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The Locket Thief
In the clouds above Dalmacia, the Sky Thieves rule. Robbing, cheating, murdering - their airships buzz around the city like wasps around a jar of honey. One ship above all inspires terror. Its captain, Lendon Sora, has found the prey he's been stalking for a decade and is about to claim his bounty.
Down on the surface, Lara DeLarose is oblivious. Bored with her life at the orphanage, she spends her time searching for new ways to cause trouble until one day she makes a discovery that sends her hurtling into the murky world of the Sky Thieves.
Smuggled aboard the airship Northern Light, Lara meets Captain Vaspine, who reveals a talisman in her possession to be Sora's long-lost prize. With Sora closing in and nowhere to hide, Lara and the crew must summon all of their wits and courage if they are to survive.
Down on the surface, Lara DeLarose is oblivious. Bored with her life at the orphanage, she spends her time searching for new ways to cause trouble until one day she makes a discovery that sends her hurtling into the murky world of the Sky Thieves.
Smuggled aboard the airship Northern Light, Lara meets Captain Vaspine, who reveals a talisman in her possession to be Sora's long-lost prize. With Sora closing in and nowhere to hide, Lara and the crew must summon all of their wits and courage if they are to survive.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2013
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554 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 6, 2013
Have you ever found yourself in a position where you had to rate a book, and you had trouble deciding between the ultimate prize - namely, 5 stars - and the very good one? Well, this was my first time banging my head on the wall because I Just. Couldn't. Decide!
Let me tell you what I mean.
In Daniel Patrick's The Locket Thief, Lara DeLarose, an orphan with a brilliant mind and an arsenal full of cunning ideas, is being chased by Lendon Sora, the most dangerous Sky Thief of Dalmacia, for what she calls her lucky charm - the locket around her neck. Said locket is the key to Jupiter's vault, where a good pile of fortune is hidden, and Sora wants it for himself. Thankfully Lara isn't alone. Carlos Vaspine and his crew on the Northern Light are on her side - and she will need them all if she is to win the battle against her pursuer.
First of all, let me warn you that I'm a major geek. So, when you give me a book that has airships, a pilot named Cid, a villain named Sora, and the likes, that's bonus points for you. Sora, for one, is the Japanese unisex name for sky (and he's a sky thief, so how cool is that?!).Plus, if we play around with his first name's letters a little, we'll get Ladro, which means thief in Italian (OK, shutting up now...).
*Ahem* Moving on! The book is not only just an adventure that a little girl has. It's not only a treasure hunt, or a pirate tale. Oh, it's so, SO much more...
It was like Final Fantasy, Treasure Planet, and Northern Lights all at once! It takes guts - guts I tell you! - for a male author to have a girl as a protagonist in an action-filled tale. It takes even more guts to create a heroine that is not the ultimate character. Lara is brave, but she still is scared inside. She's clever, but there are times that her youth shows in some of her rash choices. She's kind, but when the time calls for it, she shows a ruthless, bloodthirsty side that equals that of Sora and his men. She knows she's in danger at first, but she doesn't run away before finding out what it is she's running from (how many characters have you seen thinking in this logical and rational way? I know this is the first time I did).
The rest of the characters were another delight to read about. Vaspine is a wonderful captain, whose motivational speeches - as Bucker suggested - suck, and yet he's as reckless and as adorable as a litte kid. Bucker, Cid, Rosie, the Doc and Beebee, were an entertaining bunch as well, with their little quirks and traits, their special ways of thinking and speaking. The family-like dynamics of the crew were sweet, and they served well in showing exactly why Vaspine's men were so much different than the usual sky pirates.
The world building was also very cleverly layered. The main background we get to see for most of the story is the sky, and the ground below the ship, but the writer leaves nothing to chance and he makes sure we are given a very specific idea of what Dalmacia looks like, and he proves that whenever the ship lands and the environment in which the story takes place changes. Even the smallest cabin of the ship is described, in details that do not bore and help you see the world around through Lara's eyes, for the first time, just like her.
The plot was nicely developed. It started sort of slow, which at first I admit had me worried, but I later realized that Mr. Patrick was trying to tell a story here, not rush us through the facts and be done with it. In the end, I was grateful for it, because it helped me remember more things and pick up on the little details that would play an important role later in the book.
Speaking of details, as a Greek, I really appreciated the Iliad reference (read the book and you'll se what I mean). The scheme in Vaspine's mind was similar, but it didn't fall in the trap of pure mimicking, instead he worked his way around the general idea and formed a simple, yet acceptable plan - whoever said simplicity isn't superior to complexity?
The ending was... something else, really! I have a soft spot for stories that follow a circular pattern, and this one didn't disappoint. It was poetic, in a way, and kinda reminded me of a bard's tale.
So why the dilemma, you may ask?
Daniel Patrick is a relatively new writer to me, and I don't want to jinx it. I thought of rating it like I always do, with 4 stars, so that I have room for 5 when I get to read the next ones. But it was really impossible to ignore the fact that I was hooked when I actually got to seriously reading it, and I feel like I would not be doing this story justice. As you can see, I settled for 5 stars. God only knows what I will rate the next book with if it's as good as this one. Hmmm, maybe I'll personally write down more than 5 and be done with it...
Conclusion? If you're looking for a fun, intriguing plot, with quirky characters, breathtaking views of the sky, and witty humor, that combines the awe of a child taking their first steps in the world and the free-spirited young adult enjoying life at its purest form, look no further. The Locket Thief is just the book for you!
5 bookmarks and a DEFINITE Recommended Read!!!
***I was given a free copy by the author in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Let me tell you what I mean.
In Daniel Patrick's The Locket Thief, Lara DeLarose, an orphan with a brilliant mind and an arsenal full of cunning ideas, is being chased by Lendon Sora, the most dangerous Sky Thief of Dalmacia, for what she calls her lucky charm - the locket around her neck. Said locket is the key to Jupiter's vault, where a good pile of fortune is hidden, and Sora wants it for himself. Thankfully Lara isn't alone. Carlos Vaspine and his crew on the Northern Light are on her side - and she will need them all if she is to win the battle against her pursuer.
First of all, let me warn you that I'm a major geek. So, when you give me a book that has airships, a pilot named Cid, a villain named Sora, and the likes, that's bonus points for you. Sora, for one, is the Japanese unisex name for sky (and he's a sky thief, so how cool is that?!).
*Ahem* Moving on! The book is not only just an adventure that a little girl has. It's not only a treasure hunt, or a pirate tale. Oh, it's so, SO much more...
It was like Final Fantasy, Treasure Planet, and Northern Lights all at once! It takes guts - guts I tell you! - for a male author to have a girl as a protagonist in an action-filled tale. It takes even more guts to create a heroine that is not the ultimate character. Lara is brave, but she still is scared inside. She's clever, but there are times that her youth shows in some of her rash choices. She's kind, but when the time calls for it, she shows a ruthless, bloodthirsty side that equals that of Sora and his men. She knows she's in danger at first, but she doesn't run away before finding out what it is she's running from (how many characters have you seen thinking in this logical and rational way? I know this is the first time I did).
The rest of the characters were another delight to read about. Vaspine is a wonderful captain, whose motivational speeches - as Bucker suggested - suck, and yet he's as reckless and as adorable as a litte kid. Bucker, Cid, Rosie, the Doc and Beebee, were an entertaining bunch as well, with their little quirks and traits, their special ways of thinking and speaking. The family-like dynamics of the crew were sweet, and they served well in showing exactly why Vaspine's men were so much different than the usual sky pirates.
