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The Guild of Specialists #2
Operation Typhoon Shore
Operation Typhoon Shore
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
17 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Mowll
16 books69 followersAuthor of Operation Red Jericho, Operation Typhoon Shore, Operation Storm City, The Great Space Race and Beautiful Titan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
January 19, 2019
A pair of kids sail during a typhoon, trying to find out why their parent disappeared, solve the mystery of the Guild, and find the treasure.
Not bad, but it is the inserts and illustration that really make this one stand out from the rest.
Not bad, but it is the inserts and illustration that really make this one stand out from the rest.
June 15, 2018
This sequel picks up immediately where Operation Red Jericho left off, and delves even further into the shadowy world of the Honorable Guild of Specialists. This is the book where the goals and the players become clear, but honestly the most shocking revelation is that Charlie is a Pembleton-Crozier. Took me a while to get over that one as a kid.
Unfortunately, Liberty is around a lot in this book. She was mildly grating to me when I was young and read this, but re-reading it now I find her utterly intolerable. The less I have to read of her attitude and exaggerated Texan accent, the better. Becca is somewhat annoying also. It's really best when everyone is kept busy by one life-and-death emergency after another, and we don't have to spend too much time with any one person. Doug continues to be the only (almost) sympathetic, round character.
I would give this three stars because the plot is somewhat chaotic and stretches my suspension of disbelief much further than the first book, but I can't bring myself to just because the drawings and schematics continue to be so awesomely cool.
Unfortunately, Liberty is around a lot in this book. She was mildly grating to me when I was young and read this, but re-reading it now I find her utterly intolerable. The less I have to read of her attitude and exaggerated Texan accent, the better. Becca is somewhat annoying also. It's really best when everyone is kept busy by one life-and-death emergency after another, and we don't have to spend too much time with any one person. Doug continues to be the only (almost) sympathetic, round character.
I would give this three stars because the plot is somewhat chaotic and stretches my suspension of disbelief much further than the first book, but I can't bring myself to just because the drawings and schematics continue to be so awesomely cool.
March 21, 2022
OK, my interest level is UPPED! Being shipwrecked on a seemingly-deserted jungle island is a great start; I was hooked the minute I saw this beautiful picture:
Throw in some headless skeletons, the underground discovery of a centuries-old ship, what happened to a missing explorer, and some lost treasure that takes deciphering a riddle to find -- including more details about why the painting "The Ambassadors" (a.k.a. the one with the skull that looks like it was stretched in Photoshop, as Tumblr parlance goes) is actually relevant to this so-called Guild of Specialists -- and I am all the way eager for part 3, now that I've adjusted to the overall dime-novel silliness of it all. Also, the sassy twins Xi and Xu have officially emerged as my favorite characters, after Duchess the tigress of course.
Throw in some headless skeletons, the underground discovery of a centuries-old ship, what happened to a missing explorer, and some lost treasure that takes deciphering a riddle to find -- including more details about why the painting "The Ambassadors" (a.k.a. the one with the skull that looks like it was stretched in Photoshop, as Tumblr parlance goes) is actually relevant to this so-called Guild of Specialists -- and I am all the way eager for part 3, now that I've adjusted to the overall dime-novel silliness of it all. Also, the sassy twins Xi and Xu have officially emerged as my favorite characters, after Duchess the tigress of course.
May 1, 2024
'Hoe zei je dat dat ding heet?'
'Ladybird.'
'Ladybird?' Liberty spuwde het woord uit. 'Die naam wordt gewijzigd, dat lijkt me duidelijk.'
Dit boek is zowat hetzelfde als het eerste, met dezelfde opbouw, dezelfde opmaak, en dus even grandioos als het eerste deel. De grenzen tussen wat werkelijkheid is en wat niet, vervagen nog maar eens...
Is die cover gemaakt van drakenleer of zo? Het lijkt er in elk geval wel op, alleen komen er geen draken in. (Nu ja, dat is niet helemáál waar...)
Doug en Becca zijn nog altijd even geweldig om over te lezen als in het eerste deel. Nog een extra voordeel aan deze boeken is trouwens de afwezigheid van ook maar enige vorm van romantiek. Begrijp me goed, ik heb op zich niks tegen romantiek, maar er zijn ook boeken die fantasy of avontuur in de hoofdrol zouden moeten hebben, maar in de plaats daarvan wordt de romantiek dan allesoverheersend. Hier is gewoon geen greintje romantiek te bespeuren, en dat is voor de verandering ook erg aangenaam. Graag ook nog een vermelding voor Liberty, die in dit boek helemaal tot haar recht komt (zeker in haar dialogen met Kapitein MacKenzie). Én nog een vermelding voor de scènes waarin Becca vliegt/haar liefde voor vliegen ontdekt, want die vond ik echt geweldig!
Boek 3 volgt rechtstreeks op Boek 1 en 2 en er zijn dus ook heel wat verwijzingen naar het eerste deel, wat in de meeste andere boeken wel eens voor problemen kan zorgen voor de schrijver. In andere boeken zijn er zo'n drie manieren om terug uit te leggen wat er daarvoor gebeurde (wat zeker handig is als er een langere periode zit tussen het lezen van 1 en 2): 1) Een samenvatting van 1 geven voor het eigenlijke begin van 2. 2) Voetnoten in de tekst en onderaan de pagina een zinnetje van 'Zie boek 1' of iets dergelijks. 3) Een hoop uitleg verwerken in de lopende tekst, wat irritant is als je boek 1 nog maar net gelezen hebt, want je weet toch alles nog. Mowll omzeilt dat hier soms (niet altijd) op een wel erg plezante manier: hij gebruikt de informatie in de kantlijn, met foto's en dergelijke, om alles terug op te frissen. En dat ben je ondertussen gewend, dus het komt totaal niet raar over.
Nog steeds een vlotte en herkenbare stijl, aangenaam leesbaar, er zitten alleen wat verwijsfouten in. Maar zoals ik bij Boek 1 al zei: de rest van dit verhaal is zo sterk dat 't me nauwelijks kan bommen, dus dank u, Gerbrand Bakker. Ik heb hier weer niks slechts op aan te merken (op heel het boek niet, trouwens).
Extra tip: Eigenlijk doet dit boek me een beetje denken aan S. van J.J. Abrams en Doug Dorst. Dus als je dat gelezen hebt, dan raad ik deze reeks eens te meer aan!
10/10
Gemiddelde rating voor de reeks: 10/10
'Ladybird.'
'Ladybird?' Liberty spuwde het woord uit. 'Die naam wordt gewijzigd, dat lijkt me duidelijk.'
Dit boek is zowat hetzelfde als het eerste, met dezelfde opbouw, dezelfde opmaak, en dus even grandioos als het eerste deel. De grenzen tussen wat werkelijkheid is en wat niet, vervagen nog maar eens...
Is die cover gemaakt van drakenleer of zo? Het lijkt er in elk geval wel op, alleen komen er geen draken in. (Nu ja, dat is niet helemáál waar...)
Doug en Becca zijn nog altijd even geweldig om over te lezen als in het eerste deel. Nog een extra voordeel aan deze boeken is trouwens de afwezigheid van ook maar enige vorm van romantiek. Begrijp me goed, ik heb op zich niks tegen romantiek, maar er zijn ook boeken die fantasy of avontuur in de hoofdrol zouden moeten hebben, maar in de plaats daarvan wordt de romantiek dan allesoverheersend. Hier is gewoon geen greintje romantiek te bespeuren, en dat is voor de verandering ook erg aangenaam. Graag ook nog een vermelding voor Liberty, die in dit boek helemaal tot haar recht komt (zeker in haar dialogen met Kapitein MacKenzie). Én nog een vermelding voor de scènes waarin Becca vliegt/haar liefde voor vliegen ontdekt, want die vond ik echt geweldig!
Boek 3 volgt rechtstreeks op Boek 1 en 2 en er zijn dus ook heel wat verwijzingen naar het eerste deel, wat in de meeste andere boeken wel eens voor problemen kan zorgen voor de schrijver. In andere boeken zijn er zo'n drie manieren om terug uit te leggen wat er daarvoor gebeurde (wat zeker handig is als er een langere periode zit tussen het lezen van 1 en 2): 1) Een samenvatting van 1 geven voor het eigenlijke begin van 2. 2) Voetnoten in de tekst en onderaan de pagina een zinnetje van 'Zie boek 1' of iets dergelijks. 3) Een hoop uitleg verwerken in de lopende tekst, wat irritant is als je boek 1 nog maar net gelezen hebt, want je weet toch alles nog. Mowll omzeilt dat hier soms (niet altijd) op een wel erg plezante manier: hij gebruikt de informatie in de kantlijn, met foto's en dergelijke, om alles terug op te frissen. En dat ben je ondertussen gewend, dus het komt totaal niet raar over.
Nog steeds een vlotte en herkenbare stijl, aangenaam leesbaar, er zitten alleen wat verwijsfouten in. Maar zoals ik bij Boek 1 al zei: de rest van dit verhaal is zo sterk dat 't me nauwelijks kan bommen, dus dank u, Gerbrand Bakker. Ik heb hier weer niks slechts op aan te merken (op heel het boek niet, trouwens).
Extra tip: Eigenlijk doet dit boek me een beetje denken aan S. van J.J. Abrams en Doug Dorst. Dus als je dat gelezen hebt, dan raad ik deze reeks eens te meer aan!
10/10
Gemiddelde rating voor de reeks: 10/10
June 10, 2012
The part of me that is still a ten year old ate this whole thing up and demanded more helpings *. It has everything: secret societies in secret war, ancient technological civilizations, weird science, exotic world travel, island adventure. It would have pirates, but those were defeated in the prequel, and so it has to make do with warrior monks gone Cossack, sort of. And subterranean drilling machines.
It fits into the long and noble tradition of orphaned or semi-orphaned children on an adventure, where they always seem slightly smarter, gutsier, and luckier than the adults around them. What it lacks in constant excitement it more than makes up for in being extremely interesting and well-crafted.
I'm a sucker for a book with a lot of prop value, and this hardcover is made out to resemble a Moleskine travel journal to the point of having rounded-off corners and an elastic closure. Nearly every other page spread has some sort of gimmick on it, either a sketch, diagram, sidebar commentary, or random marginalia. And there are four fold-out diagrams, maps, and blueprints, one of which is huge. As an artifact in itself, this thing is awesome. The contents sadly veer from that motif and are supposedly the 'reconstructions' by Mowll from his discovered material, told in third person with all this supplementary awesomeness. There is the slight factor that the book wouldn't be nearly as interesting to read without this gimmickry.
I can imagine handing this book (or more likely the first of the series) to a young reader, and its style of presentation capturing their interest long enough for the story to take hold.
*: Accident with a time machine. I don't want to talk about it.
It fits into the long and noble tradition of orphaned or semi-orphaned children on an adventure, where they always seem slightly smarter, gutsier, and luckier than the adults around them. What it lacks in constant excitement it more than makes up for in being extremely interesting and well-crafted.
I'm a sucker for a book with a lot of prop value, and this hardcover is made out to resemble a Moleskine travel journal to the point of having rounded-off corners and an elastic closure. Nearly every other page spread has some sort of gimmick on it, either a sketch, diagram, sidebar commentary, or random marginalia. And there are four fold-out diagrams, maps, and blueprints, one of which is huge. As an artifact in itself, this thing is awesome. The contents sadly veer from that motif and are supposedly the 'reconstructions' by Mowll from his discovered material, told in third person with all this supplementary awesomeness. There is the slight factor that the book wouldn't be nearly as interesting to read without this gimmickry.
I can imagine handing this book (or more likely the first of the series) to a young reader, and its style of presentation capturing their interest long enough for the story to take hold.
*: Accident with a time machine. I don't want to talk about it.
January 17, 2017
There's always a soft spot in my heart for a good YA adventure tale, and Operation Typhoon Shore definitely fits the bill. The MacKenzie siblings make great protagonists, approaching problems with a mix of intelligence and derring-do. This story has a great Treasure Island feel to it, combined with The Guild of Specialist's intriguing mix of science, explorer's guilds, Eastern influence, and mystery. The story is full of dramatic tension punctuated with frenetic action scenes. As with the first volume of the series, the exquisitely-produced book delights with its diagrams, asides, and lavish fold-out maps.
February 4, 2021
Better than the first in basically every way, it deepens the story and makes for a worthy Indiana Jones esque adventure. Also, there’s a Chekhov’s volcano which is put to excellent use.
December 8, 2017
This book was a sequel to the book I read before, Operation Red Jerico, which was a great book. This book was a bit harder to understand but it was still interesting. This book was more descriptive and I got bored because of all of the extra details. My favorite part, again, was the pictures and mini-maps that would help clear things up.
I think the major turning point for Becca and Doug was, “The typhoon had chosen its quarry that night and was chasing hard: an injured ship, a straggler showing signs of battle damage, hounded to exhaustion across the Celebes Sea. Her name could be picked out on her stern in the momentary brilliance of a lightning flash: Research Ship Expidient” (Mowll 4). This is when they escaped Wenzi Island and Sheng-Fat, but find themselves right back in the action when their ship is struck by a typhoon and is crashed ashore on Sulphur Island.
This book had less action but was still fun, I think that the next book will be better because this seems like it is following the path of Star Wars, but it is about something more realistic. I would recommend this book to someone who is able to understand advanced vocabulary, and has lots of time to read, because this book took a while.
I think the major turning point for Becca and Doug was, “The typhoon had chosen its quarry that night and was chasing hard: an injured ship, a straggler showing signs of battle damage, hounded to exhaustion across the Celebes Sea. Her name could be picked out on her stern in the momentary brilliance of a lightning flash: Research Ship Expidient” (Mowll 4). This is when they escaped Wenzi Island and Sheng-Fat, but find themselves right back in the action when their ship is struck by a typhoon and is crashed ashore on Sulphur Island.
This book had less action but was still fun, I think that the next book will be better because this seems like it is following the path of Star Wars, but it is about something more realistic. I would recommend this book to someone who is able to understand advanced vocabulary, and has lots of time to read, because this book took a while.
August 20, 2021
Installment two was just as action packed as the first adventure, if not even more so. I was hoping for more character development and I didn’t really get it. A photo and a paragraph blurb doesn’t cut it but I did love all the graphic embellishments and the schematics. This book won me over with its design just as the first did and if left just to the text it would be a much flatter story. Becca got more time in the page and she discovered a new passion and purpose toward the end of the book. My favorite scene might have been Liberty taking off in her plane just because that character was such a cliche with all her Texas jargon and swagger and don’t care for nuthin nor nobody attitude - she was so damn annoying.
Some fun reveals with other characters relationships and the technology descriptions and inventions, espionage, and plans for world domination were gripping. So was the island setting with secret tunnels, volcanoes, mining, etc. Still a fun read in spite of all the flaws, looking forward to the third (and final) installment in the series.
Some fun reveals with other characters relationships and the technology descriptions and inventions, espionage, and plans for world domination were gripping. So was the island setting with secret tunnels, volcanoes, mining, etc. Still a fun read in spite of all the flaws, looking forward to the third (and final) installment in the series.
April 16, 2023
Dit boek kwam ik tegen bij de kringloop en pakte het meteen op, wat ziet het er aantrekkelijk en interessant uit! Erg bijzonder vormgegeven (in de vorm van een logboek met uitklapbare schematiscbe tekeningen etc.) maar ook steengoed geschreven. Het was even inkomen omdat dit het tweede deel in de serie is maar eenmaal voorbij het begin, lees je dit boek in één ruk uit.
Echt een perfect boek voor de oudere lezer (12+) met veel geschiedeniselementen en schippersjargon, ik houd ervan maar het kan de nog niet zo bevlogen lezer ook afschrikken.
Het is een wat oudere titel (2006) maar ik heb er enorm an genoten!
