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The Chronicles of Avantia #2
Chasing Evil
Deadly Beasts. Brutal combat. Welcome to Avantia.
Tanner and Gwen are on a quest to protect their homeland from being overtaken by Derthsin's evil army. In order to save Avantia, they must retrieve four parts of an ancient mask, which grants power over all of the Beasts of the land.
After acquiring the first piece of the Mask of Anoret and saving Gwen's twin brother, Geffen, from captivity, Gwen and her Beast, Gulkien, sleep soundly. But Geffen is gone in the morning and he has taken the portion of mask with him. Gwen refuses to believe he has abandoned them but Tanner suspects otherwise. Their search to bring Geffen back leads them to a destroyed village and a new warrior who isn't exactly what he seems to be.
Tanner and Gwen are on a quest to protect their homeland from being overtaken by Derthsin's evil army. In order to save Avantia, they must retrieve four parts of an ancient mask, which grants power over all of the Beasts of the land.
After acquiring the first piece of the Mask of Anoret and saving Gwen's twin brother, Geffen, from captivity, Gwen and her Beast, Gulkien, sleep soundly. But Geffen is gone in the morning and he has taken the portion of mask with him. Gwen refuses to believe he has abandoned them but Tanner suspects otherwise. Their search to bring Geffen back leads them to a destroyed village and a new warrior who isn't exactly what he seems to be.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2010
18 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Adam Blade
863 books213 followersAdam Blade is the house name for the Working Partners Ltd. ghostwriters who write the Beast Quest and Sea Quest series.
Adam Blade is in his late twenties, and was born in Kent, England. His parents were both history teachers and amateur artists, and Adam grew up surrounded by his father’s paintings of historic English battles – which left a lifelong mark on his imagination. He was also fascinated by the ancient sword and shield that hung in his father’s office. Adam’s father said they were a Blade family heirloom.
As a boy, Adam would spend days imagining who could have first owned the sword and shield. Eventually, he created a character – Tom, the bravest boy warrior of them all. The idea for Beast Quest was born.
When Adam grew up and decided that he wanted to be a writer, he was stuck for ideas – until he remembered the old sword and shield, and the imaginary boy he had created when he was young. Adam decided to bring Tom fully to life so that readers could go on the kind of adventures that he always wanted to when he was that age… And still does, even though he’s grown up!
When he’s not writing Beast Quest books, Adam enjoys visiting museums and ancient battle sites. His main hobbies are fencing and football. He also spends a lot of time at home running around after his two exotic pets – a tarantula named Ziggy, and a capuchin monkey named Omar. These little rascals were the inspiration for two of the Beasts that Tom faces on his Quest – Arachnid and Claw.
Sadly, Adam does not have his own Fire-Dragon or Horse-Man. But he really wishes he did!
Adam Blade is in his late twenties, and was born in Kent, England. His parents were both history teachers and amateur artists, and Adam grew up surrounded by his father’s paintings of historic English battles – which left a lifelong mark on his imagination. He was also fascinated by the ancient sword and shield that hung in his father’s office. Adam’s father said they were a Blade family heirloom.
As a boy, Adam would spend days imagining who could have first owned the sword and shield. Eventually, he created a character – Tom, the bravest boy warrior of them all. The idea for Beast Quest was born.
When Adam grew up and decided that he wanted to be a writer, he was stuck for ideas – until he remembered the old sword and shield, and the imaginary boy he had created when he was young. Adam decided to bring Tom fully to life so that readers could go on the kind of adventures that he always wanted to when he was that age… And still does, even though he’s grown up!
When he’s not writing Beast Quest books, Adam enjoys visiting museums and ancient battle sites. His main hobbies are fencing and football. He also spends a lot of time at home running around after his two exotic pets – a tarantula named Ziggy, and a capuchin monkey named Omar. These little rascals were the inspiration for two of the Beasts that Tom faces on his Quest – Arachnid and Claw.
Sadly, Adam does not have his own Fire-Dragon or Horse-Man. But he really wishes he did!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 22, 2020
I am sure a young, war-obsessed, dark fantasy teen might give this book a better rating. The earlier Avantia books showed plenty of natural environment, sympathetic people and animals, and problems to be solved. This book has to be written by a different member of the ghostwriting team, who just likes violent computer games. The tale focuses on the movements of a vicious army and weaponry. Killings, whips, swords, gore...
There are magic beasts, but only in the sense that they appear to be ridden. A quest to find pieces of a mask. Twins where the sister is braver than the brother. But mainly, war. I didn't like anyone. While you can say this is an allegory about bullying, mainly you're left thinking that the bullies are so many, big and brutal that you're better just to go away and find another place to live.
Not for people under 12, I suggest.
This is an unbiased review.
There are magic beasts, but only in the sense that they appear to be ridden. A quest to find pieces of a mask. Twins where the sister is braver than the brother. But mainly, war. I didn't like anyone. While you can say this is an allegory about bullying, mainly you're left thinking that the bullies are so many, big and brutal that you're better just to go away and find another place to live.
Not for people under 12, I suggest.
This is an unbiased review.
August 2, 2022
4,5 sterren- Nederlandse hardcover
Willem en zijn Vlammenvogel Vuurpos trekken samen ten strijde met hun nieuwe vriendin Gwen, de tweede Uitverkoren Ruiter, en haar woeste wolf-Beest. Ze moeten zich haasten om de ontbrekende stukken van het Dodenmasker op te sporen. Wanneer de kwaadaardige Derzin als eerste het masker vindt, zal Avantia worden verwoest.
Tijdens zijn reis maakt het strijdlustige gezelschap de gruwelijkste dingen mee. En niemand weet welke verschrikkingen er nog op de loer liggen in de eindeloze tunnels van de Verborgen Mijnen.
Tweede deel in deze serie. Leest als een young adult maar is denk ik meer een cross-over boek. Vanaf 13 tot 16 jaar voor mij.
Het avontuur gaat verder. Lees zelf.
Willem en zijn Vlammenvogel Vuurpos trekken samen ten strijde met hun nieuwe vriendin Gwen, de tweede Uitverkoren Ruiter, en haar woeste wolf-Beest. Ze moeten zich haasten om de ontbrekende stukken van het Dodenmasker op te sporen. Wanneer de kwaadaardige Derzin als eerste het masker vindt, zal Avantia worden verwoest.
Tijdens zijn reis maakt het strijdlustige gezelschap de gruwelijkste dingen mee. En niemand weet welke verschrikkingen er nog op de loer liggen in de eindeloze tunnels van de Verborgen Mijnen.
Tweede deel in deze serie. Leest als een young adult maar is denk ik meer een cross-over boek. Vanaf 13 tot 16 jaar voor mij.
Het avontuur gaat verder. Lees zelf.
August 25, 2012
I really liked it. I bought it for really cheap at a book store and it was a good buy.
The storyline is not so original. A chosen rider, common evil, an item that can either destroy evil or make them stronger and a general theme of saving humanity. But I guess those are a common ingredient for a mediocre good book.
I do agree with what a lot of people commented on the first book that the book should not be made to look like it's for a 10 year old. There's a lot of violent gorey scenes that are on par with some fantasy books intended towards mature readers. For example, scenes where rib cages are crushed by a horse or monsters tearing apart a soldier. I do wish all the chronicles of Avantia was just combined as one book with smaller writing.
Also the editor seemed to have forgotten that if you put a picture of whats going to happen in the next chapter, it becomes a big spoiler taking away the excitment.
The storyline is not so original. A chosen rider, common evil, an item that can either destroy evil or make them stronger and a general theme of saving humanity. But I guess those are a common ingredient for a mediocre good book.
I do agree with what a lot of people commented on the first book that the book should not be made to look like it's for a 10 year old. There's a lot of violent gorey scenes that are on par with some fantasy books intended towards mature readers. For example, scenes where rib cages are crushed by a horse or monsters tearing apart a soldier. I do wish all the chronicles of Avantia was just combined as one book with smaller writing.
Also the editor seemed to have forgotten that if you put a picture of whats going to happen in the next chapter, it becomes a big spoiler taking away the excitment.
July 24, 2020
This was the Kiddo's (and my) first time reading Chronicles of Avantia, the prequel series to Beast Quest.
This had a very different flavor than the Beast Quest series. Most notably, it was a lot more violent, with blood and gore in every fight scene. This made for better fight scenes, and Gwen, the female sidekick character in this series gets a much better share of the action than Elenna from Beast Quest ever does as she wades into enemies with rapier and axes.
While the fight scenes are better, the character interaction felt more superficial, as the attempt to have the characters show more conflict resulted in less depth.
The ending was grim, with the heroes trying to find the resolve to carry on against their powerful and evil foes.
The other element that was different in this series was that there are passages from the point of view of the beasts, who are frequently more interesting characters than the human heroes.
This had a very different flavor than the Beast Quest series. Most notably, it was a lot more violent, with blood and gore in every fight scene. This made for better fight scenes, and Gwen, the female sidekick character in this series gets a much better share of the action than Elenna from Beast Quest ever does as she wades into enemies with rapier and axes.
While the fight scenes are better, the character interaction felt more superficial, as the attempt to have the characters show more conflict resulted in less depth.
The ending was grim, with the heroes trying to find the resolve to carry on against their powerful and evil foes.
The other element that was different in this series was that there are passages from the point of view of the beasts, who are frequently more interesting characters than the human heroes.
June 22, 2019
In this, the second chapter in the Chronicles of Avantia, Tanner and Firepos have discovered and teamed up with another of the great BEASTS, Gulkein - a winged wolf - and his rider Gwen.
During the events of the first book FIRST HERO tragic events occur that send Tanner and Gwen in search of a way to stop the on rushing army and its leader from finding the missing pieces of the Mask of Anoret. Discovering the map left by Gwen's foster father, the two heroes use a secret known only to them, in order to find the remaining 3 pieces of the mask. And they must recover them before the marauding army or everything will be lost.
In this book, the friends travel onward to the supposed next destination in hopes of arriving before the enemy. Unfortunately, betrayal of the worst kind will almost bring their quest to an end. It's only through them meeting with a third great BEAST Nera, and her rider Connor, that they have any hopes of succeeding. But, adding a third personality, especially one as strong - and ANNOYING - as Connor's seems to be making their pursuit more dangerous, rather than less.
Adam Blade's second book carries on in the same vein as the first with some extreme deaths and murders and the normal conflicts of teens. Once again, this story is fairly enjoyable but doesn't quite have the dramatic hook to push it over the top...and... the annoying conflict between two of the main characters, while interesting at first quickly becomes old.
Still and all, a fairly good sophomore book and worth continuing with the series.
During the events of the first book FIRST HERO tragic events occur that send Tanner and Gwen in search of a way to stop the on rushing army and its leader from finding the missing pieces of the Mask of Anoret. Discovering the map left by Gwen's foster father, the two heroes use a secret known only to them, in order to find the remaining 3 pieces of the mask. And they must recover them before the marauding army or everything will be lost.
In this book, the friends travel onward to the supposed next destination in hopes of arriving before the enemy. Unfortunately, betrayal of the worst kind will almost bring their quest to an end. It's only through them meeting with a third great BEAST Nera, and her rider Connor, that they have any hopes of succeeding. But, adding a third personality, especially one as strong - and ANNOYING - as Connor's seems to be making their pursuit more dangerous, rather than less.
Adam Blade's second book carries on in the same vein as the first with some extreme deaths and murders and the normal conflicts of teens. Once again, this story is fairly enjoyable but doesn't quite have the dramatic hook to push it over the top...and... the annoying conflict between two of the main characters, while interesting at first quickly becomes old.
Still and all, a fairly good sophomore book and worth continuing with the series.
June 30, 2018
If your goal is to read a good book, this book is not for you. If you are on a roadtrip from Cincinnati to Acadia (seventeen hours), and you are purposefully reading it in the dramatic style of poetry slam, taking full advantage of it's overly-dramatic prose and dialogue, it serves its purpose well.
Also, fair warning. I read this with my husband, and both of us commented multiple times after descriptions of violence: "This is a kid's book?". I mean, we're talking Game of Thrones level "ugh."
Also, fair warning. I read this with my husband, and both of us commented multiple times after descriptions of violence: "This is a kid's book?". I mean, we're talking Game of Thrones level "ugh."
