Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders 3) by Brandon Mull

Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, as I mentioned on the previous installments in this series, Brandon Mull does a great job at moving his books along. I'm sure that takes a lot of time and effort to pull off, but because he does it so well, I find myself wishing he would take the series further. If I feel like I got 6 books worth of reading out of 3, think how awesome it would be to get 10 books worth of content out of 5!

Having said that, I can only give 4 stars here. I don't know if I can even blame the author, as he might have intended to include what I see as a mistake: Rachel. She spends half this book being very whiny. She drove me nuts. From a writing perspective, I am tempted to say that he overdid it when he was developing that side of her character. I mean after the second conversation about how she felt everything was hopeless we got it. She wasn't on board. Move on. HOWEVER, I also recognize that it might not be an accident. Maybe her character is that whiny, and a little bit annoying. Maybe that is why Corinne is a better match for Jason. If that is a part of your master plan Mr. Mull, then the un-awarded star is for a slightly annoying protagonist. There, I've covered my bases.

Still, this is a great series, and I highly recommend it...

Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders 2) by Brandon Mull

Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great read from Brandon Mull. I couldn't put it down. I like how the plot has developed, and yet at the same time how he keeps it simple. No extra story lines. No flashbacks, chapters written from the antagonist's view, etc. Keep it sharp, clean and moving in one direction. This is the genre and level of book that I think can capture the most readers and deliver value to the most readers (not the same thing...) Can't wait for book 3.

A World Without Heroes (Beyonders 1) by Brandon Mull

A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brandon Mull has become a fantastic author. Sure, his stories have depth. The plots are intriguing. His characters are genuine. But just as every person has a unique set of skills in life, I believe that if you are going to be a successful writer you have to have an edge, a competitive advantage if you will, that you can leverage into a career of bestsellers. After enjoying this book (and the whole Beyonders trilogy) I think that Brandon Mull has a gift when it comes to pacing a story. I feel like I got 6 books worth of content and story in just 3 books. I don't feel like he left anything out, or rushed any part of the plot. We didn't turn the page to find magically-developed characters, or too-good-to-be-true resolutions. No, everything developed in its own time, but he just keeps the pace going all the time, consistently. And for that I give him the full range of stars, and I look forward to reading his future books.