The Paladin Prophecy: Book 1

I found the book to be in my opinion to be well written and engaging with enough action ,drama,comedy, to keep you reading and engage your imagination . I think at any one from age 10-70 could find this book enjoyable

The book had me hooked until they went to the Aux locker room. I felt that at that point it followed the direction of other books and I stopped reading. I have not returned to the book I guess because it lost my interest.

There seem to be some missing pieces, you get clued in later and the same with a guys name happy, jolly what??? Happened???...still can't or won't stop reading cause I have a feeling this will be a book worth the finish...

I love Percy Jackson, X-Men, and Harry Potter, so I figured I'd like this, too.

NOPE.

The writing isn't awful and the story isn't awful, but the protagonist... ugh. I had a hunch the story was going to go south as soon as Frost fridged his mom, but I thought hey, maybe the rest of the story will make up for it.

Again: NOPE.

Frost goes out of his way to objectify women throughout this story. First was the mom, which was subtle and to be honest, not unexpected--that type of thing is pretty par for the course for this type of book, so it could have been fine in spite of it. But then he has the protagonist start to describe a fat woman as the lazy/hideous/unhygienic fat stereotype. He spends a great deal of time on it, and while the woman later turns out to have been a villain, there are no other fat women in the book. What is this, the 90s?

It was a little surprising to find that in a kids' book because they generally veer away from that type of thing. It did take the book off my recommendation list for teens, but I kept reading anyway because again: I love Percy, Harry, the X-Men.

Then we meet the inevitable "on-campus villain" of the series, and a lot of time is spent on his appearance, too. I recognize that part of that is just the Dudley effect, but when everyone else is ridiculously good-looking, it's alienating for kids who are average, or see themselves as ugly.

Finally, when we meet the main female characters of the book, they're just... constantly objectified. It can be summed up by this advice from Will's dad: "Don't be scared of talking to beautiful women. Just pretend they're people, too."

It wouldn't be bad advice, if only the "just pretend" was replaced with "They're just people, too." As it is, the author never quite manages to treat them like actual people--every time he writes them, it's as if he is just pretending. Awkward.

It's disappointing, because it's not a bad idea and the writing is good! But there's a glut of YA out there right now, so I feel okay taking this off my teen recommendation list.

Es un libro para adolecentes....tiene hightec, aventura, misterio, heroes, hombres malos, otra dimension. Una de las cosas que mas me gustó es como el libro esta hilado por las frases del padre.

Como buen libro de una saga, naaaada se define en este primer libro, por lo tanto hay que esperar a los otros. Solo le di tres estrellas porque esto lo llevaron al límite.

Parental warning - Not for me or my kids. I threw it in the garbage. The book helps teach kids how to use profanity, and the author uses the story to presents his view that Christ is just like any other leader in history (no more important to him that Benjamin Franklin).

Entertaining book with serious plot flaws. The book is well written, action goes fast, and the characters are funny. However, there are a couple reasons why I will not be reading the next book. 1, the mystery is all contrived. Will never asked the big questions, and later in the book we are given a flimsy reason why he can't get answers. 2, the author imposes too many arbitrary limits to up suspense. I.e. "get here in 15 minutes, but I'm not telling you where here is". It feels contrived and cheap. 3, the friendships develop instantly which is unrealistic. Will moves in, has 0 bonding experiences with his new friends, and suddenly they are lifelong friends who have each others' backs.

I remember listening to this game on the radio with my dad as we were driving home from my basketball team's practice. Being in California, we were listening to the game at a relatively normal hour (it started at 5:30 in Pacific time). We stayed in the car to hear the final at-bats of one of the late innings, and then raced into the house to watch the end of the game on TV. I was a Sox fan at the time, but it was hard to dislike the Reds of those days.

The author does a great job of digging up all sorts of peripheral stuff that played into that famous game and that watershed season. The Tiant story -- Cuban refugee, unable to see his parents for 15 years and reunited just a few months before the Series -- is remarkable enough on its own. And it's only one of the tales. The opening sequence about Sparky Anderson is charming as it traces his legacy in baseball back to Casey Stengel. Also, I think the Tom Yawkey stuff is done to just the right pitch: Yawkey was revered in his dotage, but he was also a dumb owner for much of his tenure who played into the racial prejudices of Boston then (and now).

Because this is a book, not a magazine or online article, it can literally go into every pitch of the game. I like that level of detail. It's great to read about how many pitches that were called balls that were almost strikes, and vice versa. And how many good pitches were barely fouled off by batters. Every baseball game turns on those details, but we rarely notice unless it's a high-stakes game.

However, that format has a few flaws that get grating after a while, The first is, in order to make the action flow sort of like a radio announcer's patter, the author alternates descriptions of a pitch with long digressions --- that's how a languid baseball game can go sometimes. But I'd rather he group it together differently as an at-bat and then a digression. Doing it between pitches gets you lost sometimes. Also, by focusing so much on each pitch, the author is compelled over and over to tell you that each pitcher is the toughest competitor in the game. Well, they can't all be, but he makes the claim about everyone from Tiant to Bill Lee to Jack Billingham. Each one is either a joker or laid back, or whatever, until you put the ball in his hands...and then he's a bulldog. Cliche city.

One other quibble. At the end of the book, there's a long postscript chapter. It fills in on what the players, managers, coaches, etc. did after 1975. To the extent that it covered the ensuing season or two, that was okay. But it went way beyond that -- about 50 pages beyond that. It's just not interesting reading, nor does it have any relationship to the fateful '75 Series.

In writing that postscript section, the author dives into a lot of baseball history and analysis quickly, and therefore makes broad generalizations that aren't right. It detracts from the power of the main part of the book. Example, he says that free agency, which started in 1976 immediately caused the downfall of the Sox and Reds. Really? The Reds won the World Series the next year and traded for Tom Seaver the year after that, in order to keep a team of aging stars (Rose, Morgan, Perez were in their mid-30s) competitive. The Sox? The took big division leads in both 1977 and 1978, falling only because the Yankees were building a major dynasty. From this point, the author makes the broader declaration that competitive balance in baseball was ruined by free agency, which ignores all evidence of the decade prior to his writing the book (which was published in 2010).

So, this is a really good book, especially if you remember the 1975 Series and want to relive it in detail. But skip the addendum chapter entirely.

First, in the interest of truth in packaging, I was living in Cincinnati in 1975 and watched Game Six on TV.
After Fisk hit the home run, I went and woke my wife up to tell her that she had just missed the greatest baseball game ever. She was not amused.

This is fine book. Frost not only thoroughly chronicles the historic game, but interweaves the game with all that was going on in the world at the same time. He also weaves a lot of baseball culture and history into the telling of the story. For instance, even though I have read a ton of baseball writing, I had never heard that there were significant rumors that the first World Series was fixed.

Frost documents the lives of the players involved, and tells not only how they got to Fenway Park that evening in October, but also what happened to all of them.

This book has the makings of a classic baseball book not unlike The Boys of Summer. If you enjoy baseball even a little bit you will enjoy it. Or, even if you don't, but like a really well written small piece of sports history, you will like Game Six.

It's tough to say why every Reds and Red Sox fan who is old enough to remember the 1975 World Series hasn't bought this book yet. Maybe they'll get to it soon. And when they do, they'll love it.

That's "Game Six" in a nutshell, an account -- 34 years later -- of one of the great games in baseball history.

It was a game filled with stars and personalities, filled with great plays under intense conditions, a game that helped millions remember what they loved about baseball. That's a lot to cram into a four-hour sporting event, but it works here.

Mark Frost goes over the game, pitch by pitch, but he does a lot more along the way as well. He went back and talked to several members of both teams as well as others who were on the scene. That adds perspective and insight. Fans of the teams might think they remember almost everything about the game, but Frost fills in the gaps nicely.

After setting the scene, the author essentially gives mini-biographies of everyone involved in the contest. The stars get the most attention, Hall of Famers such as Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Sparky Anderson, Carlton Fisk and Carl Yastrezemki. Others in the game either were close to that level (Dave Conception, Luis Tiant, Dwight Evans) or had, um, other issues (Pete Rose). But others aren't ignored either, so the reader gets a good picture of what went into the contest.

Eventually, the game action takes control at key moments. It's obviously fun to read the insight of a Bench, who thought his pitchers made two mistakes all night -- the two three-run homers hit by Fred Lynn and Bernie Carbo. Carlton Fisk's game-winning homer gets plenty of attention as well.

If there are centerpieces to the story, they are the two main characters: Anderson and Tiant. Both set the tone for their ballclubs, whether it be as a manager in Anderson's case or as a pitcher in Tiant's case. I assume they were major sources, but they were good choices.

Frost has shown a flair for the dramatic in a couple of his other books, "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and "The Match." He took some dramatic license in those books in creating conversations, but there's very little of that here. The game speaks for itself. Good move on the author's part.

There's only a couple of drawbacks here. The game ends about 100 pages before the book does. Game Seven certainly deserves a full recap under the circumstances, and it is important to note how the game changes so drastically in the following offseason due to the advent of free agency. But there is a bit of a letdown with the post-Game Six lives reviewed of so many of the principals. A little more editing might have been useful.

And a minor complaint: Frost writes that Peter Gammons of the Boston Glove sat down right after the game and composed one of "the most lyrical, inspired and impressionistic columns ever written about a baseball game." But Frost didn't include the beginning of it. One hopes he couldn't get the rights, rather than it being a simple omission. So here are Gammons' first three paragraphs, just for history:

"And all of a sudden the ball was there, like the Mystic River Bridge, suspended out in the black of the morning.

"When it finally crashed off the mesh attached to the left field foul pole, the reaction unfurled one step after another—from Carlton Fisk’s convulsive leap to John Kiley’s booming of the “Hallelujah Chorus” to the wearing off of the numbness to the outcry that echoed across the cold New England morning.

"At 12:34 A.M., in the 12th inning, Fisk’s histrionic home run brought a 7-6 end to a game that will be the pride of historians in the year 2525, a game won and lost what seemed like a dozen times, and a game that brings back summertime one more day. For the seventh game of the World Series."

There. "Game Six" now feels pretty complete. It's a fine read.

Pros:

- Great character development from the get go. Each of these characters are fleshed out well (the side characters to a lesser extent). It is a major boon for a book when the characters are ones the reader can find themselves caring about. I was apprehensive in a quote a few sequences when our little gang of teens encountered something.

- The world building is extensive, in a good way. The Center is definitely a place I'd love to visit, but would not fit in one bit. Nothing but brilliant minds and gifted athletes. Yeah, I could meet them halfway...maybe. Oh, who am I kidding?

- The powers were creative and extremely entertaining to read. I've always been fascinated with supernatural gifts, and this novel did not disappoint. Though, there were a few times *MINOR SPOILER* where I was going to find out Brooke's gift. *SPOILER OVER*

Con:

- I would be lying I'd I said I wasn't confused during some of the action sequences. There were times I had to re-read pays to catch everything. Though this didn't happen overturn enough to sour the experience, Just enough to be slightly bothersome.

Dishonorable Mention: There were times that I thought a love triangle would develop (I won't say between which characters, but my worries weren't fulfilled.) Still, I didn't like the few years there were. I about love triangles (unless they better the story).

Final thoughts: I am definitely going to be getting the sequel. I'm hooked, and I genuinely care what happens to these characters. Can't wait to pick up Alliance!

