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Battle for the Shadow Sword
X-Men meets Beast Quest at the school for superheroes!
An epic new adventure series from bestselling author
Adam Blade!
Welcome to Hero Academy! Join Jack and your other new classmates at this secret school, where the lessons are more exciting than Maths and PE. But when a portal from the evil underground realm of Noxx is discovered beneath the school, Team Hero needs your powers. The next invasion is upon us!
- GenresFiction
176 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2017
About the author
Adam Blade
826 books216 followersAdam Blade is the house name for the Working Partners Ltd. ghostwriters who write the Beast Quest and Sea Quest series.
Adam Blade is in his late twenties, and was born in Kent, England. His parents were both history teachers and amateur artists, and Adam grew up surrounded by his father’s paintings of historic English battles – which left a lifelong mark on his imagination. He was also fascinated by the ancient sword and shield that hung in his father’s office. Adam’s father said they were a Blade family heirloom.
As a boy, Adam would spend days imagining who could have first owned the sword and shield. Eventually, he created a character – Tom, the bravest boy warrior of them all. The idea for Beast Quest was born.
When Adam grew up and decided that he wanted to be a writer, he was stuck for ideas – until he remembered the old sword and shield, and the imaginary boy he had created when he was young. Adam decided to bring Tom fully to life so that readers could go on the kind of adventures that he always wanted to when he was that age… And still does, even though he’s grown up!
When he’s not writing Beast Quest books, Adam enjoys visiting museums and ancient battle sites. His main hobbies are fencing and football. He also spends a lot of time at home running around after his two exotic pets – a tarantula named Ziggy, and a capuchin monkey named Omar. These little rascals were the inspiration for two of the Beasts that Tom faces on his Quest – Arachnid and Claw.
Sadly, Adam does not have his own Fire-Dragon or Horse-Man. But he really wishes he did!
Adam Blade is in his late twenties, and was born in Kent, England. His parents were both history teachers and amateur artists, and Adam grew up surrounded by his father’s paintings of historic English battles – which left a lifelong mark on his imagination. He was also fascinated by the ancient sword and shield that hung in his father’s office. Adam’s father said they were a Blade family heirloom.
As a boy, Adam would spend days imagining who could have first owned the sword and shield. Eventually, he created a character – Tom, the bravest boy warrior of them all. The idea for Beast Quest was born.
When Adam grew up and decided that he wanted to be a writer, he was stuck for ideas – until he remembered the old sword and shield, and the imaginary boy he had created when he was young. Adam decided to bring Tom fully to life so that readers could go on the kind of adventures that he always wanted to when he was that age… And still does, even though he’s grown up!
When he’s not writing Beast Quest books, Adam enjoys visiting museums and ancient battle sites. His main hobbies are fencing and football. He also spends a lot of time at home running around after his two exotic pets – a tarantula named Ziggy, and a capuchin monkey named Omar. These little rascals were the inspiration for two of the Beasts that Tom faces on his Quest – Arachnid and Claw.
Sadly, Adam does not have his own Fire-Dragon or Horse-Man. But he really wishes he did!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 26, 2017
I never read Beast Quest - I know - shame on me when kids absolutely gobble them up - so when I picked up the first book in this new series, I wasn't sure what to expect. But it was great, as are books 2 and three, with no. 4 ready to read.
Jack Beacon is sick of being called Beak the Freak by his classmates because of his weird scaly hands. But this difference and what he can do with them alerts a secret academy to his skills, and he is soon enrolled. Meeting others with strange powers makes him feel like he belongs somewhere for the first time in his life. But his relief is short-lived as he quickly learns about an evil creature called General Gore and the Noxians. Creatures that were banished after a war with humans 1000 years before.
The Noxians are stirring and Jack and his new friends are called to protect humankind. Is this all for real? He's only just arrived. How can he help with no training? Jack's skills are quickly put to the test.
With great friends, evil fiends, freaky creatures and another boy who is suspiciously at hateful as Malfoy in HP, this series is going to be epic for reluctant readers or lovers of action!
Jack Beacon is sick of being called Beak the Freak by his classmates because of his weird scaly hands. But this difference and what he can do with them alerts a secret academy to his skills, and he is soon enrolled. Meeting others with strange powers makes him feel like he belongs somewhere for the first time in his life. But his relief is short-lived as he quickly learns about an evil creature called General Gore and the Noxians. Creatures that were banished after a war with humans 1000 years before.
The Noxians are stirring and Jack and his new friends are called to protect humankind. Is this all for real? He's only just arrived. How can he help with no training? Jack's skills are quickly put to the test.
With great friends, evil fiends, freaky creatures and another boy who is suspiciously at hateful as Malfoy in HP, this series is going to be epic for reluctant readers or lovers of action!
August 5, 2022
Not a book I had ever heard of, but my grandchildren had recently acquired it and asked me to read it to them. It opens with quite a disturbing prologue, but the basic story is of a boy who feels like a misfit. He's teased at his school until an act of extreme courage turns him into something of a hero... and he is invited to a boarding school with the rather uninspiring name of 'Hero Academy'.
He befriends some students and has a stressful and exciting first day, culminating in a dangerous battle where, inevitably, the dark forces are defeated... for a while. Or until the next book.
Not a bad story, and it's intended for reluctant readers of about 7-10 (mainly boys). As such it's a good idea, although the plot is rather well-worn and the conclusion predictable.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
He befriends some students and has a stressful and exciting first day, culminating in a dangerous battle where, inevitably, the dark forces are defeated... for a while. Or until the next book.
Not a bad story, and it's intended for reluctant readers of about 7-10 (mainly boys). As such it's a good idea, although the plot is rather well-worn and the conclusion predictable.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
June 12, 2018
Team Adam Blade comes up with a new series Team Hero and it is similar to his other books with basically good guys fighting bad guys, this one has the big recurring villain. What is the whole deal with "series #1 though? Is that to try and make it like a TV series? It is particularly strange.
July 18, 2022
I didn’t t really like it. I dnfed it at page 42
August 17, 2017
http://jessjustreads.com
Surprisingly, I had a lot of fun reading this and I’m about twenty years older than the intended audience!
Jack Beacon is a school kid with scaly hands that he keeps hidden in gloves. His classmates tease him, until he manages to stop a moving car simply with his hands. Before he has time to work out what’s happening, a woman named Miss Steel finds Jack and brings him to Hero Academy. He joins other classmates who all have different types of powers. Here, they train and learn how to defeat the evil underground realm Noxx.
“With low mutterings, the students edged forward. Jack gasped as he saw what lay within the wall. It wasn’t a pool at all but a pit. At its base were horribly life-like statues, moss-covered and flaking. There were skeletons wielding swords and things like giant bats, wings speed as if about to fly away.”
Team Hero is actually really fun. Adam sure knows how to end each chapter with suspense and intrigue! The book is filled with illustrations, making it easy for kids to read. The chapters aren’t too long and the words aren’t too difficult. I’d say this book is perfect for kids who have just started learning to read chapter books, so age 6+
This book, with its comic-strip type illustrations, actually reminded me of a lot of animated kids shows I watched as a kid. The combination of superpowers and an academy would no doubt really draw a young reader in.
“Then Jack felt it too, through the soles of his feet — a tremor, then a rumble. Within the low stone wall, the statues began to tremble. Jack set the bike down quickly.”
Battle for the Shadow Sword is the first book in the Team Hero series. There are eight books coming out in total.
I recommend this to parents who are looking for something adventurous for their young child to read. Given that I loved reading it and I’m an adult, at least a parent would enjoy reading it to their child (after all, it’s always good if the parent actually likes the book as well as their kid).
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Surprisingly, I had a lot of fun reading this and I’m about twenty years older than the intended audience!
Jack Beacon is a school kid with scaly hands that he keeps hidden in gloves. His classmates tease him, until he manages to stop a moving car simply with his hands. Before he has time to work out what’s happening, a woman named Miss Steel finds Jack and brings him to Hero Academy. He joins other classmates who all have different types of powers. Here, they train and learn how to defeat the evil underground realm Noxx.
“With low mutterings, the students edged forward. Jack gasped as he saw what lay within the wall. It wasn’t a pool at all but a pit. At its base were horribly life-like statues, moss-covered and flaking. There were skeletons wielding swords and things like giant bats, wings speed as if about to fly away.”
Team Hero is actually really fun. Adam sure knows how to end each chapter with suspense and intrigue! The book is filled with illustrations, making it easy for kids to read. The chapters aren’t too long and the words aren’t too difficult. I’d say this book is perfect for kids who have just started learning to read chapter books, so age 6+
This book, with its comic-strip type illustrations, actually reminded me of a lot of animated kids shows I watched as a kid. The combination of superpowers and an academy would no doubt really draw a young reader in.
“Then Jack felt it too, through the soles of his feet — a tremor, then a rumble. Within the low stone wall, the statues began to tremble. Jack set the bike down quickly.”
Battle for the Shadow Sword is the first book in the Team Hero series. There are eight books coming out in total.
I recommend this to parents who are looking for something adventurous for their young child to read. Given that I loved reading it and I’m an adult, at least a parent would enjoy reading it to their child (after all, it’s always good if the parent actually likes the book as well as their kid).
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2017
Ikke lige noget for mig, men jeg kan sagtens se, hvordan den er tiltalende til målgruppen (9-12 år, nok mest drenge).
Den handler om en dreng, der er udenfor i skolen på grund af hans skællede hænder. En dag får han superstyrke og redder sine klassekamerater, hvorefter han bliver rekrutteret til superhelteskolen Team Hero Akademiet. Hans første skoledag er ret vild og en gammel, voldsom krig bryder ud igen.
Jeg kan sagtens se mig selv anbefale den i mit job som børnebibliotekar.
Den handler om en dreng, der er udenfor i skolen på grund af hans skællede hænder. En dag får han superstyrke og redder sine klassekamerater, hvorefter han bliver rekrutteret til superhelteskolen Team Hero Akademiet. Hans første skoledag er ret vild og en gammel, voldsom krig bryder ud igen.
Jeg kan sagtens se mig selv anbefale den i mit job som børnebibliotekar.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews