Swamp of Secrets

Bionicle Legends #10

by Greg Farshtey

The heat is on . . .



Separated from their fellow Toa, Tahu Nuva, Gali Nuva, and Onua Nuva enter a swamp to search for the Mask of Life. They must find it if they are to begin the process of awakening the Great Spirit Mata Nui. If they fail, death and destruction await them.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Science Fiction

128 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Greg Farshtey is the author of the popular BIONICLE chapter books and Level 3 readers, as well as the long-running BIONICLE comic book series. His day job is Editor-in-Chief and head writer for the LEGO Club Magazine and the LEGO BrickMaster Magazine.

Greg has been writing since fourth grade. After earning a degree in Communications from the State University of New York at Geneseo, he worked as a reporter, sports editor, game designer and editor, and copywriter before joining LEGO Company in 2000. Before becoming involved with BIONICLE, he wrote game material for such diverse properties as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Tales From the Crypt.

Greg is the author of more than 30 novels and guidebooks, as well as the author or co-author of more than 35 game sourcebooks and adventures.

He lives in West Hartford, Connecticut.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Far...

Reviews

[Alec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the structure of the book interesting, with 5 chapters and 5 interludes (Takanuva off having visions).

[Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the backstory story. The narrative skips between half of the Toa Nuva as they battle three Makuta in the swamps of Karda Nui and then Takanuva’s bug-induced lsd trips to the past where he sees the then Toa Mata in their earliest days. A lot of the mysteries are revealed and dots connected in this book, but the final big twist is yet to come. Both here and in Downfall, though, the question is asked if the Great Spirit Mata Nui is worth all of this sacrifice. These questions plus the hints given by Makuta Krika all total one thing: Disaster. But before I read The Final Battle I’ve got some serials to cover.

[Eduardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Do you know why the Brotherhood of Makuta hates Toa so much?...It’s because you are what we could only pretend to be, once upon a time: heroes who do good for no reward. You are given freely the honor and acclaim that could never come fast enough for us. And so we call you fools, and worse, and slay you… because we cannot be you.”
—

Man, I’ve gotten behind on my BIONICLE reading, haven’t I? Well, we continue with the 2009 storyline, sort of. Because half of this book is the current Plot, with Tahu, Gali, and Onua working to complete their mission in Karda Nui. The other half is a set of flashbacks, showing the original Toa in their training days, before Mata Nui, hundreds of years in the past. Which is kind of cool, but given that when they finally wake up on Mata Nui, they have no memories, well, uh, how important is that training?

Whatever! It’s fun and it’s cool.

[At one point in the flashbacks the narration uses ‘Nuva’, which it should not!]

The Makuta in the 2009 storyline were actually a lot more interesting than they had any right to be–especially given how little time we’re given with them. It makes me wish that we got more books in this storyline (2006 had five main books, this year only had three). Krika, in particular, is almost apologetic about having to fight the Toa.

Which, you know, they should be, as the Toa Nuva are now pretty much at the top of their game. It used to be Toa getting kicked right and left–right now, they’re facing members of arguably the most powerful species on the planet, *and they’re winning.* Or if they lose, they keep figuring out ways to win again.

It’s a good addition, one that sets up what’s to come, gives some answers on questions some longtime fans had (at least, those of us who were on BZP at the time). I wish it were longer, but that’s true of all the BIONICLE books, I guess.

[Danny Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an arc that I kinda missed as a kid so I'm not as nostalgic for it. Toa Nuva are in a swamp this time fighting more Makuta. I still think the Makuta in this arc are kinda underwhelming, they don't feel more threatening than any other villains even though they should theoretically. But I guess the Makuta are secretly planning for the Toa to succeed, so maybe they are holding back a bit, idk. More good world building in this episode, we get to see the origins of the Toa Mata, we see them get trained by Hydraxon which is kinda cool. We also learn about the origins of the Bohrok which is pretty dark. I think that's it for this one. Still solid, but I'm not feeling this arc as much as the previous few.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg you have out done yourself again another one of my favorite books (and I don't read that much) I liked how that there was a break between chapters of Takanuva's vision of the past it made a good cliffhanger.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adventurous addition with an interesting new environment. Suspenseful and imaginative.