The last book I reviewed was a YA novel by a writer who was established in the adult market, and I swore that I'd start reading author bios before picking up books because I had gotten to the point where I could spot within the first few pages of the book an author whose bio includes the words "this is his/her first YA novel." I have gotten so tired of adult-market authors jumping on the teen bandwagon and pumping out books that don't read like teen novels, that are awkward or too adult or dumbed down or whatever.

But this. This book. I had never heard of Mark Frost, and when I started reading The Paladin Prophecy and was SO blown away, I looked him up. Established best-seller in the adult market. No way! I had to eat my words.

The Paladin Prophecy has everything that makes a novel awesome imho. Great writing. Vivid settings. Real, fully-fleshed characters. And a strong, distinct voice. And in this case, because it's for teens, it hits the mark square on all the things that make a teen book, well, teen. It's smartly written, but not adultly written (yes, I made that word up). It's complex and rich and full of adventure and there's just the right amount of cheese in just the right moments.

Oh, and it's not a romance, much less a paranormal romance (yay!), and the concept and plot are original. And the MC is a boy, which is something the teen market needs more of.

I could probably pull out a microscope and extract a few things if I wanted to pick flaws. But it'd take some work. I could not put this book down.

Adult fiction writers--READ THIS before you try to write for teens, please. This is the example to follow if you insist on jumping on the teen fiction bandwagon.

True story. I am reviewing this book for the publisher. Now that that's out of the way, my obligation to them is done. I actually received a copy of Alliance (book 2) first. Prior to receiving Alliance, I had never read the Paladin Prophecy (TPP) , so of course I had to read it first. It is one of the most riveting, intelligent piece of fiction I have ever read. Wow. Off the bat, let me say I'm partial to TPP. Mark Frost is a great writer and if there is ever any need for evidence, read The Paladin Prophecy! It grabbed me from the beginning to the end and didn't let go once! Mark treated the reader like intelligent people. That is something that stood out to me, particularly. He didn't over explain something and he didn't really set the scene of a piece on information with a lot of jibber-jabber. The info just flowed as the book unfolded in a precise intelligent manner. Nothing was ever surprising disclosed. Off the bat, the powers that Will West possessed wasn't like, "OMG, I have these powers, woooooaaahhhh", It was more like, "yeah, I already had these but it's improving". So refreshing. After reading many "the one" books, it was nice to see a different spin on the one. Plus, "the one" wasn't really just one, too. Awesome! But it still kinda felt like he was the one. This is great cuz I like my hero to have most of the limelight! Score!

Enter, Elise, Nick, Brook and Ajay! Yaaaayyy. He has a posse with their own, let's say uuummm, special skills? uh-uh. Awesome plus there is a burgeoning love connection that isn't the focus of the book, score! Love stories are great but this book is way more than that and that's how I like it! I will not reveal much about what happens in the book but, Wow! Mark really hit the cake on this one. I was all, "Nooooo. Oh wait, I have book two" at the end of book one. I just loved it! It was good to read something I did not have to slave through just because I had a commitment to it. It was amazing and I opened Alliance excited to know more.

Alliance. The kids re all are awake (aware of the shtuff happening around them). Oh, Will West is so amazing. I have a crush on his smartness. sooo awesome. He was all like evasive and smart in book one which i like. I don't want him to be stupid even if it is for the progress of the book and trust me he wasn't. He did have a learning cuz but who doesn't when shtuff goes down but he was all prepared. Ok. Alliance. Alliance to me was great but wan't as good as TPP. Maybe it's because I'm so enamored with the intelligence of TPP but oh well, it was great and revealing, sorta. You have to read it to understand, that Allaince was only the logical conclusion, that's why it was revealing-ish. It wasn't predictable per say, but if you're smart,with info from book one you can connect the dots and factor in the new information. I loved it and can't wait for book three to come out! I know, it'd be even more brilliant than the past two books! Go Will West & the Alliance!!!!!!

I enjoyed this book a lot. The plot was good and I liked the main protagonist and the other characters. I love stories or television shows wheremain characters are gifted prodigies. That's just my thing though.

Incorporated into the story is action, mystery, and a little bit of romance and folklore. All of which I enjoy so this review is going to be very opinionated and bias. The only thing that I didn't like about the story is that it only took place within like, a week. The main character and his friends had a strong bond that would usually take at least a couple of months to reach, not a couple of days. It also would have been nice if the author developed the characters a little more, but I guess that's what the trilogy is for.

The Paladin Prophecy opens with mystery and intensity that never stops. Will is our young hero. He has lived a solitary life. His parents move them about every 15 months, his father has created almost 100 rules to live by (that appear to be a little strange) and he was taught to never excel to never draw attention to himself. No explanation has every been given.

Things get even weirder as he heads to meet the cross country team for their run to school. Will realizes that he is being followed by men in black cars with tinted windows. At that moment he gets a text from his dad telling him to RUN and run he does. This is the 1st time he has any idea of exactly how fast he can run.

Things don't slow down when he gets to school. He is called out of class to attend a meeting. He has scored the highest ever score on a national test and is being offered a full ride to an very private school which enrollment is my invitation only. His mom is there ...... but it is not really his mom. She looks like it but her eyes and what she says is a give away.

Will runs for good when the men in black come in force to his house. His dad had sent a video that told him to run and keep running that he would find him somehow.

Will decided to go the the Paladin school where he thinks he will be safe..... but things are not always as they seem. He and his 4 pod mates banned together to help save Will and figure out what is going on. Again, things are not always as the seem.

The Paladin Prophecy grabs the reader and never lets go until the very end. Twists and turns with strong intensity keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

I started this book late last night and finished it early this morning. I couldn't put it down, though I tried several times. I am a school librarian (K-8) and went to my local BN and bought 2 copies of The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost for the middle school. This book is going to fly off the shelf and be in extremely high demand. I can't wait until the next book.

First Sentence: I couldn't see his face.

A Quick Synopsis: On the surface, Will West is just your average fifteen year-old. He goes to school, gets average grades, and is an average runner on his cross country team. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find that there's more to him that meets the eye. He does everything he can to stay normal. But when Will finally makes his mistake, he does it on a nationwide exam, scoring sky-high. Soon he's being courted by an exclusive prep school. When he arrives at the school after he loses his parents, Will discovers his roommates can do things that by all means should be impossible--and that he has powers of his own too. With the help of his new friends, Will must learn to master his powers...and unlock the secrets of the Paladin Prophecy.

The Review: When I heard of the title for this book, I was instantly intrigued. The word Paladin just evokes such grand visions in us, of dazzling knights and an age long gone. And the word Prophecy--a word that always appears in the best high fantasy stories, suggesting valiant heroes and dastardly villains. When you put the two together--never mind the meaning of them, even the way they sound is brilliant, not to mention the beautiful cover for this book. So you can imagine my disappointment when I read the synopsis for The Paladin Prophecy and realised it was an urban fantasy set in modern times. That alone is not a bad thing, but the idea of a new high fantasy seemed so appealing to me, it was hard to accept that The Paladin Prophecy was something different.

The first thing that readers will notice when they pick up The Paladin Prophecy is that the thing is HUGE. The book clocks in 549 pages, and is only the first in a series. Now, a question that must inevitably be asked with big books like these is: were those pages used well or not? I hate to say this, but, for a book that's nearly 550 pages, The Paladin Prophecy could have had a bit more substance in it. The story simply wasn't deep enough to merit a volume like this.

The plot was simple, but vivid, clear, and clever. Mark Frost, the scriptwriter for the television series Twin Peaks, knows what readers want. Most of the plot is a huge buildup the climax, which I thought could have been a little bigger, but I digress. It's clear that the entire book is only a prelude to something bigger, though there is enough mystery to fill the pages. Some parts of the book drag a bit, though, and it's clear that the book could have been shorter.

The characters are where I'd say the story really shines, regardless of the book's length. Even though Will possesses awesome superpowers, he begins the book like a normal kid, and you know what they say about first impressions--Will is someone that readers can really relate to. The surrounding characters each had their own little quirks, which made for an interesting reading experience. Even the bullies don't feel stereotypical, like they do in some other books. The best part of it all was the way all the main characters worked together to discover secrets and solve the problem. It was really heartwarming to see them all bond together.

The Paladin Prophecy is a book that is sure to entice action-movie lovers, though you do have to give it a little while to get off the ground. Reluctant readers will be hooked and will devour Will's tale. Mark Frost has crafted a great tale of friendship and conflict that has landed him a spot on my Authors-to-Watch list. Now, Mr. Frost, please tell me you write quickly and bring on Book 2, Alliance, soon.

Memorable Quote: Running for your life is a hell of a motivator.

The writing is pretty good, but there are story problems in the first scene.

If Will was being chased by a black car and receiving cryptic texts why would he still go to school and act like everything is cool. The assumption is that none of this has happened before to him so why isn’t he flipping out?

Someone in a black car is trying to kill me but I still have to go to math class and I completely forget about that unfortunate incident as soon as I walk through the doors. If there are story problem in the first scene it doesn’t bode well for the book.

NOTE: I received this book upon request from Netgalley.

I absolutely loved this book. While I was reading it, I felt the same excitement and anticipation I usually feel when reading Harry Potter, so that must say a lot. The story, I think, was unique and captivating, and the storytelling was done masterfully.

To be honest, I had a completely different notion on this book before I sat down to read it. For one, I thought it would be a high fantasy novel (paladin, duh!), and two, I believed it would be a story of magic. It was neither. Sure, it had paranormal elements, but nothing of the fantasy sort, and there was absolutely no magic.

But, there was a very high level of technology implementation, which I think totally rocked! The author's imagination is absolutely fantastic, and I will be definitely waiting to read the second installment of this series.

Also, there was this incredible list of rules mentioned throughout the novel, which the main character was supposed to follow. Those rules ranged from paranoid to hilarious and I totally loved them!

Now a bit about the characters.

*Will West, the main character (though I don't actually remember if he was telling the story or if it was a third person POV) was this super smart kid, who scored waaaaaaaay above the average on an IQ test. And he hadn't even tried. Unfortunately, that score drew the wrong (and also the right) kind of attention, and a bunch of men in black suits started following him with the clear intent to dispose of him. So Will had no other choice but to run. Except that he wasn't completely going to safety.
Through it all though, he remained unfazed, strong and brave. I really and truly loved him as much as I love Harry Potter.

*AJay was a tech wiz, who knew everything and could do anything with a bunch of wires and some micro chips.

*Nick was a dude with mad skills in any sort of martial arts one can think of.

*Elise was this amazing, even if brooding, girl with a brain and skills of her own. (Loved her, by the way)

*Brooke, for now, seems to be nothing special. But since Will has a thing for her, I suppose next book would reveal her skills. I sure do hope so.

In conclusion, the only thing I can say is that I fully recommend you read this book. You'll enjoy it, I promise.

First things first: I LOVE stories about prodigies and geniuses (*ahem* Legend). When I picked up this book and the synopsis said he does totally awesome on a state-administered exam, I was like, WOOH, right up my alley! I was expecting some standard sci-fi, genetic manipulation, my favourite kind of stuff. What I was not expecting was the supernatural element, which actually worked! At first I was like, this should be two different stories. I wasn't sure how they would meet up, or if they even should!

Even now I think the author maybe had too many different ideas and decided to put them all together into one book. But you know what? It's a cool story! Sure, the cast was a little too stereotypical (your basic courageous, intelligent hero, a nerdy, technologically-inclined kid, a wise-ass, attack first, ask questions later comedian, the sweet, intelligent, and romantically-inclined beauty, and the dark, mysterious siren), and the character growth kind of fell short for me, but the action was awesome, the story was suspenseful, and the book was intelligently written. If you have a cast of mostly teenage geniuses, you pretty much have to be a genius yourself to write for them, to understand their decisions, and to come across as believable. While that's not really possible (I'm pretty sure Mark Frost isn't actually a genius, but who knows?), I still think the characters come across as intelligent, reflective, and self-aware individuals.