The world building was also very cleverly layered. The main background we get to see for most of the story is the sky, and the ground below the ship, but the writer leaves nothing to chance and he makes sure we are given a very specific idea of what Dalmacia looks like, and he proves that whenever the ship lands and the environment in which the story takes place changes. Even the smallest cabin of the ship is described, in details that do not bore and help you see the world around through Lara's eyes, for the first time, just like her.
The plot was nicely developed. It started sort of slow, which at first I admit had me worried, but I later realized that Mr. Patrick was trying to tell a story here, not rush us through the facts and be done with it. In the end, I was grateful for it, because it helped me remember more things and pick up on the little details that would play an important role later in the book.
Speaking of details, as a Greek, I really appreciated the Iliad reference (read the book and you'll se what I mean). The scheme in Vaspine's mind was similar, but it didn't fall in the trap of pure mimicking, instead he worked his way around the general idea and formed a simple, yet acceptable plan - whoever said simplicity isn't superior to complexity?
The ending was... something else, really! I have a soft spot for stories that follow a circular pattern, and this one didn't disappoint. It was poetic, in a way, and kinda reminded me of a bard's tale.
So why the dilemma, you may ask?
Daniel Patrick is a relatively new writer to me, and I don't want to jinx it. I thought of rating it like I always do, with 4 stars, so that I have room for 5 when I get to read the next ones. But it was really impossible to ignore the fact that I was hooked when I actually got to seriously reading it, and I feel like I would not be doing this story justice. As you can see, I settled for 5 stars. God only knows what I will rate the next book with if it's as good as this one. Hmmm, maybe I'll personally write down more than 5 and be done with it...
Conclusion? If you're looking for a fun, intriguing plot, with quirky characters, breathtaking views of the sky, and witty humor, that combines the awe of a child taking their first steps in the world and the free-spirited young adult enjoying life at its purest form, look no further. The Locket Thief is just the book for you!
5 bookmarks and a DEFINITE Recommended Read!!!
***I was given a free copy by the author in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
August 8, 2013
Ah, how I loved this book! It was such a pleasure to follow Lara's steps through her journey onboard the sky thieves' ship. Not to reveal too much - the book keeps you breathless till the very last page. The best things about this novel were exciting cliff-hangers at the end of every chapter. It made me want to read more! :-)
August 27, 2013
Thank you, Daniel Patrick, for the offer of a lifetime! You were right! This book was brilliant! I hated when real life drew me away from reading it.
This book is like a combination Golden Compass, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Annie. The action and adventure never lets up. The characters are well developed. I loved that it felt gender neutral. I think young men and women would love this equally, as well as children and senior citizens. There's something there for everyone. This could easily be made into a movie.
***The problems written here before have been edited out. So this author deserves five plus stars!!!!***
Fabulous read! Thanks, again!
This book is like a combination Golden Compass, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Annie. The action and adventure never lets up. The characters are well developed. I loved that it felt gender neutral. I think young men and women would love this equally, as well as children and senior citizens. There's something there for everyone. This could easily be made into a movie.
***The problems written here before have been edited out. So this author deserves five plus stars!!!!***
Fabulous read! Thanks, again!
August 30, 2013
Read it, loved it! I must admit, what Daniel Patrick has delivered in this book, deserves not only 5 stars but 10!
The book, telling the story of orphan Lara DeLarose, is a gripping adventure of a brave young girl who set off on the journey of a lifetime. Unaware of what's awaiting her, she perfects her sword-handling and 'all-sky thieves-should-know' skills onboard The Northern Light, at the end of which she's finally ready to face her nemesis, Lendon Sora.
It's a wonderful story and I love the way Lara develops into a real hero as the story goes.
Great stuff, looking forward to the next installment!
The book, telling the story of orphan Lara DeLarose, is a gripping adventure of a brave young girl who set off on the journey of a lifetime. Unaware of what's awaiting her, she perfects her sword-handling and 'all-sky thieves-should-know' skills onboard The Northern Light, at the end of which she's finally ready to face her nemesis, Lendon Sora.
It's a wonderful story and I love the way Lara develops into a real hero as the story goes.
Great stuff, looking forward to the next installment!
September 5, 2013
What a great book! The author has done an excellent job fashioning a heroine you come to care about and a wonderful supporting cast.
September 8, 2013
I was given this book for a honest review from the author
You were not kidding when you said it was a opportunity of a life time. When I first started reading it the story was hard to follow with some on the mistakes in it. But once the author sent me the revised one I couldn't put the book down. I loved that there wasn't anything R rated in this novel. This book didn't need the violence, language or anything to sexual to make it a complete knock out. I can not wait till my son grows up and we are able to read this book together.
The story line was amazingly written. I loved that it was like a mix of the golden compass with the "hidden universe" type feel. The pirates of the Caribbean with the pirates except they throw you for a twist with them being in the sky. Which in my mind is absolutely ingenious. And I feel like it has a little bit of Anastasia in it too with Lara being a orphan wanting an adventure and not completely knowing who she is or how much importance her necklace will hold. The character interactions were beyond amazing and you could follow the threads between each of them.
All in all this is a book I believe can transcend between genders and ages which is an amazing feat achieved by the author. I have personally never read a book that I loved and would love to read to my son as well. I can't wait till the rest of them come out. Superbly done Daniel and can't wait to see what else you come out with. Your mind comes up with things that are absolutely magic. Thank you for allowing me to review this novel sorry it took so long life always seems to get in the way when you want to read a amazing book
You were not kidding when you said it was a opportunity of a life time. When I first started reading it the story was hard to follow with some on the mistakes in it. But once the author sent me the revised one I couldn't put the book down. I loved that there wasn't anything R rated in this novel. This book didn't need the violence, language or anything to sexual to make it a complete knock out. I can not wait till my son grows up and we are able to read this book together.
The story line was amazingly written. I loved that it was like a mix of the golden compass with the "hidden universe" type feel. The pirates of the Caribbean with the pirates except they throw you for a twist with them being in the sky. Which in my mind is absolutely ingenious. And I feel like it has a little bit of Anastasia in it too with Lara being a orphan wanting an adventure and not completely knowing who she is or how much importance her necklace will hold. The character interactions were beyond amazing and you could follow the threads between each of them.
All in all this is a book I believe can transcend between genders and ages which is an amazing feat achieved by the author. I have personally never read a book that I loved and would love to read to my son as well. I can't wait till the rest of them come out. Superbly done Daniel and can't wait to see what else you come out with. Your mind comes up with things that are absolutely magic. Thank you for allowing me to review this novel sorry it took so long life always seems to get in the way when you want to read a amazing book
August 28, 2013
'Wow' is an understatement. I was a bit skeptical at first as I don't normally go with self-published books but I gave this one a go. I'm SO glad I did!
I started reading it at the beginning of summer, after a recommendation from my colleague, who first presented it to me as a 'great kids story' and, adding at the end, that when reading it to her 9 year old she truly loved it, too! I totally know now what she meant by this! The book is the fascinating story of Lara DeLarose whom you warm towards right from the very beginning. Her character is so bright, vivid and you kinda want to go on a journey with her.
I also loved the Vaspine character, not too 'cheesy', nor too rough like a usual pirate. He had great qualities of a leader and someone to look up to when trouble was near.
This book is perfect for both a younger audience as well as adults. You will have a lot fun reading it whatever age you are!
I've also just spotted that this book is the first installment of the sky thieves series. This has really made my day! I can't wait to get my teeth into it!
I started reading it at the beginning of summer, after a recommendation from my colleague, who first presented it to me as a 'great kids story' and, adding at the end, that when reading it to her 9 year old she truly loved it, too! I totally know now what she meant by this! The book is the fascinating story of Lara DeLarose whom you warm towards right from the very beginning. Her character is so bright, vivid and you kinda want to go on a journey with her.
I also loved the Vaspine character, not too 'cheesy', nor too rough like a usual pirate. He had great qualities of a leader and someone to look up to when trouble was near.
This book is perfect for both a younger audience as well as adults. You will have a lot fun reading it whatever age you are!
I've also just spotted that this book is the first installment of the sky thieves series. This has really made my day! I can't wait to get my teeth into it!
August 30, 2013
Our hearts definitely go out to Lara DeLarose as we witness the changes in her life - from a bored orphan, looking for any way to liven up her life - to becoming a guest on the airship, Northern Light. Here she meets an array of weird and wonderful characters, makes new friends and learns the skills she will need to protect the crew; the same crew that turned an orphaned outcast into a valued member of a close-knit family.
Every character in the book has their own back story and is developed well; so well that you feel you know them well before the book ends. The atmosphere and camaraderie on board is well portrayed. There's excitement, suspense, some great highs and sickening lows that keep the pages turning all the way to the end.
Every character in the book has their own back story and is developed well; so well that you feel you know them well before the book ends. The atmosphere and camaraderie on board is well portrayed. There's excitement, suspense, some great highs and sickening lows that keep the pages turning all the way to the end.
March 9, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the idea of airships and sky thieves. The characters were really well developed and the plot kept me nicely surprised right up through the very end. This book also reminds me a lot of The Golden Compass so if you like that I would definitely recommend giving The Locket Thief a try, I'm definitely looking forward to more books in the series!
January 1, 2014
I really enjoyed this from Daniel Patrick. 'The Locket Thief' is the first in 'The Sky Thieves' series, and if the rest of the series is as good as the start then it'll definitely be a series to watch.
The story charts the adventures of Lara DeLarose, our young protagonist, from the roof of the orphanage where we first meet her, and as we follow her adventures aboard the airship 'Robin Hood'. Right from the off, you instantly take to the characters and become totally engrossed in the story, set in a believable world of sky pirates and their airships. In fact, I could easily imagine this as something from Studio Ghibli!
By the end of 'The Locket Thief' I'm very keen to see what happens to Lara and those aboard the 'Robin Hood on their next adventure. Highly recommended!
The story charts the adventures of Lara DeLarose, our young protagonist, from the roof of the orphanage where we first meet her, and as we follow her adventures aboard the airship 'Robin Hood'. Right from the off, you instantly take to the characters and become totally engrossed in the story, set in a believable world of sky pirates and their airships. In fact, I could easily imagine this as something from Studio Ghibli!
By the end of 'The Locket Thief' I'm very keen to see what happens to Lara and those aboard the 'Robin Hood on their next adventure. Highly recommended!
September 2, 2013
Note: I was given a copy of this book for reviewing purposes.
The Locket Thief is the story of Lara DeLarose, a mischievous orphan who dreams of adventure. Well, one day the adventure comes for her!
After being kidnapped she finds herself on an airship of sky pirates. At first, she's terrified and just wants to get back to the orphanage. But she quickly makes friends with the crew and finds that she loves the pirate's life.
Unfortunately, it's a life on the run, though. Lendon Sora is a greedy corrupted pirate. He will do anything to get the locket that Lara wears around her neck - and the fortune that goes along with it.
This leads to a mass chase throughout the story and an ending that gives a good conclusion but leaves room for more stories to come, which i'm very excited to read.
Full of adventure, young hijinks, learning your strengths, and even a bit of loss, this was a great story. It had a little bit of everything and the concept of airships is just downright fun.
I think both guys and girls would enjoy this read. It's not written strictly for either gender. And as with much YA fiction, it easily crosses age groups and can be enjoyed by young and old alike. There is no extreme violence - just a lot of adventure - no language, and no overly romantic bits so it's safe all around but still full of fun and heart.
I look forward to the following Daniel's writings and hope the sequel comes soon!
The Locket Thief is the story of Lara DeLarose, a mischievous orphan who dreams of adventure. Well, one day the adventure comes for her!
After being kidnapped she finds herself on an airship of sky pirates. At first, she's terrified and just wants to get back to the orphanage. But she quickly makes friends with the crew and finds that she loves the pirate's life.
Unfortunately, it's a life on the run, though. Lendon Sora is a greedy corrupted pirate. He will do anything to get the locket that Lara wears around her neck - and the fortune that goes along with it.
This leads to a mass chase throughout the story and an ending that gives a good conclusion but leaves room for more stories to come, which i'm very excited to read.
Full of adventure, young hijinks, learning your strengths, and even a bit of loss, this was a great story. It had a little bit of everything and the concept of airships is just downright fun.
I think both guys and girls would enjoy this read. It's not written strictly for either gender. And as with much YA fiction, it easily crosses age groups and can be enjoyed by young and old alike. There is no extreme violence - just a lot of adventure - no language, and no overly romantic bits so it's safe all around but still full of fun and heart.
I look forward to the following Daniel's writings and hope the sequel comes soon!
September 6, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book about airships and sky thieves. I was told the book was pretty similar to Pullman (Golden Compass) in spirit and I have to agree.
It's also a young adult book, filled with action and adventure.
All the characters were well developed. The book had a good pace and had just enough action, adventure, romance and violence to be believable.
I'm looking forward to more books in this series.
It's also a young adult book, filled with action and adventure.
All the characters were well developed. The book had a good pace and had just enough action, adventure, romance and violence to be believable.
I'm looking forward to more books in this series.
October 5, 2014
I think that I this novel come to me too late. Meaning that I find myself to old to really enjoy it.
I loved the sky thieves, the premises of flying ships and flying islands. But the good ones are too good to be true, and the same comes to the bad ones. I was waiting for a last minute flip, but it never came.
I think more grey to enjoy a history. But I love the world in which the history takes place. I would like to know more about it but the history ended to be too simple for me.
I loved the sky thieves, the premises of flying ships and flying islands. But the good ones are too good to be true, and the same comes to the bad ones. I was waiting for a last minute flip, but it never came.
I think more grey to enjoy a history. But I love the world in which the history takes place. I would like to know more about it but the history ended to be too simple for me.
Want to read
April 20, 20144/20/14 - Kindle free download
July 30, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a courtesy copy of this book from the author.
I read (and wrote this review) months ago, but for some reason (school, probably) I forgot to post it. The Locket Thief was an enjoyable read. It has a timeless quality to it. It feels like it could be happening anywhere at any time, i our world or another, and that's part of its charm. Lara is clever, young orphan girl who discovers that her locket is more than just a trinket. She's thrown into an adventure that is both exciting and dangerous. It would've been all too easy to make Lara's history a tragic tale of an orphan growing up in a loveless home, neglected and abused, but the author made the orphanage a place of love, a place for her to flourish. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to younger readers because, it's a fun read with elements of danger and mystery. And, as a start of a series, it feels like a solid foundation to build on.
