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Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy by Jeff GunhusMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Tween/Middle Grade ~ Action/Adventure
Book Description: Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (Book 2) After barely surviving the onslaught of monsters that tried to kill him the day before his fourteenth birthday, Jack Templar leaves his hometown on a quest to rescue his father and discover the truth about his past. Joined by his friends Will and T-Rex, and led by Eva, the mysterious one-handed monster hunter, Jack sets out for the Monster Hunter Academy where he hopes to find answers to his questions. Little does he suspect that the Academy is filled with dangers of its own, many of them more terrifying than anything he’s faced so far.
My thoughts: The book begins as Jack is on his way to the Monster Hunter Academy. He doesn't know what he faces, but he knows this a step to freeing his father. He has his trustworthy friends by his side and ready to do whatever is needed to accomplish his goal.
Unfortunately for Jack, nothing comes easy. His reception at the academy is frosty and he is forced in the position of proving himself once again. In this adventure he faces new monsters and challenges.
I find it fun that the beginning of the book is another warning about entering the world of monsters. Once you know about them, there is no turning back and you are reading at your own risk. It is such a clever way to pull kids into the story.
I enjoy reading about Jack and his friends. They are such a great group of kids. The book flies at a fast pace and is full of action and adventure. There isn't time to loose interest or get bored.
There is violence, after all, he is a monster hunter. That would be the only caution I would have for readers. This is a fun book to read.
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With a snarl, a massive black wolf broke from the tree line and ran at Saladin’s legs.
Saladin erupted in a high-pitched whine, reared back and delivered a blow to the wolf’s rib cage with his hoof. The wolf yelped and tumbled backward. Saladin bolted forward at full-speed, dragging the wagon behind him like it was no more than a toy.
Bacho, wide-awake now, clung onto the side rail for dear life. T-Rex yelled and hung onto the side. Will lost his grip and tumbled down the length of the wagon, hitting the wood gate at the back end. That seemed to stop him for a second, but then the gate broke open and he fell backward.
At the last second, Daniel grabbed his arm and held onto him. Will was half out of the wagon, his legs dragging on the ground.
Two wolves fell in behind us, running hard. They closed in on Will’s legs.
I crawled forward and grabbed Daniel. T-Rex tugged the back of my jacket to try to help pull us back on.
Together, we heaved Will back into the wagon, the nearest wolf snapping at his heels as we hauled him on board.
Together, we heaved Will back into the wagon, the nearest wolf snapping at his heels as we hauled him on board.
The forest was now alive with wolves. Black shadows on both sides of the road hurtled through the trees, keeping pace with Saladin’s manic sprint.
Daniel pulled his sword. Will and I followed suit. Bacho grabbed T-Rex with one of his huge hands and dragged him forward onto the front bench by him.
“Are they werewolves?” I shouted.
“No. Not this lot anyway,” Daniel said. “If they were, we’d already be dead. There is one among them, though. A giant black wolf with a white cross on his chest. Watch for him.”
In the front, Bacho pulled out a crossbow and a quiver of bolts from under his seat. He took aim at one of the wolves and fired. The bolt flew harmlessly above the animal. Not even close.
Eva leaned over. “Bacho, give me the crossbow,” she called.
“Careful, Miss,” Bacho said. “Them’s poisoned bolts on there.”
Bacho handed her the bow just as two wolves sped past the wagon, drawing even with Saladin. They nipped at his long legs, biting at his haunches.
With one smooth motion, Eva plucked out a bolt, slid it into position, cocked the crossbow and took aim at the nearest wolf.
Thwack.
The bolt caught him in the side and he rolled up in a ball with a yelp.
The other wolves pulled back into the tree line, but still kept pace with the wagon.
I looked up ahead and saw what they were waiting for. The road was about to get very narrow. Worse, the path had been cut into a hill so that the ground on either side rose up just a bit higher than the top of the wagon. The wolves tore through the trees and up the hill.
“Get ready!” Daniel cried.
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Awards for Jack Templar Monster Hunter
Book of the Year Finalist by Forward Magazine
Next Generation Indie Book Finalist
Indie Excellence Finalist
Parents Choice Recommended Book Award
Author Jeff Gunhus Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.
.Your book sounds like the kind I love to read. I am always looking for new authors to read.
ReplyDelete.JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com