What really bugged me was the romance-interest, Brooke. I just want her to turn out to be a secret bad guy because she was so boring and one dimensional. Unlike the other characters, you don't see a lot of her intelligent, bright side. You see a lot of her acting like the damsel in distress, flirting, and being all cute and air-headed. Ugh. If this is how male authors envision the perfect female lead, then count me out!

Similarly, Will suddenly pulls out all these sudden secret abilities (that the author has been hiding from us since page one) when it becomes convenient for him to use them. There's no set up, and there's not much returning to some of those abilities either. The author didn't take enough time to set up the story before he plunged right into it. I think he was so eager to get Will to this fancy school that not enough of his background was explored.

Other than that, this was a really good book! I liked it overall, and I would definitely read the next one. It was an funny, thoughtful, and witty read, and I flew through it because it was full of action, suspense, and was extremely fast-paced. I like Will's new growing abilities and his exploration of his old ones. I like some of his friends. There was kung-fu awesomeness. Anything with kung-fu will win me over any time. So I would recommend this book to anyone who can overlook some of its small faults and be won over by the characters.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Will West has been careful to live his life under the rader. His parents insist that he has to stay middle of the pack on everything from grades to his cross-country team. In fact Will's dad has made him memorize a list of rules to live by and they move around every few months. But then...Will slips up and scores off the charts on a nationwide exam. And now...a top school is recruiting him and men are following him in black sedans. Will suddenly loses his parents and flees to the school and discovers that there is more to both the school..and himself, than meets the eye. And he is at the center of prophecy that may save or destroy the world.

Written by the co-creator of Twin Peaks, Mark Frost has created an engaging and exciting new series. This book kept me on the edge of my seat waiting and wondering what would happen to Will and his suitemates time and time again. The action and mystery has a similar vibe to the Percy Jackson series from Rick Riordan. No it doesn't deal with gods, but it does have the teamwork, the young adults...and they mysterious prophecy. And all of these factors create a compelling story and great read.

Even more important to me is that I really like the variety of characters that Mark creates. He seems to have made it a point to have different cultures, different sizes, different personalities, and different genders take the lead and show that they aren't defined by what others think of them, but by what they think and imagine of themselves. Even the strengths that the characters begin to display and show vary and it makes it easy for any reader to find something they can relate to and connect with the characters. And the characters, even the villainous ones, act like real kids...well as much like real kids as super geniuses can.

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 5 out of 5 stars.(

I read books of every genre, and am always excited to find a new author (in this case in YA) that weaves a story with drama, intrigue, fantasy, science, mayhem and mythology. The dialogue and characters are interesting and never insult your intelligence. The bad guys on "the Other side" are deliciously evil and the descriptions are so vivid that you can hear the cracking, slurping or sucking noises. The good guys are complex enough to always keep you guessing - are they going to dark side? Will their all-too-human weaknesses keep them from fighting the good fight? Will, the main character, is someone that anyone can relate to. I read this book, promptly got the next book, handed it to my 22-year old son and recommended it to my 27-year old daughter. Great read. The author is a little uncomfortable and stiff writing about young crushes and attraction, but perhaps that is perfect for the 15-year old characters. In actuality, I would bet there would be a LOT more drama than he depicts on the pages (but I didn't want that distraction from the rest of the book, anyway). This was along the lines of Harry Potter, but better than Percy Jackson.

I enjoyed reading this book however I found that some of the characters and some of the descriptions were kind of cheesy. The pacing and timing and descriptions very nice book move very quickly and it was enjoyable read. however, I couldn't shake the feeling that several of the characters are simply clichéd or throwback to the 1980s. It didn't stop me from enjoying the book, however, it did throw me out of the story fairly often.

I would like to know what happens with the rest of the story, however, I did not enjoying the book enough to buy the next two in the series. So I guess you could say it's a curious book, and enjoyable, but not enough for me to want to spend the next 600 to 800 pages required to finish it.

The Paladin Prophecy rocks the young adult scene with the latest and greatest hero - Will West. Opening with a quiet intensity, Mark Frost adds a humorous plot and deep, endearing cast of characters to a brilliant world of mystery and adventure.

Peaceful Southern California sets the stage for the beginning of Will's journey. After spending his life following his Dad's 'Rules to Live By', rules that have kept him unnoticed and under the radar, Will's anonymity is threatened. The results of a test given to students nationwide sheds light on Will's extraordinary mind. Approached by Dr. Robbins, Will is offered a scholarship to a prestigious private academy that could possibly hold the answers to the questions that suddenly arise as his life is thrown into chaos. His parents are compromised and he's chased by men in black caps, proof if he ever wondered why his parents always lived so cautiously during his childhood.

Taking a chance on The Center for Integrated Learning is either the worst, or best, choice Will makes. Here he discovers the physical and mental potential his body may have and forges friendships with kids he can finally relate to. The Center also seems to be the place that does grant Will answers to his questions while dredging up many more for consideration. Frost puts Will and his new comrades: Nick, Ajay, Elise and Brooke through the toughest obstacles, but their teen resilience and comedic interludes keep all sane, including the reader! There's a strong connection between reader and the story, even when the plot picks up in action. Frost crafted Will and his friends, in particular, with such skill that it's too hard to believe that they're only fictional characters. Their lives and personalities are so relatable that every reader can find something in them that mirrors their own life.

The first title in what is sure to be a thrilling trilogy, The Paladin Prophecy demands attention. Frost gives readers more than just an entertaining novel that mixes ingenious supernatural lore with science-fiction elements. Will West will become part of every day lives and inspire young teens, especially, to explore themselves while reaching out for something more. Frost excels in speaking directly to the younger audience through characterization and hip dialogue, but any age group will enjoy and gain appreciation for The Paladin Prophecy!
*I received an ARC via Random Buzzers' Ambuzzador program in exchange for an honest review*

Every game has a story. It goes deeper than what you see in the park or on your television. Every action has a reason, and an explanation behind it. This book gives those explanations for what many consider the greatest game ever played. As the title tells you, this book focuses on Game Six of the 1975 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. But it was more than that. It was Sparky Anderson vs. Darrell Johnson. Luis Tiant vs. Pete Rose. Carlton Fisk vs. Johnny Bench. What was the back-story that made this one game the pinnacle sports? What does the viewer need to know that it doesn't?

Game Six uses a popular technique of following the play-by-play of a game, but interjecting outside information into it. So, it is like reading a series of short biographies, set into the flow of the game. The trick with that style is not interrupting the flow of the game itself with a story about Carlton Fisk. Frost does a good job of that. I never felt like the book was getting too far away from the action. Frost also did a good job of keeping the side stories relevant to the game action. It usually seemed like the story being told had a direct relationship to the game situation the player was in. It was wonderfully twirled. It also helped that I didn't know as much about the 1975 team as I do others. So, the information in the book wasn't as stale as if it were about, say, Game 4 of the 2004 World Series. That all made for a wonderful read. It makes me want to pick up Frost's other books...even if they're about golf

Will West has lived his life under the radar, doing all he can not to call attention to himself at his parent's request. Having moved around all his life, he's used to being the new kid at school so this has worked out well for him so far, until one day...

Now Will's on the run from who-knows-what from the Never-Was, and seeks solace at a very secretive, very private school in Wisconsin called the Center for Integrated Learning. But why are these monsters after Will and his parents in the first place? And just how much does the school really know about it all? Will can only hope that with the help of his new friends, they have what it takes to defeat them and escape with their lives.

Will's story is intriguing and moves along at a good pace. The author uses lots of description and imagery to bring everything to life, though I never found it excessive or slowing the story down. That's good because at 560 pages, it took me nearly the entire three weeks of my library's eBook rental term to finish it.

Yes, there are some things you don't quite understand for much of the first half of the book, but I didn't find that the least bit frustrating, instead it piqued my interest and kept me reading well into the night. Once the main story line is wrapped up at the end, the author leaves you with a little bit of a cliffhanger which will have you looking forward to the next book in the series.

This is Mark Frost's first foray into the young adult fantasy genre. Though I haven't read any of his other books yet, I have The List of Seven on my TBR which I acquired in a swap or book box over at BookObsessed some time ago, so now I'm looking forward to reading that while I wait for the release of Alliance: The Paladin Prophecy Book 2. Mr. Frost was also involved in two successful television series: Hill Street Blues and Twin Peaks.

Background: Will West is a fifteen year old who is running for his life. One day out of nowhere he is being chased by these strange people in black caps, and his mother is acting super strange. He is forced to leave his home in search of answers and decides to go to an invite only school he was recently recruited into. Nothing seems to add up and weird things are happening all around him.

Review: I was very excited to pick up this book when I did. WOW, I am so happy to say that it has lived up to the epic nature everyone seems to be sharing about it.

The book starts as a whirlwind, Will is almost immediately running for his life and the suspense is all there, even before you learn more about him as a character. After the first chapter it only gets better, the plot is a mix of fantasy, science, and an elaborate idea of guardians thrown together with some teenage insecurities and bullying.

Will is a likeable character, he is genuine and smart and follows all of the rules his father has taught him throughout his life...and boy are there a lot of them. The villains are all over the place, there are so many characters you aren't sure who is out to get who, but that is the beauty of it. If I had to compare it, I would say it is a more mature version of Harry Potter: A boy meant to fulfill a prophecy he knows nothing about, and only his friends can help him solve the puzzles.

I am very interested to see where the story leads, I felt amazed by Frost's ability to create such an awesome world in this first book and have high expectations for the next.

I had a pleasure to start reading Mark Frost's "The Paladin Prophecy" over the past two days. I was greeted with a well written, engaging storyline. This book was reminiscent of others within the Young Adult Fiction genre. Much like I am Number Four or Percy Jackson and the Olympians, we have a story that centers on youth who are supposed to save the world. The cover of Paladin is what first intrigued me to take a chance on the book, which coupled with the title promised to at least be an interesting story.

Paladin far exceeded my expectations. We're introduced to Will, a teen who for his whole life has been on the move. Unlike most parents, his parents pushed him to be mediocre. For most of his life, Will did not understand that, what was the purpose? Why would they hold him back? Some of the answers to those questions comes crashing into his reality and starts him off on a journey where he must make new friends to survive. Who is friend and who is foe? Who can he trust when even his own parents are suspect?

If you enjoyed I am Number Four or the Percy Jackson series, you will love Mark Frost's "The Paladin Prophecy." Due to the exemplary writing, and the enjoyment I derived from the book, I am happy to give Paladin 5/5 swords for a job well done. I eagerly await the next novel in this series.

I found this book in the bargain section at Books-A-Million about two years ago. I really liked the cover (yes, I judged the book by its cover), so I decided to buy it and read it, which took me about a month (I tend to read books slowly to enjoy them a lot longer). For the first read, I really enjoyed it, but considering that it had been two years since I had last read it, I decided to read it again, this time only taking me about a week to finish it (I hardly ever finish books within a week, even if I haven't read it beforehand).