Reflecterende dimensie.
Echt een perfect boek voor de oudere lezer (12+) met veel geschiedeniselementen en schippersjargon, ik houd ervan maar het kan de nog niet zo bevlogen lezer ook afschrikken.
Het is een wat oudere titel (2006) maar ik heb er enorm an genoten!
Reflecterende dimensie.
October 30, 2021
Gefällt mir besser als Buch eins.
Trotzdem ist es eher okay als wirklich gut. Und manchmal kann ich Charaktere nicht ganz nachvollziehen. Es wirkt ein bisschen wie ein Hin und Her.
"Spannend" wäre kein Wort, mit dem ich das Buch bezeichnen würde. Grundsätzlich schätze ich es weiterhin ganz klar so ein, dass 11-16-jährige am meisten Spaß hier dran haben würden, auf der anderen Seite wird viel mit langen Wörtern und fachspezifischen Begriffen hantiert, die einem dann wieder ein bisschen aus der Geschichte rausholen, weil man gar nicht weiß, was da jetzt passiert.
Trotzdem ist es eher okay als wirklich gut. Und manchmal kann ich Charaktere nicht ganz nachvollziehen. Es wirkt ein bisschen wie ein Hin und Her.
"Spannend" wäre kein Wort, mit dem ich das Buch bezeichnen würde. Grundsätzlich schätze ich es weiterhin ganz klar so ein, dass 11-16-jährige am meisten Spaß hier dran haben würden, auf der anderen Seite wird viel mit langen Wörtern und fachspezifischen Begriffen hantiert, die einem dann wieder ein bisschen aus der Geschichte rausholen, weil man gar nicht weiß, was da jetzt passiert.
January 8, 2018
Double Lethal!
October 24, 2018
The adventures of Becca and Doug continue in this 2nd volume.
Exciting while at the same time a bit unbelievable, but that's okay. Fun read.
Exciting while at the same time a bit unbelievable, but that's okay. Fun read.
October 12, 2020
I was a little disappointed in this second book in a three book series.
It lagged in a lot of spots and I found myself loosing interest. I'm just glad it's over and I've started the last book.
It lagged in a lot of spots and I found myself loosing interest. I'm just glad it's over and I've started the last book.
August 22, 2024
En lo personal debo decir que me siguen encantando las aventuras de esos dos hermanos, quizá no es la gran obra del año pero cumple su función de entretener.
December 13, 2009
May 1920: Trapped on a volcanic island during a typhoon, Becca and Doug MacKenzie want nothing more than to continue the search for their mother and father. But their uncle Captain MacKenzie, seems more concerned with the missing gyrolabe, and he refuses to discuss the role that the mysterious Guild of Specialists played in their parents' disappearance. As the Kalaxx warriors close in, Becca and Doug unearth a riddle that could be the key to the dark secrect of the Guild. But will they be able to solve it before time runs out?
You may recall that I read book 1 in this series about two years ago. Finally got around to book 2, and it's still pretty awesome. An endorsement on the front calls it "The Da Vinci Code meets Alex Rider," and while I don't know that I'd compare it to The Da Vinci Code, if my understanding is that Alex Rider is basically James Bond, only, like, 13, then that part's bang on. While I was reading, I started to think to myself that the only thing I could really complain about was that the villains are awfully one-dimensional and a little laughable in their diabolicalness. But then it occurred to me that they're basically exactly like James Bond villains. Right down to the ridiculous explaining of their entire plan right before they do whatever it is that they're going to do to kill the heroes, which, of course, inevitably fails. The high-speed adventures, the implausible devices that help with narrow and borderline miraculous escapes from certain deaths... it's all there.
I also have to give this book credit for getting everything all set up and giving us the information we all need and whatnot for book 3, without making this book feel like a filler. There was plenty of action and plot and whatnot in this one as well, so I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am definitely looking forward to book 3.
In the meantime, I think I might read one of the Maximum Ride books, as well. If they're similar, it'd be nice to have read one so I can confidently recommend to kids that, after they finish the Joshua Mowll books, they should try Maximum Ride. Much as it pains me to support any endeavour of James Patterson and all. Ah well.
You may recall that I read book 1 in this series about two years ago. Finally got around to book 2, and it's still pretty awesome. An endorsement on the front calls it "The Da Vinci Code meets Alex Rider," and while I don't know that I'd compare it to The Da Vinci Code, if my understanding is that Alex Rider is basically James Bond, only, like, 13, then that part's bang on. While I was reading, I started to think to myself that the only thing I could really complain about was that the villains are awfully one-dimensional and a little laughable in their diabolicalness. But then it occurred to me that they're basically exactly like James Bond villains. Right down to the ridiculous explaining of their entire plan right before they do whatever it is that they're going to do to kill the heroes, which, of course, inevitably fails. The high-speed adventures, the implausible devices that help with narrow and borderline miraculous escapes from certain deaths... it's all there.
I also have to give this book credit for getting everything all set up and giving us the information we all need and whatnot for book 3, without making this book feel like a filler. There was plenty of action and plot and whatnot in this one as well, so I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am definitely looking forward to book 3.
In the meantime, I think I might read one of the Maximum Ride books, as well. If they're similar, it'd be nice to have read one so I can confidently recommend to kids that, after they finish the Joshua Mowll books, they should try Maximum Ride. Much as it pains me to support any endeavour of James Patterson and all. Ah well.
April 13, 2016
Der zweite Teil der "Operation XY" Reihe.
Auch dieser Band ist vollgestopft mit kleinen Überraschungen: ausfaltbare Pläne, Konstruktionszeichnungen, Kartenmaterial, Zeichnung usw. Dadurch gerät die Geschichte selbst ein bisschen sehr in den Hintergrund, aber da es ein Jugendbuch ist, bin ich wahrscheinlich einfach ein bisschen zu mäkelig.
Man trifft in dieser Geschichte alte Bekannte wieder: den Kapitän MacKenzie natürlich, die beiden Geschwister Becca und Doug, Die Gräfin (ein weißer bengalischer Tiger), Liberty und die verschiedenen Mitglieder der Besatzung der Expedient, die in diesem Buch - leider! - ihren letzten Auftritt hat.
Im zweiten Band der Reihe verschlägt es die Abenteurer auf die Schwefelinsel, auf der die Kalaxx - der abtrünnige nördliche Kampforden von Alexsander des Großen - "Tochter der Sonne" abbauen. Ein Mineral bzw. Erz, das sagenhafte Kräfte besitzt. Der Kapitän als Mitglied der "Gilde" versucht, die zwielichtigen Gestalten, die sich an "Tochter der Sonne" schadlos halten wollen, auszuschalten und erhält Unterstützung von Meister Aa, der einen weiteren Teil des ehemaligen Kampfordens von Alexander befehligt. Alle sind auf der Suche nach den letzten verschollenen Gyrolabien, die auch auftauchen, aber leider den Verbrechern in die Hände fallen. Vermutlich wird es um diese Teile im letzten Band noch hoch hergehen...
Mir gefällt die Geschichte nach wie vor, auch wenn sie durch das Zielpublikum relativ gesittet darherkommt. Die Dialoge sind, wie im ersten Teil, teilweise ein bisschen hölzern und unglaubwürdig (vor allem, wenn die "Guten" mit den "Bösen" reden und umgekehrt), aber dafür stimmt die Rahmenhandlung. Ich bin schon gespannt auf den dritten Teil.
Auch dieser Band ist vollgestopft mit kleinen Überraschungen: ausfaltbare Pläne, Konstruktionszeichnungen, Kartenmaterial, Zeichnung usw. Dadurch gerät die Geschichte selbst ein bisschen sehr in den Hintergrund, aber da es ein Jugendbuch ist, bin ich wahrscheinlich einfach ein bisschen zu mäkelig.
Man trifft in dieser Geschichte alte Bekannte wieder: den Kapitän MacKenzie natürlich, die beiden Geschwister Becca und Doug, Die Gräfin (ein weißer bengalischer Tiger), Liberty und die verschiedenen Mitglieder der Besatzung der Expedient, die in diesem Buch - leider! - ihren letzten Auftritt hat.
