Customer Reviews

Jennifer Scales and the Messenger of Light (Jennifer Scales, Book 2)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Near the end of the second, and quite wonderful Jennifer Scales book, the most perfect description appears that pretty much says everything you ever need about teenagers and reality. Don't worry, it isn't a spoiler, but could anyone possibly top "She followed him down the hallway, smelling the faint odor of unshowered boy"? It rings true, as does virtually everything having to do with growing up and dealing with relationships in this book. Yes, it is a fantasy novel, and gloriously, it is written on several levels, so that both my 12-year old and I enjoyed it equally (since I cannot let her read MJD's adult fiction yet). My daughter agreed that the teenagers were accurately depicted, the plot was filled with twists and action, and the ups and downs were all there for a reason. MaryJanice Davidson's trademark humor, a little downplayed for a younger audience, is augmented by what must be Tony Alongi's gift for narrative description. The combination pulls you into the story and does not let you go. The broad hints at a third book were greeted, in our household, by sighs of relief and irritation that the next book was not available already.
There is humor, the angst of adolescence, the importance of relationships -- all without the heavy-handedness of most "uplifting" teen fiction. All this AND a great plot, too! I cannot wait for the next installment.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It seemed that MJD books were becming stale and overwritten and this was a breath of fresh air. While written for a younger crowd, the adult reader will find much to enjoy! The characters are well-developed, the plot line is fantastic, the sub plots fit the main plot exceedingly well. The heorine is a strong positive character that has to work through obstacles that most of us can identify with (who's going to ask us to the dance??) and captures the readers imagination with her love of her parents, her family, friends, and "special" skills. WOW! I can't wait for the next Jennifer Scales book!

It's not always easy to find out that you are half-beaststalker, half-weredragon, especially when life is just beginning to get better. Jennifer Scales knows exactly how it feels. If only her parents would have told her sooner, it may have been easier. For one thing, though, her strength is perfect for playing soccer.

With some quick adjustments, Jennifer began to get used to the whole morphing-into-a-dragon thing, especially since she can easily change back into her teenage self.

Quickly getting used to flying around and always wanting to go back to Crescent Valley, a weredragon refuge that most do not know about, Jennifer continues to strengthen her weredragon side. But, of course, since she is half-beaststalker (her mother is one), she also has to take lessons from her mom, even though it isn't easy.

Then Jennifer gets another shock of her life: her father was married once before her mother, to Diana, a werachnid. They had a baby together, although Jennifer's father thought at first the baby was dead. But he soon finds out that the baby, Evangelos, wasn't dead after all. He was just in another dimension, abandoned, and not very happy about it. All Evangelos wants now is revenge, and Jennifer's dad is his target.

Ironically enough, weredragons are beginning to be found dead, and the victims are those close to Jennifer's dad. Could it be Evangelos? Jennifer knows that she has to protect the ones she loves and put an end to all of the murders, before the murderer attacks her parents.

An enjoyable follow up to the first and very unique novel in the series featuring Jennifer Scales (JENNIFER SCALES AND THE ANCIENT FURNACE), JENNIFER SCALES AND THE MESSENGER OF LIGHT has action, mystery, and secrets that will shock and amaze those who have fallen in love with the series. Jennifer's life will not be going back to normal anytime soon, and her adventure is just getting started. MaryJanice Davidson and Anthony Alongi create a world different from what most have read about and then go on to satisfy their biggest fans.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

The Jennifer Scales series capture teenage angst dead on target. I came upon this series by accident as a fan of other works from the author. Imagine my suprise seeing such a well written "Teenage science fiction". I read from start to finish. Jennifer has a mouth on her; similar to my own teenagers. The story was emotional at times; but wonderfuly written by the authors (how do you do that??). Thank you for such a great series, hope to see future installments.

I love this series. I was kind of surprised when the first one was recommended to me, since I'm 27 and have two children of my own. Why would I want to read about a 14 year old? But I quickly got snagged. Jennifer Scales is not a perfect heroine, which is part of her appeal. In some other YA books I've read, the teenagers are responsible and grounded, which isn't really realistic and sometimes makes it hard to follow (teenage saints?). I love that Jennifer pops off the page as an angst-filled teenager who waivers between hating and loving her parents, makes impulsive mistakes, and just generally behaves as a teenager in real life does.
The story line is also, of course, very intriguing and light, easy to follow. Wonderful way to pass the time . . .