July 26, 2020
when i started reading this book i barely know what it was about but when i got in the middle i got used to it it was very good it was the story before beast quest this is all by the same author i realy did like this book but there was a sad ending the story is about two kids trying to get a mask piece in different places.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2018
read the book it is amazing
August 20, 2018
Part 2....took a while to wrn into, but once into it it was OK
September 17, 2023
Hörbuch nicht so gutes buchehr was für Kinder also so 10—12 jährige aber gibt gerade nichts besseres und ich darf nicht lesen wegen dem Heilpraktiker.
June 20, 2023
Actual rating 3.25 stars
I was very hard on book one, and with good reason. Book two I'd consider...decent. Not great, but it's a start for the series to hopefully improve. The same problems of the first book are still present (it being a very generic fantasy with flat characters and not a lot of unique world-building), but book two thankfully at least delves a bit deeper than before.
The admittedly cool concepts of Beasts and the consequences of the Mask possibly falling into the wrong hands is addressed more and we're also introduced to a new character, Connor, who is admittedly pretty enjoyable and does go a (very basic) arc. Him being present also makes for some fun interactions with Tanner and Gwen, who are very boring and flat characters if you ask me, Tanner in particular.
I still wouldn't consider this book "great" or even really "good", but it's decent, unlike the first which was just too basic and generic for its own good.
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
I was very hard on book one, and with good reason. Book two I'd consider...decent. Not great, but it's a start for the series to hopefully improve. The same problems of the first book are still present (it being a very generic fantasy with flat characters and not a lot of unique world-building), but book two thankfully at least delves a bit deeper than before.
The admittedly cool concepts of Beasts and the consequences of the Mask possibly falling into the wrong hands is addressed more and we're also introduced to a new character, Connor, who is admittedly pretty enjoyable and does go a (very basic) arc. Him being present also makes for some fun interactions with Tanner and Gwen, who are very boring and flat characters if you ask me, Tanner in particular.
I still wouldn't consider this book "great" or even really "good", but it's decent, unlike the first which was just too basic and generic for its own good.
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
May 19, 2018
I like this book series because I think it is cool how the author introduces one new beast and it's owner in each book. I especially liked this one because kind of explained the character's personalities more and introduced a new character and beast. It also expanded from the last book in the series.
April 14, 2013
In De eerste ruiter, het eerste deel in de vierdelige serie De Kronieken van Avantia, leerden we de 15-jarige Willem kennen. Hij was nog maar een kind toen zijn vader voor zijn ogen werd vermoord door de kwaadaardige Derzin. Derzins leger nam Willems moeder mee en liet Willems dorp verwoest achter. Op die dag veranderde Willems leven voorgoed: hij bleek namelijk de Uitverkoren Ruiter van de vlammenvogel Vuurpos te zijn. Maar het gevaar is nog niet geweken. Derzin en zijn generaal Gor zijn op zoek naar het Dodenmasker van Derzin, dat Willems oma lang geleden in vier stukken heeft gescheurd en verstopt. De drager van dat masker heeft de macht over alle Beesten in Avantia. Willem en zijn nieuwe vriendin Gwen doen er alles aan om de stukken van het masker te vinden voordat Gor ze vindt, maar Gor heeft Gwens broer Gerard gevangen genomen en zit de twee vrienden op de hielen!
Spannend vervolg
De verborgen mijnen gaat verder waar De eerste ruiter eindigde. Willem en Gwen en hun Beesten Vuurpos en Gulkien hebben Gerard gered van Gor, en even lijkt alles goed te gaan. De vrienden hebben een kaart, waarop ze kunnen zien waar de stukjes masker verborgen liggen, en zijn er klaar voor om op pad te gaan. Maar dan blijkt dat Gerard andere plannen heeft. Samen met het stukje masker dat ze al hadden gevonden en alle informatie over de ontbrekende stukjes, besluit hij naar Gor te gaan, die hem meteen weer gevangen neemt. Nu zijn Willem en Gwen hun voorsprong kwijt en moeten ze voor de tweede keer Gerard zien te redden van Gor.
De twee Uitverkoren Ruiters weten waar ze naar toe moeten: de verborgen mijnen. Daar ligt het volgende stukje masker en wordt Gerard gevangen gehouden. Maar tijdens hun reis naar de mijnen ontdekken Gwen en Willem dat er nog veel meer aan de hand is onder de bergen. Veel mannen en jongens in Avantia zijn ontvoerd en meegenomen naar de mijnen om wapens te smeden voor een groot leger. Maar gelukkig is er ook goed nieuws, want in het dorpje Colton komen Gwen en Willem één jongen tegen die wist te ontsnappen: Castor. En tot hun grote verbazing en vreugde blijkt hij ook een Uitverkoren Ruiter te zijn!
Het mag duidelijk zijn dat dit tweede deel in De Kronieken van Avantia weer barst van de spanning en actie. De avonturen van de Ruiters en hun Beesten volgen elkaar in sneltreinvaart op, waardoor het erg moeilijk is het boek neer te leggen. Net als in deel één wordt er veel gevochten en vallen er geregeld doden, maar gelukkig is De verborgen mijnen net wat minder bloederig en gruwelijk als zijn voorganger. Je moet wel tegen een beetje bloed en bottengekraak kunnen, maar afgezien daarvan is De verborgen mijnen een erg spannend verhaal, vol actie en avontuur.
Meer lezen? Klik hier voor de volledige recensie: http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...
Spannend vervolg
De verborgen mijnen gaat verder waar De eerste ruiter eindigde. Willem en Gwen en hun Beesten Vuurpos en Gulkien hebben Gerard gered van Gor, en even lijkt alles goed te gaan. De vrienden hebben een kaart, waarop ze kunnen zien waar de stukjes masker verborgen liggen, en zijn er klaar voor om op pad te gaan. Maar dan blijkt dat Gerard andere plannen heeft. Samen met het stukje masker dat ze al hadden gevonden en alle informatie over de ontbrekende stukjes, besluit hij naar Gor te gaan, die hem meteen weer gevangen neemt. Nu zijn Willem en Gwen hun voorsprong kwijt en moeten ze voor de tweede keer Gerard zien te redden van Gor.
De twee Uitverkoren Ruiters weten waar ze naar toe moeten: de verborgen mijnen. Daar ligt het volgende stukje masker en wordt Gerard gevangen gehouden. Maar tijdens hun reis naar de mijnen ontdekken Gwen en Willem dat er nog veel meer aan de hand is onder de bergen. Veel mannen en jongens in Avantia zijn ontvoerd en meegenomen naar de mijnen om wapens te smeden voor een groot leger. Maar gelukkig is er ook goed nieuws, want in het dorpje Colton komen Gwen en Willem één jongen tegen die wist te ontsnappen: Castor. En tot hun grote verbazing en vreugde blijkt hij ook een Uitverkoren Ruiter te zijn!
Het mag duidelijk zijn dat dit tweede deel in De Kronieken van Avantia weer barst van de spanning en actie. De avonturen van de Ruiters en hun Beesten volgen elkaar in sneltreinvaart op, waardoor het erg moeilijk is het boek neer te leggen. Net als in deel één wordt er veel gevochten en vallen er geregeld doden, maar gelukkig is De verborgen mijnen net wat minder bloederig en gruwelijk als zijn voorganger. Je moet wel tegen een beetje bloed en bottengekraak kunnen, maar afgezien daarvan is De verborgen mijnen een erg spannend verhaal, vol actie en avontuur.
Meer lezen? Klik hier voor de volledige recensie: http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...
August 4, 2014
Chasing Evil started as Tanner and Gwen were riding there beast to find Gor's army, to rescue Gwen's brother Geffen, and to retrieve the second piece of the Death Mask before Gor and his army do but Firepos and Gulkien sense something so they land in a valley. Tanner and Gwen go down to the village to see why their beasts had brought them here. In the village was destroyed, all the children were gone, the men dead, and there was only women. In the village they get united with another beast rider named Castor and he was the only boy. So the three beast riders set off and rescue the kidnapped children but Geffen died and Gor and his army got away with the second piece of the Death Mask.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2012
ÈPÎč BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2013
How do u read the book?
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May 9, 2013I think that this series and book is entertaining but as I said on First Hero, I would highly think that it would be for kids that are 8 and up.
Keep Reading Kids!
Keep Reading Kids!
July 10, 2017
see my review for the chronicals of avantia series here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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September 6, 2018I think the series really did well with this sequel. The series has four books, and each have a great transition from one to another. This book was very fun to read and i enjoyed it as much as the first. I love the setting of Avantias peril by the threat of Derthsin. Overall it was a great sequel
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews