The Relic of Perilous Falls

December 1, 2015
When an impulsive bet sets an ancient prophecy in motion, one boy might be all that stands between a small town and the forces of evil. Twelve-year-old Will Wilder has been seeing shadowy creatures in his peripheral vision all his life. Doctors and his parents have attempted to explain them away as the symptoms of fatigue, but when the dark shapes begin attacking the town, Will is the only one who can fight them. However, if he is going to follow in the footsteps of his relic-hunting great-grandfather and combat the rising evil, Will is going to need his loyal friends, his tough-as-nails great-aunt Lucille, his intelligence, and a good measure of faith. Unfortunately, this too-familiar adventure is hobbled by several significant problems. Action scenes are hampered by odd pacing, poor description, and simplistic puzzles, while the quieter scenes are filled with cringeworthy dialogue and improbable characters. Readers will be continually frustrated by Will's mindless rebelliousness, Aunt Lucille's ineffectual mentoring, and the one-dimensionality of Will's friends. Even the forces of evil seem to lack any real conviction. Includes black-and-white illustrations. An unhappy blend of an imitative story and mediocre writing. (Fantasy. 8-11)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-Will Wilder sees shadows that seem to be alive as they move around him. Many doctors have made attempts to explain them away as fatigue, but soon these shadows begin to move against the town of Perilous Falls. When a bet made at his younger brother's birthday party sets events in motion that begin to fulfill an ancient prophecy, it is up to Will, along with his friends and his tough (and oddly dangerous) Great Aunt Lucille, to stop the dark forces advancing against his small town. Following in his great-grandfather's footsteps, Will sets out against the rising evil with his newfound ability to combat the darkness that only he can face. Caparo's illustrations dot the text and give added detail to the setting. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, there is still enough action to keep the pages turning. VERDICT Fans of Indiana Jones and Percy Jackson will likely find the first installment of this new adventure series enjoyable.-Wayne R. Cherry Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 After an incident involving a homemade catapult and a donkey ride gone bad leaves Will's brother with a broken arm, their family trip to Florida is canceled. In an attempt to fix everything, Will hatches another harebrained scheme and sets out to steal an ancient relica bone of Saint Thomas that has healing powers. However, Will's theft unleashes demons on his town of Perilous Falls, thus fulfilling an ancient prophecy and revealing his own destiny. With the help of the Brethren, led by Will's aunt Lucille, Will learns he is the one who must lead the Brethren to defeat the evil forces rising in Perilous Falls. A likable cast of characters, plenty of suspense, and battles between good and evil fill this exciting tale. With shades of Indiana Jones and Percy Jackson, Will Wilder's antics are sure to appeal to middle-grade readers looking for the next great adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)