FlumeAward – The Devil’s Breath Discussion page for The Devil’s Breath.
A whirlwind of excitement and suspense! This would be a fantastic book for the Flume – it has enough sophistication of plot to hold an older reader, with gripping scenes of daring. Protagonist Max Gordon’s opening scene: he is being pursued by an assassin outside his Dartmoor school. You’re immediately involved. Here’s a quick excerpt from Fantastic Fiction:
Soon after escaping an assassin that bursts from the shadows to try and kill him in the dark windswept grounds of his school in Dartmoor, Max Gordon discovers that his explorer father has also gone missing. Max is determined to find him whatever dangers may lay in his path. A secret clue, that his father has left, leads Max to the inhospitable wilderness of Namibia and the discovery of a potential massive ecological disaster masterminded by the very powerful and completely ruthless businessman, Shaka Chang.
…A fantastic option for a guy read – but I could see anyone enjoying this non-stop, action-packed thrilling novel. Kallie, an independent, brave, strong female character plays a huge part in Max’s quest to save his father and the ecological balance of Namibia. I’m ready for the next installment coming out in April – Ice Claw.
Lisa Houde Rye Public
Synopsis: Max, taking an evening run at his boarding school, finds himself in the hands of an assassin. After escaping the situation, he learns that his father is missing and he decides to go after him. What follows is a James Bondish story minus the cool tools and starring a 15 year old boy and his friends as they try to find and free Max’s environmentalist father.
Review: While the story is action packed, it often goes beyond belief and sometimes slips into phony dialog. That being said, I am sure that it will appeal to some teens, especially boys. This could be a contender for the top 13 depending on the quality of the other titles. ~ Sharon Flesher-Duffy, Nashua High South
This is such a fast-paced read and a real page turner. All teens will enjoy the roller coaster ride with Max. So much better written than the James Patterson YA books. An old fashioned adventure that will please both boys and girls, and a strong candidate for the final list. Sally Nelson, Leach Library.