After reading it a second time, I finally realized that the story was more interesting than I realized. Will West is a great main protagonist and very relatable (to me, anyway). For his entire fifteen years of existence, Will has been trained to live and act modestly and not draw any sort of attention, wanted or unwanted, to himself. This all changes, however, when the Black Caps start to stalk him. It is here that Will realizes that he might have abilities that expand beyond just regular human abilities. It also does not help his cause when a psychologist from the highly esteemed Center tracks him down and offers a full scholarship and pretty much a free ride. Though hesitant at first, Will decides, after much inspiration from the events that happen around him, such as the monsters and Black Caps chasing him down, to his parents acting stranger than usual, that he must accept this scholarship in order to flee from whatever is going on.

This is where the story really picks up. While at the Center, Will befriends his four roommates: Brooke Springer, Ajay Janikowski, Nick McLeish, and Elise Moreau. It is with his newly-found friends that Will begins to let his guard down a little bit and accept the fact that he does not have to go through whatever he is going through alone. He also finds some enemies during his stay at the Center: Lyle Ogilvy and Todd Hodak (as well as the rest of the cross-country team that will joins that just happens to be lead by Hodak), who seem to be in cahoots together. Throughout the duration of the book, Will, along with his newfound friends, uncovers a conspiracy about the school and a secret group that is connected with the Knights of Charlemagne.

This book was a wild ride. With plot twists at every turn, I was not sure what to think when it was nearing its end. Mark Frost concocted such an intricate story that it really left no room for filler. Every word and every scene and every action was important and crucial in order to further the plot. I really enjoyed the lively banter between Will and his roommates, as well as how he acted when around the other people at the Center, especially when it came to Lyle and Todd.

If I were to have any critique about this book whatsoever, I would have to say that it would be the fact that it was much too similar to the short-lived Cartoon Network television series Tower Prep, which I was a really big fan of at the time of its broadcast.The plot for Tower Prep is: a kid realizes that he might have some sort of superhuman powers; the kid finds himself in an isolated, mysterious, but highly esteemed school; he makes friends and enemies quite easily; he is at first unwilling to succumb to how the school wants him to act; the kid uncovers a conspiracy about the school that could very well mean danger for him and his friends; the kid is really good at sports, etc. etc. Sound familiar? While the plotline is eerily similar, the way both are played out are actually quite different. I would recommend that anyone who reads this review watch the show and see how similar they are, but also how diverse they are as well.

Despite the similar plotline, I found this book to be very entertaining. I enjoyed Will West's attitude and behavior; he seemed like a young Myron Bolitar (the main character of the Myron Bolitar series, which I also highly recommend) but not quite as cocky, though Will West is very cocky. I enjoyed it's breakneck pace and well-written dialogue, action, and description of scenery; it made me feel as if I was actually there attending the Center. I would recommend this book to those who are fans of, again, Tower Prep, science fiction, and superhero origin stories; maybe even mystery novels, but that might be a bit of a stretch.

I also did not really like the fact that Will's parents made him hold himself back when it came to academia and sports, but that is more of a critique on their parenting skills, rather than the author's writing or choice of plot. I do, however, understand why they did that, but it just left me disliking them a whole lot.

In the store terms, I would give this five stars out of five, but in terms of a ten-star scale, I would probably rate it between an eight and a nine.

It is a really good story and I do recommend that people read it and the sequels that follow.

Mark Frost's "Game Six" gives a pitch-by-pitch account of the sixth game of the 1975 World Series - one of the most memorable games ever played in what is largely considered the greatest series ever.

Given that a plethora of books have been written about the players, the teams and series itself, Frost has to walk a fine line between merely adding to the already large volume tomes versus adding something new. I'm happy to say he added something new. Without diving too deeply into any one character or player, Frost manages to uncover some nuggets of information that even the most studious baseball history nut is unlikely to be aware of.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the brief 'where are they now' aspect of the final chapter. Everyone knows what happened to Charlie Hustle and baseball fans surely know what became of the Spaceman. But the whereabouts of Pat Darcy and Bernie Carbo (now a devout Christian) were unknown to me.

The most tiresome part of the book is simply Frost's penchant for putting words into the mouth of the players (called out in italics). He relies on it heavily early on and it becomes tedious. Thankfully, that technique is largely missing from the final 2/3 of the book.

The Power of Friends
Friendship is a necessity. Mark Frost, author of The Paladin Prophecy, thinks that friends are necessary. In his novel The Paladin Prophecy published in 2012 by Random House, he explains how friendship can help you overcome obstacles in your life. Friends are always there when you need them, and they always have your back. He conveys theme through the development of Will and minor characters and lastly, an epiphany of the protagonist Will West. Friendships are needed to help get through life, and Frost shows just that.
A cross-country runner named Will West lives by his “Dad’s list of rules,” and they are the most important thing in Will’s life. (Frost 3). Will, a victim of an attempted kidnapping, meets a man named Nando who helps him escape to The Center, which is a school for advanced students. He needs to make friends and overcome the bullies and literal monsters inside.
Through major character development Frost conveys his theme. When Will meets his new roommate Elise, she says how Will needs to get his life in order and figure out who his friends are, but Will thinks to himself that “he’d been taught, trained, and conditioned to never trust anybody” (Frost 216). Since Frost uses italics on the word “anybody”, it adds emphasis on how important it is for Will to trust nobody. Will becomes a very isolated person relying on himself to do everything; however, as the novel continues, Will realizes friends are helpful. When Will and his roommates are discussing their plan to determine the origin of the monsters, Will stands and proclaims, “Let’s do this. Right here, right now” (Frost 268). In other words, Will wants his friends to help stop the bullies and monsters. Because friends are helping him, Will feels as though he can accomplish more with them at his side. He immediately goes into the auxiliary locker room where the portal for the Never-Was monsters is. Will goes from becoming an isolated person to a boy with a lot of friends helping him through his struggles. Not only does Frost use Will to convey his theme, but he also uses the minor characters to accomplish the same thing.
The minor character development in the story conveys the theme just as the major character development does. When Will gets in a fight with the cross-country team, his roommate Nick walks in, and proceeds to fight everyone who is beating up Will. When Will is walking with Nick back to their pod he realized he wanted him as a friend. Will thinks to himself, “The guy just launched himself into a one-sided stomping and saved my rear end” (Frost 359). By using the phrase “one-sided stomping”, Will is realizing that Nick put himself in danger to help Will. The chance to win was slim, but Nick still tries to save Will. Later in the novel, Will and Nick are talking about sneaking into Lyle’s quarters. If they get caught doing this they will end up being expelled from The Center. Instead of saying no to this dangerous mission, Nick gladly accepts. He even says, “I’m all over that” (Frost 360). Nick is eager to help Will in a time of need, despite the consequences, Frost shows as the minor characters develop, so does the friendship between them and Will. Because their friendship is strengthening, Nick and the others can help Will when he needs it. Without the minor character development, the theme could not have been portrayed as it is, but that is not the only way Frost conveys theme.
Will has an epiphany. His epiphany is how much he actually needs friends to succeed. Will begins to realize how much his friends can help in certain situations. When Will, Nick, and Ajay are inside the auxiliary locker room, Nick sees a hatchet wielding maniac coming. The maniac uses his hatchet to “punch through next to the knob” and a second blow “doubled the size of the gash” (Frost 294). Because the maniac is wielding a hatchet, readers can assume that the boys are frightened however, through teamwork, they make it through a secret passage and narrowly escape the killer. When Will is walking off after Nick saved him in his brawl, Will thinks to himself, “Why did my parents discourage me from making friends” (Frost 359)? Because he uses word like “discourage” and a question mark, Will is realizing that he actually needs friends to succeed in overcoming his obstacles. When in need, Will needs friends to be there, and he does not understand why his parents did not want him to have friends. The epiphany is the realization of how much Will needs his friends, and it helps build Frost’s theme.
The Paladin Prophecy effectively uses an epiphany and major/minor character development to accurately convey its theme of friendship helps overcome obstacles. readers feel as though friends are something that can empower them to do anything. This novel is recommended for anyone in need of a fast read that is packed full with action or for someone who needs to understand the importance of friendship. Frost explains how much friends are needed because they can help you get through tough situations.

Mark Frost brings his readers back to that October night in 1975 when the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox played a game for the ages, perhaps the best game ever played in the Fall Classic. Sure, there were memorable moments in many other Series games over the decades, including Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956 and Willie Mays' miraculous catch that swung the pendulum of victory to the New York Giants in 1954. But for non-stop tension and drama, nothing can top the sixth game of the '75 Series at hallowed Fenway Park. Frost's account is a virtual pitch-by-pitch account of the game from Luis Tiant's first pitch to Pete Rose to Pat Darcy's offering to Carlton Fisk early the next morning. Frosts describes each pitch to all the batters throughout the game, interspersed with stories, brief biographical sketches of the principals and the histories of the the two franchises as the game unfolds. The game's announcers and writers are also weaved into the story, as are the current events of the day during Gerald Ford's presidency, including two bungled attempts on the president's life. The most poignant account involves Sox pitcher Tiant, whose career and personal life had highs and lows that tested his faith and resulted in a reunion with his parents who were allowed to visit the United States to see their son pitch down the stretch during the Sox' pennant chase and in the post-season in the ALCS and Series. This book is an absolute baseball gem and illustrates why baseball was once America's favorite pastime.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: High-stakes and over-flowing with action, The Paladin Prophecy is a intense read. A hilarious hero with a secretive past and new friends at a strange school are thrown into a war with an alternate dimension.

Opening Sentence: The Importance of an Orderly Mind Will West began every day with that thought even before he opened his eyes.

The Review:

While I was reading this novel, and for a few hours afterward, The Paladin Prophecy had me buzzing. It was the most exciting story to read. This is a novel that will have you turning pages so fast you'll get papercuts. When a black SUV follows Will down a street on his run, he thinks they're just looking for a house number. Until he gets a text from his father, who's all the way in San Francisco, saying nothing but RUN, WILL. It seems impossible that the two could be connected -- until the SUV tries to run him down. Will runs faster than he's ever run before -- so fast he can't even believe it -- without breaking a sweat. When Doctor Rollins comes to school to invite Will to an exclusive, secret academy in Wisconsin, he realizes he hasn't been living under the radar like his parents taught him.

There are rules. Will's father drilled them into him at an early age, numbers 1 through 97. Always on the move, always under the radar, his father's rules have been what's kept him safe. Now, on the run from a strange group of men and his own family, Will's left with no where to go but The Center for Integrated Learning. No cell phones, no laptops, the school encourages face-to-face communications and challenging work. While all these rules grate on Will's sense of independence, it isn't long before he realizes the Center is the first place he can really belong.

He makes friends, for the first time friends that will last. And he begins to find secrets. A student who invades the minds of others and his powers to bully people. His friend Ajayhas a photographic memory and incredible understanding of technology. Some of the students at the Center are more than prodigies. Just like Will.

Though, Will's got another talent. He sees things as they really are. Dwayne the owner of a mysterious Prowler who happens to save his life, begins popping up where Will least expects it -- always in time to save him. There are monsters coming through the Never-Was and somehow they're connected to his family. This is where the science fiction gets a little obscure, but the story is set up so Will knows almost nothing -- because knowing is dangerous.

Will is a hilarious narrator. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but his sarcasm and smarta$$ comments helped me keep reading. Once the story gets started it becomes the most exciting reading ever. I couldn't put the book down. Something was always happening -- this book is jam packed with mysteries all strangely woven together. The characters, Will and his new band of friends, are smart and resourceful. Because of this I had no problem believing they really could figure out what happened to Will's parents. The boys' banter helped move even the slow parts -- by this I mean areas when the characters are learning something new and not, you know, fighting monsters -- of the story at a fast clip. This novel was a blast to read. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes their heroes witty and resourceful.

