Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Sequel, November 8, 2009
Max's adventures continue in the sequel, The Hour Glass of Souls. Again, Mr. Cochrane has brought back his captivating story full of magic, other worlds, and interesting creatures. A wonderful story for children, though it is a little more grown up than the previous story. Favorite characters from the first book make a welcome return, with a few new characters introduced. Villains also return, more despicable than before as you discover the lengths they would go to for power. I would recommend this book to any kid 10+, and also includes more elements in this story to keep an adult entertained as well. If you've read the first book in this series, you absolutely must read this one!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Sequel, October 3, 2009
This book is great family entertainment! We read the first book, Max and the Gatekeeper and highly anticipated it's sequel. This book is very fast paced and packed with action. The Hour Glass of Souls grabs your attention and does a great job of keeping it. The entire time I was reading it, I kept thinking what a great movie this will make! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure. Max is a great character. The chemestry between him and the others in the book comes through very well. I thought that Cochrane did a fantastic job taking the story to the next level. Readers of all ages can find themselves lost in another world and get caught up in the pace of this story.It is a quick read for adults, but I happen to love that! Can't wait to read what Cochrane writes next.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A triumphant and worthy sequel!, August 31, 2009
I have made it no secret that The Hourglass of Souls by James Todd, the sequel to Max and the Gatekeeper is one of my most anticipated books of the year. Now that I have had a chance to take this book for a spin, I am compelled to share my thoughts on it. The big question is, how does The Hourglass of Souls compare to Max and the Gatekeeper? To put it simply, not only is The Hourglass of Souls a worthy sequel to Max and the Gatekeeper. It actually surpasses it.
Now bear in mind that this is no small feat considering that Max and the Gatekeeper, like many first books, is not only a labor of love, but also a completely original and compelling story which introduces us to a whole new universe conjured from the fertile imagination of Cochrane. More often than not, sequels tend to lose the unique flavor that of the introductory tale in order to venture off in some strange, new unexplored territory. Although I must admit, that there were times when I had to wonder if the sequel hadn't lost some of the magic of the original book, the story kicked itself into overdrive in the second half of the book and delivers a riveting and very satisfying tale.
In The Hourglass of Souls, thirteen year old Max Rigdon's mother is kidnapped by the evil forces of Hudich who wants him to steal the key which will unlock the magic-dampening collar which was placed around Hudich's neck in Max and the Gatekeeper. To ensure that Max carries out Hudich's will, both Max and his mother are subjected to cruel torture. Max fears for his mother's life and is convinced that he must steal the key to Hudich's collar from his Grandpa and use it as a bargaining chip to save her. Max's plight becomes much more complicated when he learns that Hudich has discovered a magical gateway by which he can enter any world in the universe. If Hudich is able to remove the collar from his neck, he will regain his deadly magical powers. Everything that Max and his friends suffered to defeat Hudich in Max and the Gatekeeper will have been for nothing if an all-powerful Hudich and his forces are able to use this new gateway to invade other worlds. Max must find a way to rescue his mother from Hudich without giving up the key.
From the harrowing plot it is obvious that The Hourglass of Souls is much darker tale than Max and the Gatekeeper. Cochrane has raised the stakes for Max in this sequel and in the process draws his readers more deeply into the explosive conflict of his book. To be certain, there is no lack of action in this excellent sequel. However, the area where I think The Hourglass of Souls doesn't quite match up to the original is in the sheer scope of its imagination. Although The Hourglass of Souls, which is the namesake of this book, is a quite creative plot device, the overall story seems to be lacking the wow-factor which blew me away in the original book. This is not to say that The Hourglass of Souls doesn't feature its own cleverness. I think much of the way the story shapes itself has to do with the darker, more violent tone of this new story. Cochrane is not pulling any punches in The Hourglass of Souls and it is clear to see that he is weaving a tale that is not only more frightening, but also quite emotional.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book and am now an official fan of the author. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a wonderful tale of adventure. Better still, if you like your fantasy stories to have a bit of substance to go along with the spectacle, look no further than The Hourglass of Souls.
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