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Killmaiden’s Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences
In the tradition of a young Indiana Jones, author James Shapiro creates Killmaiden’s Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences. With this book, Shapiro introduces a new generation of Explorers engaged in an alternative world full of mystery and danger. Alexander Drake, an adventurous twelve-year-old hero, and many unforgettable characters come to life in these pages that will thrill children and adults alike. For generations Alex’s family has belonged to the Ancient Order of Explorers. These adventurers travel the Wide World to discover the extraordinary: from recording the fastest land mammal to verifying alien landings—then document their findings in the world’s most informative book, Killmaiden’s Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences.
When Lord Jupiter Killmaiden personally enlists Alex’s father, the celebrated explorer Benson Drake, for a secret mission to unmask a would-be tyrant and expose the cruel force he is covertly raising, dark mysteries surface and the great explorer disappears. Alex, an exceptional Scout, must find his father and complete the assignment for the Compendium.
With his younger sister, their teenage governess and an unexpected stowaway, Alex leads a rescue mission across the continents. As they search for Explorer Drake, this unlikely band discovers wonders befitting entry into the Compendium. But with avalanches and scorching deserts to overcome, and killers, traitors and spies to elude, they have no time to bask in their discoveries.
In order to truly succeed, they will first learn that sometimes the greatest revelations don’t come from the outside world, but from within.
When Lord Jupiter Killmaiden personally enlists Alex’s father, the celebrated explorer Benson Drake, for a secret mission to unmask a would-be tyrant and expose the cruel force he is covertly raising, dark mysteries surface and the great explorer disappears. Alex, an exceptional Scout, must find his father and complete the assignment for the Compendium.
With his younger sister, their teenage governess and an unexpected stowaway, Alex leads a rescue mission across the continents. As they search for Explorer Drake, this unlikely band discovers wonders befitting entry into the Compendium. But with avalanches and scorching deserts to overcome, and killers, traitors and spies to elude, they have no time to bask in their discoveries.
In order to truly succeed, they will first learn that sometimes the greatest revelations don’t come from the outside world, but from within.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
399 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2012
1 person is currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
James A. Shapiro
2 books2 followersJames A. Shapiro has participated in politics, law, very amateur adventuring, and other dangerous endeavors. He has traveled to more than thirty nations—in his professional and personal capacities—to gain insight into other cultures. He has skied off small cliffs in the Rockies (on purpose), swam with crocodiles in the Outback (quite by accident), and is currently planning an expedition up Mount Kilimanjaro (if negotiations with his wife succeed). James, his wife and son live in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 22, 2013
First Reads Giveaway
(More than a four, but not quite a five. Probably 4.3/5?)
(I'm about 3/4 done with the book, but I forgot to take it to my dorm with me. I peeked at the ending though, so I'm pretty sure nothing in the book is going to change my review)
Despite the atrocious summary, which is more awkwardly worded than any of the passages in this wonderful book, something about the title caught my eye. Reminiscent of Inkheart, Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences likewise, is both the book you're holding and a book that lies within the book.
Many books claim "suitable for all age," but few ever hit the mark. In fact, The Squires Tale series by Gerald Morris is the only series I consider 100% timeless and suitable for all ages. A lot of other books come pretty darn close. The Erec Rex series by Kaza Kingsley, the Merlin series by T.A. Baron, Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and now, I'm glad to add Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences to the list.
I skimmed the other reviews and find that I vehemently disagree with the label YA. Young adult books are overly dramatic coming-of-age stories, often with a dash of romance and murkier morality. Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences isn't like that at all. Rather, it's J fiction at its best; there's enough action and adventure that even teenagers can enjoy it, but they're not the target age group. The main character is Alex, and he's 12. Of course, I'm not ruling out the fact that the entire series could wind up like Harry Potter and age its protagonist/tone, but as it stands now, Alex, as a 12-year-old, appeals most to other 10-12-year-olds reading this and imagining themselves on a grand adventure. That's the target audience. As a sophomore in college, as much as I enjoyed the writing and adventure the book took me on, I couldn't help but be jealous at all the things Alex had done and all the things I hadn't.
The world of Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences is steampunk, and I adore steampunk. It's a world filled with fantastical creatures, *cough* occurrences *cough*, and more! But there's also historical technology such as early video recorders (still a rare and expensive piece of equipment), early planes, and radios. The geography is also vaguely recognizable as being similar to Earth's. It's a world that's both familiar, yet imaginative and extraordinary at the same time.