FTC Advisory: Random House Books for Young Readers provided me with a copy of The Paladin Prophecy. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Game Six of the 1975 World Series has joined the elite of sports history like "The Ice Bowl" and the 5th down. It is just one of those events where when you hear about it, you know right away what the subject is. Mark Frost does a tremendous job of describing the event and most of all, framing it in the context of not only baseball history, but the social changes happening in America at the time. He does a great job of balancing baseball with history without losing sight on the fact he's writing about baseball.

Most importantly, he keeps the focus on those who were playing the game and we learn the background of each player from the famous, Bench, Morgan, Yaz and Perez, to the colorful, Tiant & Lee to the obscure, Geronimo & Doyle to the now infamous, with Pete Rose. He retells the well told story of both game 6 and the 1975 Series, yet does a great job of making it all seem fresh. Most importantly he tells the story of what happened to both teams and players after the game and how so many great players missed out on the riches of free agency, which came to pass a few days after the end of the series. All in all this is a very good book and I recommend it to all baseball fans. But fans of the Red Sox and Reds will enjoy it the most. Lets be honest!

Is there anyone better than Mark Frost at telling the story of real life events and all the individuals that made that event happen. Mark not only gives you the incredible well researched history and depth around the main story but the background stories of every individual that was involved leading up to the moments that created the event itself.

This time he dives deep into one of the Greatest Moments in Baseball history... the climatic Carlton Fisk homerun in extra innings of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. With historical Fenway Park as the back drop, Mark reveals the innermost nuggets of details that only individuals that were intimately involved would know... and some that maybe even they didn't know!

The amazing thing about Mark is that even though his research is exhaustive and his stories incredibly detailed, his writing style keeps you riveted throughout the story so that you just keep turning the pages as fast as you possibley can!

As a Bosotn native and a baseball fan I knew I would love this book no matter who wrote it. The fact that Mark Frost wrote it makes it all the better!

I love reading all of Mark Frost's works, for his histories give you a depth that you cannot get anywhere else. I look forward to his next book!

Well good book but honestly could be better. I knew after they went into the cavern that one of them was a traitor, and I knew instantly who it was. I haven't quite finished but I will assure you either Haxley or Mr. Eliott will turn out to be Franklin Greenwood. But honestly... If you want to know who the traitor is... Who would break Will's heart the most if they betrayed him? Who has a parent who went to the school? Who has connections to members of the Knights? Who is family friends with Knights? Who goes to their room after every new development? Yep, there's your answer.

SPOILER!
Not done yet, just finished the chapter where they get captured near the end, but I will bet you thousands of dollars that it is Brooke. Duh. Too easy. Also Mr Hobbes will be not the old gentleman, but his second in command. I know I'm right. Now I'll go finish reading
(Edit)
Yep I was right about everything.

My how time flies! I still wonder at the fact that this game was played almost thirty-five years ago, and that I had the good fortune to have seen it on TV and it still retains a lasting imprint on my mind as one of the greatest games I ever saw. But now, thanks to author Mark Frost, I have been able to revisit almost every minor detail of the game that had slipped away.

I admit to being a life long Boston Red Sox fan, and yes I am one of those old fashioned people who still believes the World Series is the greatest show in all of sports, so a critic of the critic may not agree with my assessment, but I wish the game was still played the way it was in 1975. There were obviously smaller salaries, there were at least a few day games (weekends) played in the Series, there was far greater longevity on one's team, as evidenced by Carl Yastrzemski, Dwight Evans, Johnny Bench and Sparky Anderson, in the pre-free agency days, there were no baggy pants down to the ankles and players still wore stirrups, and there were no steroids to distort the record books, although it comes as no surprise that there was smoke blowing around the game. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn was often criticized during his tenure, but made the right decisions regarding rain delays leading up to "Game Six." Compared to the dreadful decisions made by today's commissioner and the TV networks it is doubtful that anything like the suspense leading to game six could ever be repeated today.

Mark Frost does a praiseworthy job of reporting the game pitch-by-pitch and out-by-out, but often gives more details than this baseball fan needed to know. The pitches, outs and innings are interwoven with biographical information about each individual player, managers, announcers and even the umpires. The news of the day is also included with unwelcome appearances by Jimmy Carter and Richard M. Nixon. Fidel Castro also makes an appearance regarding how Cuban politics affected Luis Tiant's career. The book could have been titled "The Life and Times of Game Six."

The history of the greater game, the "other six" 1975 games, ownerships, Babe Ruth, and what happens during the subsequent thirty-five years are all touched upon. The individual players were household names then and remain some of my personal favorites of all time: Yaz, Fisk, Evans, Freddy Lynn, Joe Morgan, Sparky Anderson and yes, Pete Rose who played every game with maddening intensity. Even the NBC broadcasters evoked nostalgia. Maybe NBC should try baseball again, they did it so well back in 1975. The book also includes two good photo sections.

Was this the greatest World series game or greatest World Series ever played? Who can say? There have been so many great ones and the answer is so subjective. I will say that it was the greatest game I ever saw, but perhaps that is because of the iconic images of Carlton Fisk's (my favorite player) 12th inning home run. Ironically I felt like the author spent less time talking about Fisk than Johnny Bench and other players from both teams. Fisk was not included in the acknowledgments in the back of the book. Could it be that the man who who made the final run of the game did not contribute to the author's effort?

There is a vast catalog of good baseball books, more than any other sport. This one belongs high on that list. The author has done a skillful job.

This story had lots of familiar elements - a young man who has been educated by his parents to keep his abilities secret, frequent moves without explanation, a chance to attend a special school for exceptional kids, unknown enemies who seem to be everywhere. The way Frost wove them together made a compelling and very readable tale.

Will West had been following his parents' instruction to be average but he blew it when he scored off the charts on a standardized test given to all the kids in the US. Now he is being followed by men in black sedans with heavily frosted glass. He's been recruited and offered a full scholarship to the Center - a secretive school in rural Wisconsin. His mother is acting strangely and he isn't sure his father has been affected too. He runs - with the aide of an Australian guy named Dave in a hot car - to the school. Will's father had given him a variety of rules to live by which Will wrote in a notebook. He took it and a picture of his parents when he ran. The rules help him keep his parents close and help him make decisions in dangerous situations.

Once he arrives at the school he finds that he hasn't completely outrun the bad guys. He makes friends with the kids who share his pod - Brooke, Elise, Ajay and Nick - and makes an enemy of Lyle who is the Provost Marshall of his dorm. He finds that there is a secret society in the school that has some evil plans. They are in league with some Others who have been locked into a prison in the NeverWas as a result of a war long ago. Now those Others are trying to escape and take over the Earth again.

Dave tells Will that he is his guardian angel but has a limited number of times he can offer assistance. He also tells Will that he is an initiate for the side of good in this epic war between Good and Evil. Will and his friends have a number of adventures as they try to find out who the members of the secret society are and what their goal is.

I thought Will and his friends were well-developed characters who had unique strengths and abilities. I was especially fond of Nick who provided a sense of comic relief when things were especially tense but who also was incredibly brave and loyal. And I really want some of the technology the author had in the story. I want a tablet like the ones described with its avatar.

This book was a good start to a series that I think will be very popular - especially with my middle grade boys. I can't wait to share it with them. I was glad to add it to my next book order.

Nowhere near "Harry Potter" caliber, but still a fun read.

The bad:
The entire setting is limited to a private school campus (in winter), a restaurant that they only visit twice (and you only get to follow them in once), and a kid's house. So it's not the most expansive world ever penned. It's really easy to tell who's a good guy and who's a bad guy... and the bad guys are so easily dispatched (even though the descriptions of them are supposed to make them look really mean and nasty) that it's a little bit ridiculous. The whole story is fairly predictable. Even the final battle, which the author obviously wanted to write up as quite suspenseful, held no surprises for me. Another thing that was a constant nag for me, was the fact that the action ALWAYS centers on just four or five characters. They're at a HIGH SCHOOL, and yet they never meet any other students who would be played by extras or "bit parts" in a movie. Everyone is either a good guy or a bad guy; the only time you even get introduced to neutral characters is in the first couple of chapters while the main character is meeting up with his school's track team before he goes off to the special school.

The good:
It's a little predictable and the bad guys are less scary than they were intended to be, but it's still a good story. There is a creative use of super-human powers unlike anything you'd see in a comic book. The character development is pretty good, too, as is the development of relationships between characters. It may not be a "great" work of literature, but it did make me smile more than once.

The summary:
It's a fun story about a kid in a series of dangerous and weird situations. The main character is a high school sophomore, whose parents have been moving around the country so he basically has no friends and no life. Wah, so sad... whatever. Luckily the story gets better from there. His parents get kidnapped by some shady "government agent" types, who turn out to be monsters from another dimension. The kid escapes them and enrolls in a special school for gifted students, where he gradually uncovers a secret society with ties to the monsters and a global conspiracy. He also discovers that he has a guardian angel, and that he and several of his new friends have some crazy super-human powers. Meanwhile, new enemies and allies turn up around every corner. The monsters are the nightmares and legends from various cultures: wendigo, lamia, etc. as well as some original designs mostly based on worms and insects... only meaner. It's a fun mystery/adventure set mostly at a private school campus.

I have not read the next book in the series ("Alliance") but I probably will read it eventually.

The plot based on history was OK. The rest is not impressive. The characters were poorly built and their personalities were very shallow. The story mimics Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson series and Charlie Bones series with no outstanding originality. A lot of things were too random, especially the way the main characters built their bond and love relationships.

This novel immaculately preconceives with each reader within different ways. Creating an ultimately unique aspect and outlook upon the novel itself. Throughout the book many lessons can be deeply learned and respected. The author for this novel is known as Mark Frost. Within this novel the aspect of bringing a seemingly virtual reality to blend within the world of dark magic. Creating a seemingly endless argument of which aspect becomes more enjoyed by the reader. One unique aspect within the preconceived layout of the novel is honestly just plaint fiction. What makes this book differ from other novels is the contrast that the unknown Mark Frost uses when he creates a blended piece of material bringing multiple worlds together and still allow the readers substantial statement to stand true. Ultimately I have found and continue to find this Mark Frost's words to differ from others and still hold a mesmerizing and formal effect within me. This book defiantly deserves a spot within my list of "Top Ten Favorite Novels." I would rate this book at 5 stars and recommend you do the same. If you have yet to read this author's work; it only seems right that I recommend this novel.

This book is way different then other books I have read (except for the part where they have powers). I really liked this book it had new and creative ideas, I really liked the idea of a syn-app and how the syn-app can do everything​ for them including going up the Himalayas. All the main characters I like, they each helped out. Can't wait to find out what happens

I just want to start by saying that... FIVE STARS ARE NOT ENOUGH!!! (and sorry about spelling). Seriously, I want to give this book and this author like a billion stars 'cause that's what he REALLY deserves. Right now I'm just going to sum up this book (the hardest thing possible to ask of a avid book lover) and if you like lengthy reviews like I do then you can read on after I finish the summary. WARNING may contain spoilers and lots of words.
SUMMARY:
The book centers on a boy named Will West who is quiet talented and not in the ordinary 102 IQ way. He is mega smart, like rocketing off the charts, ungraphable kind of smart and very, very fast. Faster than a dog fast like run all the way from California to Canada without breaking a sweat fast. Despite all of this Will's parents are very protective of him and have even come up with a set of rules for him which are constantly referred to throughout the book which I thought a nice touch. The BIGGEST rule though? Never under any circumstance show anyone how talented you are, Will is to remain in the middle of the pack in everything and I mean EVERYTHING. When one day Will decides to see just how good he is, the results are... unpredicatable to say the least. He is invited to a private school to live and learn, a special school for special kids. On that same day he and his family (mom and dad) are attacked by a group of people whom he dubs 'The Caps'. He is then sent on the run away from his home with his family in danger and no other place to go to, but the Center, the school that was trying to enroll him in the first place. There he makes a small group of amazing friends, foils the evil plans of a group of devious students called the Knights of Charlemagne and learns more about his super enhanced abilities and where he came from. That ends this summary, but as I said I like long summaries so I'll start with my likes and dislikes list below.
Likes:
- I enjoyed the pacing of the book, I feel that it was the perfect pace slowing down at important parts and speeding up at less important parts, but I never felt like the author was flying over the material so fast that he forgot a lot important information or was spending too much time in one place.
- I like the overall atmosphere of the book. It had a dark feeling in it at times, but not so dark to make it a horror book. I have always hated books that I read about and think are just going to be big adventures and they turn out to be dark horrifying horror stories that just repeat that there is nothing good left and that everything is useless and futile. Not only are those books depressing... their super scary which is probably the point. There were a few spots that were scary and dark and there was a suspicious and suspenseful air about whole book, but I never felt so depressed that I just couldn't continue reading or that everything was futile.
-I loved how Mr. Frost would paint the setting and allow you enough detail to get the place in your head, but he never labored over a setting for too long which I really appreciated. I hate it when the setting is so meticulously labored over that it ruins that stories and causes the characters to be skimped on.
- The plotline was also enticing. Some people would shy away from the book after reading the synopsis and thinking that the plotline sounded a little childish and overused, but it is refreshingly different from what has been and is being offered on the book market at the moment (though I'm sure that other authors are going to be following after this book's theme for all the money its going to make). Nothing is completely clear until the very end and even when this first book is over you still don't understand or know everything that is going on or what everything really means. Even during the story I would find myself thinking 'well he is the hero so he is going to address the problem this way 'cause that's just what they do', but then mr. Frost would come up with this incredible idea that I didn't see coming or even thought of and it would totally blow me away because it would be WAY better than my idea had been. This story has lots of twists and turns that you never say coming, even at the end I could not predicate in my wildest dreams what happened.
- So far I have talked about the plot and I have talk about the outline of the book (setting, atmosphere, pacing) as William Shakespeare put it only the stage, now I must speak of the characters. And what characters they were. The main characters Will and his friends were all so different and unique, and though there were familiar elements in them that I have found in other characters in other books, they were not the stereotypical people. All had their own surprising skills and little quirks that made them seem real and three demenional. Even the minor characters, like Will's parents who play very small roles in this story those Will constantly refers to his father's rules are very well developed, almost as much so as the main characters themselves. I loved their honesty, integurity, courage, loyalty and supportiveness of each other. They will make a fearsome group to reakon with I reassure you. The best thing was that even though Will was AWESOME at so many things and had a lot of wisdom and ability at his disposal he remained humble and he seemed real. Characters with super enhanced abilities are a dime a dozen nowadays and it can get really boring, really fast when the main character doesn't struggle to get what they need or want. Mr. Frost has done an excellent job of a few of Will West's flaws and proving that he isn't perfect and giving him a bit of hardship that he had a hard time overcoming, though I do hope he will make West struggle a little more in the future books to come before he gets what it is he is after.
That I believe sums up my likes, now on to my dislikes...
Dislikes (real short):
- The story was too short, I didn't want to stop reading
- I ended up staying up all night on a school night because I had to finish reading the book it was so good (I was really tired during school) and got in trouble a couple of times in class for reading the book when the teacher was teaching
- I still don't have the second book to read!!!
That's it! :-)
Some Advise:
- Don't read this book with an important project due, you'll end up ignoring the project in favor of the book
- Read during the weekend so you're reading is uninterrupted
- When you begin reading try to fix your schedule so that you don't have to stop reading at anytime
- Be prepared for the way the book is constantly on your mind when you have to stop reading it
- Watch out for 'The Caps' ;-)

Thanks for reading.

The Paladin Prophecy has strong, likeable characters, a great plot, and exquisite world building. It sounds like a book more interesting to boys than to girls, but the action was offset with lots of emotion, as well as a tiny bit of romance.

Parts of it reminded me of X-men (school for kids with special abilities), but that did not take away from my reading pleasure.
One thing that bugged me was that Will never thanked Nando. A complete stranger saved Will's life and later put his own life in danger, yet Will never manages to say "Thank you"?

I will definitely read the rest of the series, though I may wait until the third book is out.

I enjoyed this journey with Will West. This book blends science, magic, superheroes, folklore, religion, fantasy, and the super natural into an intriguing and beguiling story that feels just fluid enough to be the first of it's kind in a new genre.

The pacing and phrasing of this book was a little out of the ordinary for most YA books, but, while somewhat odd to adjust to, was not an unwelcome change.

The story is wide and encompasses a large scale story that will be spread over several books, I'm guessing. While it's nice to see the author providing the building blocks for this epic, it sometimes feels as though almost too much information is withheld in this opening novel (although that could have very well been the author's intent). You are a little lost and constantly jarred by the swiftly changing focus, and then almost simultaneously shocked by the ever changing in flow of information. You get Will's beginning troubles of being forced to live life on the run, his transition to a new school, his developing abilities, his family, his new friends, his new enemies, and his new classes and their accompanying teachers. All of this on top of another story beyond our world. While somewhat tiring to keep track of, it does keep you on edge, waiting for the next turn in the story. I only wish I could be as accepting and adapt as quickly as Will!

Like I said, the experience isn't an unpleasant one. If you catch yourself not getting sucked into the book quickly, stick it out. Things will never click together completely, which of course just makes you more eager for the sequel, but the ending is clever and not as predictable as you might imagine.

The characters are occasionally a little hard to relate to, but it's not unexpected, considering the subject matter and setting. I feel like the further this series progresses the more I'll be drawn to each personality in Will's circle of friends. Will doesn't really seem easy to relate to until he reaches the school, but there he comes into his own. His friends are a little more easy to compare yourself with at times (especially Nick), but never "average"'. And that is not a complaint, as you wouldn't want normal in a school full of geniuses.

My only actual complaint was Will's uncanny ability to provide what I can only describe as "powers on demand". The author seemed rushed to start the "good" part of the story and was a little lax on the background. Will remembers one ability at an opportune moment and the rest just seem to happen as he needs them. While I've nothing wrong with the idea of stress pushing people to be extremes, and thus discovering things about themselves they weren't aware of before, this story is full of moments where you have to double check what you read before to make sure that, "Oh, I guess he can do that, too". There is never a moment where Will seems shocked or even surprised by the fact that he was able to do something beyond human limitations, and while his flexibility and adaptability are part of Will's charm and, honestly, a power of it's own, the novelty was lost on me. I enjoy the feeling of being able to recall the mention or hint of an idea at the beginning of the book, and putting the connections in place as they appear later on. Although, that may just be me.

Overall, an interesting read and I'm excited to see where the author takes this series.

I came across this book in the list of "others also bought" on the store and was curious when the description said it was a good fit for people who liked Marie Lu's Legend and the I Am Number Four series. Having enjoyed both of those series, I decided to give this book a try and was not disappointed. The characters are interesting, funny and realistic. I noticed many reviewers made the comment that this book was refreshing because the main character is strong and the book doesn't fall into some pathetic love story or love triangle that is rather typical of YA books.

I found the story itself very interesting and look forward to the next book. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who also enjoyed the previously mentioned series and is looking for YA book with some mystery, interesting characters and just a good story.

Source: Library

I saw this featured on one blog in particular in December (can't find link any more although I have links to some other reviews below) and was caught by the premise of the main character being sent to a futuristic fantastical boarding school. So I requested it from the library and was given pause when I saw what a massive book it is. Luckily it moves pretty fast.

Our story centers on Will West (have I mentioned that I love book boys named Will?) whose parents have tried to keep him under the radar, downplaying his spectacular gifts, constantly moving and training him with an expanding list of rules, currently numbering 98. All of this preparation ends up being needed when Will's parents are taken by some creepy guys in black caps, sending Will running to the only place that might be able to provide him security: the aforementioned boarding school, which is recruiting Will exactly because of his special abilities. Once on campus, Will meets a whole host of characters, from his brilliant roommates to the tyrannical upperclassmen to instructors of various temperaments. He begins to realize that his talents place him squarely in the middle of an epic battle with fantastical forces far beyond anything he's ever imagined. And since this is book one, we're only getting warmed up!

I really liked Will. Yes, he's tremendously special but once he's at the school, he seems a bit more ordinary because everyone there is similarly smart and gifted. He is also quite humble and very loyal. One of his big challenges is to ignore a bit of his upbringing and learn to trust his four roommates: Ajay, Brooke, Elise, and Nick. I also really loved his roommates, who were all distinct personalities to me except for Brooke who is going to need more characterization for the next chapter.

This is a very action-packed book with many physical moments. Will is constantly on the run (including an intense scene at his first cross-country practice) and each time it seems to escalate more in violence and danger. Some reviews have mentioned that the writing is very "telling rather than showing." I thought it worked and felt very cinematic but for people who don't like that kind of writing, be forewarned. I would also say this is more of a plot-driven novel rather than character-driven if you couldn't guess from the mention of all the action. Still I feel there is a bit more character development here than in other action novels.

I do have a few complaints though. For example toward the end everything went kind of crazy leading up to the big climax. Because I was desperate to know what was coming next, I may have read the book a little too fast to fully absorb everything. There is also the character Todd, a secondary antagonist for Will who I presume will play a bigger role later on as he is not resolved in this book; I really want to know what happened to him. And since this is a series, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the overall struggle. There is a tiny snippet of book 2, Alliance as it seems to be called, and although far too short, it is a great teaser for those who liked this book and should leave you craving book two.

Review:

I adore books with hero equipped with a mysterious past and a bunch of questions going on a journey to save the world, starting out in a new school, finding lifelong comrades there with exciting fantasy elements, twist and turns and an endless line of obstacles. This is why I loved the Harry Potter series, the Percy Jackson books, etc, and this is also the reason why I for the most part have only praise for this book.

Honestly, this story had it all and while being quite typical to the genre I thoroughly enjoyed it and got sucked in by the fun story, engrossing plot and colorful characters. The length was a plus too, since it enabled more detail and depth while at the same time not being wasteful with pages, everything was relevant and contributed to the story. The "rules of dad" was also something I found really original and a fun add on, what's more, they were cleverly inserted to the story line.

My two itty bitty cons would be that while a multitude of questions were raised, not many answers were provided in this first part of the series and the start was slightly slow, but fortunately, it picked up quickly.

Characters:

The characters were definitely one of the strongest points of this book. There were a lot and all were quite distinct, despite being somewhat cliché at times.

Will was my kind of hero: smart, decisive, knew when and how to kick ass, with underdog vibes, humorous and sarcastic in the exactly right dose, surrounded by mystery and more questions to answer than things known, not rash but knew when to take risks, made awesome friends and, most important, was a nice guy. I also respect for standing true to his fathers rules even though most of them were odd and too ambiguous. I really can't wait to fully grasp his role in the whole mystery, so far it sound quite promising.