I read (and wrote this review) months ago, but for some reason (school, probably) I forgot to post it. The Locket Thief was an enjoyable read. It has a timeless quality to it. It feels like it could be happening anywhere at any time, i our world or another, and that's part of its charm. Lara is clever, young orphan girl who discovers that her locket is more than just a trinket. She's thrown into an adventure that is both exciting and dangerous. It would've been all too easy to make Lara's history a tragic tale of an orphan growing up in a loveless home, neglected and abused, but the author made the orphanage a place of love, a place for her to flourish. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to younger readers because, it's a fun read with elements of danger and mystery. And, as a start of a series, it feels like a solid foundation to build on.
October 28, 2016
Pure good vs evil
Orphan girl is pursued by mysterious stranger. She is kidnapped by another stranger after the headmaster of her orphanage is killed . The locket that is her only possession is the key to this adventure.
Orphan girl is pursued by mysterious stranger. She is kidnapped by another stranger after the headmaster of her orphanage is killed . The locket that is her only possession is the key to this adventure.
August 30, 2021
great book I am glad I came across. One of those hidden gems
May 24, 2014
So it's taken me what feels life forever to finish this one and i'll admit to struggling to pick it up at times - at first i thought it was just me, i wasn't in the right mood, i had other fun things to do.... etc etc. but then i realized if this book was so great i wouldn't be feeling like that - i wouldn't want to put Hawaii Five-0 and Reckoning in front of this book. and so i've come to realize no it wasnt me, it was in fact the The Locket Thief itself.
Now dont get me wrong it wasnt bad, I actually really enjoyed The Locket Thief at times (especially the first half) and who can deny Sky Pirates! like come on, that shit is awesome.
The problem was this book came across with many fault.... well maybe not many per-say as just really annoying one's. Such as i don't recall ever being explained how the Sky Ships fly? and do they even actually look like ships? In my head they certainly do.....
Also the ending was rather ridiculously unbelievable at times. I rolled my eyes at all the impossibilities and trust me there were quite a few by the end.
also i never really connected with Lara. She's not a bad character, we just didnt merge into one. like i do with all my fave books. The ride isn't always nice or feels great but its something i still crave all the same.
The Villain wasnt very ..... well villainy. He made threats, lots and lots of threats and i was told how bad and evil he was, but really the dude didnt seem that bad which was disappointing. I know I'm weird, but i wanted to be disgusted by his villainous ways, believe he was truly a vile monster..... and well i didnt think that at all. actually thinking about it now for a book about pirates it was pretty tame and PG. not necessarily a bad thing, just not what i was hoping for.
One last complaint - have you ever seen the animated movie Treasure Planet? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133240/?...) holly molly this book has some nice similarities to that. though on the flip side of that i think this book would make THE BEST movie! all that ridiculous action crap that you know couldn't be even close to realistic in the book? that would look so good in a movie - and besides its a movie, there all about over the top.
Now onto the good. While most of the characters are vague or just skimmed over there were a few nicely fleshed out one's. we over time we're slipped juicy details about where they came from and how they became part of the crew. Though i had difficulty picturing any of them in my mind except for Beebee, but then thinking of something similar to a non-green version of the Hulk would cover it. lol.
I like the fleshed out character's personality's. They were all so different except for the one fact that they all simply wanted to help the less fortunate. from the description of their ship they could of probably fitted that list as well! lol. i would not want to be that high in the sky on such a rickety ship! even had bloody meteorites crash into at one point.
Sheesh!
The idea of this book is fantastic and with a bit more of the smaller details changed i think Sky Thieves could be loved by all. at the moment i think a younger generation would enjoy it more than I. and as i said before its very PG so would be fine for their sponge like brains. actually i dont recall even a swear word popping up.....
something else i noticed was the lack of romance in this book and it very much surprised me. especially with the main character, Lara and Bucker being such a good potential couple. truthfully im glad the author did something different and just kept them friendly.
Alright i think thats everything my sleep deprived brain can come up with at this time.
Who would i recommend to?
Family read with the kids would be great, or even early teens with a love of action and fantasy.
Will i read from this author again?
maybe.....
Favorite Quotes:
'Bucker recovered too, in time. Rosie declared him even cheekier than before he'd banged his head, but Bucker just denied this and ran off down the ship to find yet more mischief.'
'Despite their considerable size, the men were still dwarfed by Beebee, who must have stood a foot taller than both of them. When they saw him, they pulled up. "You can try those things on me," said Beebee, nodding down at the tasers, "but I'll feel no more than a tickle. You, on the other hand, when I catch you, will feel like a mountain's fallen."
last thoughts:
Struggled to rate....
this book needs to be made into a movie <- never thought i'd ever be saying those words! lol.
Now dont get me wrong it wasnt bad, I actually really enjoyed The Locket Thief at times (especially the first half) and who can deny Sky Pirates! like come on, that shit is awesome.
The problem was this book came across with many fault.... well maybe not many per-say as just really annoying one's. Such as i don't recall ever being explained how the Sky Ships fly? and do they even actually look like ships? In my head they certainly do.....
Also the ending was rather ridiculously unbelievable at times. I rolled my eyes at all the impossibilities and trust me there were quite a few by the end.
also i never really connected with Lara. She's not a bad character, we just didnt merge into one. like i do with all my fave books. The ride isn't always nice or feels great but its something i still crave all the same.
The Villain wasnt very ..... well villainy. He made threats, lots and lots of threats and i was told how bad and evil he was, but really the dude didnt seem that bad which was disappointing. I know I'm weird, but i wanted to be disgusted by his villainous ways, believe he was truly a vile monster..... and well i didnt think that at all. actually thinking about it now for a book about pirates it was pretty tame and PG. not necessarily a bad thing, just not what i was hoping for.
One last complaint - have you ever seen the animated movie Treasure Planet? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133240/?...) holly molly this book has some nice similarities to that. though on the flip side of that i think this book would make THE BEST movie! all that ridiculous action crap that you know couldn't be even close to realistic in the book? that would look so good in a movie - and besides its a movie, there all about over the top.
Now onto the good. While most of the characters are vague or just skimmed over there were a few nicely fleshed out one's. we over time we're slipped juicy details about where they came from and how they became part of the crew. Though i had difficulty picturing any of them in my mind except for Beebee, but then thinking of something similar to a non-green version of the Hulk would cover it. lol.
I like the fleshed out character's personality's. They were all so different except for the one fact that they all simply wanted to help the less fortunate. from the description of their ship they could of probably fitted that list as well! lol. i would not want to be that high in the sky on such a rickety ship! even had bloody meteorites crash into at one point.
Sheesh!
The idea of this book is fantastic and with a bit more of the smaller details changed i think Sky Thieves could be loved by all. at the moment i think a younger generation would enjoy it more than I. and as i said before its very PG so would be fine for their sponge like brains. actually i dont recall even a swear word popping up.....
something else i noticed was the lack of romance in this book and it very much surprised me. especially with the main character, Lara and Bucker being such a good potential couple. truthfully im glad the author did something different and just kept them friendly.
Alright i think thats everything my sleep deprived brain can come up with at this time.
Who would i recommend to?
Family read with the kids would be great, or even early teens with a love of action and fantasy.
Will i read from this author again?
maybe.....
Favorite Quotes:
'Bucker recovered too, in time. Rosie declared him even cheekier than before he'd banged his head, but Bucker just denied this and ran off down the ship to find yet more mischief.'
'Despite their considerable size, the men were still dwarfed by Beebee, who must have stood a foot taller than both of them. When they saw him, they pulled up. "You can try those things on me," said Beebee, nodding down at the tasers, "but I'll feel no more than a tickle. You, on the other hand, when I catch you, will feel like a mountain's fallen."
last thoughts:
Struggled to rate....
this book needs to be made into a movie <- never thought i'd ever be saying those words! lol.
December 15, 2013
Note: Like many other reviewers, the author sent me a note inviting me to read and review this book, and directed me to a free version.
The premise of "The Locket Thief (Sky Thieves #1)" certainly holds promise, especially for the 8-12 demographic. I mean, it has got air ships and islands in the sky! I've always had a soft spot for pirate stories, and this book is basically 1 part pirate lore, 1 part Robin Hood, and 1 part fantasy with a liberal dose of steampunk.
I suspect the author targeted me (and others) to read the book based on our favorable reviews of Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass" and the "His Dark Materials" series. And true, "The Locket Thief" did at times remind me of "The Golden Compass"--a lot. The protagonist is a female of 12-13 years old who has a 4-letter first name that begins with an L and ends with an A (Lyra, Lara) with romantic Latin-sounding surnames (Belaqua, DeLarose) who are mischievous orphans who start their adventures by sneaking into the office of the Master/headmaster. Both girls end up with something golden, round, and magical (compass (alethiometer)/locket) that the book's villains seek to steal away, and both girls are abruptly removed from the schools where they've grown up and find themselves journeying in the sky by unconventional means (balloon/airship). In short, there is some heavy borrowing from Pullman going on in "The Locket Thief". This kind of bothered me, but at the same time, I suspect that the author was intentionally paying homage to Pullman's series. The airship Lara flies on is named the Northern Light ("Northern Lights" is the original British title of "The Golden Compass") and even the house cleaner at Lara's orphanage has the surname "Pullman"--coincidence or not?
Similarities aside, "The Locket Thief" does venture into totally different territory from "The Golden Compass" once Lara is aboard. This is a much simpler tale about adventures up in the air, where the good characters are clearly good and the bad characters clearly bad. While Lara is basically kidnapped and taken aboard the airship, it quickly becomes evident that Captain Vaspine and his motley crew are criminals of the best kind, the type that try to do no lasting harm as they take from the excessively rich to distribute to the poor back on the ground--they're the good guys. Whereas Sora and his crew are bad, bad, and only bad. Honestly, Sora could have used a little more development--what made him suddenly go so bad? Why was he so greedy? He's fairly two-dimensional for a villian.
In fact, many of the characters in the book could have used a little more development. Vaspine is probably the most complex character. Many of the other adult characters have intrigue (Beebee, Mr. Weatherly), but I felt like the author scarcely scraped the surface before leaving them behind. I wish we'd had more on Mr. Weatherly in particular. And what was the purpose of all that development of Simon in the first several chapters? Lara doesn't think back to Simon or the orphanage at all once she's on the ship. That felt like wasted development that could have gone more into another part of the book.
Lara herself felt somewhat superficial; her actions and reactions felt very predictable. I never felt much of a connection to her character--more like she was a very clear lens through which we observe this world in the sky. I wondered if the author felt much of a connection to his heroine either. I also think that, given the number of incorrect personal and possessive pronouns in the book, the character of Lara was originally a boy; such a significant change, if not made thoroughly and thoughtfully, would certainly create distance between a character and the audience. Lara might be on the crest of puberty, but prepubescent girls are not the same as prepubescent boys; something about her was less than convincing.
I don't mean to imply that the Locket Thief isn't a good read. It is probably amusing enough (3 stars) for its intended audience. But I think it could have been a VERY good read for with a little extra editorial direction. That said, the Locket Thief leaves a good deal of mystery for another book in the series. One thing that I found bewildering was how little is said about Lara's parents or origins. I can only guess that she's the orphaned child of Jupiter and Dominika, and hope that the next installment of the "Sky Thieves" series digs into that.
The premise of "The Locket Thief (Sky Thieves #1)" certainly holds promise, especially for the 8-12 demographic. I mean, it has got air ships and islands in the sky! I've always had a soft spot for pirate stories, and this book is basically 1 part pirate lore, 1 part Robin Hood, and 1 part fantasy with a liberal dose of steampunk.
I suspect the author targeted me (and others) to read the book based on our favorable reviews of Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass" and the "His Dark Materials" series. And true, "The Locket Thief" did at times remind me of "The Golden Compass"--a lot. The protagonist is a female of 12-13 years old who has a 4-letter first name that begins with an L and ends with an A (Lyra, Lara) with romantic Latin-sounding surnames (Belaqua, DeLarose) who are mischievous orphans who start their adventures by sneaking into the office of the Master/headmaster. Both girls end up with something golden, round, and magical (compass (alethiometer)/locket) that the book's villains seek to steal away, and both girls are abruptly removed from the schools where they've grown up and find themselves journeying in the sky by unconventional means (balloon/airship). In short, there is some heavy borrowing from Pullman going on in "The Locket Thief". This kind of bothered me, but at the same time, I suspect that the author was intentionally paying homage to Pullman's series. The airship Lara flies on is named the Northern Light ("Northern Lights" is the original British title of "The Golden Compass") and even the house cleaner at Lara's orphanage has the surname "Pullman"--coincidence or not?
Similarities aside, "The Locket Thief" does venture into totally different territory from "The Golden Compass" once Lara is aboard. This is a much simpler tale about adventures up in the air, where the good characters are clearly good and the bad characters clearly bad. While Lara is basically kidnapped and taken aboard the airship, it quickly becomes evident that Captain Vaspine and his motley crew are criminals of the best kind, the type that try to do no lasting harm as they take from the excessively rich to distribute to the poor back on the ground--they're the good guys. Whereas Sora and his crew are bad, bad, and only bad. Honestly, Sora could have used a little more development--what made him suddenly go so bad? Why was he so greedy? He's fairly two-dimensional for a villian.
In fact, many of the characters in the book could have used a little more development. Vaspine is probably the most complex character. Many of the other adult characters have intrigue (Beebee, Mr. Weatherly), but I felt like the author scarcely scraped the surface before leaving them behind. I wish we'd had more on Mr. Weatherly in particular. And what was the purpose of all that development of Simon in the first several chapters? Lara doesn't think back to Simon or the orphanage at all once she's on the ship. That felt like wasted development that could have gone more into another part of the book.
Lara herself felt somewhat superficial; her actions and reactions felt very predictable. I never felt much of a connection to her character--more like she was a very clear lens through which we observe this world in the sky. I wondered if the author felt much of a connection to his heroine either. I also think that, given the number of incorrect personal and possessive pronouns in the book, the character of Lara was originally a boy; such a significant change, if not made thoroughly and thoughtfully, would certainly create distance between a character and the audience. Lara might be on the crest of puberty, but prepubescent girls are not the same as prepubescent boys; something about her was less than convincing.
I don't mean to imply that the Locket Thief isn't a good read. It is probably amusing enough (3 stars) for its intended audience. But I think it could have been a VERY good read for with a little extra editorial direction. That said, the Locket Thief leaves a good deal of mystery for another book in the series. One thing that I found bewildering was how little is said about Lara's parents or origins. I can only guess that she's the orphaned child of Jupiter and Dominika, and hope that the next installment of the "Sky Thieves" series digs into that.
July 8, 2014
Almost one year ago Daniel Patrick, the author of this amazing book, invited me to read it and post an honest review about it here and at the amazon. Now I shall say that I'm pleased to do so. I also must say that I'm sorry it took me so long to read it. But don't take it in the wrong way, the reason that I took such a long time to read The Locket Thief is because I'm not used to read books at my computer or my cellphone. The fact is that I started to read this book more than ten times, and I'm pretty sure I know all the first words of it by now. However, I made myself a challenge, which was to start and finish this book. And I finally did so. Now, here it's my most honest review about it.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Creak. This is how this books begins and ends.
The Locket Thief is a book about Lara DeLarose, an orphan, and also a child great at seeking and finding trouble. It begins with she and a friend walking on the ceiling of the old orphanage where they live. But it doesn't take much before someone finds about about them, this person is Mr. Wincherley, who is the owner of the orphanage, and who tells Lara something that changes her way to look into life. After that she changes her behavior until one day she is kind of kidnapped.
Then an amazing journey begins where Lara meets the terrible sky thief Lendon Sora, and also some other great sky thieves as Vaspine, Rosie, Beebee, Cid and her new best friend Bucker. At the Northern Light, Vaspine's ship, Lara discovers a much different world, and also that she owns a locket that Sora is after for decades.
During this first part of the book I felt like I was going to find out about something amazing at every page, and in fact I did, but not exactly what I was looking for, and not so amazing. I felt like it was missing something. And then I found it.
Sora makes a little visit to the Northern Light and after that the book's pace changes completely. Lara starts learning sword fighting, and boxing, and when The Shadow, Sora's ship, appears the race is breathtaking. I still don't know how I could stop reading it and go to work!
And then they have this incredible and stupid idea of going to Jupiter's vault, and I'm not going to explain that, because if I do I will tell too many more spoilers. And Sora appears again, there is a fight where something terrible happens. Lara and Vaspine decides to payback and they do.
At the end of the book, there's a reference to that creak at the beginning, which is why I put it in this review. During the entire story I didn't remembered it, but at the end when there's again a creak I just did. I don't know how Daniel Patrick did it, but I was able to remember it at the same moment I read the word. And it made me smile with Lara.
Honestly, I wanted to tell you everything that I thought during the reading. However, this is the point where I will stop and only tell you this: the book is amazing and it was worth every single time I complained about being tired of reading on my cellphone. *I'm laughing a lot by remembering those moments*
I'll look anxiously for the next book, and also that the next time this will be printed. Daniel you are an incredible writer, thank you for inviting me to read The Locket Thief.
My best regards,
Jenny
***SPOILER ALERT***
Creak. This is how this books begins and ends.
The Locket Thief is a book about Lara DeLarose, an orphan, and also a child great at seeking and finding trouble. It begins with she and a friend walking on the ceiling of the old orphanage where they live. But it doesn't take much before someone finds about about them, this person is Mr. Wincherley, who is the owner of the orphanage, and who tells Lara something that changes her way to look into life. After that she changes her behavior until one day she is kind of kidnapped.
Then an amazing journey begins where Lara meets the terrible sky thief Lendon Sora, and also some other great sky thieves as Vaspine, Rosie, Beebee, Cid and her new best friend Bucker. At the Northern Light, Vaspine's ship, Lara discovers a much different world, and also that she owns a locket that Sora is after for decades.
During this first part of the book I felt like I was going to find out about something amazing at every page, and in fact I did, but not exactly what I was looking for, and not so amazing. I felt like it was missing something. And then I found it.
Sora makes a little visit to the Northern Light and after that the book's pace changes completely. Lara starts learning sword fighting, and boxing, and when The Shadow, Sora's ship, appears the race is breathtaking. I still don't know how I could stop reading it and go to work!
And then they have this incredible and stupid idea of going to Jupiter's vault, and I'm not going to explain that, because if I do I will tell too many more spoilers. And Sora appears again, there is a fight where something terrible happens. Lara and Vaspine decides to payback and they do.
At the end of the book, there's a reference to that creak at the beginning, which is why I put it in this review. During the entire story I didn't remembered it, but at the end when there's again a creak I just did. I don't know how Daniel Patrick did it, but I was able to remember it at the same moment I read the word. And it made me smile with Lara.
Honestly, I wanted to tell you everything that I thought during the reading. However, this is the point where I will stop and only tell you this: the book is amazing and it was worth every single time I complained about being tired of reading on my cellphone. *I'm laughing a lot by remembering those moments*
I'll look anxiously for the next book, and also that the next time this will be printed. Daniel you are an incredible writer, thank you for inviting me to read The Locket Thief.
My best regards,
Jenny
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2013
As a preface I'd like to inform you that I was given this book for an honest review from the author.
I honestly think this book deserves 4.5 stars because I was seriously debating whether I should give it five or four. In the end I settled for four stars because even though I think the book is superbly written, there is still room for improvement. The writing is rich and the prose entertaining but there were certain moments when I longed for things to slow down a bit in order to get a better feel of the story and characters (Mind you that they are very easy to fall in love with). The quality of the author's descriptions is wonderful and you can get a clear picture of the incredible surroundings and characters in the book, which I personally think is great because I've read a few self-published authors that don't manage to create the same effect in their writing.
The story itself is very entertaining and if you are looking for an adventure I really recommend that you give this book a read if you like young adult or teen fiction. I do think I may have been a little too old for this book in a way, but as a lover of young adult fiction this book was interesting and unique. I haven't really read a lot of steampunk fiction but this certainly opened my eyes to the genre and I will definitely explore it a bit more. The concept of sky pirates really captivated me and I sincerely think anyone can have fun with this story.
I really love it when an author can create a strong female character that young girls can look up to and I like to believe that Lara DeLarose is an exceptional girl who is brave enough to face her fears to fight for what she believes in. I'd like to think that many young girls/women who read this will identify with Lara or will look up to her and try to imitate her ways and take risks in life.
When Daniel Patrick requested that I read and review he said that this book had the spirit of Pullman's book The Golden Compass and I'm happy to confirm that it does, so if you liked The Golden Compass or the whole trilogy then I think you should definitely give this book a try!
I really enjoyed this experience and I certainly look forward to Daniel's books in the future!
I honestly think this book deserves 4.5 stars because I was seriously debating whether I should give it five or four. In the end I settled for four stars because even though I think the book is superbly written, there is still room for improvement. The writing is rich and the prose entertaining but there were certain moments when I longed for things to slow down a bit in order to get a better feel of the story and characters (Mind you that they are very easy to fall in love with). The quality of the author's descriptions is wonderful and you can get a clear picture of the incredible surroundings and characters in the book, which I personally think is great because I've read a few self-published authors that don't manage to create the same effect in their writing.
The story itself is very entertaining and if you are looking for an adventure I really recommend that you give this book a read if you like young adult or teen fiction. I do think I may have been a little too old for this book in a way, but as a lover of young adult fiction this book was interesting and unique. I haven't really read a lot of steampunk fiction but this certainly opened my eyes to the genre and I will definitely explore it a bit more. The concept of sky pirates really captivated me and I sincerely think anyone can have fun with this story.
I really love it when an author can create a strong female character that young girls can look up to and I like to believe that Lara DeLarose is an exceptional girl who is brave enough to face her fears to fight for what she believes in. I'd like to think that many young girls/women who read this will identify with Lara or will look up to her and try to imitate her ways and take risks in life.
When Daniel Patrick requested that I read and review he said that this book had the spirit of Pullman's book The Golden Compass and I'm happy to confirm that it does, so if you liked The Golden Compass or the whole trilogy then I think you should definitely give this book a try!
I really enjoyed this experience and I certainly look forward to Daniel's books in the future!
September 13, 2014
Well. I don't know what I was expecting when I started reading this, but I enjoyed it so much! I've got a smile on my face from that ending and I know if the rest of Daniel Patrick's "Sky Thieves" series is as good as this first installment, it's going to be very good indeed.
I could gush about this book forever - the world is interesting, the characters believable, the story engaging - and it would be entirely deserved. Honestly, it is hard to find faults with this book! As a story it kept me hooked and I just had to continue reading late into the night (or early into the morning!) as I just had to find out what happened next.
I absolutely loved the character of Lara. I won't give a summary of her story as there are plenty of others; instead I'll just go on about how much I adored Lara. She's a troublemaker with a good heart and not always wise - but the best characters aren't and Lara really felt like a flesh and blood person to me, with flaws as well as good qualities. I loved seeing her relationship with the others change - which made it ultimately more heart-breaking when a certain SOMETHING happens (completely unnecessary, Mr. Patrick, and I had to take a little time-out!!)
The writing style is reminiscent of Philip Pullman's - wittily engaging with the reader, and very fun to read. It's different to most of the other books I read but it was a very refreshing change, and added to the whole feel of the world.
Overall, The Locket Thief was a pleasure to read and I can only think the author for giving me the opportunity to read this!! I know I'll definitely be reading the sequel, and I can only hope it matches this first installment for sheer excitement!
I could gush about this book forever - the world is interesting, the characters believable, the story engaging - and it would be entirely deserved. Honestly, it is hard to find faults with this book! As a story it kept me hooked and I just had to continue reading late into the night (or early into the morning!) as I just had to find out what happened next.
I absolutely loved the character of Lara. I won't give a summary of her story as there are plenty of others; instead I'll just go on about how much I adored Lara. She's a troublemaker with a good heart and not always wise - but the best characters aren't and Lara really felt like a flesh and blood person to me, with flaws as well as good qualities. I loved seeing her relationship with the others change - which made it ultimately more heart-breaking when a certain SOMETHING happens (completely unnecessary, Mr. Patrick, and I had to take a little time-out!!)
The writing style is reminiscent of Philip Pullman's - wittily engaging with the reader, and very fun to read. It's different to most of the other books I read but it was a very refreshing change, and added to the whole feel of the world.
Overall, The Locket Thief was a pleasure to read and I can only think the author for giving me the opportunity to read this!! I know I'll definitely be reading the sequel, and I can only hope it matches this first installment for sheer excitement!
December 15, 2013
Like many others here who got a copy from the author, I'm in that camp. I think it takes a lot of guts just to write people here on Goodreads and ask them to read a book, knowing full well that they will probably review it.
The Locket Thief took a lot for me to get into it. The beginning starts off with main character Lara Delarose in an orphanage. For some reason, this reminded me a lot of Lyra in The Golden Compass, but it might have to do with the names and maybe the personality traits, as well as the titles? (Somehow they seemed similar to me.) As the story develops, Lara winds up on a pirate ship that roams the skies. I thought this was particularly interesting and creative, especially with the Island in the Sky.
Without giving too much away, I think my main issue for me was the characters didn't seem developed enough. They're all a bit one-sided and play specific roles. The beginning of the novel is not nearly as well-written as the second half. I noticed the author Daniel Patrick uses strange similes and metaphors and I found it quite distracting, rather than adding to the story. Additionally, there are a lot of grammatical errors, which is fine since I know this is self-published and thus I'm less critical in that regard.
The Locket Thief is fun, but I think it would definitely appeal more to younger readers than to adults, which is perfectly ok. I'm not sure I would re-read it, which is why I gave it 2 stars. The re-readability counts a lot for me.
Even so, I thank the author Daniel Patrick for giving me a free copy and I have to say, I much admire just being able to ask complete strangers to rate a work!
The Locket Thief took a lot for me to get into it. The beginning starts off with main character Lara Delarose in an orphanage. For some reason, this reminded me a lot of Lyra in The Golden Compass, but it might have to do with the names and maybe the personality traits, as well as the titles? (Somehow they seemed similar to me.) As the story develops, Lara winds up on a pirate ship that roams the skies. I thought this was particularly interesting and creative, especially with the Island in the Sky.
Without giving too much away, I think my main issue for me was the characters didn't seem developed enough. They're all a bit one-sided and play specific roles. The beginning of the novel is not nearly as well-written as the second half. I noticed the author Daniel Patrick uses strange similes and metaphors and I found it quite distracting, rather than adding to the story. Additionally, there are a lot of grammatical errors, which is fine since I know this is self-published and thus I'm less critical in that regard.
The Locket Thief is fun, but I think it would definitely appeal more to younger readers than to adults, which is perfectly ok. I'm not sure I would re-read it, which is why I gave it 2 stars. The re-readability counts a lot for me.
Even so, I thank the author Daniel Patrick for giving me a free copy and I have to say, I much admire just being able to ask complete strangers to rate a work!
October 16, 2013
Lara DeLarose is a precocious ten-year-old of above average intelligence and penchant for mischief. The hum drum sway of orphanage life just isn’t enough to keep her out of trouble much to the consternation of her long time mentor Mr. Whycherley. After she botches raid of Whycherley’s office, Lara perhaps gets the best advice from her mentor when poses the question “which are you, Lara DeLarose? Are you the kind of kid who’s going to do something with her life? Or are you the kind who uses her brains to sneak into an office and look at a utility knife?”
Lara’s resolve is tested in a rather dramatic way when the orphanage is attack and Mr. Whycherley is killed. Lara is kidnapped by aviation pirates know as sky thieves and taken on board their airship the Nothern Lights and Lara is forced to navigate the treacherous world of swashbuckling sky thieves. Lara must learn how to trust her former kidnappers on board the Northern Lights in order to escape the diabolical wrath of the infamous Lendon Sora, only the most bloody thirsty sky thief out there; whom Lara just happened to attract the attention of because of a special locket Lara she possesses.
Sora wants the locket to open a secret vault that filled with gold and treasure to make him more powerful and dangerous. So now Lara has to choose, will she give in and hand the locket over to Sora or will she take a stand and with the help of her new sky thief friends make a difference in the world and stop Sora’s reign of terror?
Lara’s resolve is tested in a rather dramatic way when the orphanage is attack and Mr. Whycherley is killed. Lara is kidnapped by aviation pirates know as sky thieves and taken on board their airship the Nothern Lights and Lara is forced to navigate the treacherous world of swashbuckling sky thieves. Lara must learn how to trust her former kidnappers on board the Northern Lights in order to escape the diabolical wrath of the infamous Lendon Sora, only the most bloody thirsty sky thief out there; whom Lara just happened to attract the attention of because of a special locket Lara she possesses.
Sora wants the locket to open a secret vault that filled with gold and treasure to make him more powerful and dangerous. So now Lara has to choose, will she give in and hand the locket over to Sora or will she take a stand and with the help of her new sky thief friends make a difference in the world and stop Sora’s reign of terror?
April 23, 2014
The book was well written for young readers, the pace and language appropriate. I liked the book, but wouldn't read it to my children.
I could not identify with the heroine, a young mild bully whose life goal was to be a thief robbing rich people. Sure, some credit Robin Hood of robbing the rich to feed the poor, yet in any adult Robin Hood tale he really was stealing back tax money from those who didn't have a legal right to the taxes, and giving the tax money back to the folks bleed dry by excessive & illegal taxes. This books lacks any justification for stealing from the rich other than they are richer than the thieves (A European notion? Certainly not something which sells in the USA).
Perhaps making the ship (the Northern Light) a mail-packet ship, fast and helpful, would have been better. They could still wrangle with pirates, deliver medicine, rescue kidnapped families, and so on, but I think it would be easier to get parents, librarians, and book-club matrons interested in recommending the book to young readers. After all, that is what really sells youth-fiction.
(To be honest, 2/3rds through the book I was expecting Lara to really be someone's lost child, as in why she had the locket ...)
I could not identify with the heroine, a young mild bully whose life goal was to be a thief robbing rich people. Sure, some credit Robin Hood of robbing the rich to feed the poor, yet in any adult Robin Hood tale he really was stealing back tax money from those who didn't have a legal right to the taxes, and giving the tax money back to the folks bleed dry by excessive & illegal taxes. This books lacks any justification for stealing from the rich other than they are richer than the thieves (A European notion? Certainly not something which sells in the USA).
Perhaps making the ship (the Northern Light) a mail-packet ship, fast and helpful, would have been better. They could still wrangle with pirates, deliver medicine, rescue kidnapped families, and so on, but I think it would be easier to get parents, librarians, and book-club matrons interested in recommending the book to young readers. After all, that is what really sells youth-fiction.
(To be honest, 2/3rds through the book I was expecting Lara to really be someone's lost child, as in why she had the locket ...)
February 21, 2014
Lara, has spent most of her life in an orphanage. Quite a mischevious child, always getting into trouble, but one day Lara realises from the help of the orphanage owner that she can be so much more. She starts working hard on her grades and helping out until one day her life takes a totally different turn. Lara has always been fascinated with airships and thought about what it could be like being a 'sky thief' until she is actually kidnapped by one. But soon enough she realises that she was in danger on the surface, someone is out to get her and she needs her kidnapper's help.
The Locket Theif really surprised me, I wasn't sure what to expect, I sort of had an image in my mind of the airship from the movie 'Stardust' that stuck with me throughout the whole thing. The story-line was very well thought out, and I enjoyed reading about the characters. I noticed it has a sort of feel for Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the needy. But maybe that's because he's from Nottingham? =]
The only thing that kept putting me off, was I think the author forgot that he was writing from a female point of view =/ whoops.
The Locket Theif really surprised me, I wasn't sure what to expect, I sort of had an image in my mind of the airship from the movie 'Stardust' that stuck with me throughout the whole thing. The story-line was very well thought out, and I enjoyed reading about the characters. I noticed it has a sort of feel for Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the needy. But maybe that's because he's from Nottingham? =]
The only thing that kept putting me off, was I think the author forgot that he was writing from a female point of view =/ whoops.
April 17, 2015
I wasn't entirely sure where this novel was going at the beginning - with tones of Pullman's Dark Materials novels we're introduced to the Heroine of the novel, Lara, a tomboy of sorts living in an orphanage who is always getting into trouble and despite being an intelligent girl is unable to settle and devote herself to anything.
As the novel progresses however, especially once the Sky Thieves appear the novel finds it's way the pace settles quite nicely and it becomes a joy to read. Lara's elation of being aboard a sky ship is palpable as we find her aboard the Northern Light, a Robin Hood of the skies where the thieves rob for the good of the poor. If I could find any criticism of the novel it's that the back story of the ship and it's characters could be explored a little further to explain why they were devoted to this cause and why they'd need to be as there is no 'evil king' or dictator causing the poverty or strife. That gripe aside though this was a really enjoyable novel to read and I look forward or reading more of Patrick's work.
As the novel progresses however, especially once the Sky Thieves appear the novel finds it's way the pace settles quite nicely and it becomes a joy to read. Lara's elation of being aboard a sky ship is palpable as we find her aboard the Northern Light, a Robin Hood of the skies where the thieves rob for the good of the poor. If I could find any criticism of the novel it's that the back story of the ship and it's characters could be explored a little further to explain why they were devoted to this cause and why they'd need to be as there is no 'evil king' or dictator causing the poverty or strife. That gripe aside though this was a really enjoyable novel to read and I look forward or reading more of Patrick's work.
September 28, 2013
First, I should mention that the author sent me a free copy of this book for my Kindle.
If we could rate books using .5, I would lean more towards a rating of 2.5. I liked the book, but I felt it didn't pull me in like most really great books do. It was predictable and there were many, many grammar mistakes, but I find this to be a common aspect of Ebooks. In addition, I felt that the characters were superficial. When I read, I love to be pulled in to characters' lives, to feel what they feel, to see what they see, and i just didn't get that with this book. I wanted more detail and character development.
I probably wouldn't recommend this book to most of my friends, but I think that some of my students would enjoy it.
Violence/Death: Yes
Language: Some
Drugs: None
Sex: None
Rock and Roll: None
If we could rate books using .5, I would lean more towards a rating of 2.5. I liked the book, but I felt it didn't pull me in like most really great books do. It was predictable and there were many, many grammar mistakes, but I find this to be a common aspect of Ebooks. In addition, I felt that the characters were superficial. When I read, I love to be pulled in to characters' lives, to feel what they feel, to see what they see, and i just didn't get that with this book. I wanted more detail and character development.
I probably wouldn't recommend this book to most of my friends, but I think that some of my students would enjoy it.
Violence/Death: Yes
Language: Some
Drugs: None
Sex: None
Rock and Roll: None
October 2, 2013
Note: the author himself emailed me asking if I could read and review his book, he sent me a free copy in kindle format. So... I liked the book, it is well written, never boring, with strong characters and I really liked both Lara and Rosie... Lara reminds me of Philip Pullman's Lyra and the first part in the orphanage is very similar to the beginning in His Dark Materials, one of my favorite books. However, the book deals mostly with Lara's adventures on the airship Northern Lights and I really liked that part, adventures in the tradition of Treasure Island and Jules Verne. No romances are to be found but good friendships, that is important. I wish this young author well and good luck for his next works!
September 18, 2014
First up - I'm one of those people who got a free copy for the purposes of writing down what I thought of it ... A brave move by the author :)
OK - so I liked it - thus the three stars. It was a fun, easy going and quick read. The characters are all likeable, the story moves along at a fast enough pace and it does not overstay its welcome. I can definitely recommend it as such.
All that aside, it did not really enthral or move me. The characters were nice but flat and two dimensional, Sora (the bad guy) was just a generic evil villain that we learn very little about at all and the plot was a little predictable. Very possibly children might be more impressed though.
I'm very grateful for the chance the author gave me to read the book - sorry it took a while to get to it.
OK - so I liked it - thus the three stars. It was a fun, easy going and quick read. The characters are all likeable, the story moves along at a fast enough pace and it does not overstay its welcome. I can definitely recommend it as such.
All that aside, it did not really enthral or move me. The characters were nice but flat and two dimensional, Sora (the bad guy) was just a generic evil villain that we learn very little about at all and the plot was a little predictable. Very possibly children might be more impressed though.
I'm very grateful for the chance the author gave me to read the book - sorry it took a while to get to it.
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