The plot isn't terribly imaginative, but as a children's story, it doesn't need to be. Like all arch-villains, the plan is world domination, although this villain is smarter and more ruthless than typical cartoon villains.
So in conclusion, Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences is not a perfect book, but it's a darn good one, so everyone should go read it. :)
(More than a four, but not quite a five. Probably 4.3/5?)
(I'm about 3/4 done with the book, but I forgot to take it to my dorm with me. I peeked at the ending though, so I'm pretty sure nothing in the book is going to change my review)
Despite the atrocious summary, which is more awkwardly worded than any of the passages in this wonderful book, something about the title caught my eye. Reminiscent of Inkheart, Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences likewise, is both the book you're holding and a book that lies within the book.
Many books claim "suitable for all age," but few ever hit the mark. In fact, The Squires Tale series by Gerald Morris is the only series I consider 100% timeless and suitable for all ages. A lot of other books come pretty darn close. The Erec Rex series by Kaza Kingsley, the Merlin series by T.A. Baron, Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and now, I'm glad to add Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences to the list.
I skimmed the other reviews and find that I vehemently disagree with the label YA. Young adult books are overly dramatic coming-of-age stories, often with a dash of romance and murkier morality. Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences isn't like that at all. Rather, it's J fiction at its best; there's enough action and adventure that even teenagers can enjoy it, but they're not the target age group. The main character is Alex, and he's 12. Of course, I'm not ruling out the fact that the entire series could wind up like Harry Potter and age its protagonist/tone, but as it stands now, Alex, as a 12-year-old, appeals most to other 10-12-year-olds reading this and imagining themselves on a grand adventure. That's the target audience. As a sophomore in college, as much as I enjoyed the writing and adventure the book took me on, I couldn't help but be jealous at all the things Alex had done and all the things I hadn't.
The world of Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences is steampunk, and I adore steampunk. It's a world filled with fantastical creatures, *cough* occurrences *cough*, and more! But there's also historical technology such as early video recorders (still a rare and expensive piece of equipment), early planes, and radios. The geography is also vaguely recognizable as being similar to Earth's. It's a world that's both familiar, yet imaginative and extraordinary at the same time.
The plot isn't terribly imaginative, but as a children's story, it doesn't need to be. Like all arch-villains, the plan is world domination, although this villain is smarter and more ruthless than typical cartoon villains.
So in conclusion, Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences is not a perfect book, but it's a darn good one, so everyone should go read it. :)
September 29, 2014
See the original post over here at NerdSpan.com!
The first word that truly comes to mind about this book is simply “amazing.” The writing is very simple, as it’s a truly Young Adult or middle level novel, but that’s definitely not a detriment once you get into the story. Alex, his sister Charlotte, and their governess Victoria are characters you will love. Even Oliver, a bookish boy who accidentally ends up on a plane the Drake children and their governess steal from the Compendium, is a character you love and respect. And more importantly, they are very real characters.
Despite being set in a world apart from ours, but very similar to modern-day Earth, their journey is a classic adventure. The four companions trek across half the globe in their mission to find Explorer Drake. They encounter the Rascal King, the Temple at the Top of the World, snow cats, and piranha-like fish that almost eat Alex’s fingers off. This is an adventure book and it definitely reads like one.
There were some moments when I was frustrated with grammar and punctuation. A lot of questions in the dialogue were ended with a period instead of a question mark. There were a lot of extra commas that could have been removed with careful editing. Despite those little annoyances, which most of you probably won’t even notice, I found myself devouring this book.
The four children travel to places that are very familiar to adults. They visit a town in Anglia called Kingston, or more commonly known as London in our world. They visit Aurelian (Itlay), Achillea (Greece), and Carthago (Egypt and Libya). They travel up the only river that flows north—the Nile—and come into contact with jujubeasts (wildebeests), and so on and so forth. Most middle level students might not get these references, but as an adult it was very nice to see these nods to our world and our history on this planet.
While the antagonist in this story is never truly revealed (he goes by the menacing name the Satrap), halfway through I was pretty certain of his real identity. The ending leaves an opening for other installments and I, for one, hope Mr. Shapiro will deliver.
If you like classic adventure stories, like the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis or the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, you’ll enjoy Killmaiden’s Compendium. Give this as a gift to your young teenage niece or nephew, or give it to a local teacher to read to the class. Either way, they’ll thank you. Because after all, if it’s in this world, it’s in this book!
The first word that truly comes to mind about this book is simply “amazing.” The writing is very simple, as it’s a truly Young Adult or middle level novel, but that’s definitely not a detriment once you get into the story. Alex, his sister Charlotte, and their governess Victoria are characters you will love. Even Oliver, a bookish boy who accidentally ends up on a plane the Drake children and their governess steal from the Compendium, is a character you love and respect. And more importantly, they are very real characters.
Despite being set in a world apart from ours, but very similar to modern-day Earth, their journey is a classic adventure. The four companions trek across half the globe in their mission to find Explorer Drake. They encounter the Rascal King, the Temple at the Top of the World, snow cats, and piranha-like fish that almost eat Alex’s fingers off. This is an adventure book and it definitely reads like one.
There were some moments when I was frustrated with grammar and punctuation. A lot of questions in the dialogue were ended with a period instead of a question mark. There were a lot of extra commas that could have been removed with careful editing. Despite those little annoyances, which most of you probably won’t even notice, I found myself devouring this book.
The four children travel to places that are very familiar to adults. They visit a town in Anglia called Kingston, or more commonly known as London in our world. They visit Aurelian (Itlay), Achillea (Greece), and Carthago (Egypt and Libya). They travel up the only river that flows north—the Nile—and come into contact with jujubeasts (wildebeests), and so on and so forth. Most middle level students might not get these references, but as an adult it was very nice to see these nods to our world and our history on this planet.
While the antagonist in this story is never truly revealed (he goes by the menacing name the Satrap), halfway through I was pretty certain of his real identity. The ending leaves an opening for other installments and I, for one, hope Mr. Shapiro will deliver.
If you like classic adventure stories, like the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis or the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, you’ll enjoy Killmaiden’s Compendium. Give this as a gift to your young teenage niece or nephew, or give it to a local teacher to read to the class. Either way, they’ll thank you. Because after all, if it’s in this world, it’s in this book!
January 19, 2013
This book is an uncommon YA adventure. It takes us on the most important mission any contributors to Killmaiden's Compendium have ever experienced. The very future of the whole Wide World is at stake! This world resembles the one we live in but the map in the front of the book shows different countries occupying the familiar continents. Referring back to the map as the book is read and enjoying the discovery of the unique flora and fauna of this world add to the fun! Can a YA adventure without magic, superheroes or futuristic weapons keep the reader riveted? This book answers the question with a resounding YES. By the way, 4 out of 5 of the book's protagonists are children. There is no upper age limit to this YA adventure.
I am obligated to state that I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I am obligated to state that I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
March 26, 2013
I very much enjoyed James Shapiro's book. It really grows on you. Initially, I confess, I was skeptical. First scene: there's a father-son Adventure team with some spikes of dialogue that seemed to me to be proclaiming "set-up": there's a dead Mom, and a sister & governess back home as these adventurers find the latest discovery. But these gothic-type situations, as we find out soon enough, are not uncommon in this territory. It's really a big part of the Charm of this book, individual's discoveries of self. "Sometimes the greatest discovery comes not from what you find in the outside world, but from what you learn about yourself." The Alternate World Mr. Shapiro presents is one in which Lord Killmaiden heads a 500-year-old organization dedicated to finding Truths and recording them in the Compendium. There's a Prime Directive here. The Compendium is "neutral" but as we find out as the story progresses, there are confrontational realities at odds with this neutrality.
I'll sum up very generally the rest of the Plot, which details as one "rides" it, are the meat of the enjoyment of this book. So I really do not want to spoil it. Shapiro does a fantastic job of creating scenes quickly that transport you -- geographically, culturally -- and get you into crisis mode quickly; he comes up with highly credible, high-stake advancements and allies that make you want to get back to the last page where you left off as quickly as possible. What Happens Next?! What initiates the grand journey is that the main character, Alex (12 years old), a member-in-training of the Ancient Order of Explorers, and his father Explorer Ben Drake, go to see the infamous Lord Killmaiden in Alternate-Reality England, viz-a-viz Anglia. (Shapiro has created a amped-up, dramatic world of Countries with different names but the same general geography as our current World). Ben Drake receives a secret mission. He and his son return home to say goodbye and prepare for his trip even as the house is spied on.
Even though Explorer Ben Drake's mission is secret, he leaves his Son a chest of clues with an unpickable lock that will not "open" until two months later. If Explorer Ben Drake is not home by that time, he should be ready to look into that box. What follows is an exciting extended chase all over the World. I won't tell you precise details of how the Chase happens but the talented family has to find their father and stop a mysterious enemy always one step ahead. There's understated lessons of courageousness and tolerance as the family finds each member's unique talent and cares enough to protect those same marvelous uniquenesses of people all over the Wide World. Masterful.
The Compendium in this regard is a hugely inspirational symbol, and, as the ragtag team with their developing collaborative skills follow clues around the World, we see that so many cultures respond to the honor of the Compendium's mission. The Compendium's reality became more and more believable to me as I saw documented each Country's respect and allegiance to its purposes. Absolutely everyone is inspired by it. Well, maybe not some... that feel left out and fear diversity and its uncontrollability. The enemy nipping at your heels.
I think Mr. Shapiro is onto something. The World needs acknowledgment of the beauty and understanding of each of its uniquenesses. And this is done by glorious description and documentation. Become an Explorer: get on board Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences. Whatever the outcome, we all need to try. Grandly. With abandon. And there'll always be far more to be done.
I'll sum up very generally the rest of the Plot, which details as one "rides" it, are the meat of the enjoyment of this book. So I really do not want to spoil it. Shapiro does a fantastic job of creating scenes quickly that transport you -- geographically, culturally -- and get you into crisis mode quickly; he comes up with highly credible, high-stake advancements and allies that make you want to get back to the last page where you left off as quickly as possible. What Happens Next?! What initiates the grand journey is that the main character, Alex (12 years old), a member-in-training of the Ancient Order of Explorers, and his father Explorer Ben Drake, go to see the infamous Lord Killmaiden in Alternate-Reality England, viz-a-viz Anglia. (Shapiro has created a amped-up, dramatic world of Countries with different names but the same general geography as our current World). Ben Drake receives a secret mission. He and his son return home to say goodbye and prepare for his trip even as the house is spied on.
Even though Explorer Ben Drake's mission is secret, he leaves his Son a chest of clues with an unpickable lock that will not "open" until two months later. If Explorer Ben Drake is not home by that time, he should be ready to look into that box. What follows is an exciting extended chase all over the World. I won't tell you precise details of how the Chase happens but the talented family has to find their father and stop a mysterious enemy always one step ahead. There's understated lessons of courageousness and tolerance as the family finds each member's unique talent and cares enough to protect those same marvelous uniquenesses of people all over the Wide World. Masterful.
The Compendium in this regard is a hugely inspirational symbol, and, as the ragtag team with their developing collaborative skills follow clues around the World, we see that so many cultures respond to the honor of the Compendium's mission. The Compendium's reality became more and more believable to me as I saw documented each Country's respect and allegiance to its purposes. Absolutely everyone is inspired by it. Well, maybe not some... that feel left out and fear diversity and its uncontrollability. The enemy nipping at your heels.
I think Mr. Shapiro is onto something. The World needs acknowledgment of the beauty and understanding of each of its uniquenesses. And this is done by glorious description and documentation. Become an Explorer: get on board Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences. Whatever the outcome, we all need to try. Grandly. With abandon. And there'll always be far more to be done.
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September 19, 2014Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurences by James A. Shapiro
Main Characters:
Alexander Drake: a young 12 year old scout who's father works for the Compendium. He is adventurous, brave and well respected among the scouts. He has a younger sister and wants to become an explorer like his father.
Charlotte Drake: an 8 year old girl who has no duties at the Compendium. She is Alex's little sister and wants to achieve great things like him. She is very mature for an 8 year old and is always kind and caring.
Victoria: their 18 year old governess who has worked for them for many years. She has blonde hair from the country Anglia. She is very serious and always wears her hair in a bun. She is also very responsible and always cares about Alex and Charlotte.
Plot Summary:
In the beginning of the story, Alex's father is selected to go on a dangerous mission. This mission is confidential and only Lord Killmaiden himself knows what it entails. Mr. Drake leaves Alex with a locked box with a set timer for two months. He has instructed Alex to open the box if he does not return. Sure enough, two months pass and the box opens. Mr. Drake had only wanted Alex to come because he is trained like an explorer and the mission is a dangerous one. Despite his wishes, Charlotte will not let Alex leave without her. Also, Victoria cannot let the children go alone, so she tags along too. Their mission takes them across the globe, and while trying to find their father, they discover multiple uncommon occurances to add to the Compendium. They find out that their father is being held captive by a dark force called the Satrap and they need to rescue him. The Satrap sends spies after the children and wants them stopped dead or alive. Alex, Charlotte and Victoria flee to the Temple at the Top of the World to escape the Satrap's forces. While there, in exchange for leaving the temple out of the compendium, the monks tell them how t rescue their father. They make the dangerous journey to the Rising Force hideout and ensure the safety of the Compendium.
The main conflict of the story is that Mr. Drake gets taken hostage by the Satrap and there is no one to rescue him or any chance he might escape. The conflict is resolved when his son, daughter and governess cross the globe to try and rescue him.
I liked this book because it was action packed and very unique. The character's personalities were well thought out and the plot was very interesting. Also, the hook was very detailed and fun to read. On the other hand, the title is a mouthful and is too long.
Main Characters:
Alexander Drake: a young 12 year old scout who's father works for the Compendium. He is adventurous, brave and well respected among the scouts. He has a younger sister and wants to become an explorer like his father.
Charlotte Drake: an 8 year old girl who has no duties at the Compendium. She is Alex's little sister and wants to achieve great things like him. She is very mature for an 8 year old and is always kind and caring.
Victoria: their 18 year old governess who has worked for them for many years. She has blonde hair from the country Anglia. She is very serious and always wears her hair in a bun. She is also very responsible and always cares about Alex and Charlotte.
Plot Summary:
In the beginning of the story, Alex's father is selected to go on a dangerous mission. This mission is confidential and only Lord Killmaiden himself knows what it entails. Mr. Drake leaves Alex with a locked box with a set timer for two months. He has instructed Alex to open the box if he does not return. Sure enough, two months pass and the box opens. Mr. Drake had only wanted Alex to come because he is trained like an explorer and the mission is a dangerous one. Despite his wishes, Charlotte will not let Alex leave without her. Also, Victoria cannot let the children go alone, so she tags along too. Their mission takes them across the globe, and while trying to find their father, they discover multiple uncommon occurances to add to the Compendium. They find out that their father is being held captive by a dark force called the Satrap and they need to rescue him. The Satrap sends spies after the children and wants them stopped dead or alive. Alex, Charlotte and Victoria flee to the Temple at the Top of the World to escape the Satrap's forces. While there, in exchange for leaving the temple out of the compendium, the monks tell them how t rescue their father. They make the dangerous journey to the Rising Force hideout and ensure the safety of the Compendium.
The main conflict of the story is that Mr. Drake gets taken hostage by the Satrap and there is no one to rescue him or any chance he might escape. The conflict is resolved when his son, daughter and governess cross the globe to try and rescue him.
I liked this book because it was action packed and very unique. The character's personalities were well thought out and the plot was very interesting. Also, the hook was very detailed and fun to read. On the other hand, the title is a mouthful and is too long.
January 4, 2013
Alex Drake is a scout, hoping to become an explorer someday and follow the great tradition of explorers. He’s already famous because he is the youngest scout to have an entry published in Killmaiden’s Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences. But when Alex’s father leaves on a top-secret mission and is gone for over two months, Alex knows something is wrong. He must follow his father on his mission, not knowing where he is going or what he is searching for, trusting his fate to his wits and the help of those he finds along the way.
I loved this book. It’s a great adventure story, set in a world that’s similar enough to Earth so that it is easy to follow along but different enough to seem fantastical. If I hadn’t had to stop to sleep in the middle, I’d have finished this book in one day. The story is great, the characters are believable, and the ending, even if it isn’t surprising, is quite satisfying. I sincerely hope that a second book follows.
I would recommend this book to tweens and teens, especially those who have enjoyed adventure books like the Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, or Fablehaven series. The Compendium would make a great read-aloud book for a classroom or a “next read” for the student who has read everything else. This one is definitely worth adding to a library’s or classroom’s collection.
[i]I received a complimentary copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads program for the purposes of review.[/i]
I loved this book. It’s a great adventure story, set in a world that’s similar enough to Earth so that it is easy to follow along but different enough to seem fantastical. If I hadn’t had to stop to sleep in the middle, I’d have finished this book in one day. The story is great, the characters are believable, and the ending, even if it isn’t surprising, is quite satisfying. I sincerely hope that a second book follows.
I would recommend this book to tweens and teens, especially those who have enjoyed adventure books like the Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, or Fablehaven series. The Compendium would make a great read-aloud book for a classroom or a “next read” for the student who has read everything else. This one is definitely worth adding to a library’s or classroom’s collection.
[i]I received a complimentary copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads program for the purposes of review.[/i]
December 27, 2012
I was blown away by how engaging and provocative this book is. Although it is reminiscent (in the best possible ways) of many gems for middle-grade and older children, from the Narnia classics to Harry Potter, there is so much more in it that will appeal to adults as well, who will appreciate the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between its world and our own, and who might even want to speculate on what might have led to those differences in this "alternative reality." I was impressed by how well the author crafted a book with such universal appeal--perfect for boys, girls, teenagers, and adults. And I can't wait for the sequel to learn of our foursome's further adventures!
March 31, 2013
*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*
Rating 3.5/5
Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurences is certainly very different from my normal kind of reading material. It's an adventure story, and it's written really well. I enjoyed it.
I was actually surprised that I did enjoy it as much as I did, because like I said it's not my normal genre, having said that though I still haven't been converted to adventure books, but the writing in this book won me over, it was done so well that I was intrigued by the story.
For my full review please check out my blog at http://www.thebooktower.webs.com
Rating 3.5/5
Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurences is certainly very different from my normal kind of reading material. It's an adventure story, and it's written really well. I enjoyed it.
I was actually surprised that I did enjoy it as much as I did, because like I said it's not my normal genre, having said that though I still haven't been converted to adventure books, but the writing in this book won me over, it was done so well that I was intrigued by the story.
For my full review please check out my blog at http://www.thebooktower.webs.com
December 30, 2012
Truly a great read. This book will go down a list with the great novels of time travel, adventure and heroism. The author takes you into a new world of adventure here and allows the characters to be who they would have been had they been real. The characters are strong and leading. the author gives you both a hero and a heroin which is odd in most books you get one or the other. i loved this book as much if not more that harry potter or the Hunger Games. Truly a great read..
Won on Goodread awaiting a second book or movie!!!
Won on Goodread awaiting a second book or movie!!!
May 18, 2013
*I received a free copy through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review*
First off, let me say how grateful I am for the opporunity to read such an amazing book. I have always loved adventure stories, and Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences is no exception. The book was written with the all the color that makes a fictional book believable. I highly recommend this book to anybody who loves being swept up in a world where going on adventures is a profession that commands the utmost respect. Overall, this was a fantastic book! :)
First off, let me say how grateful I am for the opporunity to read such an amazing book. I have always loved adventure stories, and Killmaiden's Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences is no exception. The book was written with the all the color that makes a fictional book believable. I highly recommend this book to anybody who loves being swept up in a world where going on adventures is a profession that commands the utmost respect. Overall, this was a fantastic book! :)
March 4, 2013
Growing up with a set of encyclopedias and lots of space to explore, Killmaiden’s has enough detail and imagination to keep me reading, while the young adults I’ve passed this book on to have been drawn in by the adventure and “steam-punk” feel of the “Wide World” technology. Killmaiden’s Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences is a highly enjoyable and fast-paced read for readers of any generation.
July 15, 2013
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Fun, fast, and easy - the perfect YA escapist adventure. What adventuresome kid (or kid-at-heart) wouldn't want to work for Killmaiden's? It would be nice to see a little more character development, but for the late elementary/early middle school crowd it was great.
Fun, fast, and easy - the perfect YA escapist adventure. What adventuresome kid (or kid-at-heart) wouldn't want to work for Killmaiden's? It would be nice to see a little more character development, but for the late elementary/early middle school crowd it was great.
January 7, 2013
Growing up with a set of encyclopedias and lots of space to explore, Killmaiden’s has enough detail and imagination to keep me reading, while the young adults I’ve passed this book on to have been drawn in by the adventure and “steam-punk” feel of the “Wide World” technology. Killmaiden’s Compendium of Uncommon Occurences is a highly enjoyable and fast-paced read for readers of any generation.
February 25, 2013
Super fun and engaging story of a young heroic explorer on a mission to save his dad. Definitely recommended for kids 9-14 but this is a great read for adults too. The names, places, and uncommon occurrences are so creative and the story is a page turner.
November 5, 2013
I put off reading this book because it did'nt sound interesting. It got off to a slow start but I was soon engrossed with the story. It was fast paced, had a lot of action and great characters. I look forward to James A. Shapiro's next book.
October 26, 2014
I really loved this book and hope that the author James A. Shapiro is working on the next to continue the journey of Alex, Charlotte, Victoria and Oliver in there quest to find there father the Explorer Benson Drake.
May 16, 2014
A really great adventure book for a YA audience or adults who like YA. Nonstop action in a fantastical world.
February 6, 2013
You and your children simply must read this book! Move over Harry Potter and make room for Killmaiden's! It is that good.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews