02/08/2021
From New York to Seattle, the present to the future, this fun, if messy, sequel to Zodiac Saga 1 takes Lancaster and his gang on a journey to find the Gems in order to help the Elders, the Zodiac gods. But soon after they start, they get severely sidetracked by a series of zany events, such as an unfair trial, crazy weather, silhouette zombies, unhelpful gods and their wily children, and the potential end of the world. By Lancaster’s side are Sofia, Taurus’s daughter; Judas, an undead ghoul; and Peter, the driver. Can Lancaster overcome a constant onslaught of trials and tribulations to uncover the truth about himself, or will the world fall to ruin on his watch?
This is a unique twist on familiar concepts that’s full of humor and personality; the immaturity of the gods is a quirky take on deities. But too many ideas are stuffed in this installment, and not all of them properly flow into each other, leading to an ungrounded patchwork effect. The only goals given are that Lancaster and his team need to “help the Elders” by “finding their gems” (concepts which won’t be clear to readers who haven’t read the previous volume), with no mention of how that would happen, whether there is a time limit, or what the stakes are if they fail. Thus, when the crew shows up in New York and things go awry immediately, it’s unclear how this impacts the larger mission. Also, most of these events do not get resolved by Lancaster, who’s often being called away in his dreams, being left behind by his friends, or leaving his friends behind, thus spending very little time with them and letting seemingly dire circumstances get resolved in the background while he works on his own mission.
Fortunately, between the well-defined smaller stakes, the plot twists, and the breakneck speed, this is an escapade that will certainly keep young readers on their toes. While this novel could use stronger connective tissue, there’s no denying this scramble against constant destruction will be fun for an upper middle grade audience.
Takeaway: Middle grade readers will revel in this quirky, no-holds-barred take on the children-of-gods trope.
Great for fans of: Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Cindy Lin’s The Twelve.
Production grades Cover: C Design and typography: B Illustrations: N/A Editing: C Marketing copy: B+
From New York to Seattle, the present to the future, this fun sequel to Zodiac Saga 1 takes Lancaster and his gang on a journey to find the Gems in order to help the Elders, the Zodiac gods. But soon after they start, they get severely sidetracked by a series of zany events, such as an unfair trial, crazy weather, silhouette zombies, unhelpful gods and their wily children, and the potential end of the world. By Lancaster's side are Sofia, Taurus's daughter; Judas, an undead ghoul; and Peter, the driver. Can Lancaster overcome a constant onslaught of trials and tribulations to uncover the truth about himself, or will the world fall to ruin on his watch? Fortunately, between the well-defined smaller stakes, the plot twists, and the breakneck speed, this is an escapade that will certainly keep young readers on their toes. While this novel could use stronger connective tissue, there's no denying this scramble against constant destruction will be fun for an upper middle grade audience. (Publishers Weekly)
An entertaining and magical read that is sure to appeal to young readers who enjoy sci-fi and fantasy. The Balance of Power by Kaitlyn McKnight continues to open up a world of adventure and suspense. The book continues with the Zodiac Saga strong cast of characters including protagonist Lancaster and his friends, charming Peter, ghoulish Judas, and the fearless Sofia. The personalities, powers, and characteristics of the Zodian gods are also very intriguing and will be sure to delight and surprise. Along their journey the kids come across all kinds of challenges. For such a young author, McKnight has a fascinating imagination which is sure to fill many more books in the series with absorbing tales of wonder.
...you are tomorrow's leaders - you inspire me and give me tremendous hope for the future." (President Barack Obama)
"I wish you all the best and much success" (Tom, The Tom Joyner Morning Show)
"...we value you and respect your integrity and commit to you our prayers..." (The Executive Office of Bishop T.D. Jakes, Sr.)
"Kaitlyn McKnight - an obviously very self-possessed young woman - has gone two steps farther than most: she shared her story with others (a huge hurdle for most budding authors) and has seen her first effort go to print. Kaitlyn is doing it. She "finished what she started" and that is no mean feat." (Steve Davidson for Amazing Stories)