I haven't read the first book in this series, Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace, so it took me a chapter or two to familiarize myself with the world. After that, though, it was a fast-moving, action-packed story.

In the story world, there are three supernatural races: beaststalkers, weredragons, and werachnids (were-spiders, etc.), in addition to ordinary humans, and the three races are enemies. Jennifer, however, is both a beaststalker and a weredragon, putting her right in the middle.

She's up against enmity and prejudices from both sides, and a half-brother who's weredragon/werachnid, who's just shown up wanting revenge for being stuck in what would be called on Angel a hell dimension.

The characters are well-developed and sympathetic, and there are no easy answers. I'll be looking for the first book.

My son (11) and I LOVE the Jennifer Scales books. I've long been a fan of MJD's adult fiction so when I saw the Ancient Furnace book for teens I had to get it. My son and I read both books together and he is now a huge fan as well. We are hoping for a book 3!?! It's great to find books that combine all the elements we love: imaginative characters and situations, weirdness, scares, laughs and a multigenerational appeal. A lot of young adult books bludgeon the kids with heavy morality, which can be a turn off. These don't do that but they do teach wonderful lessons about friendship, family, and bigotry.

This book is great. I thought it was better than "The Ancient" Furnace. Jennifer has come to terms with her identity as a dragon and is now facing some of her beaststalker identity. Soon everything is twisted around, when her half-brother searches her family out for revenge. People actually die, and the action doesn't stop. There are times where you don't really know who is on Jennifer's side and who is against her. Jennifer is defanitly growing up and she faces quite a bit more than most girls her age. She does it with wit, but she never loses the fact that she is just a teenager. As far a YA lit, this is truly as good as anything out there (better, much, than the all acclaimed Twilight) and it keeps its place in adult paranormal as well.

Jennifer Scales has problems being a half-breed. She knows no one quite like her as her father is a were-dragon and her mother is a beaststalker; two natural enemies. She has the skills of both. That unique duality is not very helpful when it comes to school or the boy next door whom she likes, but his parents refuse to allow them to mingle because of her dragon blood.

Life is tough enough with a mother who wants to kill her father-in-law, but to have both parents compete for your training time is too much for a teen. Worse someone is stalking her and her family; she plans to uncover the culprit and prevent him from causing harm though she finds his tricks irritating. Alas what can you do when you are Jennifer Scales, who already has solved the riddle of the Incarnation of the Ancient Furnace?

The second Jennifer Scales teen fantasy is a delightful story starring an intelligent affable individual with all the teenage angst expected of a high school student plus pressure from her antecedents to choose a side as she is the battleground between two adversarial species. The cast makes the tale fun to read especially when the heroine's paternal grandfather and her mother war about Jennifer as if she is not standing next to them. Young adult readers will appreciate Jennifer's latest amateur sleuth investigation and her improving skills since she searched for the Ancient Furnace as she uncovers who is trying to harm her family and why; the truth is quite a shocker in this sort of Nancy Drew goes fantasy thriller.

Harriet Klausner

When she was 14 years old, Jennifer Scales discovered that she was a weredragon - as is her father, as is her grandfather. She is able to change form from human girl to a beautiful dragon. Not only that, but she is the Ancient Furnace, an extremely special dragon fifty generations down the line. Furthermore, her very existence shocks both sides of her lineage, because her mother is one of the beaststalkers, sworn enemies of weredragons.

Her parents' generation is made up of various wereanimals and beaststalkers who populated a small town in Minnesota, where life is otherwise normal. Many of the adults are riddled with venom and cruel intentions which they have passed on to their children, who grew up together. They go through the motions - school, work, and home - for the sake of all of the "normal" people who also live there.

Jennifer celebrates her fifteenth birthday early in this book, cake and all. Shortly thereafter, her family tree gets shaken up. A horrid beast is attacking those near and dear to her father. It's up to the Scales to figure out who it is and how to stop it. When they discover the truth, they are struck close to home. Jennifer and her family must re-evaluate their senses of tradition and loyalty.

Even though Jennifer would like nothing more than to go to the Halloween dance and be a normal tenth-grader, she never denies her destiny nor tries to change her true nature. In fact, she enjoys being a weredragon. It is her love for her parents and grandfather that sees her through the darkness and the battles.

This is the second book in an ongoing series. The first, Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace, was released last year. I always recommend reading series in order, so although Light does recap previous events, I encourage readers to get Furnace first and see if they like it.