Ranger Nader & The Unsolvable Riddle

by Kam Karem

Ranger Nader & The Unsolvable Riddle is book 2 of The Guardian Chronicles, a contemporary scify-fantasy-green mixed genre series with secret schools, spaceships, epic battles, & evil demi-gods. Ranger, a Lebanese-American teenager, inherits a magic ax and the family feud with the demi-god Gilgamesh of epic fame. The stories take place in a secret school located inside a mountain in Lebanon where teenagers are trained to be part of the Phoenician Spaceship Merchant Marine. In the first book, Ranger Nader & The Sunstruck Phantom, Ranger has to stop Gilgamesh from destroying the cedar forest. In Ranger Nader & The Unsolvable Riddle, Ranger loses his crew and his ship to a bad decision. He compounds his troubles when he "borrows" the legendary six-bull ship and flies it solo to solve a mystery, a riddle, and a crime.
The book received six five-star reviews from Reader's Favorite. Here are exerts from these

5* Review by K.C. Finn for Readers’
Author Kam Karem masterfully blends elements of fantasy, adventure, and mythology, creating a rich and imaginative world filled with demigods, magic, and ancient conflicts... What makes this book especially compelling is its connection to real-world issues, particularly climate change and the preservation of ancient forests. Karem's inspiration from his family's legacy as Keepers of the Cedars of Lebanon adds a personal level of depth to the narrative that is truly unique... I would certainly recommend it for YA sci-fi and fantasy fans everywhere.

5* Review by Tanja Jurkovic for Readers’
Kam Karem delightfully describes the main characters and their quirky, but loving relationships with a touch of humor and lots of fun moments which will leave the reader simply wanting more! I enjoyed Karem's skillful implementation of the Gilgamesh myth in the story, which served as a catalyst for all the dangers that Ranger and his team had to face...It is truly a delightful read for every generation.

5* Review by Pikasho Deka for Readers’
If Harry Potter met The Guardians of the Galaxy, you would end up with something like Ranger Nader and the Unsolvable Riddle. This is the perfect sci-fi fantasy adventure series for teenagers and young adults. A sequel to Ranger Nader and the Sunstruck Phantom, this book brings new layers to the characters and explores the relationship between Ranger and his friends still further. Kam Karem has built a fascinating, fantastical world that will spark your imagination... I have immensely enjoyed both the books in this series, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequels.

5* Review by Keith Mbuya for Readers’
Lovers of young adult fantasy and science fiction novels with a touch of action will love Kam Karem’s Ranger Nader and The Unsolvable Riddle... Fans of Harry Potter will be hooked from cover to cover with this page-turner.

5* Review by Frank Mutuma for Readers’
... I was hooked from the first page to the last. The plot line flows seamlessly, leaving no room for confusion. Karem also utilized suspense to great effect, leaving one yearning for more... I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

5* Review by Liz Konkel for Readers’
... One of the best parts of Karem’s world is the blend of adventure and quirkiness that creates a fantastical atmosphere that has only grown since book one...

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2023

Reviews

[M.K. Tufft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story but rough around the edges

Not enough back-story given to read this as a stand-alone story and really get it. It kicks off with a promising start, but then you have to wade through a lot of somewhat status-quo school stuff until the riddle is given 64% of the way into the book. The book jumps awkwardly in places, leaving out key details about the outcome of the rescue and segues directly into a closing scene.

Would benefit from a good clean edit and professional formatting. (Who types chapter titles with spaces between each letter so that they can be hyphenated anywhere between any of the letters???) Would also benefit from a better cover. With five years between books 1 and 2, I’d expect more polish and consistent branding.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

very unique

Very interesting book and very interesting concept. Book one kept me reading into book 2, and I will continue to do so. Lots of action, although the genres are mixed up so it doesn’t really fit in as a book like anything I’ve ever read. Not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just hard to figure out what the heck I’m reading.

[R. Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

I recommend reading the first book, well, first, but if you stumble on it like I did, it's possible to muddle through and read as a standalone. The world building is good, and the descriptions are vivid. Read in order for the full effect, I'm sure it'll be better that way.

[Sharon Pegram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel takes the sci-fi spaceship school drama up a notch with new powers, new challenges, and two new alien cuties who are so much more than meets the eye. This is a world I'd love to get lost in!

[Elrica Francisca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative story.

I loved the interesting and creative world that the author has built. The characters developed nicely. I would love to read more!

[Andrew Heister]

Great follow up

I went through the first book in the series pretty fast and dove right into the second. This installment did not disappoint. I'm really enjoying this author!