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Rieden Reece #2
Rieden Reece and the Final Flower
Infection. Infestation. Infinity
… Can Ri untangle this latest madness? A terrible threat to humanity’s existence which he helped create?
There’s something strange stirring within the sleepy town of Desert Lime. Faint and wild whispers in the wind. Otherworldly murmurs from across the expanse of space and time. Crafty shape-shifters have crept into his school.
Ri is intertwined in another epic adventure where he’s compelled to outwit bizarre life forms with insidious intentions. But first can he unmask their leader? A stealthy and mysterious alien called the Plague Doctor.
No one is safe.
In a race to determine who to trust he must stop the planet from crumbling into a barren wasteland before time runs out…
That’s it. No pressure.
Will Ri step up and become the hero we all need? Once again, the fate of our world rests upon the shoulders of a snarky thirteen-year-old!
There’s something strange stirring within the sleepy town of Desert Lime. Faint and wild whispers in the wind. Otherworldly murmurs from across the expanse of space and time. Crafty shape-shifters have crept into his school.
Ri is intertwined in another epic adventure where he’s compelled to outwit bizarre life forms with insidious intentions. But first can he unmask their leader? A stealthy and mysterious alien called the Plague Doctor.
No one is safe.
In a race to determine who to trust he must stop the planet from crumbling into a barren wasteland before time runs out…
That’s it. No pressure.
Will Ri step up and become the hero we all need? Once again, the fate of our world rests upon the shoulders of a snarky thirteen-year-old!
- GenresFantasy
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2023
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Matt Guzman
8 books13 followersMatt Guzman is somewhat spoiled. The residents of beautiful San Diego, CA allow him to live there, and they barely complain about it. After managing restaurants for twenty years, he made a drastic decision. Quit. And use everything he learned the hard way about leadership and communication to help children. He’s obsessed with emotional health and storytelling. Combining these two passions, Matt crafts sci-fi stories for his twelve-year-old self—still hiding inside his adult brain. He once won an honorable mention from the Writers of the Future Contest. That went straight to his head and now there’s no stopping him.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 19, 2023
3.5 stars
I get the feeling that middle school students will probably like this book more than me, partly because they will probably get why Rieden gets so impatient and angry at people. There were moments when I just had to take a breather because I didn't like Rieden at all because of the way he treated/talked to the only friend he seems to have. I also didn't like how he talked to the girls in his class, especially Shelly, who apparently liked his brother Rob. But then again, he's in the middle of an alien crisis, which may or may not be all in his head.
Rieden's personality aside, this is a very creative story/universe/plot line. It's really hard to tell what is real, what he thinks is real, and what might be somewhere in between. I think having Brian in the story is somewhat helpful because Brian obviously senses things are not quite right, but between what his dad tells him and his own desire to be Rieden's friend, it's hard to tell whether Brian really sees something weird. I haven't liked how Rieden has treated Brian in these two books, but based on how it ends, I'm hoping he starts to think about what he says before he insults/yells at/attacks Brian. In short, I hope he starts to appreciate Brian's friendship more.
The very dry humor is definitely present throughout this story, and while I often miss the puns, some of what was happening was utterly absurd and fantastical and I just laughed out loud. The creativity when it comes to the alien beings and the possessed/displaced folks is very high and reminded me of Hitchhiker's Guide mixed with Twilight Zone and Through the Looking Glass. It was all so bizarre, but also funny. I particularly loved the talking Dahlias ("Ouch, mister, that hurts! Be careful, that hurts." "They keep whining and calling me mister."). His moments with the flowers and he tried avoiding stepping on them, as well as his desire to do no harm helped redeem him in my eyes. As annoying as I found it when he would lash out at those who didn't really deserve it, I realized that this kid is potentially having a mental breakdown, his mom has all but checked out, his brother is missing/dead, and it really seems that some folks are out to get him.
This book was a lot easier to understand than the first book, although we are still left questioning his sanity, at least to some degree. The plot is more straightforward, and he has a definite goal in mind.
I am definitely up to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I get the feeling that middle school students will probably like this book more than me, partly because they will probably get why Rieden gets so impatient and angry at people. There were moments when I just had to take a breather because I didn't like Rieden at all because of the way he treated/talked to the only friend he seems to have. I also didn't like how he talked to the girls in his class, especially Shelly, who apparently liked his brother Rob. But then again, he's in the middle of an alien crisis, which may or may not be all in his head.