Will's bunch of new made friends in the Center were all likable and intriguing, some more and some less though:

Nick - ok, loved that blabbermouth wiseass who wasn't in reality that smart at all, which in turn made for some hilarious comments and conversations. A real tension reliever and a simply fun and easygoing guy.

Brooke - The love interest slash damsel in distress who was actually quite able and had character. But, nevertheless, she was the least exciting one from the group.

Ajay - A nerdy nice guy, not much was revealed about him or showed in action, but he's a very promising character.

Elise - She seems to be the most mysterious of the bunch, I couldn't really figure her out yet, but she has her own share of soft spots and heaps of room for character development.

Of course every school themed book has the rule of including at least one bully to contradict how honorable, kind, talented, smart, considerate and just overall awesome the hero is. And I'm not complaining. Come on, alone the name Lyle Ogilvy kind of doesn't predict anything good-guy-like, or I'm just imagining things. He was a nasty little bugger, abused his position and everything else. There was not a single reason to find him slightly tolerable. And speaking about baddies, overall, they remained kind of ambiguous for the moment, I expect more explanations in the second book to come.

The Center personnel/teachers each had their role to play and there were several quite interesting characters in the lot, at the same time I was suspicious of everyone's role in the whole fight against evil: do they know, what do the know, are they siding with the good guys or the bad guys, etc etc. Endless possibilities there and some puzzle solving.

Dave - very secretive, need to know more, now!

Overall:

Can't wait for the next book! A promising series after many of my favorite similar ones have ended, something to look forward to again. Pure entertainment, full of action and adventure.

This comes from a die-hard Yankee fan. I was 13 years old during the 1975 World Series, did not at all like the Big Red Machine and acutally rooted for the Sox to win. For all the great Yankee teams over the years, these two teams gave a thrilling World Series to all fans. Frost captures perfectly not only the game, but the players and their individual stories as well. It was a nostalgic read for me for sure, but made that much better because the author committed to providing a book as fine as that 1975 series deserved. Whether you are a fan of one of these teams, a baseball fan in general or just want to revisit this particular series - go out, buy the book and enjoy.

There are lists in this book. There are monsters in this book. There is an exclusive prep school in this book. There are missing parents in this book. Same old, same old....but wait, there is ALSO the legend of Charlemagne and his Paladins wreaking havoc with intent to destroy just about everything; there is the prep school in WISCONSIN of all places which deprives the central character of all his media devices after he arrives because (I love this....), and I quote Ajay, "I wouldn't argue, Will, but I don't make the rules. And honestly, after a while you'll find that face-to-face communication works entirely to your personal benefit...' unquote; there is Dave, the Guardian Angel who died in the Viet Nam War and now is on duty for Will West, the main character. Yes, Will had an unusual route to arrive at the Center for Integrated Learning, and what he sees after his father disappears and his Mom is oddly NOT HIS MOM, keeps him on his toes. The storyline is very similar to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series with a little more depth and darker. Will's fellow students are both good and bad. The story builds to a crescendo as the discovery of the Paladins forces everyone's talents to be put to test. I hadn't planned on enjoying the book so much but I did. DAD'S LIST OF RULES TO LIVE BY, sprinkled throughout the book and written in long form at the end are interesting. The book has technology, dark forces, human emotions that seem genuine, and lots of action. Love the 'bugs' - they aren't so nice though. And I love the reference to Charlemagne and his Paladins. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Mark Frost, author, has written for tv and movies (Twin Peaks, Fantastic Four) and a best selling author of 8 other books. He's turned his talent towards the lucrative and rewarding business of 'ready teens'. Lucky him. Lucky teens.

This was a suspenseful page-turner, with so much plot to get across. I liked how the details of the book's universe was slowly laid out, which increases the suspense as you fit together the puzzle pieces. The humor was also a plus- there were many laugh-out-loud lines. Perhaps it is because of the fast-paced action that the characters all seemed to fit too handily into archetypes, but the story and witty writing made up for any issues I had with character development.

(a copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

This book was exhilarating! It started out a bit slow, but definitely picked up! I think that this book is great for everyone. There are minimal amounts curse words and inappropriate language. The only thing I wasn't too happy with was how fast the pace was. Things happened at a mile a minute so if yoiu mid a paragraph you will most certainly be lost. Overall, this book was very enjoyable and I was quite delighted with it.

Great read, didn't want to put it down. Finished with book 1, now pining away for book 2! To help you gauge whether you'll enjoy it too, a little about me--I am an adult fan of children's book and young adult fiction. Some of my favorites are Harry Potter (all), Percy Jackson (all), Ranger's Apprentice (all), and the Seven Realms (all). If you liked these series, you'll enjoy this book.

This book is an absolute MUST for any Reds or Red Sox fan who watched this series. Frost fills in the gaps and tells dozens of fascinating stories about the players and teams that made this the best world series in history. And to his credit, Frost also explains exactly why all the goodwill this amazing battle brought the sport didn't last. He also details how the Red Sox and Reds dismantled their teams in the months and years that followed as well as what happened to nearly every player on both rosters. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I didn't know what to expect from a screenwriter-author, but this book has all the best elements of a fun movie -- great action, fast paced story progression, and sparkling dialogue. Will takes a test and his off-the-chart scores get him into an elite institution, where he meets other high-performers and discovers that he and his friends have superhuman powers. He also uncovers a secret organization operating within "the Center", battles otherworldly demons, and has plenty of 15-year old fun along the way. At the same time, he maintains a very sweet adherence to his father's "Rules to Live By", which are quoted all through the book, and guide Will's decisions in new, uncomfortable, or life-threatening moments of the story.

There are many cool things about this series that make it worth a read:
* Will and his friends are smart... most of them get admitted to the Center not for displaying magical powers or second sight, but because they ace a standardized test! Shout out to nerds everywhere!
* Lots of technology that lend an almost sci-fi element to the book - laptops that generate "mini-me" graphics for each student, a gadgety roommate, secret messages hidden in video games
* Memorable moments all through the story - funny ones ("I thought ADHD was some kind of plasma screen"), scary ones (I won't give it away!), and some really great action sequences

There are so many cool things that Frost risks losing control of the story -- syn-app software, superhuman powers, demon dimensions, AND Native American legends is a heady cocktail. As it is, the classes and professors are barely explored, and several relationships are developed with a wave of the hand because there is no time to explore how and when the characters became close. Nonetheless, it's a fun and interesting read, and I've already got started on Book 2!

At first I wasn't sure how I would feel about The Paladin Prophecy. I'm a die-hard fan of Percy Jackson and I am Number Four, so this book had a lot to live up to. And, of course, I am not the target audience since I am an adult and a teacher. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised, and I have a new book to recommend to students and friends with children. The story followed an arc similar to that of Percy Jackson--unknowing hero slowly discovering his true identity and finds friends along the way. I didn't note anything truly fresh or remarkable about the story line; it's simply a hero's quest. What the plot lacked in originality the characters made up for in personality. At the end of the story, I genuinely liked the main character and purchased the second installment of the series just because I came to care about him and want to know what happens next (I am very much a juvenile in that way). Overall, I liked the book and will read future books in the series. And I will definitely recommend this to fans of Percy Jackson, I am Number Four, and Maze Runner.

As I have been a Cincinnati Reds fan since the late 50's, I really enjoyed this book. Frost's writing style is enjoyable and reads more like a novel than non-fiction. It was hard to put down and brought back some great memories.

I do feel the book was written with the typical emotional slant towards the Red Sox. At times I thought I was reading a biography of Luis Tiant. Frost portrays the Reds team as an arrogant corporate entity, while the Red Sox were caring individuals. The reader gets the impression that the Red Sox outplayed the Reds but luck just wasn't on their side. Frost says Lynn, Evans, and Tiant belong in the Hall of Fame, but never mentions Concepcion in that group.

Also the book occasionally drifts off into politics, which I felt was inappropriate.

HOWEVER, despite these small shortcoming I thoroughly enjoyed Game Six and would recommend it to any baseball fan

Growing up Will's father gave him a set written rules which were a form of guidance and bonding between the two of them. One day Will's world begins to fall apart, people are chasing him and he is given a free ride at an elite boarding school. This a must read for YA fans who are looking for some adventure and mystery. It was fast paced with intrigue yet it doesn't give away all its secrets or address all the questions readers may have. There is definitely something strange/special going on at the school and some of its students. This was somewhat addressed at the very end but there is obviously much more to be revealed which will leave you eagerly waiting for the next installment in the series.

"Game Six" by Mark Frost is an awesome book! Being a diehard Red Sox fan, I just had to read this book. It's about the greatest World Series game ever played: Boston vs. the Reds. The whole book focus is on this game. What makes this book for me is the background on the players who played in this game. The writing is superb! It feels like you are right there. I really enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it to any Red Sox fan.

My oldest son read this first; he couldn't resist the awesome cover. He reads 1-3 books per week, depending on his homework schedule, so he's pretty up on the current MG and YA literature. That said, he declared this one of the best books he read last year. From him, that is a HUGE statement. And you know what . . . he's right, it's a great story. I highly recommend it!

The book compelled me to keep reading. Every turn brings a mystery that keeps you wanting to move forward. I normally read slow and books with more than three hundred pages takes me months to read. This book took me just a week to complete. Just could not stop reading. A great mystery read! Can't wait for book two.

JoEy

At first this book did nothing for me, but once it got started and the character Will started to come into his own when he arrived at this special school, then it started to get really interesting and kept me reading till the end, now I am wanting to get the next book to read what happens, I for one enjoyed it and would recommend it to any age.

If you like Percy Jackson, then you will like this crap-ola! I have never felt so tricked in my life! Most of the reviews said this was a great book, well I'm here to tell you that's a bunch of fried baloney! Perhaps the worst written prose I have ever chanced my self to read since Percy Jackson and the Gods of a hedonistic slave culture. This modern day dog crap should be burned and deleted from the kindle servers like the virus it is. Mark frost should be ashamed of himself for this crime to literature and the English language. I hope he grows a conscience, and commits sepukku for the great dishonor he has committed to the world. I found myself gnawing on my tongue, hoping that if I bit down hard enough, I would choke, and end the torture that is The Paladin Prophecy.

This is a fine description of the wonderful 1975 series, but it is far more. It places the series in the context of baseball and series history, and also shows how baseball changed after 1975 with the advent of free agency and bonehead actions by management (and some players). A great read and very profound, compared to the usual sports writing to which we are subjected.

A very good read, the story line keeps you going. I didn't want to put it down. Even though it is set in a "high school" and the main characters are 15, I didn't feel as if I was ready a young adult book. Good, clean story. Can't wait to read the next book.

Saw this book and saw that it was written by Mark Frost, who I knew had written Twin Peaks, so I was quite excited. I have rarely felt a disappointment as crushing as when I read what I personally have to count as an absolute turd of a book.

There are so many things wrong with this book that it took me five minutes to decide what to start with, but here we go. The protagonist of this story, Will West is an abysmally thought out character. For someone who has been taught from birth to be ordered and analytical, he is astoundingly stupid, but not just in his mental faculties. He meets a character called Dave early on who clearly helps him a number of times, and then later, for the purposes of drawing unnecessary tension, pretends that this character is a figment of his imagination. He is a weird debilitating mix of being cocky and introvertedly shy; almost as if the author cannot make his mind up as to what he should do. He Sherlocks the entire past history of a girl before then proceeding to purposefully trip himself up in order to make others 'underestimate him'.
The writing is gratingly, unsparingly, awfully stylized-- it is as if Mark Frost once saw an MTV video of teenage boys and decided that's what they must be like in real life. The book is littered with gratuitous uses of 'dawg' and 'broheim' and 'broseph' but without the faintest trace if irony, and this follows suit with actual physical descriptions. The main culprit of this skin-crawling use of 'teenage language' is a character called Nick who apparently cannot function without handing out high fives, fist bumps or as on may occasions 'mad props' every five seconds. Other hilariously bad phrases include calling some bullies 'chuckleheads', the term 'h-e- double hockey sticks' (honestly, who has ever used that term) and 'crapalicious'.
And finally, the plot. I mean, to call it badly thought out would be a massive credit to the book. The entirety of it is filled with deus ex machina: Will West needs to get past customs in an airport? Oh yeah, forgot to tell you, but he has telepathic powers. What's that? He's in trouble? No fears, because an Australian ghost with a shotgun is permanently looking out for him, all the while attempting to cram in as many Aussie catchphrases as is humanely possible. Every time Will is in trouble, he manages to magically find new powers.

Overall: honestly, this book is rubbish. It's so bad that it made me angry. The characters are poorly thought out, the storyline is badly paced, rambling and unsatisfying and the writing is heinous. Of course there will be people asking why I read all of it and the simple answer is because I'd already wasted time reading the first half so the least I could do was finish it.

I didn't like this book. Although the writing is decent and there are some interesting characters, I thought the plot was a mess. It didn't make sense in places and it had some gaping holes. Plus, there's too much going on. We have special powers, angels, alternative universes, secret government departments, secret societies, a mysterious old academy, and, oh yeah, a wendigo...It's as if the author is trying to throw everything he can think of against the wall in the hopes that something will stick. Not much does. What we get is a goofy, mish-mash of a story. You've been warned.

Awesome well written book. Hooked me at Barnes & Noble while waiting for my daughter and had nothing to read. Picked it up and started reading, couldn't put it down so ended up going to check it out of the library. Now going to buy it and the others for my permanent collection.

Don't get me wrong, the book is interesting and engaging (so far), but early on I found it hard to follow, and the plot seems rushed. Before the action starts in a book I like to read about the main characters day-to-day lives for a few substantial chapters. This book rushes right into the danger, making it sort of scattered. The ideas behind ths book are fantastic and creative. Cudos to you Mark Frost. Cudos to you.

As one reviewer wrote, this book was a swing and a miss at an otherwise "hittable" story.

The remarkable history of the various players interwoven through the pitch by pitch replay was moderately clever but ultimately misses due to being remarkably distracting. No segues between the two made efforts to follow the game recount difficult and anti-climactic.

As much so, very few player insights about the various pitches, plays and strategies offered little insight to the incredible game.

However, the grandeur of game 6 of the 1975 World Series still rings through, but then being one of the greatest of individual games before or since again makes the story impossible to enjoy.

The book is well written with a very nice pace, from a fans perspective.

Had the book offered interview quotes regarding players and coaches strategies, in-game perspectives and greater emotional reactions the book would have been vastly more enjoyable. Additionally, segues between player anecdotes and game recounting would have also made the book more enjoyable.

But, from a fans perspective, this is a very good book.

This is a book that I will re-read... but not one that I would recommend to anyone other than a novice fan of either the Red Sox, the Reds or the 1975 World Series.

This book stands out amongst the garbage I have been reading lately and I enjoyed it greatly. I noticed a few review complaining about the length, but to me the length is a plus. This book held my attention throughout with constant mystery and action. This book is unique to me in that I will gladly reread it multiple times, and every time notice something that helps unravel the mystery. I recomend this to anyone who like action, adventure, and mystery.

I really really liked this book! I would describe it as a very enthralling, edge of your seat, fast paced, sci-fi thriller for young adults and superhero lovers. The Paladin Prophecy is a great story, and despite its quick pace, I didn't find it confusing, plus, its characters felt 3D and real to me. I identified with a couple of them, and it felt like I was right there, in the action. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

An enjoyable introduction to a new series. Lots of action and a a cast of characters different enough to appreciate the quirks of each as you learn to like them. The bad guys are very bad, although they are not all apparent at first glance, they soon show their true colors. I'll be looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.

The Good: The Paladin Prophecy is a gender-neutral fantasy adventure novel that has potential for many interesting sequels.

The Bad: Will's obviously different with the special abilities and high test scores, yet it takes forever to find out what his deal is. Desperately wanting to know usually engages the reader, but this time it just drove me insane. All I could focus on was the why of things instead of actually experiencing the story. I couldn't care about anything other than figuring out why Will was capable of the things he could do.

I'm not the fastest reader by any stretch however, I couldn't put this one down. I wasn't yet born when this series was played but I would for sure go back in time to watch this one and the way this is written it puts you right in the middle of it. "Game Six" should be required reading for any baseball fan.

What a great read about one of the greatest games ever played. Frost does an exceptional job of weaving the history, current affairs and game details to recreate the game and all that was at stake.

Frost was especially detailed at the dismantling of "The Big Red Machine" and with it the the last marks of baseball before the free-agent era.

Mark Frost ought to have paid closer attention to the title of his own book: "Game Six" suffers for the author's incessant departures from the actual contest at hand. Context is one thing, yes: obviously, knowledge of player and team backgrounds enhances our ability to ascertain the dramatic scope at hand, and to his credit Frost does a remarkably dimensional job of introducing us to these people and their circumstances leading up to and beyond the moments depicted within the course of a three-hour ballgame. Unfortunately, Frost often extends well out of the realm of baseball, unnecessarily invoking national headlines from the general time period of the mid-1970s and for the most part failing to convincingly integrate them with the purported subject of the book. Too frequently, the narrative is hamstrung by Frost's ill-advised ambitiousness in attempting to follow the model of David Halberstam's "October 1964" - or is it just an uncurbed desire to throw out his personal interpretations of cultural and political events endemic to his youth, replete with flippant political evaluations of the Boston busing controversy and gallingly indulgent, apropos-of-nothing references to Bruce Springsteen's "kick-ass chops". The most absurd juxtaposition occurs when Frost intersperses play-by-play of a Pete Rose at-bat with a Wikipedia-style synopsis of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Frost also has an irritating proclivity to play favorites. Likes: Sparky Anderson, Dick Stockton. Dislikes: Darrell Johnson, Joe Garagiola. Hey, it's your book, Mark, you get to do what you want with it. Personally, I find the undisguised biases of an author attempting to render a second-hand account to be arrogant and distasteful. I want to read about the people and the plays that comprised the performance of this game, not what *you* think of them. (Least of all did I need to be bombarded with the superfluous, cliche-ridden critique of all the evils that have ruined baseball since the Puritan year of 1975, which concludes the text with an ugly exclamation mark on Frost's inability to rein himself in.) Occasionally, the presumptuousness of Frost's novelistic re-creations gets a little out of hand, such as when he suggests that Johnson was "perhaps more than a little intimidated" by Luis Tiant on the mound when considering to lift the headstrong pitcher from Game Three. Someone *really* needs to remind this guy that he wasn't actually there and maybe should have seen fit to not get into the heads of those he didn't interview, unless he is in fact deliberately and consciously in the business of character assassination.

It's no accident that Frost dedicates his book to Vin Scully, "baseball's master storyteller"; this book reads much like a Scully broadcast, with the game itself almost receiving second billing alongside the droning prattle of tangential commentary. And indeed there is an excellent story to be told here, if one is willing to patiently locate and piece it together amidst the exhaustive, distracting layers of subplots. "Game Six" is admittedly more engaging and lively on the whole than I've ever found Scully himself to be - but it shouldn't be considered complimentary to refer to it as easily the most tangential baseball book ever written.

I requested this book from the public library because I wasn't sure how I would like it. Now I know that I WILL spend money for the 2nd book in the series. I can't wait for it to be published and available! I am 60 years old and found the story to be suspenseful and engaging. I recommend it highly!

Ms. Rowling should be flattered, as Mr. Frost's Will West is a faithful imitation of Harry Potter. The transfer of the plot structure is almost exact, like a Harlequin romance formula applied to a different set of parameters. That said, The Paladin Prophecy is still an enjoyable read.

Me, having exausted all the Fantasy books in my archive/home library, chanced upon this book in the public library. I gave the book a chance and it turned out to be very intriuging. I could totally relate to the emotions of the characters. I would definitly recoment this book to anybody.

I was truly swept away by this story from the moment I started reading it. The way it sets the pace from the moment you start reading, and just takes off from there is just awesome! I would recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to get immersed in a great thrill of a ride in a fantasy novel.

A friend of mine in California set me a copy of this book. Being more of a '67 Red Sox fan, rather than a '75 Red Sox fan, I did not think I could get into it. Wrong. This book was not just a great story told of this famous game, but a Red Sox/Reds/MLB baseball history lesson all in one. Entertaining, informative and exciting. Great job on a great book. A must read, not only for Red Sox/Reds fans, for all baseball fans.

I'm a stay at home mom with tastes as diverse as Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games and I Am Number Four. With that background, I can say I liked Paladin Prophecy more than I Am Number Four but less than the rest. But still I give it 4 stars as the story was so fun to read that I finished it in 2 days with the result of sleep deprived. So, for fans of books I mentioned, have fun reading the Paladin Prophecy ...

though the book started off a little slow and feeling like a scooby-doo mystery, it had amazing suspenseful moments that makes you not wanting to put it down (this is about my second late night reading this book) loved how it leaves me thinking about what happened and where frost will go with it next seriously cant wait for the second book to come out

Definitely up there in my list of favorite books. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who likes the whole kids-save-the-day kind of theme. Its sort of like science fiction meets Harry Potter in a sense. Once you get into this book it will suck you in and keep you turning the pages. Can't wait for book two!

I'm
A mom. I was once a teen. I know teenagers swear. I did. We all did. But why ruin what could have been a great tale for young readers with all that profanity? I'm not a prude. I know profanity exists. But I'm not going to push it into my kids' vocabulary by handing them books laced with it.
This book was a fun read. Fun story. The characters were engaging and realistic, and I cared about what happened to them. It's a shame my kids won't be reading this.

Subtitle this one "Mark Jumps the Shark." Frost, the author of a couple of outstanding books on golf history -- one of which was made into a not-so-bad Disney feature film -- trades in his clubs and tees for a Louisville Slugger and promptly waves and misses at what should have been an eminently hittable pitch. In telling the story of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series between Cincinnati and Boston, Frost piles the background details high, but he makes an unfortunate mistake by interweaving much of this material around a pitch-by-pitch recounting of the classic game. The result is a cluttered, half-gaited narrative that only occasionally excites real interest. The long coda detailing the fates of the Reds and Red Sox provides an opportunity for Frost to air his views on what's become of the national pastime since Carlton Fisk's famous homer clanged off the Fenway Park foul pole, and the going gets tedious fairly quickly. Peter Gammons' BEYOND THE SIXTH GAME, though much less ambitious, is a much better read.

This book was just all right for me. It seemed a little unoriginal and hard to get through. It's true this book is like an alex rider/percy jackson novel but not as well written as either of them. It was one of those books where it kept you guessing not because of clever plot twists but because just bizarre things would happen and it ended up being more confusing. I like the friendship and character development but everything seemed so cliched and dumbed down. So anyways I give this a C+ but I'd recommend spending your time and money on another read.

Exciting storyline, kept me wanting more...I originally planned on purchasing Alliance, the second book in the series. After reading the reviews for Alliance I realized I needed to read this one first....I'm glad I did , and highly recommend it.