When orphan Matt closed the Raven's Gate, he foolishly thought that his troubles were over. But they had just begun. As calamities unfold, he realizes that his survival and the fate of the world hang on an improbable alliance of five street-smart youngsters. A noir fantasy even darker than its predecessor.
Gr 5-8-Though this is the second installment in this series, new readers will catch on quickly. Fresh from his victory over Raven's Gate, Matt is once again called upon by the mysterious Nexus. As one of the five kids foretold by prophecy to fight back the Old Ones, the 14-year-old is needed in South America. From the very beginning, his enemies seem to always be one step ahead of him. But these shadowy opponents don't count on Matt's unexpected allies: the second of the five, and an ancient tribe of Inca warriors. While the story and characters are not particularly original, and more experienced readers will not be glued to their seats, the plot turns and emotional relationships will more than satisfy thrill seekers, especially those already into Horowitz's "Alex Rider" series (Philomel). A must-have for reluctant, middle-grade boys.-Morgan Johnson-Doyle, Sierra High School, Colorado Springs, CO Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Matt Freeman, hero of Raven's Gate (2005), returns for another supercharged adventure tale from a master of the trade. In this sequel, Matt leaves England, meets Pedro, the second of the gatekeepers, and attempts to prevent an evil ancient god from reaching earth through a gate in the Peruvian desert. Sustained suspense beginning in the prologue and doesn't let up, providing for a compulsive read. Danger abounds for the two boys. Dead bodies line the paths they travel. Plenty of gore-gently described-place this in the Indiana Jones genre of adventure tale. Lots of cool details sustain interest; among them are the boys' mystical mental powers, golden treasure hidden in the walls of Cusco and a visit to the lost city of the Incas. As in some plot-driven stories, stereotypes provide an easy shortcut. Horowitz, however, does reverse some roles-in this case, the Incans are the good guys. The climax, littered with dead heroes and villains alike, guarantees a suspenseful start for the next installment. Bring on gatekeeper number three-soon. (Fiction. YA)
Kliatt
This sequel to Raven's Gate (a 2006 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers) won't disappoint fans to this exciting new supernatural series from the popular author of the Alex Rider books. Fourteen-year-old Matt's adventures mainly take place in Peru this time as he tries to thwart the plans of an evil businessman to open a gate to let the manacing Old Ones into the world and unleash a new world war. The discovery of a 16th-century diary by a Spanish monk gives clues to the location of this gate, while Matt's dreams lead him to recognize another young gatekeeper, Pedro. Descendants of the Incas help the two in their daring escapes from the bad guys, and the mysterious real-life Nazca Lines in the Peruvian desert play an important role. Lots of action, horror and suspense will keep readers turning the pages and eager for the next volume in this thrilling series.
Booklist
Gr. 5–8. Fourteen-year-old Matt Freeman, who forestalled the evil Old Ones in the riveting Raven's Gate (2005), finds himself on yet another precipitous adventure. This time Matt and Richard, the journalist with whom Matt has been staying, travel to Peru, where Nexus believes a second gate to the underworld is poised to open. The when and how of the event are left to Matt to discover, which he eventually does, but not without some lugubrious descriptions, an abundance of dramatic escapes, and the help of a Peruvian teen, Pedro, with whose destiny Matt's is linked. Although this is neither as tightly constructed nor as compelling as the lead title in the Gatekeepers Series (which was equal parts horror and adventure), this book still has its moments, especially at the end, when the secret of the second gate is revealed, and Pedro finally settles into his place as the second of the children prophesied to save the world. ––Stephanie Zvirin
Preteen and teen fantasy readers are enthralled with Horowitz’s Gatekeepers series for good reason. Fourteen-year-old Matt Freeman, something of an unwilling teenage James Bond, continues to find himself in an exciting succession of horrifying adventures. Horowitz has created a rich character in Matt, and Simon Prebble provides insights into the teenager’s layers of anger, uncertainty, and reluctant determination. Prebble nimbly depicts the boy’s desire to become a “normal kid” after closing the Raven’s Gate in the first story and his hesitant return to fight the evil forces still at work. This installment takes Matt to Peru, where he confronts mysteries in the desert. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine
