Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Elf of Luxembourg by Tom Weston

3.5 out of 5 Robots!
  

Summary Compliments of Goodreads.com:
It's not all fun fairs and ice-cream in Luxembourg. Here there is a certain standard to maintain, and vacationing with Elves and Vampires is just too old school. But can Alex convince her younger sister, Jackie, of that? Nope, of course not. Because beneath the ancient city of Luxembourg there lies a secret. The Vampires believe it is protected by The Elf.  However The Elf has different ideas... Can Alex and Jackie fulfill the prophecy and end the war between The Elf and the Vampires before it is too late? 

My Review:
This story was fun- a true young adult adventure full of intriguing, fun characters. This is the first time I've been introduced to Alex & Jackie and it was an enjoyable ride. I had fun taking an adventure through Luxembourg with the girls and meeting the townies. The characters were cunning and full of witty repertoire. This book goes back and forth between the ancient, tragic journey of Cuchaquicha and the current day happenings of both Alex & Jackie.
 
Make sure you're on your toes and paying attention- it is a bit confusing to read. This is both good and bad- I felt as if someone was personally speaking to me and telling me a story rather than something more formal- I love that. However, I truly wished there was more story on the Alex & Jackie adventure and less Cuchaquicha. Cucha made the story seem a little dry at times although his story was intriguing and incredibly sad. I found myself skimming through Cucha's parts quickly to get to Alex & Jackie. I was dying to find out what those two would get into next... Who wouldn't, though? Ancient elves, vampires, prophecy and two pretty blondes? Sounds good to me! 
 
Now, I haven't read the first Alex & Jackie adventure- First Night, but I do intend to. I can't wait to find out if Weston's writing style in this book accurately reflects the writing in First Night. I'm not a huge fan of the overwhelming geographical and historical facts on Cuchaquicha, but if you can drudge through those parts it is well worth it once you get to the fictional story.
 
I hope Weston decides to give Alex & Jackie more adventures. But if you're looking for an easy, quick read- look else where. As refreshing and fun as The Elf of Luxembourg is, I suggest it to those who like an educational adventure story. ;)  

Book Details:
Paperback: 292 pages
Publisher: Tom Weston Media, January 26, 2010
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981941346
ISBN-13: 978-0981941349

5 comments :

  1. Thanks for a positive review.

    The great thing about having so many different opinions available to prospective readers is that they can get a better feel for what the book is about. As the Elf of Luxembourg contains Vampires, I know that a lot of people expect a Twilight type of book; and then are either delighted or disappointed to find out that it isn’t. So, reviews such as yours go a long way to clarifying that.

    Regards,

    Tom

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  2. Thank you for stopping by and reading my review, Tom! I appreciate it- and can't wait to see what you have in store for the girls next :)

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  3. Great review Jules. This book sounds really interesting. :D

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  4. "The Elf of Luxembourg" is an exciting, fast-paced sequel. Tom Weston has wonderfully blended historical facts with supernatural fiction. My first thought was, "Not another teen vampire novel." But after reading the first chapter, I knew this was a clever story that just happens to have a few vampires in it. Alex and Jackie are fun, energetic characters that both male and female readers will connect with. The book is just as charming at the "First Night." I recommend "The Elf of Luxembourg" to everyone who enjoys a good adventure.

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