Customer Reviews

The Truth (Lionboy Trilogy #3)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Charlie was finally reunited with parents in the end of the previous book. It goes without saying that they are thrilled, but that does not last long. Charlie is kidnapped, and his parents, Claudio, King Boris, Sergie, Ninu and two lions promptly take off after him.

The Truth was really good, though not as good as the first book. There was not as much humor, tension or the exhalent conversations between Charlie and the lions. Sergie was in this book, but he was not as prominent as in the other two books, I really missed that. There was not as much conversation between Charlie's parents. Primo was in this book, but only briefly. I really missed all those parts, and also the fact that the characters did not seem as bright as in the previous books. But the thing I liked least was the beginning, on the beginning Charlie's parents make some very dumb choices, without those choices the plot would almost be impossible, but they come off as cheesy because of the brilliance these people have already shown. I did like Ninu, but a chameleon, especially when it does not have as much character as the lions, is really no substitute for the lions.

If you liked the other two books I would probably recommend this book because of some of the resolutions in the climax. If you Have not read `Lionboy' and `Lionboy the Chase' you will get nothing out of this book. If you haven't read those books I would HIGHLY recommend them before you read this book.

As an editor, I had high hopes for Lionboy: the Truth. I had really enjoyed the first instalment, Lionboy (a book with action, characterisation, and plenty of zing), and the second, Lionboy: the Chase, was also exciting and well written. The Truth, however, is lost in the telling. While this book was a nice adventure and, indeed, a necessary wrap-up to the series, I had to force myself to read it. I didn't care about the characters, many of whom seemed empty and flat. Several characters seemed altogether unnecessary. Claudio, for example, seems to simply be along for the ride - his character does not develop, and he plays no important role. Primo makes a superfluous appearance after setting out from Venice, then he disappears mid-story. The Young Lion and Elsina set out on a quest to help Charlie, but really don't achieve much, and also don't develop as characters. Maccomo's character was great - a powerful, frightening villain. But, mid-book, he too becomes passive, until he is quietly arrested at the end. Others, like Madame Baliene and the Eagle serve fleeting purposes - an example of events that bog down the story. And why, why, why does the Circe arrive at the end? So that we can catch up with old characters?
Another irritating feature is the narrator's momsy voice. The text is crammed with the author's moral opinions - her opposition to cloning was repeated ad nauseam. Other messages, such as `pollution is bad,' `stealing is wrong,' `loyalty is good,' `slavery is bad' etc, made me think gee, thanks for the tip, as I heard them again and again.
The biggest flaw was that all of the peril and suspense in this story takes place in the beginning. Towards the end of the story, I simply didn't feel any sense of threat. Convenient plot twists mean that the young protagonist simply coasts to the finish line, stepping over brief, tacked-on obstacles that resolve themselves far too quickly (when Ninu was carried off I thought finally, some action - but he was back in a heartbeat - I didn't even have time to fret. There was a strong feeling of deja-vu when Elsina was shot - only to get straight back up again). The book finished with an abrupt, too-easy ending.
Yes, there were some nice moments, some nice description and some nice action, but the Truth was simply not on par with its predecessors.

The first two books in the trilogy series were fast-paced and fun. Unfortunately, this wasn't really the case with the final book (Lionboy: The Truth). The story seemed to just drag on and then at the end everything happened at once. It seemed that only parts of the book were good while the rest was slow, irrelevant and unnecessary. However, I would still recommend that you read the book so you know what happens at the end of the trilogy series.

The second volume in the Lionboy series ended with Charlie Ashanti, the Catspeaker, finally reunited with his parents. The evil lion trainer Maccomo has gotten his comeuppance, and only troublemaking Rafi Sadler left to worry about. Everything is great, right?

Not for long, as Charlie is soon kidnapped, and he and his parents become involved in a high-speed Atlantic Ocean pursuit. Charlie's beloved lions get in on the act, and Charlie finally has his chance to confront the powerfully evil Corporacy --- but not before he must make some tough choices.

There are plenty of surprises along the way, including more discoveries about Charlie's family, some of them not entirely welcome. Charlie also learns more about his past, and even has an emotional --- and surprising --- reunion with the leopard responsible for his ability to speak the language of cats.

Like the first two volumes in the Lionboy series, LIONBOY: THE TRUTH unfolds at a breakneck pace, switching among characters, scenes, and even continents at a furious speed, keeping readers eager to discover what new adventures await Charlie and his friends. And he has a lot of friends, too: there's practically a cast of thousands, what with all the characters from the first two books reappearing, along with some new ones, such as the multilingual chameleon Ninu. It's no wonder that the book ends with a somewhat tongue-in-cheek update on every character's future plans, stretching out over several pages.

LIONBOY: THE TRUTH brings the Lionboy trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. Louisa Young and Isabel Adomakoh Young (aka Zizou Corder) have developed a thrilling fantasy world and a compelling hero in this old-fashioned adventure series with a high-tech spin. Here's hoping we haven't heard the last from this talented mother-daughter writing team!

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

The Lionboy trilogy is a breath of fresh air in a domain currently dominated by fantasy. Set in an imaginative post-environmental-disaster Europe, the hero, 10-year-old Charlie, sets out to find his parents who have been kidnapped, embarking on a rolicking set of adventures across the English Channel, France, Venice, the Mediterranean, Africa and the Caribbean. While the first book takes a while to gain momentum, by the time you hit the second and third (Lionboy: The Truth) the adventure whips you along, full of twists and turns, breathtaking escapes and unexpected discoveries. The characters (which include lions, cats, a nasty evil corporation, gondoliers, and a Bulgarian king) are beautifully crafted and the hero's gritty determination is something with which any child (and adult, too) will relate. The animals are a sheer delight. The books are interspersed with detailed, charming illustrations that enhance the sheer pleasure of the experience. These are books to be read aloud or to savour under the bedcovers at night.

I got this book because I read the Other two, and really liked them and couldn't wait to see how it ended. This was a great book;I am so glad that I read them all.

Great for Jr high school and up. My husband and I listened to the first book on a trip and had to get the 2 other sets for future trips.

This audio CD was read by Simon Jones. What more is there to say?
Geraldine McCaughrean's Lion Boy Trilogy was delightful. I don't feel the need to retell Charlie's many adventures and his ability to communicate with cats again, except to say it was very enjoyable listening made all the more so by the wonderful voice of Simon Jones. Maybe not quite the level of the (Jonathan Stroud) Bartimaeus Trilogy, but good stories narrated by Simon Jones are, in my opinion, worth far more than the money you pay for them. I've listened to the Lion Boy Trilogy several times and continue to enjoy it.

I listened to the first book going to and from work. I was hooked; I had to purchase the other 2 audio books. I loved this. I will purchase the books in paperback or hardcover for my middle school library. Great series

Having read the trilogy over the past few months, I was impressed with the quality of this last book. The author uses richer language than in the previous books, and lots more diagrams are included to help visualize the locations.

A few big surprises at the beginning of the book, and an awesome adventure all through.