Im zweiten Band der Reihe verschlägt es die Abenteurer auf die Schwefelinsel, auf der die Kalaxx - der abtrünnige nördliche Kampforden von Alexsander des Großen - "Tochter der Sonne" abbauen. Ein Mineral bzw. Erz, das sagenhafte Kräfte besitzt. Der Kapitän als Mitglied der "Gilde" versucht, die zwielichtigen Gestalten, die sich an "Tochter der Sonne" schadlos halten wollen, auszuschalten und erhält Unterstützung von Meister Aa, der einen weiteren Teil des ehemaligen Kampfordens von Alexander befehligt. Alle sind auf der Suche nach den letzten verschollenen Gyrolabien, die auch auftauchen, aber leider den Verbrechern in die Hände fallen. Vermutlich wird es um diese Teile im letzten Band noch hoch hergehen...
Mir gefällt die Geschichte nach wie vor, auch wenn sie durch das Zielpublikum relativ gesittet darherkommt. Die Dialoge sind, wie im ersten Teil, teilweise ein bisschen hölzern und unglaubwürdig (vor allem, wenn die "Guten" mit den "Bösen" reden und umgekehrt), aber dafür stimmt die Rahmenhandlung. Ich bin schon gespannt auf den dritten Teil.
October 15, 2007
The author of this literary piece of work is Joshua Mowll and is the sequel to Operation Red Jericho of the Guild trilogy. The genre of this book is fictional narrative and takes place on the Expedient and the Sulphur Archipelago(SE of the South China Sea). The point of view(that it's from) and main characters are Becca and Doug MacKenzie. Though it anwsers little about the disappearance of their parents the MacKenzies discover some of the secrets and corruptions(some old and some new)of the Guild that continue to twist their life.
Besides being a bridge to the third novel and "unearthing" some anwsers to the first the overall message I interpreted was in order to obtain whatever you desire you must strive and suffer for it. The writing is effective because it has all of the qualities of the first in the trilogy, but has a lot more action material included in the novel. One apparent weakness of the book is that it's set in an old-fashioned time period while the age group it's was designed for would want a more modern story. Once again Joshua Mowll has made an impression with his unique writing style.
Besides being a bridge to the third novel and "unearthing" some anwsers to the first the overall message I interpreted was in order to obtain whatever you desire you must strive and suffer for it. The writing is effective because it has all of the qualities of the first in the trilogy, but has a lot more action material included in the novel. One apparent weakness of the book is that it's set in an old-fashioned time period while the age group it's was designed for would want a more modern story. Once again Joshua Mowll has made an impression with his unique writing style.
December 8, 2016
From the first book of the series to this one, I'm not sure I'm pleased with the lack of character development. Usually there is a satisfying piece to reading these sort of adventures, but this just seems to be action-driven; a hard aspect to commit to without being paired with something more. The guild is no longer interesting and there are too many factions to consider with very little information, despite the demographics.
All that being said, the story wasn't terrible. The plot was clear enough, and the main characters carried on with their not-so-clear goals as the adults of the story bickered back and forth. Entertaining if nothing else. I will move onto the third book just to see if anything concrete is coming.
All that being said, the story wasn't terrible. The plot was clear enough, and the main characters carried on with their not-so-clear goals as the adults of the story bickered back and forth. Entertaining if nothing else. I will move onto the third book just to see if anything concrete is coming.
November 26, 2022
As good as kids' adventure novels get - it's a bit meatier than the first book, with a stronger plot structure, better pacing and an interesting mystery. Although a running theme about siblings drawn in different directions starts promisingly but never comes to anything, the characters are still more than charming enough to hold up. Thoroughly enjoyable.
As ever, you're really missing out if you don't get the hardback edition, which is a gorgeous thing to behold. Feels like the kind of wild publishing extravagance that's hard to imagine in 2022.
As ever, you're really missing out if you don't get the hardback edition, which is a gorgeous thing to behold. Feels like the kind of wild publishing extravagance that's hard to imagine in 2022.
January 31, 2008
Ryan Hoven
1/31/08
8-1
Operation Typhoon Shore
Joshua Mowll
Genre: action
Becca and Doug Mackenzie are the main characters. The are out on a mission to find their parents. There are clues set out in the woods that was left by the parentnaper to help them find their lost parents. Becca is smart and wise she can get them out of any situation. On the other hand Doug he is one wise crack he always makes jokes at the wrong times.
1/31/08
8-1
Operation Typhoon Shore
Joshua Mowll
Genre: action
Becca and Doug Mackenzie are the main characters. The are out on a mission to find their parents. There are clues set out in the woods that was left by the parentnaper to help them find their lost parents. Becca is smart and wise she can get them out of any situation. On the other hand Doug he is one wise crack he always makes jokes at the wrong times.
June 30, 2011
There is a sticker on the book that says DaVinci code meets Alex Rider however I must contest that characterization, this is really an old fashioned adventure book more in the vane of Indiana Jones. With lots of suavely dressed bad guys, exotic locations and ancient treasures. What the author did well is create a cast of characters that either gender will enjoy from the brother/sister team searching for their parents, to the daring aviatrix Liberty Devine and Captain Mckenzie.
July 12, 2011
7/11/11 ** Becca & Doug continue their quest for their parents in the 1920s South China Sea. A solid middle grade/YA adventure novel with very interesting constructed elements - fold out diagrams, sketch book entries, diary entries, photos, etc.
The story didn't hold my interest as much in the middle, but I still found myself starting the third book when I finished this one - I want to know about the parents too!
The story didn't hold my interest as much in the middle, but I still found myself starting the third book when I finished this one - I want to know about the parents too!
November 13, 2012
I thin this book has some mystery features to it and alot of action especially at the end!I recommend this book to everyone! You guys just have to read this book.I guarantee that there are no boring parts in this book.When there is no action the main characters talk about their background and went they are not the side characters talk about the mysteries.All in all you guys have to read this book!
May 31, 2015
I picked this book up for only $3 at a used book store. I really liked the look of the cover and whole notebook feel to it. I really wasn't expecting much but as I started reading I was blown away. The story was incredible. It has everything I look for in book. The diagrams and huge fold outs helped to bring the story alive. I started the trilogy in the middle so now I have to go back and get caught up.
February 24, 2016
action/adventure, historical fiction. This is the second book in a series. The two main characters are teenagers who are searching for their parents. The book's setting is generally in Asia (although the main characters aren't Asian). The family is part of a secret society dedicated to protecting knowledge about an energy source that could cause large scale destruction if it falls into the wrong hands.
January 18, 2009
This is a fairly good book. It starts out pretty quickly unlike the first one. I didn't skim after the first chapter, which is good. It isn't a very tough book to read. Like the first one it was extremly realistic. There were just a few parts in the book that were a bit far fatched. Otherwise, a great book.
August 1, 2011
I felt like near the beginning, their problems were being taken care of for them. Why even include them as problems if in the next paragraph say "Oh, and they fixed the problem that I took a few pages detailing. Thought you'd want to know."
But the rest of it was a pretty good thriller! Now, where's the third one? Beautiful illustrations and design. Lovely book.
But the rest of it was a pretty good thriller! Now, where's the third one? Beautiful illustrations and design. Lovely book.
August 5, 2012
This book has two main characters Becca and Doug MacKenzi, who are trying to escape an island after their boat crashes in a terable storm. The captain is worried some one is missing. They soon realize a greater fear that they are not the only ones on the island. I would give the book five stars because it kept me gussing till the end of the book. Also it had lots of advenchure.
July 20, 2014
As a sequel to to operation red jerinco it's brilliant. This series is a great. Following the stories of doug and becca, after their boat crashes on a mysterious island in Chinese waters, they go on an elaborate scheme and adventure to put a stop to evil and help find clues to their parents mysterious disappearance
A action packed book that leaves you craving for more 5/5
A action packed book that leaves you craving for more 5/5
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