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W.A.R.P. #2
The Hangman's Revolution
The Matrix meets Oliver Twist! WARP: The Hangman's Revolution is the second book in a major new series by Eoin Colfer, the bestselling author of Artemis Fowl.
F.B.I. agent Chevie Savano is trapped in a nightmare future. Unless she can return to 19th-century London and change the course of history, millions will die.
Luckily she has Riley the boy magician and a Victorian gangster with lovely hair to help her battle two crazed villains, who have brought the military technology of the future back in time - with potentially disastrous consequences.
The stakes are higher than the hangman's noose and only Chevie can save the day. Assuming she can avoid being killed by a couple of psycho warrior-nuns first . . .
F.B.I. agent Chevie Savano is trapped in a nightmare future. Unless she can return to 19th-century London and change the course of history, millions will die.
Luckily she has Riley the boy magician and a Victorian gangster with lovely hair to help her battle two crazed villains, who have brought the military technology of the future back in time - with potentially disastrous consequences.
The stakes are higher than the hangman's noose and only Chevie can save the day. Assuming she can avoid being killed by a couple of psycho warrior-nuns first . . .
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2014
128 people are currently reading
2058 people want to read
About the author
Eoin Colfer
157 books11.8k followersEoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators.
He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.
He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
July 18, 2018
I loved this book more than its first book the characters and the story was so much more fleshed out and I really enjoyed it. I liked Riley and Chevie even more this time than I did in the beginning of the story they were so much more developed than before you understand more about their motives. I really enjoyed the story it was so very exciting from beginning to end there was never a dull moment. So overall I loved this book and will be reading more of this series soon.
November 1, 2014
"The old maxim that every action has a reaction is true, but when you start messing with time travel, that reaction could take place in a whole different universe." —Professor Charles Smart
Let me get straight to the point and say that The Hangman's Revolution was brilliant. Sure, I think every book I read by Eoin Colfer in the past was pretty brilliant too, but this one... it was simply fantastic. One of Colfer's best books so far!
This book takes us back to modern-day London after the events of the last book. Only now everything has changed. Europe is taken over by a movement called the Boxite Empire and even Chevie doesn't realize anything has changed, except for a little voice inside her head and her memories that come back slowly but surely. After Charles Smart is again killed, this time by secret service police called the Thundercats, Chevie escapes back to Victorian London to find Riley.
I was so glad that Chevie and Riley got reunited. They're just so great together as a team. Riley has his street smarts from living in Victorian London his whole life and Chevie is an FBI agent who can kick some serious ass. I was feeling a little sorry for Riley in some of the moments where he thought back about Albert Garrick and how scared he's still of him. I just can't help but wonder if Garrick will come back somehow... and knowing Eoin Colfer, he might just do.
There were times when there wasn't much involvement of both Chevie or Riley but another character that plays a bigger role this time was in it again and I couldn't be more excited about the turn of events Colfer had in mind for him. Otto Malarkey, people! Otherwise known as King Otto of the Battering Rams. He's my favorite character by far. Not only because he's simply awesome but also because he was in Airman. And let me just say, I can't tell you how many Airman references I have seen in this book. It was all pretty exciting for me because I'm such a huge fan of that book and I just want to bow down to Colfer for incorperating some hints to it.
And then there were the Thundercats, Clover Vallicose and Lunka Witmeyer (gotta love those names); Boxite secret service agents. They were quite the pair of characters and yet again Colfer had something very special in mind for them both. I had never seen it coming actually. Especially not the thing with Lunka and Otto. Consider me very surprised. But again it shows how clever Colfer is in creating his stories. I loved it!
And as always, Colfer has a knack for writing such amazing action scenes. Think... explosions, tanks and guns in Victorian London. Just... wow!
Overall, The Hangman's Revolution was in my opinion a fantastic second book in the W.A.R.P. series. Chevie and Riley may not be able to replace Holly and Artemis completely but they're definitely very epic in their own way. Again I say, Colfer is a brilliant writer. His writing style, the way he tells the story, the mind blowing action and not to forget: the memorable characters, both heroes and villains. He does it all. In this book it was just the same and I must admit that I thought The Hangman's Revolution was an ever better book than the first one, The Reluctant Assassin. I can't wait where things are going to go next!
Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Let me get straight to the point and say that The Hangman's Revolution was brilliant. Sure, I think every book I read by Eoin Colfer in the past was pretty brilliant too, but this one... it was simply fantastic. One of Colfer's best books so far!
This book takes us back to modern-day London after the events of the last book. Only now everything has changed. Europe is taken over by a movement called the Boxite Empire and even Chevie doesn't realize anything has changed, except for a little voice inside her head and her memories that come back slowly but surely. After Charles Smart is again killed, this time by secret service police called the Thundercats, Chevie escapes back to Victorian London to find Riley.
I was so glad that Chevie and Riley got reunited. They're just so great together as a team. Riley has his street smarts from living in Victorian London his whole life and Chevie is an FBI agent who can kick some serious ass. I was feeling a little sorry for Riley in some of the moments where he thought back about Albert Garrick and how scared he's still of him. I just can't help but wonder if Garrick will come back somehow... and knowing Eoin Colfer, he might just do.
There were times when there wasn't much involvement of both Chevie or Riley but another character that plays a bigger role this time was in it again and I couldn't be more excited about the turn of events Colfer had in mind for him. Otto Malarkey, people! Otherwise known as King Otto of the Battering Rams. He's my favorite character by far. Not only because he's simply awesome but also because he was in Airman. And let me just say, I can't tell you how many Airman references I have seen in this book. It was all pretty exciting for me because I'm such a huge fan of that book and I just want to bow down to Colfer for incorperating some hints to it.
And then there were the Thundercats, Clover Vallicose and Lunka Witmeyer (gotta love those names); Boxite secret service agents. They were quite the pair of characters and yet again Colfer had something very special in mind for them both. I had never seen it coming actually. Especially not the thing with Lunka and Otto. Consider me very surprised. But again it shows how clever Colfer is in creating his stories. I loved it!
And as always, Colfer has a knack for writing such amazing action scenes. Think... explosions, tanks and guns in Victorian London. Just... wow!
Overall, The Hangman's Revolution was in my opinion a fantastic second book in the W.A.R.P. series. Chevie and Riley may not be able to replace Holly and Artemis completely but they're definitely very epic in their own way. Again I say, Colfer is a brilliant writer. His writing style, the way he tells the story, the mind blowing action and not to forget: the memorable characters, both heroes and villains. He does it all. In this book it was just the same and I must admit that I thought The Hangman's Revolution was an ever better book than the first one, The Reluctant Assassin. I can't wait where things are going to go next!
Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2025
Divertente, avvincente, energico, adrenalinico. La lettura scorre che è un piacere e si arriva alla fine senza neppure rendersene conto (e comunque troppo presto!). Ogni tanto, un libro così ci vuole!
***
Fun, compelling, energetic, adrenaline-filled. It's a pleasure to read it and you get to the end without even realizing it (and too soon anyway!). Every now and then, a book like this is needed!
***
Fun, compelling, energetic, adrenaline-filled. It's a pleasure to read it and you get to the end without even realizing it (and too soon anyway!). Every now and then, a book like this is needed!
June 19, 2014
Eoin Colfer has a way with villains. They're not *just* evil overlords, (I mean they're not good-doers) but they're people who think they are doing the right thing and that makes such a difference. I just love it! This series is significantly darker and more serious than the Artemis Fowl books, I can't say that enough. But even in the midst of crazy-bad happenings, his signature wit and snark shine through without fail (and with the Cockney accents, it makes it all the better.) I especially love how the two main characters have the coolest friendship/partnership without some underlying romance. This is YA, romance isn't centered or part of the plot and this makes me smile! Riley the 14 year-old Londoner magician in training, and Chevron, 17, and FBI agent from the twenty-first century, have such an unusual partnering but yet compliment each other perfectly. We also meet some new supporting characters in this second book, which really added to our groups of good and bad guys. This was a great reading experience and I'm so ready for their next adventure.
October 4, 2024
Ή παραμεγάλωσα, ή πραγματικά η σειρά αυτή έχει σκοπό να προσεγγίσει μόνο παιδιά και να μην μπορεί σε καμία περίπτωση να διαβαστεί στα σοβαρά από ενήλικες. Δε λέω, έχει τις καλές τις στιγμές, το χιούμορ του συγγραφέα είναι αρκετά ευχάριστο, ίσως και διασκεδαστικό στα σημεία, αλλά το σύνολο και αυτού του βιβλίου, δεν καταφέρνει να σε κερδίσει και να ξεχωρίσει έναντι άλλων.
September 11, 2014
I say Read but I didn't read far. Although I LOVED Warp 1, I found this one convuluted and difficult to get into . Maybe I'll have another go later....
May 4, 2020
The second book of the W.A.R.P series started with a description of what had happened since Chevrons first time travel. So we started in an alternative future caused by Box’ and her time travels. I was a confused at the start and it took me a little bit to figure out what was going on. At first I felt like everything that was described almost needed another book to explain. Turned out things were getting clearer further down the road. It all ended up making sense.
This book was just as exciting and thrilling then the first one! My favourite part was the unexpected love story evolving between Lunka and Otto. I didn’t see that coming at all.
What a great combination of humour, heroes, villains, science fiction and even a love story. Very much looking forward to the final book of the series.
This book was just as exciting and thrilling then the first one! My favourite part was the unexpected love story evolving between Lunka and Otto. I didn’t see that coming at all.
What a great combination of humour, heroes, villains, science fiction and even a love story. Very much looking forward to the final book of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
Peccato che Colfer non abbia il giusto riconoscimento perché è un maledettismo genio!!
February 28, 2020
Als Hörbuch gehört. Sehr gelungene, spannende Fortsetzung. Ich freue mich auf den dritten Teil.
November 19, 2015
This book was fantastic. I really enjoyed the jokes. I highly recommend it. There is tons of adventure,and jokes and near death experiences and stuff.
March 31, 2016
Jotkut asiat (Malarkey ja Witmeyer!!) oli vähän wtf ja välillä käännekohdat seurasivat toisiaan vähän liian tiheään, mutta Colfer-fani mikä Colfer-fani, joten tykkäsin.
January 9, 2015
Second in the W.A.R.P. science fiction series for middle grade readers. Set in London, it involves time travel.
You don't stand a hope of understanding this mess without having read The Reluctant Assassin , 1.
My Take
Do NOT miss the “Might Have Been” chapter. Without it, you’ll be even more confused.
It’s not just a trip back in time, it’s a trip into the slimy, vicious underworld of Victorian England with its cant and outlook. And Colfer does very well at setting this scene. He certainly makes Otto stand out *eye roll*, and you’ll be laughing your head off in between wondering what is going on.
To get an idea of how bad Box’s War is, imagine the Communist takeover of Russia only it spreads throughout the world with the same type of massacres, the same sort of manifesto, and the killing of anything fun or beautiful. The only country that has held out are the French. Yeah, who knew?
Colfer really swings wide on this, making the bad guys so amazingly bad and full of clichés. The professor’s kitchen defies description. For good reason, although he does have the most appalling luck as he keeps dying. I am curious as to why the Thundercats don’t try to stop the professor.
It’s an intricate plan that requires betrayal, daring, and luck with a cast of colorful characters on both sides. It’s chases, attacks, and the roar of cannon. It’s also a time of disappointment for Lunka. What she was indoctrinated to believe is not what she expected and another hero appears for her.
I did not, however, buy into Boxite Chevie at the end. How stupid can she be? After all that’s happened, why haven’t the two Chevies merged? Why didn’t Boxite Chevie question Traitor Chevie? Of course, Vallicose is pretty much of an idiot as well. This ending was where it fell down for me.
It’s certainly full of action, craziness, and yanks you back and forth all over the place. And probably worth reading if only to be prepared when book 3 comes out in 2015.
The Story
Unfortunately, Colonel Box came up with his own ideas for the time tunnel, and Chevie’s appearance in Victorian London has sped those plans up. A very bad thing as history originally had flooded Box out and washed his plans away. Now…well, now he has every chance of succeeding as young Chevie finds out when she awakens to her life as a Boxite cadet and her own growing insanity.
Not to worry though, she’s so out of step with the current Boxite regime that they plan to execute her. Unless…she can go back and stop the Blessed Colonel and prevent the world’s destruction.
Or let the madness overtake her and let the world spiral down.
The Characters
Chevron Savano is a young FBI consultant who got caught up in Box's and Smart's opposing plans in The Reluctant Assassin . Traitor Chevie is the original Chevie starting to reassert herself. Just last night, she was merged with this Chevie through a time paradox. DeeDee Woollen was the Boxite Chevie's best friend until she was executed.
Victorian London, 1899
Young Riley was a magician/assassin's assistant in Victorian London who sought to escape his master, the conjurer/murderer-for-hire Albert Garrick. Now he's the Great Savano, and Riley has inherited Garrick's Orient Theatre. Tom is the half-brother for whom Riley has been searching. Bob Winkle, a.k.a., Bob the Beak, is the young grifter Riley rescued. The Trips are Bob's brothers who are finally getting decent food and learning.
