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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, June 24, 2008
Meeting Alfred Kropp in THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP really was extraordinary! Then I eagerly read THE SEAL OF SOLOMON, wondering what could surpass the thrill of Alfred first stealing, then losing, and then recovering Excalibur, King Arthur's sword. The author, Rick Yancey, didn't let the reader down. Alfred was forced to fight demons! So, naturally, I couldn't wait to read THE THIRTEENTH SKULL!
I've rated this book Grades 6+, as I have his first two titles, but with a caveat. Mr. Yancey pulls no punches when describing the violence and clear danger Alfred faces. I do not doubt that younger readers will devour the Alfred Kropp books, but parents will want to use their discretion.
Mr. Yancey doesn't even let the reader get good and comfy in their favorite reading chair before relentlessly yanking them to the proverbial edge of their seat. The first chapter starts with a bang - literally. A truck blows up beneath Alfred's new penthouse suite window, on the 30th floor of Samson Towers. In short order, one man is shot and Alfred is fighting for his life with his attacker. Soon the two are racing to the ground floor, one by express elevator, the other by parachute. And Mr. Yancey's not done yet. There's still a police car to commandeer, complete with the surprised officer at the wheel, a car chase through city streets, and yet another explosion.
Once again Alfred is sucked back into the OIPEP. But can he trust the new Operative Nine? What about the beautiful new field agent? And who is trying to kill Alfred, and more importantly, why?
First it was Excalibur, then the Seal of Solomon. Both times he nearly lost his life. Now it's the Thirteenth Skull. Alfred knows that this time it will be different. Samuel, the former Operative Nine and now Alfred's guardian, is not reassuring. Alfred must find out what the Thirteenth Skull is. The clock is ticking and Alfred knows his time is about up.
I absolutely will not tell you more. You MUST, MUST, MUST go buy THE THIRTEENTH SKULL. But only after you buy and read his first two titles, as this series is best read in order. Mr. Yancey has created a cast of characters equal to the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. I can't wait to see Alfred Kropp's adventures on the big screen!
Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Youth Fantasy Ever, July 14, 2008
I'd give it six stars if I could.
My wife, myself and my son eagerly follow Kropp's adventures with every book. We listened to the first book on audio in a camp in the woods and were mesmerized: Nobody blends fantasy and real life better than Rick Yancey, the series' author.
Yancey's spare, action-packed prose is ALWAYS riveting. The books in the series (this one included) DON'T follow a formula, with unexpected plot twists in almost every chapter. And the character development of the main protagonist is of a depth rarely seen in fantasy novels.
I've read that the first book is slated to be a Warner Brother's movie. I certainly hope so. It's the best adventure-fantasy series that we've ever encountered. (And my son reads a LOT of fantasy).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most action-packed in the series, July 26, 2008
I've read and thoroughly enjoyed all three books in the action-adventure series Alfred Kropp. No other book series ever excited me more than this one. From retrieving Excalibur from dark, modern-day knights, to taking on millions of demons at once, the action has never stopped, and neither have the crazy plot twists. However, all three books have their own flavor. Extraordinary Adventures was more about just the events that took place involving the Excalibur (and it's not one you've heard before) and the whole concept of a loser kid with a save-the-world responsibility, while the second one was slightly less focused on action and more about what went on inside Alfred's head (though it still had plenty of thrills).
This new book pumps up the action sky-high. In a few mere minutes of reading, the book immediately explodes in a fireball of over-the-top action. You can read more about how that happens in the review from TeensReadToo.com, but if you don't want to have the surprise spoiled for you, I'd avoid reading that review. Anyway, this book is even more thrilling than the first two combined, with impossible life-or-death scenarios at every turn. With all of this, I'd say this would actually make for the best movie out of all of them. But as has been said, there's also a lot of violence so BE CAREFUL. There's beheadings in this book, and more too.
As for the plot, one thing you'll really want to do is definitely read the other books in the series before you check out this one. Even if you've read them before, read them again. There's so many references to them in The Thirteenth Skull that if you don't do this, you'll be struggling to recall the events of the prequels just about every five or ten minutes. Also, reading them will help you enjoy the unexpected plot twists you might expect from the series in this book. OIPEP never seemed perfect, but even the most unshakably good members are shown in at least slight shades of grey. The new Operative Nine in this book is especially slimy. Another key villain is an enemy of the past whom Alfred never met, but is surprisingly similar to. Of course there is much more to the story than this and the synopsis, but no way am I going into any more spoilers. If you love action-adventures with a side of humor and light romance, this is definitely the book--and the series--for you. It's got guns AND swords; what more could you want?! Whatever it is, this book will deliver.
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