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The Brimstone Network #1
The Brimstone Network
Thirteen-year-old Abraham "Bram" Stone has never lived an ordinary life. Home is a monastery in the Himalayan Mountains, where the monks train him in otherworldly fighting skills. Bram's father, Elijah Stone, leads a group called the Brimstone Network, an order of warriors and sorcerers who provide the last line of defense against all paranormal dangers.
Bram always knew that one day he'd take his father's place. But that day comes far too soon when a bizarre man named Mr. Stitcharrives at the monastery and breaks the news to Bram: Every member of the Brimstone Network, including Elijah, has been assassinated. Suddenly it's up to Bram to form a new Brimstone Network out of the rubble of the old, in the hope that he can rise to the challenge in time to stop a terrifying threat to humanity.
298 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2008
5 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Tom Sniegoski
175 books28 followersTom Sniegoski is the name under which Thomas E. Sniegoski publishes some YA and comics.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 23, 2010
For a full review, check the Bitten by Books website: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/
January 3, 2009
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
Since the earliest days of civilization, humanity has always stood a fragile step away from the dark forces that exist in other realms, and the Brimstone Network--in one form or another--has always protected and maintained that veil.
However, the testing of the atomic bomb during World War II damaged the magickal barrier separating Earth from the other realms, and Elijah Stone, leader of the Brimstone Network, refuses to let his guard down now that the Earth is in more danger than ever. One day, his worst fears come true, and a well-orchestrated attack of demons, trolls, and other nightmarish creatures brings the Network to a violent end.
To Elijah's son, Abraham, the struggles of the Brimstone Network take place a whole world away. Shuttled to different schools all his life, he is now holed up in the Himalayan monastery of P'Yon Kep, where his father had hoped Bram would learn to control the specter power that he inherited from his mother.
When a heavily scarred man named Mr. Stitch arrives at the monastery to tell Bram that his father is dead and it is up to the two of them to rebuild the Network from scratch, Bram can hardly believe it...
...until the Yeti attack.
Bram realizes fast that, to keep the rest of humanity safe, he has to own up to his responsibility and become the leader that his father meant him to be. Quickly, he and Mr. Stitch work to gather their resources, for the mastermind behind the Network's end has larger plans to end humanity's rule on the earth forever, and, any day now, may discover that Bram exists.
A well-told, action-packed story that reads almost like a graphic novel, the mesh of monsters, magick, and mayhem here will appeal specifically to older preteens who like a darker, more violent edge to their stories. Please note that the level of gore and squishy monster death may be too much for the squeamish.
Since the earliest days of civilization, humanity has always stood a fragile step away from the dark forces that exist in other realms, and the Brimstone Network--in one form or another--has always protected and maintained that veil.
However, the testing of the atomic bomb during World War II damaged the magickal barrier separating Earth from the other realms, and Elijah Stone, leader of the Brimstone Network, refuses to let his guard down now that the Earth is in more danger than ever. One day, his worst fears come true, and a well-orchestrated attack of demons, trolls, and other nightmarish creatures brings the Network to a violent end.
To Elijah's son, Abraham, the struggles of the Brimstone Network take place a whole world away. Shuttled to different schools all his life, he is now holed up in the Himalayan monastery of P'Yon Kep, where his father had hoped Bram would learn to control the specter power that he inherited from his mother.
When a heavily scarred man named Mr. Stitch arrives at the monastery to tell Bram that his father is dead and it is up to the two of them to rebuild the Network from scratch, Bram can hardly believe it...
...until the Yeti attack.
Bram realizes fast that, to keep the rest of humanity safe, he has to own up to his responsibility and become the leader that his father meant him to be. Quickly, he and Mr. Stitch work to gather their resources, for the mastermind behind the Network's end has larger plans to end humanity's rule on the earth forever, and, any day now, may discover that Bram exists.
A well-told, action-packed story that reads almost like a graphic novel, the mesh of monsters, magick, and mayhem here will appeal specifically to older preteens who like a darker, more violent edge to their stories. Please note that the level of gore and squishy monster death may be too much for the squeamish.
March 6, 2011
3.5 stars. A very exciting adventure with tons of action, an interesting mix of original and mythological monsters, and a diverse team of heroes. It's a very fast read for adults. The author did a good job of scaling the story down to the pre-teen level; it flies by much faster than the amount of text would seem to indicate. It's a good step-up from Magic Tree House level, but much easier to read and move through than Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
It says it's for kids ages 9-13 on the back cover, but if your child is very sensitive, give it some time first. There is a lot of fighting, many monsters, gore galore, and some dark emotional scenes. Several people die, not all are bad guys. Kids who already watch a lot of action and adventure movies or read dark teen books will be fine. My sensitive little mostly-Disney channel and PG movies 9 year-old would not do well with it. I'd also recommend it to older teens who are reluctant readers or who have difficulty reading. It's one of those books that doesn't talk down to the kids at all, but it's so fast paced and written to be so easy to read that it would be a good fit for older teens who need encouragement with their reading skills.
It says it's for kids ages 9-13 on the back cover, but if your child is very sensitive, give it some time first. There is a lot of fighting, many monsters, gore galore, and some dark emotional scenes. Several people die, not all are bad guys. Kids who already watch a lot of action and adventure movies or read dark teen books will be fine. My sensitive little mostly-Disney channel and PG movies 9 year-old would not do well with it. I'd also recommend it to older teens who are reluctant readers or who have difficulty reading. It's one of those books that doesn't talk down to the kids at all, but it's so fast paced and written to be so easy to read that it would be a good fit for older teens who need encouragement with their reading skills.
August 12, 2009
Rollicking supernatural adventure for teens. The Brimstone Network is a centuries-old society of agents who practice magic and keep the rest of the world safe from the forces of darkness. One night it is destroyed, and the teenage son of its leader must restart the network from scratch to save the world. His only help comes from Mr. Stitch, a Frankenstein's monster who is made up of the body parts of the best agents from the Network. He and Bram begin to find old contacts of his father, so they can save the world.
Gory escapist fun.
Gory escapist fun.
February 27, 2024
Yep, I'm really surprised by how much I liked this book. I've read some of Sniegoski's comics and urban fantasy shorts, and well I didn't leave the experience impressed. Here, I'm impressed and moving the next two books up the mountainous TBR stack.
If I was asked for a sound bite description of this book it would be a YA Hellboy with some twists. Abraham Stone is the lone survivor of a very well executed attack on The Brimstone Network. The Network had been around for centuries, protecting humanity from the things that go bump in the night (like Hellboy's BRPD)-but more in the public eye).
Bram has spent most of his young life being educated in various special schools. He is also a cross between humanity and specters, an attempt at a peace treaty at the time that apparently didn't go well. For Bram this means he has trouble controlling his emotions, and he can essentially literally go ghost.
A Frankenstein like creature, Mr. Stitch was awakened as a failsafe when the Network fell. Stitch's task is to find Bram and also help in the founding of a new Brimstone Network.
To avoid spoilers they do recruit the beginning of a new Network. The overall tone of the story was signifcantly darker than I expected. Not quite the level of BRPD the bad guys have run of the Earth level, but moreso that the Potter books.
Suggested for urban fantasy fans, and hose who enjoy Kadrey, Butcher and Mignola.
If I was asked for a sound bite description of this book it would be a YA Hellboy with some twists. Abraham Stone is the lone survivor of a very well executed attack on The Brimstone Network. The Network had been around for centuries, protecting humanity from the things that go bump in the night (like Hellboy's BRPD)-but more in the public eye).
Bram has spent most of his young life being educated in various special schools. He is also a cross between humanity and specters, an attempt at a peace treaty at the time that apparently didn't go well. For Bram this means he has trouble controlling his emotions, and he can essentially literally go ghost.
A Frankenstein like creature, Mr. Stitch was awakened as a failsafe when the Network fell. Stitch's task is to find Bram and also help in the founding of a new Brimstone Network.
To avoid spoilers they do recruit the beginning of a new Network. The overall tone of the story was signifcantly darker than I expected. Not quite the level of BRPD the bad guys have run of the Earth level, but moreso that the Potter books.
Suggested for urban fantasy fans, and hose who enjoy Kadrey, Butcher and Mignola.
March 18, 2009
Since the dawn of time, fae creatures have sneaked through the magical borders guarding earth's inhabitants - often unbeknownst to humans until death and destruction occurs. However, the Brimstone Network has been there all along, preventing such incidents from getting out of hand, and preventing them whenever possible. Now the dark forces have actually come together to bring The Network down forcing 13-year-old Bram Stone to recognize and use his talent in a leadership role.
Notes: First in a series. Also I found 3 typos and 2 grammar errors in this edition, very annoying. The plot is good, the writing is weak.
Notes: First in a series. Also I found 3 typos and 2 grammar errors in this edition, very annoying. The plot is good, the writing is weak.
November 5, 2014
Not a bad start to a series, but definitely intended for "young adults". Nothing wrong with that, just not up to the level of... sophistication(?) of the Remy Chandler series. Read this one primarily because I DIDN'T want to read the last Remy Chandler novel (so far) and be out. I'm already out of Dresden Files and Codex Alegra. :-( I did discover there's an Anne Rice vampire book I don't have though, and another on the way. But I digress. This one is solid, if not terrible exciting fair, and a quick read.
October 1, 2014
This kid has an amazing talent but does not want to use it.His dad has been trying to realize the talent his hole life but can not figure out how to make him realese it. In this book his dad sends him to some sacred spot in the Himalayas to try and release the power that was givin to him . The monks that are trying to real ease his power so the monks start beating him with staffs and force him to release his true power that was givin to him.
September 11, 2009
This was a good YA boy book. I hope he has more planned :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews