Forts: Liars and Thieves

Forts #2

by Steven Novak, M.J. Heiser (Editor)

Having survived their initial excursion into the land of Fillagrou, Tommy Jarvis and the children of the prophecy find themselves drawn into the war once more in a desperate attempt to rescue their old friends. This time however the stakes have been raised - this time there will be no coming back.

Though the Prince of Ocha is dead, his father remains very much alive and his father wants revenge. In order to save their friends the children are forced to meet the tyrant King of the Dark Army head on. Unfortunately the incredible powers they discovered on their first journey may not be enough.

Liars and Thieves in the sequel to Steven Novak’s Fathers and Sons, and the second in a trilogy that follows an unlikely group of children turned heroes and their adventures in a world that has nothing in common with their own, against an army of war mongering creatures led by a tyrant king and a young prince that will stop at nothing to see them dead.

The Forts story continues in Endings and Beginnings


Praise for Liars and Thieves

5 of 5 Stars!

"It is a can't put down, not even for sleep, book about adventure, courage, violence, and laughter."- hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy

"You'll be deeply unsettled by the way this ends, I promise you that, and you'll be salivating, grunting, and groaning, and cursing Novak for not having released book 3 already."- MJ Heiser, Author of Canticle

“You feel the blows that are dealt to the characters, you become winded when they run for their lives, and you feel their sorrow and happiness with every turn of the page. He makes you care about these characters as if they were your own friends.”– Ryan O’Neil, Author of Plain Old Kirby Carson

“I can’t say that I like this book better, but that’s because I honestly don’t think that I could choose between the two. They go well together in the series, but I think that they could also standalone. There’s enough info given in book two that you could read it on its own, but I appreciated it more, having already read Fathers and Sons.” – Completelybooksessed

“I love when I can see an author improve writing prowess from book to book."– Owlreviewabook

404 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2010

About the author

Steven Novak is the author of the Breadcrumbs For The Nasties series of novels, Forts, Goats Eat Cans, numerous children's books, and a number of online comics. He is an accomplished illustrator and has designed book covers for authors across the globe. He lives with his wife in southern California, has two cats, and apparently likes to stare at the sky dramatically in black and white photos. His work can be found online at www.novakillustration.com

Reviews

[Richard Simms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often, the second book in a trilogy can feel like a glorified space-filler. Definitely not the case here. Novak uses book two to delve deeper into the pasts of the Jarvis boys (never has sledding been so heartbreaking... That's all I'm gonna say) while beautifully managing to build toward the kind of cliffhanger that will leave you breathless. Do yourself a favor and buy book three when you begin book two. Don't make the same mistake I did and leave yourself dangling on that cliff awaiting rescue.

[M.J. Heiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

So you thought the good guys won, did you? Really good fantasy franchises, from Star Wars to Tolkien's Middle Earth, never let you rest on your laurels that way, smug in the triumph of good over evil. The good guys have to bleed for it, and some of the heroes have to become sacrifices to the cause.

Am I comparing Novak's saga to those well-respected monsters of fantasy? You bet.

The Jarvis boys are back, along with former-bully-turned-ally Donald Rondage and sweetheart of the saving-the-world set, Staci Alexander. The most reluctant of reluctant heroes, Owen Little, finds he has to drag himself into the story, but not until he finds a way to bring the Jarvis sire along with him. Some of these kids have been waiting a long time to return to Fillagrou. Some (Owen especially) hoped to never return. They're all older. And they're about to find that getting rid of the prince means that they now have to deal directly with the king.

This is not a friendly, warm-and-fuzzy fantasy story. This outing in Fillagrou tests resolves, pushes patience past its limits, and sees the poignant end of a dear friend. You'll be deeply unsettled by the way this ends, I promise you that, and you'll be salivating, grunting, and groaning, and cursing Novak for not having released book 3 already.

Soon, my friends, soon. For right now, read Liars & Thieves. Do yourself that favor. And get ready for awesome.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really expected this second book to be like many part two's and fail to live up to the greatness of the debut...but this book was equal to, if not greater than, the first.

It's a little darker and a smidgen more violent, but Steven's storytelling ability is top shelf stuff that can't be put down. From the very first page the reader is immersed into the fantasy world that Mr. Novak has created. You feel the blows that are dealt to the characters, you become winded when they run for their lives, and you feel their sorrow and happiness with every turn of the page. He makes you care about these characters as if they were your own friends.

The editing was clearly upgraded in this book as well!

I highly recommend this book and I'm already looking forward to the third installment!

[Steven Bergson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reviewer of a sequel has a challenge not unlike the author of the sequel. The reviewer needs to write up a review that doesn't sound like he's merely parroting his review of the previous book, while the book's author tries to make the sequel as compelling as the first book without essentially copying it with minor changes.

Liars and Thieves is not simply a rewrite of Fathers and Sons, although there are similarities between the 2 books (which is natural with any book series). The main characters of Filagroo (e.g. Pleebo, Roustaf, Nestor, Walcott) reappear, trying to fight the good fight against the warmongering Ochans. The super-powered teenagers of Earth are also in the spotlight again (Tommy, Staci, Owen, Nicki, and Donald).

The back cover of the book mentions that the stakes have been raised - and that's certainly the case. At the start of the book, Roustaf needs to recruit the five youngsters on a rescue mission to save Pleebo and Walcott. However, since this time they are each allowed to make a deliberate choice, not all of the kids immediately agree to travel back to Filagroo.

Though the book introduces several new characters along the way, it doesn't add too many of them so as to be overwhelming. Also, each of these new characters is both interesting and necessary (i.e. none of them are "Jar Jar Binks" types). One of the saddest scenes, for me, was the one where Captain Fluufytail (yes, with 2 "u"s) is adrift at sea, his ship having been reduced to just ash and splinters by the brutal Ochan assault. One of the most fascinating characters introduced was Krystoph - a former Ochan general who has come to side with the Filagroo rebels against his former king.

In a blurring of the lines which seems harsher than in the previous book, Krystoph is written as being - to some degree - sympathetic and his (mostly submerged) good side seems to come out when the occasion calls for it (e.g. when he saves Staci from being trampled to death). At the same time, the reader is shown quite clearly what a merciless killer he has been - and still is. Tommy, who seemed to have a bit of a dark side in the first book, is seen to have an even darker side - one which either was subdued before or has developed since his last adventure. Christopher Jarvis, who in the first book is seen as little more than a pathetic abusive father, is shown to have a heroic nature in this book.

Whereas, in the first book, Tommy and the super-youths were seen to be mere vessels for a power they couldn't control, in this book they are shown to be in greater control - and to be enjoying using their power, even if it causes others to be harmed or killed.

As with the first book, there are flashback scenes which help provide context for the scenes in the present.

Though the first book had a definitive ending - a victory for the heroes, the return of the youngsters to their home planet, Zanell's acceptance of her new role among her people - this second book does not and leaves the reader a bit unsatisfied (as The Empire Strikes Back did with Han's final fate unknown). By the end of the final chapter, the Ochans seem to be winning the war, two of the youngsters are in prison, Tommy may be reunited with his dead mother (or is just hallucinating) and Pleebo is trying to escape being recaptured.

Although there is little mention of Tommy's artistic abilities in this book, I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a major plot device in the final book. I also think that it's not a coincidence that the series has 2 characters named "Chris" (Christopher Jarvis and General Krystoph). I'm certain the literal or symbolic link between these characters will be made clearer in the next book.

I would recommend this book for the young adult fantasy collections of public libraries (especially if the library has already purchased Fathers and Sons and intends to buy the final book of the trilogy).

[Jenn (Booksessed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Forts: Fathers and Sons, so I was ecstatic to read Liars and Thieves as well. I became so emotionally invested in the characters that I don’t think I could have kept myself from reading it, if I wanted to.

Again, the novel shifts seamlessly between the real world and the fantasy world. Except in this novel you see Tommy’s father trying to put his family back together, as well as Tommy and Nicky trying to adjust to life in Foster Care.

Not to giveaway any spoilers, but I thought that when the children went back through the doorway, that the prophecy had been fulfilled. But I was wrong. There’s an INSANE plot twist that I would never have seen coming. I said, “WHAT?!” so loudly, I disturbed the sleeping pupper and he’s mostly deaf these days. It was so great and I can’t wait for you all to get to that point.

All my favorite old characters were there (I may have cried during a scene involving King Wallcot) as well as some amazing new characters. There’s a pirate-like bunny, a raggedy sailing crew and a turncoat. The action also doesn’t disappoint, what is more fantasy genre awesome than a battle on the high seas?

I can’t say that I like this book better, but that’s because I honestly don’t think that I could choose between the two. They go well together in the series, but I think that they could also stand alone. There’s enough info given in book two that you could read it on its own, but I appreciated it more, having already read Fathers and Sons.

I am so excited to read the final book of the series. I need to know how everything ends. I’m hoping it comes out soon.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Novak does it again. In continuing his unique fantasy trilogy - with each chapter featuring its own graphic - Steven ups the stakes and puts his young cast through even more peril. There is excitement, some beautiful character moments - and heartbreak. Forts concludes with Endings and Beginnings, and I look forward to tucking in soon.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and engaging continuation of the Forts series. I would not recommend this book for children or people who like lighthearted stories, however, as this book is quite dark, graphic, and violent.