King Otto Malarkey, a.k.a., Commodore Pierce, is king of the Rams, the premier London street gang, with a hair obsession, and is demanding tribute, unreasonable tribute from Riley. The rest of the Rams' inner circle includes Pooley; Barnabus "Inhumane" Malarkey, Otto's younger brother; Noble; and, Jeeves. Farley is posing as the Rams' tattooist. As Pierce, Otto moved into Tibor Charismo's house on Grosvenor Square. Mick Figary is his Irish mother's son, who works for Commodore Pierce as a butler, and is as duplicitous as Otto. The Hidey-Hole is the Rams' headquarters. Pig Boy wants to make more of himself.
Colonel Clayton Box was part of W.A.R.P. until his megalomania set him down the path of changing history and the opportunity to make the world more efficient. Major Anton Farley was also known as The Hangman, and he was beatified by the Blessed Colonel himself.
His men include Sergeant "Rosy" Rosenbaum, a.k.a., the Evangelist, and Corporal Sonny Aldridge.
Box life in the modern alternate timeline
Sister Clover Vallicose and Sister Lunka Witmeyer are a couple of Thundercats, silent assassins in charge of party security who are working as guards at the academy. Vallicose is a True Believer, rabidly so, while Lunka is simply out for herself. Director Waldo Gunn is in charge of the academy. He's a hero of Box's War and a master assassin.
In the modern original timeline
Luis Chavez was young Box's companion. Too bad he didn't know Box was a psychopath. Clayton Sr. loves what a sharpshooter his son is. His mother, Nancy, is thrilled when Box Jr. leaves.
It's all Professor Charles Smart's fault, for he's the one who stabilized the time tunnel to Victorian London. Felix is the professor's son.
The Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (W.A.R.P.) was established shortly after by the FBI as a place to stash witnesses. In the past. Emergence Day is the day Box's revolution began. Jax are slang for Jacques, French spies. Homodermy is a type of taxidermy that specializes in humans.
The Cover
The cover is deep with deep explosive reds through to a splash of yellow and down into the blacks that create the London skyline and Big Ben as the bomb explodes.
The title refers to the day the Colonel Box began The Hangman’s Revolution.
You don't stand a hope of understanding this mess without having read The Reluctant Assassin , 1.
My Take
Do NOT miss the “Might Have Been” chapter. Without it, you’ll be even more confused.
It’s not just a trip back in time, it’s a trip into the slimy, vicious underworld of Victorian England with its cant and outlook. And Colfer does very well at setting this scene. He certainly makes Otto stand out *eye roll*, and you’ll be laughing your head off in between wondering what is going on.
To get an idea of how bad Box’s War is, imagine the Communist takeover of Russia only it spreads throughout the world with the same type of massacres, the same sort of manifesto, and the killing of anything fun or beautiful. The only country that has held out are the French. Yeah, who knew?
Colfer really swings wide on this, making the bad guys so amazingly bad and full of clichés. The professor’s kitchen defies description. For good reason, although he does have the most appalling luck as he keeps dying. I am curious as to why the Thundercats don’t try to stop the professor.
It’s an intricate plan that requires betrayal, daring, and luck with a cast of colorful characters on both sides. It’s chases, attacks, and the roar of cannon. It’s also a time of disappointment for Lunka. What she was indoctrinated to believe is not what she expected and another hero appears for her.
I did not, however, buy into Boxite Chevie at the end. How stupid can she be? After all that’s happened, why haven’t the two Chevies merged? Why didn’t Boxite Chevie question Traitor Chevie? Of course, Vallicose is pretty much of an idiot as well. This ending was where it fell down for me.
It’s certainly full of action, craziness, and yanks you back and forth all over the place. And probably worth reading if only to be prepared when book 3 comes out in 2015.
The Story
Unfortunately, Colonel Box came up with his own ideas for the time tunnel, and Chevie’s appearance in Victorian London has sped those plans up. A very bad thing as history originally had flooded Box out and washed his plans away. Now…well, now he has every chance of succeeding as young Chevie finds out when she awakens to her life as a Boxite cadet and her own growing insanity.
Not to worry though, she’s so out of step with the current Boxite regime that they plan to execute her. Unless…she can go back and stop the Blessed Colonel and prevent the world’s destruction.
Or let the madness overtake her and let the world spiral down.
The Characters
Chevron Savano is a young FBI consultant who got caught up in Box's and Smart's opposing plans in The Reluctant Assassin . Traitor Chevie is the original Chevie starting to reassert herself. Just last night, she was merged with this Chevie through a time paradox. DeeDee Woollen was the Boxite Chevie's best friend until she was executed.
Victorian London, 1899
Young Riley was a magician/assassin's assistant in Victorian London who sought to escape his master, the conjurer/murderer-for-hire Albert Garrick. Now he's the Great Savano, and Riley has inherited Garrick's Orient Theatre. Tom is the half-brother for whom Riley has been searching. Bob Winkle, a.k.a., Bob the Beak, is the young grifter Riley rescued. The Trips are Bob's brothers who are finally getting decent food and learning.
King Otto Malarkey, a.k.a., Commodore Pierce, is king of the Rams, the premier London street gang, with a hair obsession, and is demanding tribute, unreasonable tribute from Riley. The rest of the Rams' inner circle includes Pooley; Barnabus "Inhumane" Malarkey, Otto's younger brother; Noble; and, Jeeves. Farley is posing as the Rams' tattooist. As Pierce, Otto moved into Tibor Charismo's house on Grosvenor Square. Mick Figary is his Irish mother's son, who works for Commodore Pierce as a butler, and is as duplicitous as Otto. The Hidey-Hole is the Rams' headquarters. Pig Boy wants to make more of himself.
Colonel Clayton Box was part of W.A.R.P. until his megalomania set him down the path of changing history and the opportunity to make the world more efficient. Major Anton Farley was also known as The Hangman, and he was beatified by the Blessed Colonel himself.
His men include Sergeant "Rosy" Rosenbaum, a.k.a., the Evangelist, and Corporal Sonny Aldridge.
Box life in the modern alternate timeline
Sister Clover Vallicose and Sister Lunka Witmeyer are a couple of Thundercats, silent assassins in charge of party security who are working as guards at the academy. Vallicose is a True Believer, rabidly so, while Lunka is simply out for herself. Director Waldo Gunn is in charge of the academy. He's a hero of Box's War and a master assassin.
In the modern original timeline
Luis Chavez was young Box's companion. Too bad he didn't know Box was a psychopath. Clayton Sr. loves what a sharpshooter his son is. His mother, Nancy, is thrilled when Box Jr. leaves.
It's all Professor Charles Smart's fault, for he's the one who stabilized the time tunnel to Victorian London. Felix is the professor's son.
The Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (W.A.R.P.) was established shortly after by the FBI as a place to stash witnesses. In the past. Emergence Day is the day Box's revolution began. Jax are slang for Jacques, French spies. Homodermy is a type of taxidermy that specializes in humans.
The Cover
The cover is deep with deep explosive reds through to a splash of yellow and down into the blacks that create the London skyline and Big Ben as the bomb explodes.
The title refers to the day the Colonel Box began The Hangman’s Revolution.
June 5, 2020
Rereading this book, the alternate future with a fanaticized religious right is a lot scarier. A totalitarian regime isn't so far-fetched.
Another thing that stood out: Part of the villain's backstory involved him being a sharpshooter looking for increasingly difficult targets, starting with small wild animals, moving on to neighbors' pets, and culminating with his "friend" of Latinx descent. As a white, privileged teenager, he tells police, "The gun just went off" and suffers no legal consequences. It's chilling because that could absolutely happen.
As for the story itself, Chevie is battling herself from two divergent realities, and Riley is trying to go legit as a magician. Neither of them end up having a great time of it. But they find new unlikely allies and thwart the totalitarian future, so all is not lost, though there's suffering on the way.
Another thing that stood out: Part of the villain's backstory involved him being a sharpshooter looking for increasingly difficult targets, starting with small wild animals, moving on to neighbors' pets, and culminating with his "friend" of Latinx descent. As a white, privileged teenager, he tells police, "The gun just went off" and suffers no legal consequences. It's chilling because that could absolutely happen.
As for the story itself, Chevie is battling herself from two divergent realities, and Riley is trying to go legit as a magician. Neither of them end up having a great time of it. But they find new unlikely allies and thwart the totalitarian future, so all is not lost, though there's suffering on the way.
June 24, 2015
Klingt nach einem ungewöhnlichen Titel? "Der Klunkerfischer" ist darüber hinaus auch noch ein ungewöhnliches Buch - aber dafür ist Eoin Colfer bekannt. Der 2. Band der Zeitreise-Reihe "WARP" entführt die Leser wieder in zwei verschiedene Zeiten: London heute und London im Jahr 1899. Ein halbes Jahr ist seit dem 1. Abenteuer von Chevie und Riley vergangen. Rileys Meister, der Assassine Garrick, sowie sein Auftraggeber wurden besiegt. Ende gut, alles gut? Mitnichten! Denn Chevies Zeitreise in die Vergangenheit hat ihre eigene Zeit ziemlich durcheinander gewirbelt - und auch ihren Verstand -, wie sie feststellen muss, als sie in ihrer Zeit plötzlich Rekrutin im Weltreich von Colonel Box wird, der dank moderner Waffen erst England und dann die Welt erobert hat, um sich als Gott verehren zu lassen und eine Diktatur und eine tyrannische Geheimpolizei einzuführen. Nur eine erneute Zeitreise, der Waisenjunge Riley und ein Gangsterboss und Klunkerfischer können Chevie nun noch helfen, die Katastrophe zu verhindern. Spannend, ungewöhnlich und voller skurriler Figuren. Und wo bleibt Band 3?
May 31, 2014
love the return of Colfer's regular snarky humor. I felt like Chevron and Riley's positions were more believable in the context of this story. The treatment of alternate timelines was fresh and interesting. I missed how truly evil Garrick was in book 1. There wasn't as much personal interaction with the Divine Colonel Box, which made the tension less for me.
My favorite thing about this installment in the saga is getting to know the King of the Rams/Commodore Otto Malarkey better. The more you get to know him the more you want to. It's one of Colfer's gifts that his characters draw you in quickly and engage your interest throughout. I hope he's working on the next installment because I can hardly wait!!!
PS the comments from Professor Charles Smart had me rolling.
My favorite thing about this installment in the saga is getting to know the King of the Rams/Commodore Otto Malarkey better. The more you get to know him the more you want to. It's one of Colfer's gifts that his characters draw you in quickly and engage your interest throughout. I hope he's working on the next installment because I can hardly wait!!!
PS the comments from Professor Charles Smart had me rolling.
September 13, 2016
I decided to read this book as I read the first one. I like this book as it has great adventure and thrill throughout the book. I like books with action and suspense which it had. I learned that even if you nothing about something you can learn about it extremely quick in pressing circumstances. A setting which I found interesting was early Victorian London. It was very dirty and full of pollution. There were parts that had poverty and sickness and other parts that have the rich and the wealthy, but it was very corrupt and you could get away with almost anything.
July 25, 2016
This is a most enjoyable read! The combination of very effective humour and exciting action is perfectly balanced. Now and again Colfer slows the plot with passages of historical exposition but these are so well written and useful for creating the world of the novel that one readily accepts them.
Riley, Chevie, and Malarkey are all present and as engaging as ever, but two new characters,The Thundercats, steal nearly every scene they are in.
Second novels of trilogies frequently become plot bridges but this one is quite successful in its own right.
Riley, Chevie, and Malarkey are all present and as engaging as ever, but two new characters,The Thundercats, steal nearly every scene they are in.
Second novels of trilogies frequently become plot bridges but this one is quite successful in its own right.
August 11, 2015
Taattua Colferia, helppoa ja vauhdikasta luettavaa. Sukkelaa sanailua oli ajoittain ehkä jopa liikaakin, mutta ei häiritsevästi.
December 29, 2022
A ton better than the first book really enjoyed reading it.
Read
November 10, 2015Not what I'm expecting
January 13, 2023
So far I have really enjoyed this Eoin Colfer's books written for children and teens. This is the second book in the "W.A.R.P" series. I both read and listened to it on audio, which had a really good narrator, and found both forms equally enjoyable. Like the first book, "The Reluctant Assassin", this felt like a literature version of a roller coaster ride. A somewhat slower beginning but once the action starts it really doesn't stop until the finale. A sci-fi story featuring time travel and the havok wrecked upon your own time period as a result. The main characters, Riley and Chevron ("Chevie") Savano, are well fleshed out, which makes it quite enjoyable. This book also shows how some humans use religion as a weapon to control others. A warning flag on how zealots put blinders on and are willing to do the most atrocious things in the name of "God".
So to recap from the first book Riley is back in his Victorian era time line after he and Chevie have defeated his former master, Garrick. Chevie has returned back to her time line in the future. Riley decides that since he never wanted to be an assassin in the first place he would become a magician and starts fixing up a theatre to do so. Unfortunately he's forgotten that for survival's sake he had officially joined the Battering Rams, a criminal organization, and the leader, "King Otto", comes to call expecting his due accompanied by other Rams and the gang's tattooist, Farley. However, Farley is not who seems to be. He's a member of Colonel Box's troops from the future intent on altering the past in order to control the future and the first step of the plan is to murder the Rams' leader so they can recruit the riff raff into their army. He decides this moment at Riley's theatre is the perfect time to show his hand using modern weaponry he starts killing people. This is Riley's magicians stage and while he's sure that he can get away he can't leave Otto behind. Will his magician's skills as well as the assassin skills forced upon him by Garrick be able to ensure their escape?
Meanwhile in Chevie's time line *everything* is different including herself. All her memories are growing up in this current timeline and for the past 6 months another Chevie's voice whom she calls "Traitor Chevie" due to the heretic things she says has been invading her dreams and mind. The Chevie of the Box timeline has been completely indoctrinated and knows in this empire the slightest provocation can get you killed. She remembers how her father was executed due to his writing. The empire is a fascist, religious empire that worships the god, "Colonel Box", who had destroyed the monarchy and parliament in the 1800s. However, when she blurts the name "Smart" she triggers a command left by Colonel Box over 100 years ago. The timelines equivalent to thought police and executioners who are referred to as the "Thundercats" tells her that in order to prove her allegiance she must kill Charles Smart, who is alive in this time line. While confronting Smart with the Thundercats hovering over her shoulder Smart realizes that the current reality isn't the true one. That somehow he had created a time machine before and Box had used it to change the world in the past. Due to the internal conflict with "Traitor Chevie" in her mind she finds she can't kill Smart and then learns that she was always going to die anyway because the second half of Box's instructions was that she should be killed as well. Smart has a prototype in his office and starts it but in the process the Thundercats kill him but the process has been started. Everyone in the room is going back to the Victorian Era. The further she gets from Box's alternate time line the more the original Chevie's personality is in control and with only one goal, which is to find Riley and stop Box's revolution from occurring in the first place. All the while trying to dodge the Thundercats one of whom is a religous zealot that wishes to only join Box's side and help him with the revelation while the other wants to be on the "winning" side. The question is how will she and Riley be able to stop a band of future shoulders who brought their weapons with them while only having tools of the past? Will Colonel Box whip up such frenzy will it continue even if he's dispatched? She's not a killer although the alternate time line personality was trained to be nothing but an assassin. Can she trust herself or will the other Chevie try to seize control to stop her? The real question is can a small band of people that include a magician and teen special agent from the future be able to stop it or is Chevie's presence in the past along with the Thundercats going to make things worse?
So to recap from the first book Riley is back in his Victorian era time line after he and Chevie have defeated his former master, Garrick. Chevie has returned back to her time line in the future. Riley decides that since he never wanted to be an assassin in the first place he would become a magician and starts fixing up a theatre to do so. Unfortunately he's forgotten that for survival's sake he had officially joined the Battering Rams, a criminal organization, and the leader, "King Otto", comes to call expecting his due accompanied by other Rams and the gang's tattooist, Farley. However, Farley is not who seems to be. He's a member of Colonel Box's troops from the future intent on altering the past in order to control the future and the first step of the plan is to murder the Rams' leader so they can recruit the riff raff into their army. He decides this moment at Riley's theatre is the perfect time to show his hand using modern weaponry he starts killing people. This is Riley's magicians stage and while he's sure that he can get away he can't leave Otto behind. Will his magician's skills as well as the assassin skills forced upon him by Garrick be able to ensure their escape?
Meanwhile in Chevie's time line *everything* is different including herself. All her memories are growing up in this current timeline and for the past 6 months another Chevie's voice whom she calls "Traitor Chevie" due to the heretic things she says has been invading her dreams and mind. The Chevie of the Box timeline has been completely indoctrinated and knows in this empire the slightest provocation can get you killed. She remembers how her father was executed due to his writing. The empire is a fascist, religious empire that worships the god, "Colonel Box", who had destroyed the monarchy and parliament in the 1800s. However, when she blurts the name "Smart" she triggers a command left by Colonel Box over 100 years ago. The timelines equivalent to thought police and executioners who are referred to as the "Thundercats" tells her that in order to prove her allegiance she must kill Charles Smart, who is alive in this time line. While confronting Smart with the Thundercats hovering over her shoulder Smart realizes that the current reality isn't the true one. That somehow he had created a time machine before and Box had used it to change the world in the past. Due to the internal conflict with "Traitor Chevie" in her mind she finds she can't kill Smart and then learns that she was always going to die anyway because the second half of Box's instructions was that she should be killed as well. Smart has a prototype in his office and starts it but in the process the Thundercats kill him but the process has been started. Everyone in the room is going back to the Victorian Era. The further she gets from Box's alternate time line the more the original Chevie's personality is in control and with only one goal, which is to find Riley and stop Box's revolution from occurring in the first place. All the while trying to dodge the Thundercats one of whom is a religous zealot that wishes to only join Box's side and help him with the revelation while the other wants to be on the "winning" side. The question is how will she and Riley be able to stop a band of future shoulders who brought their weapons with them while only having tools of the past? Will Colonel Box whip up such frenzy will it continue even if he's dispatched? She's not a killer although the alternate time line personality was trained to be nothing but an assassin. Can she trust herself or will the other Chevie try to seize control to stop her? The real question is can a small band of people that include a magician and teen special agent from the future be able to stop it or is Chevie's presence in the past along with the Thundercats going to make things worse?
January 26, 2015
The story: Riley and Chevie are back, but there are complications: on her return from Victorian London, Chevie finds herself in the wrong world--a world where an evil plan hatched by WARP agents in 1890s London brought a brutal regime to power, a government that controls everything a hundred years later. Can two kids figure out what happened and prevent it? Possibly--but it'll take some help from the Battering Rams and their king, Otto Malarkey...which could easily end up making everything worse!
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence R; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; magic and the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (brutal dictatorships) PG; overall rating PG-13.
Liz's comments: Here's another sequel that was okay, but which in my opinion didn't turn out quite as well as the original. Riley and Chevie are operating in their separate worlds for a long time before being reunited, and the story finally gets around to being good once that happens. Once again, there's a lot of violent action here, so those who are opposed to the idea of a gang-style massacre with weapons imported from the future will need to look elsewhere!
Annotation with spoilers: Riley, at home where he belongs in 1890s London, is getting ready to open his first show at the theatre he "inherited" from Albert Garrick (currently lost in a time warp, although possibly not dead!). Unexpectedly, Otto Malarkey and a group of Rams leadership show up the afternoon before the show and remind him that "once a Ram, always a Ram", and that they expect a cut--like, 50%--of his take from the show. They're involved in this discussion when Farley (the tattoo artist from the previous story) opens up with a machine pistol and mows down just about everyone there, including Malarkey's brother Barnabus. Otto and Riley are saved only by luck and the judicious use of Riley's talent of distraction.
In the meantime, Cehvie Savano knows something is wrong inside her head. In 2014, she's a soldier in the Thundercats, a group of elite troops in the Boxite government, which currently runs much of the world. Turns out that an agent from WARP, Clayton Box, figured out while stationed in London in the 1890s that he could stage his own revolution and change the course of world events into a path he found more to his taste. Chevie's problem is that she hears a voice in her head, which she calls Traitor Chevie, telling her that this is all a mistake, and that the world has taken a turn in the wrong direction. Because she's viewed by those above her as talented but warped, she's sent on a mission to prove her dedication to the Boxite cause--and that mission is to kill Charles Smart, the inventor of the time machine. When she gets to his apartment, she can't do it; instead, Smart has time to activate the time machine he's built in his apartment, and Chevie, along with two died-in-the-wool female Thundercat soldiers, Lunka Witmeyer and Clover Vallicose, are sent back to 1898 London, the site of "Emergence Day."
In the alternate world that sprang up under Colonel Box, "Emergence Day" happened when he and his troops, armed with weapons that they had either smuggled in from the future or fabricated themselves, came up from the sewers where they'd been headquartered and captured, then executed, Queen Victoria. London falls first, and pretty much the rest of the world shortly after it. While Box claims to have prevented both World War 1 and 2, he kills millions of people to establish his empire--so in Chevie's mind, he's no different than Hitler.
Clover recognizes the place and time immediately, as she's a true believer who is dedicated to the Boxite cause (which conveniently is also a religion, with Box as the god who can do no wrong). Clover's biggest goal from here on out is to find Colonel Box and join up as an original henchman, doing all she can to further his success and assure her place in history. Witmeyer, on the other hand, is much more an opportunist, and doesn't particularly believe in the religion that Box has set up--so she's ready to go either way. For the moment, though, it's easier to follow along after Vallicose, her longtime partner. The two of them, dragging Chevie along with them, eventually make it to Box's headqurters, where their obvious knowledge of the plot gets them admitted into Box's presence, and finally lands the two Thundercats on his team of folks from the future.
After Farley's attack, Riley and Otto manage to get away from the theatre and make it to Otto's house in Mayfair, where he lives an alternate life masquerading as a Commodore of the Fleet, aided and abetted by Figary, his leprechaun-sized majordomo. Reviewing history, they realize that the way Box succeeds in his takeover bid is by having Farley bring the now leaderless (as they suppose, since Otto was supposed to have been killed in the shootout at Riley's theatre) Battering Rams under his power, where they provide the muscle for the coup. Otto's group comes up with a plan that involves Figary and Riley sneaking into Rams' headquarters to suss things out, sow distraction, and hopefully derail the takeover. What they don't expect upon arrival is to find Chevie in Box's clutches--but there she is, tied up and a focal point for everyone. Between them, Figary and Riley manage to fire a cannon that literally brings down the house. Having taken the Rams out of the equation, they leave behind them a slightly different version of the day's events; now, they just need to rescue Chevie and change history altogether by making sure the rest of the events of Emergence Day don't go as planned.
In a really disgusting sequence, Riley and Otto wade through the sewers (discussing the semi-solids and the floaters) and set a charge of plastic explosive on the far wall of Box's hideout. They've also paid the local waterworks guy to "flush" the tunnels promptly at five, thus giving them a huge quantity of water at the same time the explosive goes off, which will hopefully destroy Box's headquarters. But they're discovered by a party of Box's soldiers (because the Boxites have planted a tracking device in Otto's boots) while there, and just about wiped out--but Lunka Witmeyer sees this enormous bull of a man and instantly falls in love with him (and he with her) and when she throws her lot in with Malarkey and Riley, things change. They arrange a sewer cave-in that brings a torrent of man-eating rats down on the head of the party and kills Farley, who in a different iteration of history is known as the Hangman, and whose part in the events earned it the nickname of The Hangman's Revolution. But in THIS iteration, Farley gets eaten alive by cannibalistic rodents, which is pretty awful even for a bad guy.
In the meantime, Emergence Day is about to begin as planned. Chevie has an opportunity to kill Box but can't bring herself to do it, even though she knows everything will probably fail because of her; however, Clover Vallicose, hearing Box dismiss her religion, which glorifies HIM, has no such problems. The Thundercat, losing her faith in Box, realizes that SHE would make a better leader than he does, and she dispatches him, albiet with great sadness, but knowing it's the best thing for the cause. This is right as the sewer flush happens, so the last Chevie sees of them is Clover cradling Box in a Pieta-like pose; Chevie has other things, like drowning, to worry about. She eventually escapes up a chimney and manages to stay alive; later, accidentally bumping into Riley and Otto, they make a quick getaway in a boat and head for the Houses of Parliament, where historically, the general insurgency is about to happen. They are there in time to prevent Clover, driving a tank, from taking out the seat of government (Big Ben isn't so lucky) and Otto finds himself, at the end of the day, in the enviable position of being hailed as the person who was on hand to foil the plot against Queen Vic and the government.
On the down side, it appears that Box ordered the time portal on Half Moon Street to be destroyed, so Chevie is going to be stuck in 1898. The good news is that Winkle, Riley's assistant at the theatre, has turned up a lead on Tom, Riley's long-lost brother, and the last pages of the book have the kids planning to go and find him, satisfied that at least, they've saved the world from a religion made in the image of Clayton Box.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence R; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; magic and the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (brutal dictatorships) PG; overall rating PG-13.
Liz's comments: Here's another sequel that was okay, but which in my opinion didn't turn out quite as well as the original. Riley and Chevie are operating in their separate worlds for a long time before being reunited, and the story finally gets around to being good once that happens. Once again, there's a lot of violent action here, so those who are opposed to the idea of a gang-style massacre with weapons imported from the future will need to look elsewhere!
Annotation with spoilers: Riley, at home where he belongs in 1890s London, is getting ready to open his first show at the theatre he "inherited" from Albert Garrick (currently lost in a time warp, although possibly not dead!). Unexpectedly, Otto Malarkey and a group of Rams leadership show up the afternoon before the show and remind him that "once a Ram, always a Ram", and that they expect a cut--like, 50%--of his take from the show. They're involved in this discussion when Farley (the tattoo artist from the previous story) opens up with a machine pistol and mows down just about everyone there, including Malarkey's brother Barnabus. Otto and Riley are saved only by luck and the judicious use of Riley's talent of distraction.
In the meantime, Cehvie Savano knows something is wrong inside her head. In 2014, she's a soldier in the Thundercats, a group of elite troops in the Boxite government, which currently runs much of the world. Turns out that an agent from WARP, Clayton Box, figured out while stationed in London in the 1890s that he could stage his own revolution and change the course of world events into a path he found more to his taste. Chevie's problem is that she hears a voice in her head, which she calls Traitor Chevie, telling her that this is all a mistake, and that the world has taken a turn in the wrong direction. Because she's viewed by those above her as talented but warped, she's sent on a mission to prove her dedication to the Boxite cause--and that mission is to kill Charles Smart, the inventor of the time machine. When she gets to his apartment, she can't do it; instead, Smart has time to activate the time machine he's built in his apartment, and Chevie, along with two died-in-the-wool female Thundercat soldiers, Lunka Witmeyer and Clover Vallicose, are sent back to 1898 London, the site of "Emergence Day."
In the alternate world that sprang up under Colonel Box, "Emergence Day" happened when he and his troops, armed with weapons that they had either smuggled in from the future or fabricated themselves, came up from the sewers where they'd been headquartered and captured, then executed, Queen Victoria. London falls first, and pretty much the rest of the world shortly after it. While Box claims to have prevented both World War 1 and 2, he kills millions of people to establish his empire--so in Chevie's mind, he's no different than Hitler.
Clover recognizes the place and time immediately, as she's a true believer who is dedicated to the Boxite cause (which conveniently is also a religion, with Box as the god who can do no wrong). Clover's biggest goal from here on out is to find Colonel Box and join up as an original henchman, doing all she can to further his success and assure her place in history. Witmeyer, on the other hand, is much more an opportunist, and doesn't particularly believe in the religion that Box has set up--so she's ready to go either way. For the moment, though, it's easier to follow along after Vallicose, her longtime partner. The two of them, dragging Chevie along with them, eventually make it to Box's headqurters, where their obvious knowledge of the plot gets them admitted into Box's presence, and finally lands the two Thundercats on his team of folks from the future.
After Farley's attack, Riley and Otto manage to get away from the theatre and make it to Otto's house in Mayfair, where he lives an alternate life masquerading as a Commodore of the Fleet, aided and abetted by Figary, his leprechaun-sized majordomo. Reviewing history, they realize that the way Box succeeds in his takeover bid is by having Farley bring the now leaderless (as they suppose, since Otto was supposed to have been killed in the shootout at Riley's theatre) Battering Rams under his power, where they provide the muscle for the coup. Otto's group comes up with a plan that involves Figary and Riley sneaking into Rams' headquarters to suss things out, sow distraction, and hopefully derail the takeover. What they don't expect upon arrival is to find Chevie in Box's clutches--but there she is, tied up and a focal point for everyone. Between them, Figary and Riley manage to fire a cannon that literally brings down the house. Having taken the Rams out of the equation, they leave behind them a slightly different version of the day's events; now, they just need to rescue Chevie and change history altogether by making sure the rest of the events of Emergence Day don't go as planned.
In a really disgusting sequence, Riley and Otto wade through the sewers (discussing the semi-solids and the floaters) and set a charge of plastic explosive on the far wall of Box's hideout. They've also paid the local waterworks guy to "flush" the tunnels promptly at five, thus giving them a huge quantity of water at the same time the explosive goes off, which will hopefully destroy Box's headquarters. But they're discovered by a party of Box's soldiers (because the Boxites have planted a tracking device in Otto's boots) while there, and just about wiped out--but Lunka Witmeyer sees this enormous bull of a man and instantly falls in love with him (and he with her) and when she throws her lot in with Malarkey and Riley, things change. They arrange a sewer cave-in that brings a torrent of man-eating rats down on the head of the party and kills Farley, who in a different iteration of history is known as the Hangman, and whose part in the events earned it the nickname of The Hangman's Revolution. But in THIS iteration, Farley gets eaten alive by cannibalistic rodents, which is pretty awful even for a bad guy.
In the meantime, Emergence Day is about to begin as planned. Chevie has an opportunity to kill Box but can't bring herself to do it, even though she knows everything will probably fail because of her; however, Clover Vallicose, hearing Box dismiss her religion, which glorifies HIM, has no such problems. The Thundercat, losing her faith in Box, realizes that SHE would make a better leader than he does, and she dispatches him, albiet with great sadness, but knowing it's the best thing for the cause. This is right as the sewer flush happens, so the last Chevie sees of them is Clover cradling Box in a Pieta-like pose; Chevie has other things, like drowning, to worry about. She eventually escapes up a chimney and manages to stay alive; later, accidentally bumping into Riley and Otto, they make a quick getaway in a boat and head for the Houses of Parliament, where historically, the general insurgency is about to happen. They are there in time to prevent Clover, driving a tank, from taking out the seat of government (Big Ben isn't so lucky) and Otto finds himself, at the end of the day, in the enviable position of being hailed as the person who was on hand to foil the plot against Queen Vic and the government.
On the down side, it appears that Box ordered the time portal on Half Moon Street to be destroyed, so Chevie is going to be stuck in 1898. The good news is that Winkle, Riley's assistant at the theatre, has turned up a lead on Tom, Riley's long-lost brother, and the last pages of the book have the kids planning to go and find him, satisfied that at least, they've saved the world from a religion made in the image of Clayton Box.
October 28, 2017
Full review at https://bronzelock619.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-hangmans-revolution-warp-2-eoin.html.
This book started out in a completely different tone from the previous one in the series. The first part became a dystopian novel, and the Chevie from the Box Empire, which the old Chevie called Cadet Chevie, had such a different voice. Everything changed so much that it felt like reading another series altogether. I really miss the old snarky Chevie for half of the book, as the Cadet Chevie grew up under a repressive regime which stamped all the sense of humour out of her. Even after she went back to the Victorian era, she was only about 70 percent of the old Chevie, with the rest of her still being Cadet Chevie, which makes this Chevie not as fun to read about than the previous book.
In addition, the rest of the book was dominated by Riley and Malarkey, having their conversations in their lower class Victorian English that just made slightly more sense than pure gibberish. These conversations were really hard to make sense of, and gave me such headaches. Also, I was really worried that by the time I finish this book, my grammar and diction would sink to their level and be completely messed up too.
Not all the changes for this series were bad though. I particularly enjoyed the charming new feature, where all the chapters started with a borderline crazy quote about time travel by Professor Charles Smart. They were all quite hilarious, such as
He just made an appearance as a mutated dead body in the previous book, so it is a good chance to get to know him in this one. Even from the quotes at the start of the chapter, you could already see that he was truly the eccentric genius type, but what impressed me most was how calm he was when faced with his impending death. It was also quite awesome how he built a time machine into his kitchen.
This series wasn't much for romance, but this one involved a really creepy love-at-first sight scenario between the supporting characters, that was awesome because of just how horrible it was. It involved a romantic kiss in the London sewers, one that was filled with rats, mind you, that would disgust the hell out of anyone that read that scene, not to mention how Malarkey could never so much as sniff a chamber pot without thinking that of that moment for the rest of his life. During these moments, I really pity poor Riley, as he had front row seats to all the mushy nonsense between those two.
