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The Brotherhood of Olympus and the Deadliest Game
The Brotherhood of Olympus and the Deadliest Game, is the first of a series of young adult horror/fantasy novels that tells the story of Drake Frasier, a painfully shy, intellectually gifted 13 year old boy growing up in Aberdeen, Washington.
On a cold, gray Friday the thirteenth, his favorite uncle is killed in a horrible car collision with a logging truck. Drake's life takes a sudden twist after the accident when his family begins to encounter haunting spirits that bring terror and doom upon them. He soon finds that he has unique gifts and abilities that allow him to fight the apparitions, and that there may be a greater sinister plot afoot. But as Drake develops his skills to combat the ghastly specters, his oldest brother continues to use a Spirit board game that invites the evil into their lives. Drake must bring his brothers back together to fight the nefarious forces to save his family, and quite possibly the world.
On a cold, gray Friday the thirteenth, his favorite uncle is killed in a horrible car collision with a logging truck. Drake's life takes a sudden twist after the accident when his family begins to encounter haunting spirits that bring terror and doom upon them. He soon finds that he has unique gifts and abilities that allow him to fight the apparitions, and that there may be a greater sinister plot afoot. But as Drake develops his skills to combat the ghastly specters, his oldest brother continues to use a Spirit board game that invites the evil into their lives. Drake must bring his brothers back together to fight the nefarious forces to save his family, and quite possibly the world.
- GenresFantasy
286 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 5, 2012
Simply an amazing read. Guy T. Simpson, Jr crafts a story that pulls you along in an adventure. With believable characters that add color to the grim plot of the novel you find yourself wanting more and more. Good news to readers that this is book one of a series so we will get more.
March 25, 2013
The five Fraiser brothers have just faced the sudden loss of their Uncle Wally when he was killed in an automobile accident. There was something special about Wally, and not just that he was like another brother to the boys, in fact, there are several ‘special’ people in the family who claim to have mysterious gifts. As each brother deals differently with Wally’s death, they find a common ground in seeking the truth about the accident. The boys turn to a ‘Spirit Board’ (think Ouiji Board)to communicate with their uncle and they are thrown into a world they never knew actually existed, full of terror and evil entities! One brother takes the lead into this world, but the boys discover they can only defeat the evil in a race against time if they work together!
With great detail, the author has created a fantastical world of adventure and daring for the boys. The pace only slowed when the details got a little too intense, picking right back up and finishing with a race to survival at the end!
Coming from a family where I had six siblings, five of them being boys, let me tell you, Guy T. Simpson Jr. has nailed this family completely! From the dialogue, attitudes, distinct personalities, I could relate! The Fraiser brothers are well-developed characters who are close enough to stand together, but different enough to feel real, coming together when necessary, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Brotherhood of Olympus and the Deadliest Game is a great read for the middle grades, or anyone who enjoys an over-the-top adventure! Being a tale about boys, being boys, awesome! Another star just for that!
For more book related thoughts and reviews:
With great detail, the author has created a fantastical world of adventure and daring for the boys. The pace only slowed when the details got a little too intense, picking right back up and finishing with a race to survival at the end!
Coming from a family where I had six siblings, five of them being boys, let me tell you, Guy T. Simpson Jr. has nailed this family completely! From the dialogue, attitudes, distinct personalities, I could relate! The Fraiser brothers are well-developed characters who are close enough to stand together, but different enough to feel real, coming together when necessary, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Brotherhood of Olympus and the Deadliest Game is a great read for the middle grades, or anyone who enjoys an over-the-top adventure! Being a tale about boys, being boys, awesome! Another star just for that!
For more book related thoughts and reviews:
February 8, 2013
I have to start off saying that I loved this book! It was so refreshing to read a book from a male point of view, and particularily a younger male, you don't see it that often enough.
Drake is 13 years old and has only brothers in the family, and they arre very close to their Uncle as well as he is the same age as the older brothers, so they have grown up together. There is a tragedy that hits the family very hard, and everyone seems to be drifting apart trying to grieve in their own separate ways, but Drake figures out that he has some things that he is able to do that would not be on the "normal" spectrum of human capabilities, and with this and some help from his brothers he sets out to try and save his family.
One of my favourite parts of this book was the real focus on family, and how important it is to us. I loved all the characters in this book, and could relate to pretty much all of them for different reasons. Also Guy is an artist and I really loved the pictures he put at the beginning of each chapter and if you pay attention to them they do give you an even better reading experience if that is possible.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, even though the character is only 13, at no point did I feel that I was reading a book for a younger crowd (I am 32), and furthermore I have had reading experiences in the past where I felt that the author was almost purposly writing for a younger crowd like they felt that kids would not get the story, which is a pet peeve, and by no means did Guy do that here which is refreshing!
Drake is 13 years old and has only brothers in the family, and they arre very close to their Uncle as well as he is the same age as the older brothers, so they have grown up together. There is a tragedy that hits the family very hard, and everyone seems to be drifting apart trying to grieve in their own separate ways, but Drake figures out that he has some things that he is able to do that would not be on the "normal" spectrum of human capabilities, and with this and some help from his brothers he sets out to try and save his family.
One of my favourite parts of this book was the real focus on family, and how important it is to us. I loved all the characters in this book, and could relate to pretty much all of them for different reasons. Also Guy is an artist and I really loved the pictures he put at the beginning of each chapter and if you pay attention to them they do give you an even better reading experience if that is possible.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, even though the character is only 13, at no point did I feel that I was reading a book for a younger crowd (I am 32), and furthermore I have had reading experiences in the past where I felt that the author was almost purposly writing for a younger crowd like they felt that kids would not get the story, which is a pet peeve, and by no means did Guy do that here which is refreshing!
April 29, 2021
Simpson's vivid art and intricate storytelling may have you getting rid of that mystical board game, the one that your grandmother warned you about. Then again, if you have four siblings bonded to you with psychic blood, and the ghost of a beloved uncle to guide you through the demon-filled corridors of hell, you might risk playing it.
June 4, 2013
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was amazingly good. I feel like this book could turn in to a very epic and sweeping series if the author chooses to continue with this story. The story line is very intricate but not overwhelmingly so and the characters are so well written that you are drawn in to the story in a way where you feel the ups and downs that they all experience.
This book is a true good versus evil story. The five Frasier boys have heard whisperings about the ‘gifts’ that run in the family but the never pay them much heed. After the strange death of a beloved uncle strange things start to happen and the boys are pulled in to a struggle between those deities that want humanity to continue without their interference and those deities that have turned power hungry and wish to decimate and enslave humanity. There are even some immortals that you could not imagine being on the ‘good’ side that are trying to help the Frasier boys to be successful in their quest. The boys also learn that the family gifts are real and that they must embrace them if they are to be successful in saving the world.
One thing I really loved about this book is that the author incorporated myths from several cultures in to this story. The Pacific Northwest is rife with legends that have been around for hundreds of years and come from numerous Native American tribes. The author did a great job at using those legends to influence the story while at the same time tying the Mt. Olympus in Washington State to the Mt. Olympus in Greece. There were also pieces of Norse and Roman mythology as well as numerous Gods and Goddesses from almost all cultures imaginable, including some I have never heard of. The author was even kind enough to place a guide at the back of the book to give a brief explanation of all of these different components.
This story is written in a very descriptive way and most of the time this is a very good thing. The characters are explained in such a thorough way that you feel as if you really know them and understand why they do what they do. You almost feel like you are a member of the family and have known these boys their whole lives. The descriptive writing also goes beyond the characters and extends even to descriptions of the scenery and layouts of the city and surrounding areas. There were a few times that this descriptive writing seemed a bit much and in each instance it was during those times when the author was describing the scenery that the family was seeing while out camping. I am not saying that the description of those scenes was badly done; I just do not enjoy reading about what all the nature looks like. I just need the basic idea of the surroundings and then want to get on with the story. My imagination will fill in the rest.
