Land of Nod, The Artifact

Great young adult fantasy

Great young adult fantasy. The story captures your imagination and the characters are likable, of course I have my favorite one. You are sucked into a demension where all is strange yet familiar. You feel like it's a place you can call home, if you're not eaten by rodent sized T-Rex or jellyfish that fall from trees, first. This book is the first book in a trilogy but it doesn't leave the reader with too many unanswered questions. It has a good storyline that flows and can stand alone, but this reader can't wait for book two.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful Debut Novel

Combine the ingredients of Multi-dimensional Space-time, Reluctant Male Hero, Strong and Brash Female Lead, Aggressive Reptilian Baddies that infiltrate your dreams, a Cowardly and Complacent Bureaucracy, an Ancient Prophecy, a Powerful Talisman and a War Between Continents ... and you're fermenting a pretty strong brew. The fast pace (most chapters are three pages or fewer) guarantees that you won't put the book down. This is Harrison Ford style adventure. But there's more. Like most engrossing tales, "Land of Nod, The Artifact" also has a strong ethical foundation. We're at home in Gary Hoover's created alternate world because we've traveled there before: The King Arthur cycle, the adventure novels of Robert Louis Stevenson, the Tolkien saga -- All are built around humanity's ideals of courage, ingenuity and mercy. I, for one, look forward to the publication of further Land of Nod tales.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Hi

Sup

Kathleen

U mean here?

Spencer

Skyler?

Nothing special

Okay. But the character development is weak and it lacks depth. The plot is interesting, though. I would have really enjoyed it if things had been developed more. Won't be continuing the series.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

Great book!

Just one of the very best...

Just one of the very best...

Fun characters, curious creatures and intriguing circumstances

Take one teen boy. Add recent tragedy in the form of absent super-scientist father. Mix with the requisite high school bully, strange dreams, and a curious machine. Then you'll have the road into Gary Hoover's Land of Nod: The Artifact. The Artifact is, of course, the first book in a series, and the ending, as expected, is just the beginning. But the mysterious world Jeff discovers is nicely imagined, with intriguing depths yet to be plumbed. The landscape is full of fun characters, curious creatures and strange circumstances, and everything's told with meticulous attention to detail.

For the most part, the world is viewed through Jeff's eyes, and he's a plausible teen narrator. Occasional switches to omniscient views, forays into political comment, or ubiquitous long-clause similes are a little distracting, though humorous, and should appeal to the intended younger audience. The story-line's well-planned and exciting, and there's a pleasing undertone of kindness even in battle that bodes well for the series; a longish, slowish, but fun teen adventure with the promise of more to follow.



Disclosure: I received an ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Gary Hoover creates a fascinating world!

Jeff Browning is a fourteen year old boy trying to make his way through life after the disappearance of his father, a brilliant scientist. Longing to find clues as to where his father, who is presumed dead by the police, could be, Jeff searches his father's office. There, he finds a strange machine that opens a passage to what looks like another world. Sure he will find his father in this strange land, Jeff decides to investigate. He suddenly finds himself in a forest filled with giant insects, man-sized birds and snakes with three feet wide heads with no way to get back home.

Gary Hoover does a great job describing this world, creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind of what Jeff is seeing and feeling. The civilization mirrors that of earth in many ways - for instance, the people speak English. Yet, there are unique differences in technology and social structure that make it a fascinating place to be. Power struggles and the threat of a war make it also a dangerous place to be. I enjoyed reading about this new world and, giant insects aside, I wouldn't mind living there with its flying cars and showers that dry you off without the need of a towel.

Land of Nod, The Artifact is a nice escape into a different dimension and the story is well-written and interesting. There were a few things, though, that held me back from giving the book a full four stars. There is a lot of illusion to Jeff having abilities that would save the day, but in the end, it seemed there was more hype than substance. For instance, Jeff is able to move large obstacles blocking an escape route, but often does not show enough strength to protect himself in other situations. That's a shame, because Jeff has the potential to be a strong and captivating character. I hope that there are sequels to Land of Nod, The Artifact that allow him more room to grow into the character that is alluded to throughout this book.

Another thing I questioned was Jeff's age. I believe that Gary Hoover did an excellent job of describing the insecurities and doubts a fourteen year old boy would have; but in this story, Jeff was looked to by adults to come up with solutions to problems he knew nothing about - such as in politics and war. He was taken maybe too seriously by the grown men in the Land of Nod without having proven himself to be capable of such leaps of faith. If he was a few years older, closer to being an adult himself, this may have seemed a bit more plausible.

All in all, I enjoyed Land of Nod, The Artifact. I think it is a nice, quick read that is both entertaining and action-packed. It definitely has the makings of a good series. I give this book three and a half stars.

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