I have to say, this series really took a direction that I did not expect at all. As the story felt quite different, I cannot definitively say if this book is better than the previous one in the series or not, although I do miss Chevie's sarcasm most of the time. It was nice to have Riley and Chevie back together, as they make a great team. I truly enjoyed the twists in the story, as they were really good in the way they went in ways you really won't expect. I also appreciate that the story is mainly science fiction now, and no longer a confusing mixture of science fiction and fantasy elements. It should be interesting to see how things turn out for Chevie and Riley.
This book started out in a completely different tone from the previous one in the series. The first part became a dystopian novel, and the Chevie from the Box Empire, which the old Chevie called Cadet Chevie, had such a different voice. Everything changed so much that it felt like reading another series altogether. I really miss the old snarky Chevie for half of the book, as the Cadet Chevie grew up under a repressive regime which stamped all the sense of humour out of her. Even after she went back to the Victorian era, she was only about 70 percent of the old Chevie, with the rest of her still being Cadet Chevie, which makes this Chevie not as fun to read about than the previous book.
In addition, the rest of the book was dominated by Riley and Malarkey, having their conversations in their lower class Victorian English that just made slightly more sense than pure gibberish. These conversations were really hard to make sense of, and gave me such headaches. Also, I was really worried that by the time I finish this book, my grammar and diction would sink to their level and be completely messed up too.
Not all the changes for this series were bad though. I particularly enjoyed the charming new feature, where all the chapters started with a borderline crazy quote about time travel by Professor Charles Smart. They were all quite hilarious, such as
Trying to trace the consequences of time travel is like a monkey with no thumbs trying to reassemble an exploded bomb, at night, wearing clown gloves.
- Professor Charles Smart
He just made an appearance as a mutated dead body in the previous book, so it is a good chance to get to know him in this one. Even from the quotes at the start of the chapter, you could already see that he was truly the eccentric genius type, but what impressed me most was how calm he was when faced with his impending death. It was also quite awesome how he built a time machine into his kitchen.
This series wasn't much for romance, but this one involved a really creepy love-at-first sight scenario between the supporting characters, that was awesome because of just how horrible it was. It involved a romantic kiss in the London sewers, one that was filled with rats, mind you, that would disgust the hell out of anyone that read that scene, not to mention how Malarkey could never so much as sniff a chamber pot without thinking that of that moment for the rest of his life. During these moments, I really pity poor Riley, as he had front row seats to all the mushy nonsense between those two.
I have to say, this series really took a direction that I did not expect at all. As the story felt quite different, I cannot definitively say if this book is better than the previous one in the series or not, although I do miss Chevie's sarcasm most of the time. It was nice to have Riley and Chevie back together, as they make a great team. I truly enjoyed the twists in the story, as they were really good in the way they went in ways you really won't expect. I also appreciate that the story is mainly science fiction now, and no longer a confusing mixture of science fiction and fantasy elements. It should be interesting to see how things turn out for Chevie and Riley.
January 30, 2018
Good read. I'm now more familiar with the characters. I'll start reading the next book later.
*****
"While most people do have many potential true loves, there are those individuals who are so unique that no one could reasonably be expected to love them... These individuals rarely meet and so generally live their lives alone, but occasionally these alphas do cross paths, and when that happens, the attraction is instant, mutual, and irresistible. The Chinese have a saying: 'Love itself is calm; turbulence arrives from extraordinary individuals.' Turbulence is beyond true love. Italians call this phenomenon catching the thunderbolt." [p.258]
"...the knowing of things ain't no help regarding peace of mind. Knowing things ain't no boon at all, if you ask me." [p.370]
*****
"While most people do have many potential true loves, there are those individuals who are so unique that no one could reasonably be expected to love them... These individuals rarely meet and so generally live their lives alone, but occasionally these alphas do cross paths, and when that happens, the attraction is instant, mutual, and irresistible. The Chinese have a saying: 'Love itself is calm; turbulence arrives from extraordinary individuals.' Turbulence is beyond true love. Italians call this phenomenon catching the thunderbolt." [p.258]
"...the knowing of things ain't no help regarding peace of mind. Knowing things ain't no boon at all, if you ask me." [p.370]
September 14, 2018
Well, that was stupid. After such a promising first book, I was looking forward to reading this continuation of the story. What a mistake! The plot was completely unbelievable, even after factoring in the whole alternate-timeline thing. The characters were just dumbstupid, making all kinds of idiotic mistakes. The bad guys were not just bad but stupid. The good guys were not just stupid but foolish. The story plodded along aimlessly, then all of a sudden, the author realized that he needed to finish the book in the next 50 pages. So, wham-o! The bad guys lose, the good guys win, and the world is saved. Except, the world is not saved, and the whole book was an incredible waste of time.
March 12, 2022
This book probably doesn't work that well as a stand alone and so I recommend reading the first in the series before reading this one.
I enjoyed this. We start in the future, but things are not what we expect and it soon becomes apparent that the events of the previous book have had a negative impact. It isn't long before we are back in 1899 and we have meet some old and some new characters and Riley and Chevie are still at the heart of the action.
I think this is better than the first in the series with a lot of action, a lot of character interactions and a good sense of the Victorian world.
The Narration was very good and the whole package was great fun.
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4.5 stars.
I enjoyed this. We start in the future, but things are not what we expect and it soon becomes apparent that the events of the previous book have had a negative impact. It isn't long before we are back in 1899 and we have meet some old and some new characters and Riley and Chevie are still at the heart of the action.
I think this is better than the first in the series with a lot of action, a lot of character interactions and a good sense of the Victorian world.
The Narration was very good and the whole package was great fun.
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 4.5 stars.
July 20, 2025
I'm very on the fence about this book, there's some great stuff in here, it's surprisingly politically litterate. Box is a great villain and Malarkey has been upgraded from side character to full on tritagonist which is a fantastic change. but on the other hand the pacing is very much all over the place and most of the first act is like ridiculously boring. it kinda feels like Colfer started with "massive tank battle in 19th century London" as a finale and then worked backwards from there, which would result in giving act 1 is derivative patchwork feeling. I'll probably get around to finishing the trilogy sometime soon, the last book was the only one I read as a kid and I remember loving it
May 27, 2017
After the first book, the setting and characters start out as a bit of a surprise in this one. The characters seem just as confused as the readers, so it's fun. A. few new characters extend the cast and our familiar characters get a little more experience and depth.
The adventures continue, and it is an exciting and dangerous ride. How will the kids outsmart the bad guy(s) this time? What will the repercussions be?
I add a bit of caution to my recommendation- turns out that no one in this series is who they saw they are. Kids with trust issues may find it unsettling.
The adventures continue, and it is an exciting and dangerous ride. How will the kids outsmart the bad guy(s) this time? What will the repercussions be?
I add a bit of caution to my recommendation- turns out that no one in this series is who they saw they are. Kids with trust issues may find it unsettling.
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