There was really only one part of the book that bothered me and that was Rachael’s relationship with Drake. She is only 14 years old and she is so in love with Drake that she decides that she will do whatever is in her power to keep Drake safe throughout his life. It is so sweet and all but she seemed very young to be making that sort of huge decision. I suppose it could happen but I remember when I was 14 and had a crush on a boy I was definitely not thinking of a future more than a year or two from then, let alone for the rest of my life. While this did bother me a little it was not a huge thing and did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall this book was a fantastic read. If you are anything like me you will fall in love with the characters and feel drawn in to their story. The things that these boys deal with are so strange and sometimes upsetting and scary, especially to the younger boys who are still children. The plot kept me guessing with all of its twists and turns and I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens.
Drake is not your typical teen age boy. He does play sports and like to hang out with his brothers but he is different because of how in to learning he is. He devours any book he can get his hands on no matter what the topic. He has even read through two entire sets of encyclopedias. This thirst for learning and large volume of knowledge comes in handy once crazy, paranormal things begin to affect him and his family.
This book was amazingly good. I feel like this book could turn in to a very epic and sweeping series if the author chooses to continue with this story. The story line is very intricate but not overwhelmingly so and the characters are so well written that you are drawn in to the story in a way where you feel the ups and downs that they all experience.
This book is a true good versus evil story. The five Frasier boys have heard whisperings about the ‘gifts’ that run in the family but the never pay them much heed. After the strange death of a beloved uncle strange things start to happen and the boys are pulled in to a struggle between those deities that want humanity to continue without their interference and those deities that have turned power hungry and wish to decimate and enslave humanity. There are even some immortals that you could not imagine being on the ‘good’ side that are trying to help the Frasier boys to be successful in their quest. The boys also learn that the family gifts are real and that they must embrace them if they are to be successful in saving the world.
One thing I really loved about this book is that the author incorporated myths from several cultures in to this story. The Pacific Northwest is rife with legends that have been around for hundreds of years and come from numerous Native American tribes. The author did a great job at using those legends to influence the story while at the same time tying the Mt. Olympus in Washington State to the Mt. Olympus in Greece. There were also pieces of Norse and Roman mythology as well as numerous Gods and Goddesses from almost all cultures imaginable, including some I have never heard of. The author was even kind enough to place a guide at the back of the book to give a brief explanation of all of these different components.
This story is written in a very descriptive way and most of the time this is a very good thing. The characters are explained in such a thorough way that you feel as if you really know them and understand why they do what they do. You almost feel like you are a member of the family and have known these boys their whole lives. The descriptive writing also goes beyond the characters and extends even to descriptions of the scenery and layouts of the city and surrounding areas. There were a few times that this descriptive writing seemed a bit much and in each instance it was during those times when the author was describing the scenery that the family was seeing while out camping. I am not saying that the description of those scenes was badly done; I just do not enjoy reading about what all the nature looks like. I just need the basic idea of the surroundings and then want to get on with the story. My imagination will fill in the rest.
There was really only one part of the book that bothered me and that was Rachael’s relationship with Drake. She is only 14 years old and she is so in love with Drake that she decides that she will do whatever is in her power to keep Drake safe throughout his life. It is so sweet and all but she seemed very young to be making that sort of huge decision. I suppose it could happen but I remember when I was 14 and had a crush on a boy I was definitely not thinking of a future more than a year or two from then, let alone for the rest of my life. While this did bother me a little it was not a huge thing and did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall this book was a fantastic read. If you are anything like me you will fall in love with the characters and feel drawn in to their story. The things that these boys deal with are so strange and sometimes upsetting and scary, especially to the younger boys who are still children. The plot kept me guessing with all of its twists and turns and I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens.
Drake is not your typical teen age boy. He does play sports and like to hang out with his brothers but he is different because of how in to learning he is. He devours any book he can get his hands on no matter what the topic. He has even read through two entire sets of encyclopedias. This thirst for learning and large volume of knowledge comes in handy once crazy, paranormal things begin to affect him and his family.
December 6, 2012
(This review can be found on my blog at The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).
I really, really thought the synopsis of The Brotherhood of Olympus and the Deadliest Game by Guy T. Simpson Jr. sounded very interesting. This was a book that I knew I would have to read. Luckily, I was able to read it, and it was very interesting!
The Fraiser boys lose their favourite uncle in car crash on Friday the thirteenth. After the accident, weird things start happening so the boys consult a spirit board. Is the spirit board helping the boys or is it actually evil? Also, Drake learns through a dream that he is destined to be a king and a leader. Will Drake live long enough to see that day?
I think the author picked a fantastic title for his book!! A lot of people consider a spirit board a game, so I believe this is where the deadliest game bit comes in.
I'm not overly keen on the cover of this book. I mean, it fits the book as it's a photo of the Fraiser boys wither their uncle Wally, but it's just too plain for my liking. However, this could just be a personal thing since I'm a harsh judge of covers.
The world building was done fantastically well!! The setting (1978-1979) was quite believable. I wasn't around at that time, but although there's not really many references about it being the late 70's besides the chapter telling you. I could imagine myself being part of this whole story!
The pacing was really good. Each chapter was full of action and suspense, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. The chapters flow into each other, and not once did I find myself bored whilst reading this story.
For a middle grade read, I'd say that there were some words that might be hard for younger kids to understand, and to be honest, there were some big words I didn't understand. Context clues are important sometimes to figure out what words mean in the story. I did feel that the two younger brothers spoke as if they were much older than eight and ten. There is mild swearing so it's not bad at all when it comes to bad language.
All the characters were well formed and each had their own unique personality which definitely shown through during the story. Martin is the oldest boy, and it's obvious by how much he looks after his younger brothers. Mark is the second oldest, followed by Drake who is the brainy one in the family. Dennis is ten and Albert is 8. As I said in the previous paragraph, the two youngest boys came across as being older then they actually were especially Dennis. However, besides that, they were all believable characters, and I'm sure we all have at least one friend who has one of the boys' personality.
I did feel that the last chapter in the book was a bit repetitive of what the story already told us. I didn't really learn anything I didn't know from the last chapter besides a mention of Wally. However, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it is very well-written. Oh, and I must say that I really enjoyed enjoy individual drawing at the beginning of each chapter!
I'd recommend this book to those aged 12+.
(I was provided a free ebook copy of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
I really, really thought the synopsis of The Brotherhood of Olympus and the Deadliest Game by Guy T. Simpson Jr. sounded very interesting. This was a book that I knew I would have to read. Luckily, I was able to read it, and it was very interesting!
The Fraiser boys lose their favourite uncle in car crash on Friday the thirteenth. After the accident, weird things start happening so the boys consult a spirit board. Is the spirit board helping the boys or is it actually evil? Also, Drake learns through a dream that he is destined to be a king and a leader. Will Drake live long enough to see that day?
I think the author picked a fantastic title for his book!! A lot of people consider a spirit board a game, so I believe this is where the deadliest game bit comes in.
I'm not overly keen on the cover of this book. I mean, it fits the book as it's a photo of the Fraiser boys wither their uncle Wally, but it's just too plain for my liking. However, this could just be a personal thing since I'm a harsh judge of covers.
The world building was done fantastically well!! The setting (1978-1979) was quite believable. I wasn't around at that time, but although there's not really many references about it being the late 70's besides the chapter telling you. I could imagine myself being part of this whole story!
The pacing was really good. Each chapter was full of action and suspense, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. The chapters flow into each other, and not once did I find myself bored whilst reading this story.
For a middle grade read, I'd say that there were some words that might be hard for younger kids to understand, and to be honest, there were some big words I didn't understand. Context clues are important sometimes to figure out what words mean in the story. I did feel that the two younger brothers spoke as if they were much older than eight and ten. There is mild swearing so it's not bad at all when it comes to bad language.
All the characters were well formed and each had their own unique personality which definitely shown through during the story. Martin is the oldest boy, and it's obvious by how much he looks after his younger brothers. Mark is the second oldest, followed by Drake who is the brainy one in the family. Dennis is ten and Albert is 8. As I said in the previous paragraph, the two youngest boys came across as being older then they actually were especially Dennis. However, besides that, they were all believable characters, and I'm sure we all have at least one friend who has one of the boys' personality.
I did feel that the last chapter in the book was a bit repetitive of what the story already told us. I didn't really learn anything I didn't know from the last chapter besides a mention of Wally. However, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it is very well-written. Oh, and I must say that I really enjoyed enjoy individual drawing at the beginning of each chapter!
I'd recommend this book to those aged 12+.
(I was provided a free ebook copy of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
September 24, 2013
This is a story about five brothers who have always been close, but who find themselves drifting apart. The sudden and tragic death of their uncle, Wally, who was an integral and beloved part of their family, is the catalyst for the brothers discovering latent aspects of themselves that are both unbelievable and unwelcome. The brothers must band together, however, as the fate of the world rests in their hands.
The blurb on the back of the book makes the plot seem less complicated than it actually is. The premise is interesting enough, but there are so many side stories that I found it hard to keep track of them all at first. Once I got a hold of everyone’s identities, it was much easier to follow the various storylines. Bits of the story did seem to drag on sometimes, and the book could be tightened up a little in that respect. The five brothers have distinct personalities, and I enjoyed getting to know each of them. I am not particularly fond of them calling one another “dill-hole”, however: it seems to stretch the whole brotherly teasing a bit far, but I suppose Simpson’s other readers would say that it’s just sibling love. The family matriarch and patriarch intrigue me, so if a follow-up is penned, I’d like to know more about them and their history.
The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Aberdeen, WA. The picture on the cover is from 1965, and many of the descriptions in the book reflect this time period (music on the radio, car types, store prices, etc.). The biggest issue I have with this novel is the writing. I can’t get over how many grammar and punctuation errors there are. If there are any mistakes in any novel, they ought to be few and far between, and certainly not things like constantly spelling the Bee Gees as “the Beegee’s”. It’d be great for the next installment to undergo a more thorough proofreading process. In contrast, one really great thing about this book is the calibre of Simpson’s illustrations. The small, hand-drawn images that serve to highlight the content of each chapter are fantastically detailed and delightful.
Although I haven’t given this book the greatest rating, there was definitely more I liked about it than I disliked about it. I definitely would be interested in reading Simpson’s next installment, and I’m sure other readers will thoroughly enjoy the adventures of the brotherhood!
Teachers, there are a few things that you can pick out of this story to turn into accompanying lessons. For cross-curricular lessons, the songs of the 1960s, gods and goddesses of various mythologies, and the Pacific Northwest region would be interesting to delve into. Other things to look at include predicting the roles of characters (especially the five brothers), foreshadowing, and multiple storylines.
The blurb on the back of the book makes the plot seem less complicated than it actually is. The premise is interesting enough, but there are so many side stories that I found it hard to keep track of them all at first. Once I got a hold of everyone’s identities, it was much easier to follow the various storylines. Bits of the story did seem to drag on sometimes, and the book could be tightened up a little in that respect. The five brothers have distinct personalities, and I enjoyed getting to know each of them. I am not particularly fond of them calling one another “dill-hole”, however: it seems to stretch the whole brotherly teasing a bit far, but I suppose Simpson’s other readers would say that it’s just sibling love. The family matriarch and patriarch intrigue me, so if a follow-up is penned, I’d like to know more about them and their history.
The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Aberdeen, WA. The picture on the cover is from 1965, and many of the descriptions in the book reflect this time period (music on the radio, car types, store prices, etc.). The biggest issue I have with this novel is the writing. I can’t get over how many grammar and punctuation errors there are. If there are any mistakes in any novel, they ought to be few and far between, and certainly not things like constantly spelling the Bee Gees as “the Beegee’s”. It’d be great for the next installment to undergo a more thorough proofreading process. In contrast, one really great thing about this book is the calibre of Simpson’s illustrations. The small, hand-drawn images that serve to highlight the content of each chapter are fantastically detailed and delightful.
Although I haven’t given this book the greatest rating, there was definitely more I liked about it than I disliked about it. I definitely would be interested in reading Simpson’s next installment, and I’m sure other readers will thoroughly enjoy the adventures of the brotherhood!
Teachers, there are a few things that you can pick out of this story to turn into accompanying lessons. For cross-curricular lessons, the songs of the 1960s, gods and goddesses of various mythologies, and the Pacific Northwest region would be interesting to delve into. Other things to look at include predicting the roles of characters (especially the five brothers), foreshadowing, and multiple storylines.
December 19, 2012
I won this book on one of the Goodreads giveaways. The book was interesting to say the least.
I enjoyed the illustrations by the author at the beginning of each chapter. It added a nice personal touch to the book. The book is full of twists and turns and is not predictable at all.
You can definitely tell the book is the first book in the saga as the majority of the book is developing the main characters, which make up the Brotherhood of Olympus. It was a little slow in some parts as the characters were being developed, but that is inevitable.
I enjoyed the turns of the relationships of the brothers. It read like a real relationship between siblings. The author gave each boy a personality where anyone could relate to one of the family members. I enjoyed the mythology to a point, but at the end of the novel, it was very confusing with many different characters coming together at once with no explanation to who they were.
Overall, the book was good, but not my favorite. I will be interested though in how the story evolves in the books to come.
August 25, 2015
The author has good story ideas, but the technical side of his writing needs a lot of work. There are run-on sentences, and sentences that need pruning to achieve better clarity. And sorry, when I see a basic grammatical error in the third sentence, that tips me off that the material did not receive satisfactory proof-reading or editing.
Some authors object to criticisms of sentence structure and grammar concerns, feeling that the story is more important than the details of relating it. That is the kind of attitude that may well restrain them from the growth they need to become a good author, and I hope that Guy will seek out good instructional books on grammar and sentence structure to improve at the craft he aspires to.
The truth is that there are more books that are well written both as functions of technical achievement and entertaining plot, that there is no reason to spend time on books that try to succeed on plot alone.
I think Guy has promise, and I hope he edits this book to improve it.
Some authors object to criticisms of sentence structure and grammar concerns, feeling that the story is more important than the details of relating it. That is the kind of attitude that may well restrain them from the growth they need to become a good author, and I hope that Guy will seek out good instructional books on grammar and sentence structure to improve at the craft he aspires to.
The truth is that there are more books that are well written both as functions of technical achievement and entertaining plot, that there is no reason to spend time on books that try to succeed on plot alone.
I think Guy has promise, and I hope he edits this book to improve it.
April 12, 2013
I've always been a fan of supernatural stories and enjoyed the supernatural and mythologic blend in this story - that's what initially made me want to read this book. The dynamics between the five brothers were very believable and gave me some laughs, as did the relationship between Drake and Rachel. The action at the climax of the story was exciting and kept me interested. Although I enjoyed the story overall, I think this book could be improved with further editing to become a more cohesive story.
December 25, 2012
I liked the realistic part of the book. It was well written and without any break in the action. Maybe a bit too much descriptions. The overall story is very good but I did not get in it enough to wait impatiently for the second book.
December 28, 2012
I have read the story 3 times now and each time I find something that I missed the time before. I enjoy it more and more, have really connected with the characters and cannot wait for the next book!
Want to read
November 23, 2012This book takes place in Aberdeen, WA! Must read a book so close to home.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews