Review: Jack Staples

Jack Staples and the Ring of Time by Mark Batterson & Joel N. Clark
Published September 2014 by David C. Cook
Source: eGalley ARC from NetGalley

Eleven-year-old Jack's ordinary life is upended when mysterious creatures attack his hometown and he is whisked into a fantastical adventure filled with danger at every turn.

Jack learns that most live in a shadow of the world, their vision blinded by invisible scales that have covered human eyes since the beginning of time. But the Awakened experience the world as it truly is, where war rages between good and evil—and Jack is at the heart of it. The Awakened are searching for The Child of Prophesy who will both save the world and destroy it. When Jack joins in their epic battle he must learn to trust his friends and face his fears if he is to make his life count.

Jack Staples and the City of Shadows by Mark Batterson & Joel N. Clark
Published January 2015 by David C. Cook
Source: eGalley ARC from NetGalley

The Assassin is closing in. Just as Jack and his friend Alexia discover what it means to be the Chosen Ones, they each face the test of a lifetime. For Jack it is a question of trust; for Alexia, of loyalty. Everything rests on their making the right choices, and on the completion of their missions. The Assassin is determined they will fail, and that they will either join him or be destroyed. It will take all the Author’s forces, the special gifts they each have, and the help of their friends Arthur and Mrs. Dumphrey to overcome. But when the enemy makes a key move, and an important quest proves difficult, the prophecy that they will both destroy and save the world seems further from coming true than ever before.

My Thoughts

I found Jack Staples and the Ring of Time and Jack Staples and the City of Shadows on the Read Now list at NetGalley and it looked like an interesting YA fantasy. I quickly read through the first book in a single day as we were driving from the Dallas area to Las Vegas. What a lovely fantasy for teens!

Jack Staples has been leading an ordinary life when he is thrown into extraordinary circumstances. As mysterious creatures attack his village, Jack discovers that he is no ordinary boy. Most people can only see a shadow of the world, their vision blinded by invisible scales that cover their eyes. While some people (the Awakened) have had the scales fall away, Jack was born without scales—able to see reality all of his life. In fact, Jack is the “Child of Prophecy” who is destined to battle the Assassin and save the world. Or he is destined to join forces with the Assassin and destroy the world. The Prophecy isn't clear.

But wait! There's another “Child of Prophecy”—Alexia was also born without scales. Together they must fight against the Assassin, with help from Jack's friends and more of the Awakened.

These two books delivered a fun story filled with interesting characters and non-stop adventure. Neither book contains a real conclusion. A battle is over, but you know you need to read the next book to see what happens next. Fortunately, the last book in the trilogy is due out in June. I hope to read it soon so as to have a sense of completion. And besides—if it's anything like the first two books, it will be an outstanding story to conclude the epic struggle between good and evil.

★★★☆☆

Note that I received free copies of Jack Staples and the Ring of Time and Jack Staples and City of Shadows from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.