Rieden's personality aside, this is a very creative story/universe/plot line. It's really hard to tell what is real, what he thinks is real, and what might be somewhere in between. I think having Brian in the story is somewhat helpful because Brian obviously senses things are not quite right, but between what his dad tells him and his own desire to be Rieden's friend, it's hard to tell whether Brian really sees something weird. I haven't liked how Rieden has treated Brian in these two books, but based on how it ends, I'm hoping he starts to think about what he says before he insults/yells at/attacks Brian. In short, I hope he starts to appreciate Brian's friendship more.
The very dry humor is definitely present throughout this story, and while I often miss the puns, some of what was happening was utterly absurd and fantastical and I just laughed out loud. The creativity when it comes to the alien beings and the possessed/displaced folks is very high and reminded me of Hitchhiker's Guide mixed with Twilight Zone and Through the Looking Glass. It was all so bizarre, but also funny. I particularly loved the talking Dahlias ("Ouch, mister, that hurts! Be careful, that hurts." "They keep whining and calling me mister."). His moments with the flowers and he tried avoiding stepping on them, as well as his desire to do no harm helped redeem him in my eyes. As annoying as I found it when he would lash out at those who didn't really deserve it, I realized that this kid is potentially having a mental breakdown, his mom has all but checked out, his brother is missing/dead, and it really seems that some folks are out to get him.
This book was a lot easier to understand than the first book, although we are still left questioning his sanity, at least to some degree. The plot is more straightforward, and he has a definite goal in mind.
I am definitely up to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 5, 2023
3.5 stars - I definitely had an easier time with book 2 than book 1 as the confusion factor was much lower. The story starts off several days after the end of book 1. There are new threats to Earth and humanity and Ri must rise to the challenge. The writing is solid, with lots of descriptive prose, and the story moves quickly.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 27, 2025
What worked:
The most striking thing is how Rieden’s character has changed since the first book. His superior attitude toward everyone else made him very obnoxious and unlikeable, but his twin brother is even more condescending. Rob’s been missing for a month but reconnects with Ri using a futuristic “watch”. In that short amount of time, Rob has become an important figure across universes and has access to incredible technology. Ri notices his brother seems a little different from when they were last together. Rob informs Ri that he must save Earth from an alien invasion and destruction, although the details aren’t clear. The friction between Ri and Rob continues throughout most of the plot until it reaches a climactic moment.
This book will challenge readers’ creativity. Using technology, Ri can communicate with any living thing, including plants! He’s initially startled when weeds complain about being stepped on, but a patch of dahlias shares great wisdom and a peek at the future. His physical size shrinks to the size of a bug to escape the attack of laser-shooting drones. Rob’s image is projected as a blue hologram that only Ri can see, and he monitors Ri’s surroundings using his equipment. He also projects tentacles that help to protect Ri from various dangers. Ri finds himself projected across universes later in the book, even though he has no idea how he gets there. Some humans become “zombie” field workers, and Ri’s teachers may be aliens in disguise. Ri must track down the Plague Doctor in charge, but readers will discover later that there is someone else who may be more dangerous than him.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers must have a tolerance for wackiness along with an openness for unusual ideas. On the other hand, the story also dips into abstract concepts and gets a little philosophical. This book is not for passive readers, as it requires them to think critically. There’s so much going on that some parts are confusing.
The final verdict:
The frequent transitions between action, philosophy, and Ri’s reflecting will take getting used to. Some readers may find it disrupts the flow of the plot, but everything builds to an exciting climax. I recommend you try this book for yourself.
The most striking thing is how Rieden’s character has changed since the first book. His superior attitude toward everyone else made him very obnoxious and unlikeable, but his twin brother is even more condescending. Rob’s been missing for a month but reconnects with Ri using a futuristic “watch”. In that short amount of time, Rob has become an important figure across universes and has access to incredible technology. Ri notices his brother seems a little different from when they were last together. Rob informs Ri that he must save Earth from an alien invasion and destruction, although the details aren’t clear. The friction between Ri and Rob continues throughout most of the plot until it reaches a climactic moment.
This book will challenge readers’ creativity. Using technology, Ri can communicate with any living thing, including plants! He’s initially startled when weeds complain about being stepped on, but a patch of dahlias shares great wisdom and a peek at the future. His physical size shrinks to the size of a bug to escape the attack of laser-shooting drones. Rob’s image is projected as a blue hologram that only Ri can see, and he monitors Ri’s surroundings using his equipment. He also projects tentacles that help to protect Ri from various dangers. Ri finds himself projected across universes later in the book, even though he has no idea how he gets there. Some humans become “zombie” field workers, and Ri’s teachers may be aliens in disguise. Ri must track down the Plague Doctor in charge, but readers will discover later that there is someone else who may be more dangerous than him.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers must have a tolerance for wackiness along with an openness for unusual ideas. On the other hand, the story also dips into abstract concepts and gets a little philosophical. This book is not for passive readers, as it requires them to think critically. There’s so much going on that some parts are confusing.
The final verdict:
The frequent transitions between action, philosophy, and Ri’s reflecting will take getting used to. Some readers may find it disrupts the flow of the plot, but everything builds to an exciting climax. I recommend you try this book for yourself.
August 10, 2023
The second book in the Rieden Reece series was just as fast and confusing as the first one. It’s been a couple of days since Rieden’s adventures with Rozul. His brother is still missing, and Rieden questions his own sanity. But then Rob sends a device through time and space that enables him to communicate with Rieden. But it isn’t just for fun. Rob explains that their planet is threatened to be destroyed by aliens because of their doings in book one and that they have to stop them.
Quite frankly, I am just like Rieden: questioning my sanity with this book series. Book one had me so confused and then turned everything around at the end that I was in awe. But now book two through me right back into the maelstrom of insanity and reality that I don’t know what to make of it. I have the feeling that I could read this book multiple times and maybe understand one more aspect every time but then come up with new questions simultaneously. Is everything Rieden experiences real or just made up by his imagination? I really don’t know. Would it make sense either way? Probably. Would I like this to be only going in one direction? Definitely! But one thing this book series has profoundly managed is this: I keep thinking about it. I keep questioning reality and its perception. I started seeing mental health with a new perspective. And that I call a tremendous accomplishment.
Rieden isn’t my favourite main character, and Rob is simply ticking me off. I also missed Rozul in this installment. And I thought that Brian wasn’t a good enough replacement. I’m not sure where this is going from here, and I don’t quite know how Rieden is going to steer in his destined direction. But I liked the idea that we are the result of our decisions and that Rieden is working towards becoming the person he is meant to be - with or without his brother. I don’t know if I’m ready for what’s to come, but I am certainly curious.
Quite frankly, I am just like Rieden: questioning my sanity with this book series. Book one had me so confused and then turned everything around at the end that I was in awe. But now book two through me right back into the maelstrom of insanity and reality that I don’t know what to make of it. I have the feeling that I could read this book multiple times and maybe understand one more aspect every time but then come up with new questions simultaneously. Is everything Rieden experiences real or just made up by his imagination? I really don’t know. Would it make sense either way? Probably. Would I like this to be only going in one direction? Definitely! But one thing this book series has profoundly managed is this: I keep thinking about it. I keep questioning reality and its perception. I started seeing mental health with a new perspective. And that I call a tremendous accomplishment.
Rieden isn’t my favourite main character, and Rob is simply ticking me off. I also missed Rozul in this installment. And I thought that Brian wasn’t a good enough replacement. I’m not sure where this is going from here, and I don’t quite know how Rieden is going to steer in his destined direction. But I liked the idea that we are the result of our decisions and that Rieden is working towards becoming the person he is meant to be - with or without his brother. I don’t know if I’m ready for what’s to come, but I am certainly curious.
August 1, 2024
More twists than a Grecian labyrinth! Every time you think you know what's going on Guzman pulls the rug out from under you. You wonder who to trust. Rieden says that it was his brother who was the troublemaker and Rieden cleaned up his messes, but everyone else says Rieden was the troublemaker. You wonder if Rieden's brother even existed; and in a series where pretty much anything can happen, it doesn't seem that far-fetched.
Throughout the book you, and Rieden, question if he is sane. Every strange occurrence is either explained away or has no witnesses. Even at the end when it finally seems that the question of Rieden's sanity is put to rest there is still a question. Brian says that the big bad carried a sword while Rieden says it was a scythe. Not completely strange seeing how others who witness the strangeness will see things differently; but on the cover, the villain is carrying a sword.
Rieden Reece and the Final Flower is a great story for middle grade readers and young adults who like sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, mystery, and most importantly parallel worlds.
Throughout the book you, and Rieden, question if he is sane. Every strange occurrence is either explained away or has no witnesses. Even at the end when it finally seems that the question of Rieden's sanity is put to rest there is still a question. Brian says that the big bad carried a sword while Rieden says it was a scythe. Not completely strange seeing how others who witness the strangeness will see things differently; but on the cover, the villain is carrying a sword.
Rieden Reece and the Final Flower is a great story for middle grade readers and young adults who like sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, mystery, and most importantly parallel worlds.
August 8, 2023
When Riedens twin brother Rob disappears, his life is turned upside down. Ri and his mom handle thier grief in different ways. Ri envisions Rob as an AI, together they will figure out where him and the other missing kids have gone. Through various run ins with aliens and cockroach infested beings he deals with his grief and sets the ball rolling on solving the missing kids case.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2024
This had the same energy from Rieden reeces first book. It had a strong supernatural feel that I enjoyed a lot. The characters felt like they belonged in this world and I enjoyed getting back here.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 6, 2023
My 11 year old really loves this series and he was excited about book 2. He loves that are aliens and that a boy his age is figuring out how to fight them. He's looking forward to book 3!
November 4, 2024
There's a good chance that Rieden Reece and the Final Flower is unlike anything you’ve ever read. (Hi, Twilight Zone.) Because this puppy’s in a class by itself! And that’s good. Because it’ll reel you in from page one and keep you going until the very end. It's like tossing some sci fi into a blender. Adding some fantasy and a dash of humor. Stirring in truckloads of imagination, wit, and creativity. Swirl. And you’ve almost poured out Rieden Reece and the Final Flower. Almost.
Regarding the story, it doesn’t take long for our intrepid hero, thirteen year-old Ri, to discover that alien dahlia weeds are both “important and dangerous.” Yep, dahlias. Ri is determined to find out what’s going on and why. And that’s a good thing. Because the fate of humanity and the future of planet earth hang in the balance. So no pressure, okay?
There’s also a bee with a doctorate in quantum theory, honey. A creepy “Plague Doctor.” A child slave labor workforce. Think mind-numbed robots commanded by… cockroaches. Also shape-shifting aliens who seem able to disguise themselves as plants. And “Helpful tips for communicating with intelligent organisms outside your species.” Thought drones. Time travel and alternate universes. “Slip-sleep.” Fakes. Teacher cliques. Connections. Empathy. Zero cents. What is “the hardest thing to do,” anyway?
Meanwhile, can properties of alien plants affect humans? All this and more while earth is hurtling down a doomsday path and the fate of humanity sits on the shoulders of a thirteen year-old. What could possibly go wrong? “Oh, hey there. Wassup?”
Finely tuned and skillfully crafted, this novel is highly readable. Indeed, author Matthew Guzman hits another home run with his latest installment in the Rieden Reece adventures, Rieden Reece and the Final Flower. This time “Ri” is joined by his older brother, Rob. Sort of. Robert is another universe. He communicates with Ri via lots of techno-gadgetry and a blue watch thingy. (It’s not exactly The Twilight Zone. But it’s close.)
One thing that makes this book a hoot and a half is the rapier wit and dry humor. The former could cut paper. Or steel girders. The latter is as dry as the Sahara Desert. Taken together, they’re snort-lemonade-out-your-nose hilarious (don’t ask how I know that). The snarky repartee between Ri and his “broseph” Rob snaps and crackles like a bowl of Rice Krispies. After you add milk.
Strategically sprinkled throughout the story like hot peppers in salsa, the humor, word play, alliterative chapter headings, and groan-worthy puns are just Too. Much. Fun. “Robots are people, too.” Even the weeds offer commentary, thanks to a universal translator. “Ouch mister, that hurts.”
Indeed, you might want to limber up and take some deep breaths before diving into Rieden Reece and the Final Flower, because the action is lightning-quick and almost non-stop. The plot balances laugh-out-loud humor with imminent danger and life-threatening peril poised on the edge of a knife. It’s a masterful blend of hair-raising suspense, high-octane action, and chuckles galore. (Scene stealer: Brian Bowman and his Star Wars glasses. “That was so awesome!”)
Speaking of which, reading this book is a little like landing in Oz. Or climbing through the Looking Glass. Chasing a White Rabbit. Chatting with H.G. Wells. Or traveling through Mirkwood. On an “infinite escalator.” Think The Matrix or Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Men in Black. With one humdinger of a surprise ending. It crackles with energy, radiating wit and warmth like heat from a blast furnace. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a middle grade novel!
Also, the techno-thingamajigs and AI devices will pull in the target audience of middle grade readers like fish on a line. Ditto older readers. In fact, anyone with a vivid imagination, half a funny bone and a mischievous sense of humor will enjoy this book. It's a great follow-on to Rieden Reece and the Broken Moon! More, please!
Wait. Is that Rod Serling?
My rating: 4.5
Regarding the story, it doesn’t take long for our intrepid hero, thirteen year-old Ri, to discover that alien dahlia weeds are both “important and dangerous.” Yep, dahlias. Ri is determined to find out what’s going on and why. And that’s a good thing. Because the fate of humanity and the future of planet earth hang in the balance. So no pressure, okay?
There’s also a bee with a doctorate in quantum theory, honey. A creepy “Plague Doctor.” A child slave labor workforce. Think mind-numbed robots commanded by… cockroaches. Also shape-shifting aliens who seem able to disguise themselves as plants. And “Helpful tips for communicating with intelligent organisms outside your species.” Thought drones. Time travel and alternate universes. “Slip-sleep.” Fakes. Teacher cliques. Connections. Empathy. Zero cents. What is “the hardest thing to do,” anyway?
Meanwhile, can properties of alien plants affect humans? All this and more while earth is hurtling down a doomsday path and the fate of humanity sits on the shoulders of a thirteen year-old. What could possibly go wrong? “Oh, hey there. Wassup?”
Finely tuned and skillfully crafted, this novel is highly readable. Indeed, author Matthew Guzman hits another home run with his latest installment in the Rieden Reece adventures, Rieden Reece and the Final Flower. This time “Ri” is joined by his older brother, Rob. Sort of. Robert is another universe. He communicates with Ri via lots of techno-gadgetry and a blue watch thingy. (It’s not exactly The Twilight Zone. But it’s close.)
One thing that makes this book a hoot and a half is the rapier wit and dry humor. The former could cut paper. Or steel girders. The latter is as dry as the Sahara Desert. Taken together, they’re snort-lemonade-out-your-nose hilarious (don’t ask how I know that). The snarky repartee between Ri and his “broseph” Rob snaps and crackles like a bowl of Rice Krispies. After you add milk.
Strategically sprinkled throughout the story like hot peppers in salsa, the humor, word play, alliterative chapter headings, and groan-worthy puns are just Too. Much. Fun. “Robots are people, too.” Even the weeds offer commentary, thanks to a universal translator. “Ouch mister, that hurts.”
Indeed, you might want to limber up and take some deep breaths before diving into Rieden Reece and the Final Flower, because the action is lightning-quick and almost non-stop. The plot balances laugh-out-loud humor with imminent danger and life-threatening peril poised on the edge of a knife. It’s a masterful blend of hair-raising suspense, high-octane action, and chuckles galore. (Scene stealer: Brian Bowman and his Star Wars glasses. “That was so awesome!”)
Speaking of which, reading this book is a little like landing in Oz. Or climbing through the Looking Glass. Chasing a White Rabbit. Chatting with H.G. Wells. Or traveling through Mirkwood. On an “infinite escalator.” Think The Matrix or Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Men in Black. With one humdinger of a surprise ending. It crackles with energy, radiating wit and warmth like heat from a blast furnace. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a middle grade novel!
Also, the techno-thingamajigs and AI devices will pull in the target audience of middle grade readers like fish on a line. Ditto older readers. In fact, anyone with a vivid imagination, half a funny bone and a mischievous sense of humor will enjoy this book. It's a great follow-on to Rieden Reece and the Broken Moon! More, please!
Wait. Is that Rod Serling?
My rating: 4.5
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