give it to a hospital or trusted doctor! Let's spread some of that healing magic around! Why wait until a crisis to give it to only the hero/MC to use on his one friend and one family member?? This is so irresponsible!!
The "friends" only talked to each other in insults and boasts (or complaints now and then).
The "action" parts seemed slow to me and were hard to imagine and picture. There's a chamber of water connected to a tunnel and a gate with a platform, but gators are in the water, and the characters keep swimming around to avoid them??
This was a case of "if the MC wasn't so reckless and stupid, none of the plot would happen" just like Fablehaven, except worse.
This was reminiscent of Indiana Jones in that it took Biblical theology and converted it to myths and magic spells and relics to use in the present day. God and demons are real, and it's sacrilegious to treat them like good guys and bad guys from a fairytale. Just "have faith" and the magic in the relics will work. Um, have faith in what? In the relics? This is totally twisted.
Oh, and if you have magical healing powers (or magical healing mantel and a magical healing finger bone), why would you keep it locked up in a cave??? Give it to a hospital or trusted doctor! Let's spread some of that healing magic around! Why wait until a crisis to give it to only the hero/MC to use on his one friend and one family member?? This is so irresponsible!!
October 19, 2017
As a fantasy enthusiast, this book really entertained me. The whole idea of having your life changed in a matter of seconds is so bizarre to me, but that kind of makes me more intrigued with a novel. Will Wilder is that story. Will was only a young teen and his life changed and had to fight a levithan. It's not realistic sure, but the unrealistic makes the book that much more unpredictable. The suspense is what caused me to keep reading this book and I will hopefully finish the other book soon. This book is set in Perilous Falls in American, so it isn't a major fantasy novel, the little bits and pieces of the fantasy world, make the novel that much more enjoyable.
January 13, 2021
I will admit this: it took me awhile to get into The Relic of Perilous Falls, book #1 in the Will Wilder series by Raymond Arroyo. I started reading the first couple chapters almost four years ago, couldn't get into it, and set it aside. However, over this pandemic year of 2020, I've been revisiting cast aside novels and trying to finish them up. So when I picked this book back up over Christmas 2020, I settled in and determined to at least get a few chapters in and then give up on the book if it still didn't hook me. However, as I started flipping pages, the book drew me in, slowly at first, until I had to read to the end to see how it finished. Now, I'm not going to say this book doesn't have its issues, which I will lay out here, but I will say this: if you're looking for a fun, adventurous read in the vein of a mashup of high church history, Indiana Jones, and a splash of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, then The Relic of Perilous Falls might be right up your alley.
Will Wilder is an ordinary kid who has no idea that there is a dangerous, yet invisible, world all around him filled with evil forces that are bent on the destruction of all humanity. But when he falls off the back of a donkey, he sees something in the shadows. Will's Aunt Lucille takes Will under wing and helps him discover the mysterious world around him, but when the entire town of Perilous Falls is threatened, it's up to Will and his friends to find an ancient relic to battle an evil demon and save them all.
First off, this book does suffer from some of the similar tropes of this genre of fantasy adventure for Middle Grade readers: There is a prophecy involved, hidden special powers, and a supernatural world that meets the modern day world in unexpected ways. However, the great twist here is the Christian worldview at play here. Some might categorize this book as more Catholic than Protestant, but either stream of faith is definitely going to discover some fascinating church history as well as tiptoe into the world of religious relics, which is barely touched on here. I would actually say that this is one of those stories that shows just how closely Charismatic Christianity and Catholicism intersect by diving into a supernatural world where those with faith battle demons, have spiritual gifts, and must rely on the invisible God to see them through.
The other aspect here that raises this story beyond other "Chosen One" Middle Grade fiction are the Indiana Jones aspects to the novel. There is a fair bit of treasure hunting, traps, and near escapes that were extremely reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Last Crusade, complete with illustrated clues incorporated into the text.
Will Wilder as a character is fine, if not somewhat typical of a main character for this type of novel. His character growth is nonchalant and more of a side, side story than any through line. The plot and the world-building are what drive this forward, with sometimes too many side characters getting into the mix. Some readers may be put off by Will's choices at times, which seem to sometimes make no sense or be choices taken merely for the sake of upping the stakes.
However, at the end of the book, I found myself having thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the world of relics and faith. If you're a fan of books such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians or any book in the fantasy adventure genre for Middle Grade readers, you're likely to at least enjoy The Relic of Perilous Falls.
Will Wilder is an ordinary kid who has no idea that there is a dangerous, yet invisible, world all around him filled with evil forces that are bent on the destruction of all humanity. But when he falls off the back of a donkey, he sees something in the shadows. Will's Aunt Lucille takes Will under wing and helps him discover the mysterious world around him, but when the entire town of Perilous Falls is threatened, it's up to Will and his friends to find an ancient relic to battle an evil demon and save them all.
First off, this book does suffer from some of the similar tropes of this genre of fantasy adventure for Middle Grade readers: There is a prophecy involved, hidden special powers, and a supernatural world that meets the modern day world in unexpected ways. However, the great twist here is the Christian worldview at play here. Some might categorize this book as more Catholic than Protestant, but either stream of faith is definitely going to discover some fascinating church history as well as tiptoe into the world of religious relics, which is barely touched on here. I would actually say that this is one of those stories that shows just how closely Charismatic Christianity and Catholicism intersect by diving into a supernatural world where those with faith battle demons, have spiritual gifts, and must rely on the invisible God to see them through.
The other aspect here that raises this story beyond other "Chosen One" Middle Grade fiction are the Indiana Jones aspects to the novel. There is a fair bit of treasure hunting, traps, and near escapes that were extremely reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Last Crusade, complete with illustrated clues incorporated into the text.
Will Wilder as a character is fine, if not somewhat typical of a main character for this type of novel. His character growth is nonchalant and more of a side, side story than any through line. The plot and the world-building are what drive this forward, with sometimes too many side characters getting into the mix. Some readers may be put off by Will's choices at times, which seem to sometimes make no sense or be choices taken merely for the sake of upping the stakes.
However, at the end of the book, I found myself having thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the world of relics and faith. If you're a fan of books such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians or any book in the fantasy adventure genre for Middle Grade readers, you're likely to at least enjoy The Relic of Perilous Falls.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2017
Some parts of this are truly inspired. It's very creative. It's a lot of fun. It has some blind spots that I find troubling. There is some brattiness that isn't great and, fundamentally, there is a dissatisfying relationship with the father. I just don't care for books which make dads out to be the problem.
May 21, 2021
[actual review: 3.5 stars]
Okay, to be honest, I did stop reading halfway through this time. BUT. I have read this before, and I do still really enjoy this story. It's just not the right time to reread this :D
Okay, to be honest, I did stop reading halfway through this time. BUT. I have read this before, and I do still really enjoy this story. It's just not the right time to reread this :D
October 7, 2021
Very good. Suspenseful and interesting. He alone can see the nefarious creatures encroaching on Perilous Falls. For nearly a century, a sacred relic has protected his hometown from the raging waters surrounding it. But when Will "borrows" the relic for his own purposes, he accidentally unleashes an ancient evil. As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, Will must set things right before it is too late. With the help of his sweet (if lethal) great-aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of powerful artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one 12-year-old boy can change the world. For ages 10-13.
July 28, 2020
I read it a couple years ago and I really liked it. It was pretty good, so yeah, 3 stars.
May 29, 2016
This book has been compared to Percy Jackson, and I can see why. It's pretty fast paced, has a snarky twelve-year-old boy for it's main character, and involves religion. In some ways, the fact that Catholicism is treated in a similar way as ancient-Greek-paganism fills me with nervousness. If you're writing a book pretending that the Greek gods exist then it's not hard to create all sorts of magical items and such that fit into that world. I am Catholic, and I understand things that this book referred to such as describing relics as 'keys to faith,' but it makes me nervous that Raymond Arroyo is Catholic (or that is what I assume since he works for EWTN) so I know his intent is good in writing this book, I think will have to tread very, very carefully in the following books.
Because this is a middle grade book there were times when I could see flaws in the writing, just because sometimes things moved a little too quickly and you could tell the author was trying not to let young readers get bored, but it felt rushed and simplistic. I almost think that this book could have worked better in the YA section because there would have been more room for detail and depth, but then Will would have had to be at least fourteen, and even then it probably wouldn't have caught the attention of the teen readers...I wish I'd been able to read this when I was around twelve.
The ending of the book was frustrating (why a cliffhanger? why?) but I will probably keep reading this series.
Because this is a middle grade book there were times when I could see flaws in the writing, just because sometimes things moved a little too quickly and you could tell the author was trying not to let young readers get bored, but it felt rushed and simplistic. I almost think that this book could have worked better in the YA section because there would have been more room for detail and depth, but then Will would have had to be at least fourteen, and even then it probably wouldn't have caught the attention of the teen readers...I wish I'd been able to read this when I was around twelve.
The ending of the book was frustrating (why a cliffhanger? why?) but I will probably keep reading this series.
June 25, 2023
It was all right. I liked the general idea of it: A boy on a mission to find the relic of a saint that could heal his brother. But if you read it, you'll find it's all quite twisted: the only reason Will, the main character, wants to heal his brother's broken arm is so that Will gets out of trouble for breaking it, and so that they could go on their family trip like they were planning. Plus, Will was also convinced by the "bad guy" to go steal the relic, so it's just another case of "if only that character wasn't so stupid..." And there was absolutely no character development to be mentioned. The plot was also really, REALLY slow. And really hard to understand. I was using it as an audiobook, so even the few pictures that the book does have didn't help explain the complicated settings that probably make sense only in the author's imagination.
Also, the author was probably trying to create some sort of "memorable" characters, but the two boys, i.e. the "sidekicks" of Will (which, by the way, the whole "sidekicks" thing gets very old) only speak to each other in insults. FYI, nobody even uses those insults. Imagine an annoying 40-year-old man in a cartoon, and you've got Will's "jock" friend, Andrew. And Simon, the "nerd", is only capable of whimpering and is constantly at the receiving end of Andrew's insults.
It was, as you see, not very well written.
Another thing. The whole point of the story was probably about having faith, but in what?! Whenever a character was implored to "just believe", God was not mentioned, but rather the character was supposed to put his faith in some relic. When Leo, Will's younger brother, uses Elijah's mantle to part the water in the chamber where he was trapped, he doesn't do it because perhaps he has immense faith or something. He just smacks the water, and the pool "magically" parts. Where's the faith in that?! And the same thing goes with Leo's arm that "magically" healed itself because he stuck the mantle in his sling. He didn't pray to God to help him heal it. He even forgot that the mantle was there! How can Arroyo advocate faith and belief if he's got it all wrong?!
Plus, it's really hard to like the hero of the story if he's bratty, stupid, and reckless with decisions (going back to the point that the whole entire plot wouldn't exist if he didn't have such poor character). And throughout the story, it was as if Arroyo encouraged disobedience and disrespect to elders: Will needed to steal from his own aunt, one of the "good guys", disobey his aunt and his parents, then obey his aunt by disobeying his parents, and so on. How is this book supposed to encourage good Christian morals if the main character doesn't demonstrate them himself?! (Needless to say, Will did not experience any remorse or realize the wrongfulness in any of his actions. In fact, he was encouraged to do most of them.)
Additionally-- and many would agree-- the world of child and young adult literature today is plagued by heroes and main characters that are supposed to leave their "stupid" parents and shun their advice. Seeing as this is a Christian book coming from a strongly Catholic author (AND FATHER!!) I expected Will's family to be it's own strong fortress, working together to fight the evils of their town. Instead, his mother has very little (if any) faith to speak about, and she runs a TV show about the supernatural. (Which, by the way, anything about the supernatural like that should be questioned, since I doubt that she was doing her show soley on Christian things. And, frankly, I really hope Arroyo did not make his main character's mother someone who believes in pseudosciences.) Will's father not only is a nonbeliever, but is strongly against anything that he cannot see. While putting a character like that would be a good idea in Christian book like this one, I think it was quite a mistake on Arroyo's part to make that character Will's father, because then it puts Will in a position where he has to disobey his parents because they do not "understand" as much as he does. Honestly, Arroyo could have just left the whole "nonbelievers" thing to the mayor, who, like Will's father, was adamantly against all the "supernatural". But, seeing as both the mayor and Will's father were in the same boat, but Will's father was supposed to be against the mayor, it created some foggy parts: Will's father saw the demons, but he didn't want to believe in them, but he didn't want to agree with the mayor in not believing in them, so he tries to run away from both the mayor and the demons, but when he reaches his wife and children, he doesn't want to tell them about the demons....??? Now, Arroyo may have been trying to show his readers an example of challenging non-religious parents, but that would be better for an older age group. While this is geared for more 4th-to-8th grade readers, I would count this, as was said in another review, "dangerous at best". For this age it is better to portray a family as a stronghold, a small church in itself, ready to fight the evils of the world together. (Think of the Penderwicks, the Pevensies from the Chronicles of Narnia, Danny and his father in Danny, the Champion of the World, and so on. Not necessarily "fighting the evils of the world", but these families show children how important and fulfilling it is to turn to family.) And this is even more surprising as Arroyo is himself a young father in a Christian household.
One more thing that came to my attention in another review: Why in the world are the relics kept away from the world?! Why not use their healing abilities in hospitals and other places where people need them? I mean, God must have left that relic there for a reason! Where is the the "help thy neighbor" in this?!?!
Oh, and the whole river-is-bad-because-demons-like-it thing was kind of.... murky. I mean, Will and every other child in the story is supposed to beware the river, not step foot in it, etc., etc., etc., but......... Will's aunt, the one against the demons, has her own boat that she likes to ride along that same river?!
It must be said, though, that Arroyo did an excellent job of portraying religious symbols and traditions (and a few Easter eggs with Latin names!) throughout the story.... mostly. Sometimes the way Arroyo portrayed our faith would probably make a non-Christian think that Christians believe in voodoo magic or something.
So anyway, this book could have been a lot better than it was. A great idea, but definitely not executed the way it should have been.
P. S. What's with the making fun of Father Cash? Why would Arroyo put a priest in a bad light?!
Also, the author was probably trying to create some sort of "memorable" characters, but the two boys, i.e. the "sidekicks" of Will (which, by the way, the whole "sidekicks" thing gets very old) only speak to each other in insults. FYI, nobody even uses those insults. Imagine an annoying 40-year-old man in a cartoon, and you've got Will's "jock" friend, Andrew. And Simon, the "nerd", is only capable of whimpering and is constantly at the receiving end of Andrew's insults.
It was, as you see, not very well written.
Another thing. The whole point of the story was probably about having faith, but in what?! Whenever a character was implored to "just believe", God was not mentioned, but rather the character was supposed to put his faith in some relic. When Leo, Will's younger brother, uses Elijah's mantle to part the water in the chamber where he was trapped, he doesn't do it because perhaps he has immense faith or something. He just smacks the water, and the pool "magically" parts. Where's the faith in that?! And the same thing goes with Leo's arm that "magically" healed itself because he stuck the mantle in his sling. He didn't pray to God to help him heal it. He even forgot that the mantle was there! How can Arroyo advocate faith and belief if he's got it all wrong?!
Plus, it's really hard to like the hero of the story if he's bratty, stupid, and reckless with decisions (going back to the point that the whole entire plot wouldn't exist if he didn't have such poor character). And throughout the story, it was as if Arroyo encouraged disobedience and disrespect to elders: Will needed to steal from his own aunt, one of the "good guys", disobey his aunt and his parents, then obey his aunt by disobeying his parents, and so on. How is this book supposed to encourage good Christian morals if the main character doesn't demonstrate them himself?! (Needless to say, Will did not experience any remorse or realize the wrongfulness in any of his actions. In fact, he was encouraged to do most of them.)
Additionally-- and many would agree-- the world of child and young adult literature today is plagued by heroes and main characters that are supposed to leave their "stupid" parents and shun their advice. Seeing as this is a Christian book coming from a strongly Catholic author (AND FATHER!!) I expected Will's family to be it's own strong fortress, working together to fight the evils of their town. Instead, his mother has very little (if any) faith to speak about, and she runs a TV show about the supernatural. (Which, by the way, anything about the supernatural like that should be questioned, since I doubt that she was doing her show soley on Christian things. And, frankly, I really hope Arroyo did not make his main character's mother someone who believes in pseudosciences.) Will's father not only is a nonbeliever, but is strongly against anything that he cannot see. While putting a character like that would be a good idea in Christian book like this one, I think it was quite a mistake on Arroyo's part to make that character Will's father, because then it puts Will in a position where he has to disobey his parents because they do not "understand" as much as he does. Honestly, Arroyo could have just left the whole "nonbelievers" thing to the mayor, who, like Will's father, was adamantly against all the "supernatural". But, seeing as both the mayor and Will's father were in the same boat, but Will's father was supposed to be against the mayor, it created some foggy parts: Will's father saw the demons, but he didn't want to believe in them, but he didn't want to agree with the mayor in not believing in them, so he tries to run away from both the mayor and the demons, but when he reaches his wife and children, he doesn't want to tell them about the demons....??? Now, Arroyo may have been trying to show his readers an example of challenging non-religious parents, but that would be better for an older age group. While this is geared for more 4th-to-8th grade readers, I would count this, as was said in another review, "dangerous at best". For this age it is better to portray a family as a stronghold, a small church in itself, ready to fight the evils of the world together. (Think of the Penderwicks, the Pevensies from the Chronicles of Narnia, Danny and his father in Danny, the Champion of the World, and so on. Not necessarily "fighting the evils of the world", but these families show children how important and fulfilling it is to turn to family.) And this is even more surprising as Arroyo is himself a young father in a Christian household.
One more thing that came to my attention in another review: Why in the world are the relics kept away from the world?! Why not use their healing abilities in hospitals and other places where people need them? I mean, God must have left that relic there for a reason! Where is the the "help thy neighbor" in this?!?!
Oh, and the whole river-is-bad-because-demons-like-it thing was kind of.... murky. I mean, Will and every other child in the story is supposed to beware the river, not step foot in it, etc., etc., etc., but......... Will's aunt, the one against the demons, has her own boat that she likes to ride along that same river?!
It must be said, though, that Arroyo did an excellent job of portraying religious symbols and traditions (and a few Easter eggs with Latin names!) throughout the story.... mostly. Sometimes the way Arroyo portrayed our faith would probably make a non-Christian think that Christians believe in voodoo magic or something.
So anyway, this book could have been a lot better than it was. A great idea, but definitely not executed the way it should have been.
P. S. What's with the making fun of Father Cash? Why would Arroyo put a priest in a bad light?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2019
This first in a new series (2016) follows young adventurer Will Wilder and his friends as they fight to save their town from strange monsters. Lots of action and bravery, some doubts and cowardice as the young hero tries to follow in his bold ancestor’s footsteps. A clever and not particularly preachy allegory of the struggle between good and evil. Strong and interesting characters will intrigues both kids and adults. (There’s a feisty grandma type in Great Aunt Lucille that even the old fogey reader can enjoy). A welcome addition to kid lit where it is becoming increasingly difficult to find wholesome story lines. Jews, Christians and other Bible fans will have fun discovering the symbolism and trivia included along the way.
June 19, 2018
For some strange reason, although I grew up in a Catholic family, I usually don’t enjoy anything related to the subject so it’s very rare when I find a book that involves this that I enjoy reading. Although slow to start, as it got closer to the middle of the book, I started getting a kind of Indiana Jones feeling, which I really enjoyed. I definitely don’t like Will at first, but I feel like he’s worth getting to know better, despite my bad first impression of him. I think I will really like this series.
April 1, 2017
Pretty enjoyable and lot to like as YA fiction with a good story for anybody.
There were things in the character arc that seemed to me to occur too fast regarding Will. But mostly I like the story and the setup of the series.
There were things in the character arc that seemed to me to occur too fast regarding Will. But mostly I like the story and the setup of the series.
May 22, 2017
This book was awesome. I love how in this book the reader and Will remain oblivious for most of the book. Then when the explaining happens it's easy to understand but also complex. I would recommend this book to all who love to read stories about powerful objects.
September 1, 2017
This book was amazing! I loved it! The book left me with a big cliff hanger, so I will be reading the next one! I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure! It shades of Indiana Jones and Percy Jackson, this book is to die for!
May 22, 2017
It's Indiana Jones for the 8-13 boy reader crowd. I listened to it on audio read by the author and there's humor, adventure and more books to come!
June 1, 2018
I really wanted to like this book.
I have a lot of respect for Raymond Arroyo. His news show on EWTN provides a Catholic perspective so often lacking in the mainstream media, and his appearances on “The Ingraham Angle” are brilliant. So the idea of a Harry Potter/Percy Jackson-type fantasy series based around Biblical stories and Christian ideas of good vs. evil sounded right up my alley.
But there are just too many things about this story that don’t make sense:
- Why the Brethren, operating in the 21st century, still feel the need to guard their relics with booby traps that can kill people
- Why Andrew, Simon, and other random characters can all see the demons in various scenes when only Will is supposed to be a Seer
- Why Will would knowingly risk his life, and his friends’ lives, to get the relic just to save a trip to Florida and cure his brother’s broken arm that would have been better in weeks anyway (but never once thinks of using it to heal Cami’s brother, who’s stuck in a wheelchair with a debilitating disease)
- Why Andrew and Simon would agree to go with him
- Why Will even considers helping Balor, who might as well be wearing a flashing neon sign saying EVIL! EVIL! EVIL!
- Why Simon bothers staying friends with Andrew, who’s a total jerk to him for the whole book
- Why the Brethren would think that the ideal location to store Christendom’s most sacred and powerful relics is in a building just down the block from a literal gate to Hell
- Demons that EAT DOGS. Enough said.
- The sarcophagus/magical teleportation device. Come on. Faith and miracles are one thing, but you can’t suddenly start throwing in Portkeys and magic spells.
The supporting characters never grow much beyond stereotypes. Tobias Shen’s Mr. Miyagi persona gets tiresome, and the trio of Dad Wilder, Crinshaw, and the mayor are just plain annoying in the Cornelius Fudge role of “Disbelieving Authority Figure”.
Finally, the whole thing is just too creepy. Fantasy stories are supposed to fill us with a sense of adventure and wonder. Instead we get scenes like the river muck invading the Wilder house that feel more like something out of Stephen King’s “It”.
I just didn’t enjoy it.
I have a lot of respect for Raymond Arroyo. His news show on EWTN provides a Catholic perspective so often lacking in the mainstream media, and his appearances on “The Ingraham Angle” are brilliant. So the idea of a Harry Potter/Percy Jackson-type fantasy series based around Biblical stories and Christian ideas of good vs. evil sounded right up my alley.
But there are just too many things about this story that don’t make sense:
- Why the Brethren, operating in the 21st century, still feel the need to guard their relics with booby traps that can kill people
- Why Andrew, Simon, and other random characters can all see the demons in various scenes when only Will is supposed to be a Seer
- Why Will would knowingly risk his life, and his friends’ lives, to get the relic just to save a trip to Florida and cure his brother’s broken arm that would have been better in weeks anyway (but never once thinks of using it to heal Cami’s brother, who’s stuck in a wheelchair with a debilitating disease)
- Why Andrew and Simon would agree to go with him
- Why Will even considers helping Balor, who might as well be wearing a flashing neon sign saying EVIL! EVIL! EVIL!
- Why Simon bothers staying friends with Andrew, who’s a total jerk to him for the whole book
- Why the Brethren would think that the ideal location to store Christendom’s most sacred and powerful relics is in a building just down the block from a literal gate to Hell
- Demons that EAT DOGS. Enough said.
- The sarcophagus/magical teleportation device. Come on. Faith and miracles are one thing, but you can’t suddenly start throwing in Portkeys and magic spells.
The supporting characters never grow much beyond stereotypes. Tobias Shen’s Mr. Miyagi persona gets tiresome, and the trio of Dad Wilder, Crinshaw, and the mayor are just plain annoying in the Cornelius Fudge role of “Disbelieving Authority Figure”.
Finally, the whole thing is just too creepy. Fantasy stories are supposed to fill us with a sense of adventure and wonder. Instead we get scenes like the river muck invading the Wilder house that feel more like something out of Stephen King’s “It”.
I just didn’t enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2022
From the start, I had a difficult time getting into the story. The story begins with a very silly and childish scene which introduces Will as being a bit of mischievous child. I could have moved past this scene, except that it turned out to be an intricate part of story. From there, our protagonist makes a series of poor decisions resulting in him unleashing a powerful evil set on destroying his hometown of Perilous Falls.
Although the author does a fair job at using figurative and descriptive language to engage the reader, often times it leads to a lot of confusion. The action is fast-paced and difficult to follow. This resulted in me skimming large portions of book. The author also frequently substituted the characters names for descriptions and articles like "boy" and "child" and even some elaborate ones like "The woman with taut, glistening skin ... " or "The shaky boy ... " I couldn't understand the purpose of these descriptions as they were characters we already knew by name. They often made me stop and ask myself, "Who are you talking about? You mean Will?"
My biggest challenge with the book was lack of character development across the board. The main character Will did nothing to progress the story. Everything in the story sort of just happened to him. The only thing he actively pursued in the story was stealing the relic which turned out to be a major blunder. Not only did he fall for an obvious trap, he put his friends in extreme danger and even abandoned them in the end, leaving them to die. This lack of heroism is not even addressed in the story, and it's his family that ultimately rescues his friends for him.
Throughout the story, the author also weaved in a number of side stories with characters that had no relevance to the hero's quest. Not only did they serve no purpose in advancing the plot, the author would often cut away from the action scenes to update us on these side stories.
By the end of the book, I felt exhausted and barely finished. I do hope that the sequels are stronger. Hopefully, now that Will has learned about his gift and his role, he can be a more active protagonist, and fully develop into the hero he is meant to be.
Although the author does a fair job at using figurative and descriptive language to engage the reader, often times it leads to a lot of confusion. The action is fast-paced and difficult to follow. This resulted in me skimming large portions of book. The author also frequently substituted the characters names for descriptions and articles like "boy" and "child" and even some elaborate ones like "The woman with taut, glistening skin ... " or "The shaky boy ... " I couldn't understand the purpose of these descriptions as they were characters we already knew by name. They often made me stop and ask myself, "Who are you talking about? You mean Will?"
My biggest challenge with the book was lack of character development across the board. The main character Will did nothing to progress the story. Everything in the story sort of just happened to him. The only thing he actively pursued in the story was stealing the relic which turned out to be a major blunder. Not only did he fall for an obvious trap, he put his friends in extreme danger and even abandoned them in the end, leaving them to die. This lack of heroism is not even addressed in the story, and it's his family that ultimately rescues his friends for him.
Throughout the story, the author also weaved in a number of side stories with characters that had no relevance to the hero's quest. Not only did they serve no purpose in advancing the plot, the author would often cut away from the action scenes to update us on these side stories.
By the end of the book, I felt exhausted and barely finished. I do hope that the sequels are stronger. Hopefully, now that Will has learned about his gift and his role, he can be a more active protagonist, and fully develop into the hero he is meant to be.
May 4, 2017
I have mixed feelings for this book. At times, I thought it was good, really hitting on some good stuff, especially towards the end. At other times, especially spots in the beginning, I was going, "Really?"I was really excited for this book because there is so little new Catholic fiction for young adults, teens, or middle grad out there today that I was hoping for something really good. What I did really like about this book is the message of believing and Aunt Lucille trying to prepare Will for what is to come and manage his gifts. I thought it was handled well and really came alive. I also liked seeing the relics in action. But, I often found the characters to be unconvincing. *SPOILER* When Will first meets Captain Belor, he accepts the abilities of the relic without any question even though he has grown up in a household were his father believes in the supernatural about as much as Greek myths *END SPOILER*. It just made Will's reaction unbelievable. If some events had been moved around a little, I could see Will coming to believe but being skeptical at first. But this happened multiple times. It just felt like the author was making situations and making them work they way he wanted them to but it wasn't logical or make sense. Also, I disliked the way how everyone who was not Christian (or practicing at least) were jerks. Again, unbelievable and I think a bad way of representing other people. That only teaches readers to think of unbelievers in a very negative way. It was a very bad representation. I dislike it when Christians are only represented negatively in secular literature and I feel the same way when the opposite affect happens. Both these things makes me hesitate on recommending it. Granted, it was the first book and those can be rough. I'll read the second book because things can dramatically change from one to the next in writing style. So, I'm curious at the moment where it goes so I will be checking it out.
July 12, 2024
NOT A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE!
I was honestly appalled to hear this book was written by a Catholic author, because the theology in this book is awful. Firstly, there is no mention of God, sacraments or virtue, or priests leading the fight against demons. It treats relics as though they are a magic potion that will heal someone by a touch, as long as they have "faith" (faith in what? No mention of God or His holy power) and that lay people are born with gifts that can kill or stun demons, even send them back to Hell! If you're going to claim something is a Catholic book, you better at least use correct theology!
It saddens me to think that anyone reading this will form an opinion that this is a good representation of the Catholic Church or their beliefs.
Even if we set that aside, this is still not a wholesome book. The main character is a selfish brat who couldn't care less about anyone other than himself. He disobeys and scoffs at every adult in his life constantly, puts others in great danger without remorse, and even when he wants to steal the relic to heal someone, his motivation isn't to cure their pain but just so that he can still go on vacation with his friends.
Not that the adults are great role models either. The dad has such a chip on his shoulder he refuses to believe what is before his eyes or the danger his family is in, so that he can continue to hate everything his aunt tells him to do. Shen working at the church teaches Will that you have to do whatever ridiculous thing a strange adult you just met tells you to do, out of blind obedience. The aunt puts Will, who she knows is a headstrong, thrill seeking, and negligent kid, in positions of great danger with minimal instruction and basically no supervision.
Overall, this book is a disaster that I will definitely not be letting my kids read.
I was honestly appalled to hear this book was written by a Catholic author, because the theology in this book is awful. Firstly, there is no mention of God, sacraments or virtue, or priests leading the fight against demons. It treats relics as though they are a magic potion that will heal someone by a touch, as long as they have "faith" (faith in what? No mention of God or His holy power) and that lay people are born with gifts that can kill or stun demons, even send them back to Hell! If you're going to claim something is a Catholic book, you better at least use correct theology!
It saddens me to think that anyone reading this will form an opinion that this is a good representation of the Catholic Church or their beliefs.
Even if we set that aside, this is still not a wholesome book. The main character is a selfish brat who couldn't care less about anyone other than himself. He disobeys and scoffs at every adult in his life constantly, puts others in great danger without remorse, and even when he wants to steal the relic to heal someone, his motivation isn't to cure their pain but just so that he can still go on vacation with his friends.
Not that the adults are great role models either. The dad has such a chip on his shoulder he refuses to believe what is before his eyes or the danger his family is in, so that he can continue to hate everything his aunt tells him to do. Shen working at the church teaches Will that you have to do whatever ridiculous thing a strange adult you just met tells you to do, out of blind obedience. The aunt puts Will, who she knows is a headstrong, thrill seeking, and negligent kid, in positions of great danger with minimal instruction and basically no supervision.
Overall, this book is a disaster that I will definitely not be letting my kids read.
July 6, 2017
I was disappointed. While it seemed like it was going somewhere in the first chapter, the story immediately fell flat with the mention of the prophecy. Not because it was a prophecy, but because of how it was introduced and expounded. I legit started laughing out loud when it was first mentioned.
"Lucille could only focus on the words 'donkey' and 'blood'... 'The time is near.' She thought."
Like... wut...
Furthermore, the Percy Jackson prophecies were at least slightly cryptic. You didn't know if Percy was the one of the prophecy and it remained mysterious until the final book. The characters also felt rather cut and paste from cliche stereotypes. While I personally appreciated Simon, I was also irritated by how everything about the character shouted "Nerd", as if the concept hadn't already been understood. The progression of the story was also all over the place and I felt there were too many characters and not enough character development. While there is no 'adventure' away from home like in Percy Jackson, the adventure the kids went on felt more like a field trip, short and brief, than something you would see in perhaps Fablehaven or the Spiderwick Chronicles. Although the characters in the latter didn't leave home, at least it still felt like a full on adventure delving into the middle of the backyard wilderness. The entire story lead up to that adventure which made it all the more interesting. But in this book there wasn't that. It felt kinda rushed.
I might read the second book in the series when the kindle price goes down because I've heard it's better. I want to like this series because of what it's trying to do by incorporating Christianity in children's series, but it needs to step it up a bit.
"Lucille could only focus on the words 'donkey' and 'blood'... 'The time is near.' She thought."
Like... wut...
Furthermore, the Percy Jackson prophecies were at least slightly cryptic. You didn't know if Percy was the one of the prophecy and it remained mysterious until the final book. The characters also felt rather cut and paste from cliche stereotypes. While I personally appreciated Simon, I was also irritated by how everything about the character shouted "Nerd", as if the concept hadn't already been understood. The progression of the story was also all over the place and I felt there were too many characters and not enough character development. While there is no 'adventure' away from home like in Percy Jackson, the adventure the kids went on felt more like a field trip, short and brief, than something you would see in perhaps Fablehaven or the Spiderwick Chronicles. Although the characters in the latter didn't leave home, at least it still felt like a full on adventure delving into the middle of the backyard wilderness. The entire story lead up to that adventure which made it all the more interesting. But in this book there wasn't that. It felt kinda rushed.
I might read the second book in the series when the kindle price goes down because I've heard it's better. I want to like this series because of what it's trying to do by incorporating Christianity in children's series, but it needs to step it up a bit.
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