Glimpse by Steven Whibley
RATING:****
SERIES: The Dean Curse Chronicles #1
GENRE: Middle Grade Adventure
"Save them, Dean. Save them all...."
Dean Curse avoids attention the way his best friend Colin avoids common sense. Which is why he isn’t happy about being Abbotsford’s latest local hero – having saved the life of a stranger, he is now front page news. Dean’s reason for avoiding the limelight? Ever since his heroic act, he’s been having terrifying visions of people dying and they’re freaking him out so badly his psychologist father just might have him committed. Dean wants nothing more than to lay low and let life get back to normal.
But when Dean’s visions start to come true, and people really start dying, he has to race against the clock – literally – to figure out what’s happening. Is this power of premonition a curse? Or is Dean gifted with the ability to save people from horrible fates? The answer will be the difference between life and death.
MY THOUGHTS:
Fourteen year old Dean has been cursed (or given a gift) to experience visions of people dying. Once he identifies these people, he has 24 hours to save them.
The concept behind this book is really great! I enjoyed Dean's battle between whether his power is a curse or a gift and I think this is very true in real life. The pace was fast and lead to a very quick read but nonetheless enjoyable.
The characters were hard to connect to as they were young and immature but I believe it is due to the fact that this book is more suited to a Middle Grade audience. The three main characters did remind me of Harry, Ron and Hermione with the hero, funny one and clever girl. However, this did not bother me in any way. At times, I did find some characters annoying such as Becky but this added to their personality.
This book was really well written with short chapter which I really enjoy. In each chapter an event takes place and I think there was only one chapter which I deemed pointless and the rest really added to the mystery of the book.
The twist at the end was not surprising but not one I had guessed. On the other hand, the outcome of the climax was REALLY unbelievable and something I think no one would have done.
Overall, a quick, funny read which is probably best aimed at Middle Grade readers. A great way to get reluctant boy readers involved.
Relic by Steven Whibley
RATING:***
SERIES: The Dean Curse Chronicles #2
GENRE: Middle Grade Adventure
Fourteen-year-old Dean Curse is still having horrifying visions of people in grave danger – visions that leave him a single day to save their lives. So far, he’s considered a few broken bones and a standing appointment in group therapy to be a small sacrifice compared to the good he's done.
While learning more about the mysterious society that gave him the gift, Dean has a vision that leads him to believe a monk is going to rob a museum—if he’s right, the robbery will go very badly. But he can’t get the police to believe him. In fact, the authorities think Dean is at the root of all the trouble. Dean and his friends decide the only way to save a few lives is to take matters into their own hands, even if it means breaking a few laws. They have 24 hours to decide if the ends really do justify the means.
MY THOUGHTS:
After Dean has discovered his gift for seeing people before they are going to day so he can save them, he becomes involved in the society in Relic.
Again, a fast paced and funny book in the Dean Curse Chronicles however, the events that took place were not as exciting and interesting as Book One. IT seemed a lot less happened and sometimes things were repeated which made this read slower.
I like the slow introduction to the society as I believe an air of mystery was well built up. The opening of the book was really effective getting you straight back into the series.
The development of the characters was really good in this book especially Lisa. In Relic, Whibley shows the strain Dean's gift is putting on Lisa. This brings out a side to her you never saw in Glimpse. It also helps you to connect to the character more as you sympathize with her.
Overall, another fast paced book but slightly disappointing in comparison to Glimpse due to the lack of excitement in the events present.
Again, a fast paced and funny book in the Dean Curse Chronicles however, the events that took place were not as exciting and interesting as Book One. IT seemed a lot less happened and sometimes things were repeated which made this read slower.
I like the slow introduction to the society as I believe an air of mystery was well built up. The opening of the book was really effective getting you straight back into the series.
The development of the characters was really good in this book especially Lisa. In Relic, Whibley shows the strain Dean's gift is putting on Lisa. This brings out a side to her you never saw in Glimpse. It also helps you to connect to the character more as you sympathize with her.
Overall, another fast paced book but slightly disappointing in comparison to Glimpse due to the lack of excitement in the events present.
The concept was outstanding and the vision of that kid can be sometimes heartbreaking but he outstand as a hero....
ReplyDeleteI am going to fill u with enthuasism and fictions with a new coming book "Future Past" Greatest event that never happened written by Author- Subrat Sahoo.....so plz dont wait read this book