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The Clockwork Chronicles #1
The Brimstone Key
A brand new adventure starring The Grey Griffins! Max---the leader Natalia---the brains
Ernie---the changeling Harley---the muscle
A year ago, the Grey Griffins were just regular kids from Avalon, Minnesota. That was before they learned about the existence of evil fairies, werewolves, and other things that go bump in the night. Now they are monster-hunters, celebrated heroes, and allies to the legendary Templar knights---but even heroes have to go to school.
When the Griffins enroll at Iron Bridge Academy, a school to train young recruits in the fight against the forces of evil, they find themselves at the center of a whole new adventure. The Clockwork King, a Templar foe from days past, has returned to finish the plan he set in motion decades ago. A plot to steal the souls of changelings---humans infused with fairy blood and supernatural abilities---in order to power his army of clockwork war machines.
In The Brimstone Key , authors Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis deftly blend the mystical wonder of steampunk with magic and adventure to create an action-packed thrill ride.
Ernie---the changeling Harley---the muscle
A year ago, the Grey Griffins were just regular kids from Avalon, Minnesota. That was before they learned about the existence of evil fairies, werewolves, and other things that go bump in the night. Now they are monster-hunters, celebrated heroes, and allies to the legendary Templar knights---but even heroes have to go to school.
When the Griffins enroll at Iron Bridge Academy, a school to train young recruits in the fight against the forces of evil, they find themselves at the center of a whole new adventure. The Clockwork King, a Templar foe from days past, has returned to finish the plan he set in motion decades ago. A plot to steal the souls of changelings---humans infused with fairy blood and supernatural abilities---in order to power his army of clockwork war machines.
In The Brimstone Key , authors Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis deftly blend the mystical wonder of steampunk with magic and adventure to create an action-packed thrill ride.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
45 people are currently reading
2259 people want to read
About the author
Derek Benz
21 books111 followersBorn in the wrong place, and unquestionably the wrong time, Derek Benz spent most of his early years trying to figure out where he was and why he was different than everyone else. By the age of five, he had stumbled upon the answer: the rest of humanity was really nothing more than an elaborate hoax of cleverly disguised robots, and he was the only real human among them. Having overcome that mystery, he set out with other young members of the Grey Griffins (a super-secret club) to protect the world from darkness and bring about a better world through friendship, wit, and superbly-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
He's climbed volcanoes in the Ring of Fire, fished for sharks in the North Atlantic, scandalized the Cathedral of Barcelona, been mauled by an angry kitten off the coast of Turkey, narrowly avoided being blown up outside Belfast, learned the meaning of defenestration in France, and even jumped off a few cliffs in Greece. His interests spanned a wide spectrum: archaeology, linguistics, mythology, cosmology, conspiracy theory, religion and a host of others. At the same time, he managed to catapult himself to the top of his game in a Fortune 100 company doing what some idly speculated to be nothing less than international computer espionage.
But there was always the desire to change the world around him. And since the age of fifteen, he had become obsessed with writing as a means to this end. Year after year, he labored to prefect his craft, until he felt the time was right. In 2000, he teamed up with J.S. Lewis and with an eye to the stars, they launched The Revenge of the Shadow King.
Benz met and married his lovely wife and son in sunny Arizona, where they enjoy researching ancient civilizations and studying theology.
He's climbed volcanoes in the Ring of Fire, fished for sharks in the North Atlantic, scandalized the Cathedral of Barcelona, been mauled by an angry kitten off the coast of Turkey, narrowly avoided being blown up outside Belfast, learned the meaning of defenestration in France, and even jumped off a few cliffs in Greece. His interests spanned a wide spectrum: archaeology, linguistics, mythology, cosmology, conspiracy theory, religion and a host of others. At the same time, he managed to catapult himself to the top of his game in a Fortune 100 company doing what some idly speculated to be nothing less than international computer espionage.
But there was always the desire to change the world around him. And since the age of fifteen, he had become obsessed with writing as a means to this end. Year after year, he labored to prefect his craft, until he felt the time was right. In 2000, he teamed up with J.S. Lewis and with an eye to the stars, they launched The Revenge of the Shadow King.
Benz met and married his lovely wife and son in sunny Arizona, where they enjoy researching ancient civilizations and studying theology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 21, 2023
I did not know prior to starting this book that it was part of a sequel series; therefore, I did not know the backstories of the characters, which meant a lot of this was lost on me.
Still, I enjoyed it, even if I didn't understand all of it. Maybe I need to check and see if my local library has the first series in their catalog.
Still, I enjoyed it, even if I didn't understand all of it. Maybe I need to check and see if my local library has the first series in their catalog.
couldn-t-finish
April 4, 2013I just couldn't do it. I was skimming by the midpoint of chapter 1. I found the writing barebones, to the extent on one page characters find themselves in three dire circumstances in a row and I was still going, "Wait. Who are these kids and why in the world do I care if they survive or not??? And wait a minute, ANOTHER thing just got thrown at them...but I'm still trying to process that the authors just threw two other things at them in lackluster style with no supsense or buildup or... Hold on. How old are these authors? Are you sure I'm not reading a middle schooler's homework for marking?" Made me feel like I did the reader's equivalent of biting into a great looking piece of fruit only to find out it was made of wax.
Also, I did not know that this was a tag-on series. In fact, I don't think they did any justice in putting a #1 on this book. It evidently picks up right where the previous Grey Griffins series ended, and they expect you to already know all the characters and what they've previously been through. I felt like I was being introduced by a reluctant 2nd grader. 'Mom said I have to introduce you. So these are my friends Bobby, Billy and Susie. They're super cool. Ok, you know each other. Now, lets go play!'
Maybe someday I'll try reading the REAL first book in the series and then reevaluate this, but I'm in no hurry.
Also, I did not know that this was a tag-on series. In fact, I don't think they did any justice in putting a #1 on this book. It evidently picks up right where the previous Grey Griffins series ended, and they expect you to already know all the characters and what they've previously been through. I felt like I was being introduced by a reluctant 2nd grader. 'Mom said I have to introduce you. So these are my friends Bobby, Billy and Susie. They're super cool. Ok, you know each other. Now, lets go play!'
Maybe someday I'll try reading the REAL first book in the series and then reevaluate this, but I'm in no hurry.
April 27, 2010
Like most fantasy titles nowadays, this novel is the first in a trilogy. However, this trilogy is not the first in the overall series dealing with the Grey Griffins. I mention this because, IMHO, this novel does not stand well on its own. As you may have guessed, I have not read the first trilogy (composed of The Revenge of the Shadow King, The Rise of the Black Wolf and The Fall of the Templar) and I found The Brimstone Key somewhat lacking in several fundamental aspects. Most of all, I felt that it lacked substance.
I never got emotionally attached to any of the characters, most of the cool technological and fantastical elements turned out to never be fully explained, plot elements and characters introduced once, never to be used again. It left me frustrated. I may seem harsh, but I'm fairly certain that, had I read the first trilogy, already "known" the characters, been given more background on the overall universe, I would have been better prepared for this read. I'm well aware that, being the first in a trilogy, it's quite normal for there to be unresolved plot points and cliffhangers, but throughout my reading of this novel, I could never quite shake the feeling that I was missing something, that I didn't have all the elements in hand.
In the end, I can't quite recommend this title. If, like me, you haven't read the first Grey Griffin trilogy, I would tell you not to start here. But, having not read the first trilogy, I can't recommend it, can I? But I still think it's the best way to go. You can tell it's a rich and complex universe the authors have brought to life, it's simply that their explanation and exploration of it remain too superficial in this novel for the reader to come out satisfied.
I never got emotionally attached to any of the characters, most of the cool technological and fantastical elements turned out to never be fully explained, plot elements and characters introduced once, never to be used again. It left me frustrated. I may seem harsh, but I'm fairly certain that, had I read the first trilogy, already "known" the characters, been given more background on the overall universe, I would have been better prepared for this read. I'm well aware that, being the first in a trilogy, it's quite normal for there to be unresolved plot points and cliffhangers, but throughout my reading of this novel, I could never quite shake the feeling that I was missing something, that I didn't have all the elements in hand.
In the end, I can't quite recommend this title. If, like me, you haven't read the first Grey Griffin trilogy, I would tell you not to start here. But, having not read the first trilogy, I can't recommend it, can I? But I still think it's the best way to go. You can tell it's a rich and complex universe the authors have brought to life, it's simply that their explanation and exploration of it remain too superficial in this novel for the reader to come out satisfied.
Read
February 16, 2018I'm sorry, but I couldn't finish this one. I couldn't get past the writing style and the confusion of 'what on earth is going on and who are these kids the book expects me know?', and proper arcs.
Turns out, The Brimstone Key (BOOK ONE) is actually a spin off to another series... No wonder I was confused. I'm not sure why the publisher thought it was a good idea to confuse newcomers to the series by listing THIS book as '1#', when clearly you'd have to know all the characters and world prior to having a better understanding and appreciation for the book. There's no indication (on the edition I have) that a separate series exists before this one.... If it was mentioned, then it's frighteningly subtle. @_@
Turns out, The Brimstone Key (BOOK ONE) is actually a spin off to another series... No wonder I was confused. I'm not sure why the publisher thought it was a good idea to confuse newcomers to the series by listing THIS book as '1#', when clearly you'd have to know all the characters and world prior to having a better understanding and appreciation for the book. There's no indication (on the edition I have) that a separate series exists before this one.... If it was mentioned, then it's frighteningly subtle. @_@
August 18, 2015
This book lacked a clear story arc. Just when you thought the tension would build, it fell --- and it did that repeatedly. And, since it's the first in a series, it didn't tie up anything. Soooo....there's that.
Still, it had enjoyable characters and an imaginative world. So I'll probably give the second in the series a try.
Still, it had enjoyable characters and an imaginative world. So I'll probably give the second in the series a try.
March 9, 2011
REVIEW
Steampunk meets the modern world in Minnesota. It may sound weird, but IT WORKS. I was drawn into an amazing world of supernatural beings (fairies, unicorns, changelings) and wild clockworks (robots with a reason for being). The descriptions were spot on and made this crazy world come to life.
The main characters, Max, Natalia, Ernie, and Harley, were typical kids in a world that was anything but typical. I liked that they got along and worked together so well. My favorite character was Natalia. She didn’t care about fitting in with the cool crowd, instead she was just happy being herself. You all know how much I love that sort of female character. Just be yourself!
Changelings sound so cool. Ernie has the power of super speed. There are other powers such as walking through walls, teleporting, and hearing the thoughts of others. That’s the power I would want – hearing the thoughts of others. I bet I could put that one to good use!
My favorite scene was the first day of school at Iron Bridge Academy. There were all sorts of wild things going on at the school – disappearing changelings and a collapsing ceiling make for an interesting first day. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger. Hopefully the next book is out sooner than later.
The Brimstone Key is the first book in The Clockwork Chronicles trilogy that follows the Grey Griffins trilogy. While I haven’t read the first trilogy yet, I was able to follow the story just fine. I definitely want to go back and read it now though because I want to know more about what happened earlier. I recommend this book for middle grade and young adult readers alike.
Thank you to JS Lewis for sending this book for me to review.
RATING
5 Plot
5 Characters
5 Attention Grabbing
4 Girlie Meter
4 Ending
23 TOTAL
5 STARS
Steampunk meets the modern world in Minnesota. It may sound weird, but IT WORKS. I was drawn into an amazing world of supernatural beings (fairies, unicorns, changelings) and wild clockworks (robots with a reason for being). The descriptions were spot on and made this crazy world come to life.
The main characters, Max, Natalia, Ernie, and Harley, were typical kids in a world that was anything but typical. I liked that they got along and worked together so well. My favorite character was Natalia. She didn’t care about fitting in with the cool crowd, instead she was just happy being herself. You all know how much I love that sort of female character. Just be yourself!
Changelings sound so cool. Ernie has the power of super speed. There are other powers such as walking through walls, teleporting, and hearing the thoughts of others. That’s the power I would want – hearing the thoughts of others. I bet I could put that one to good use!
My favorite scene was the first day of school at Iron Bridge Academy. There were all sorts of wild things going on at the school – disappearing changelings and a collapsing ceiling make for an interesting first day. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger. Hopefully the next book is out sooner than later.
The Brimstone Key is the first book in The Clockwork Chronicles trilogy that follows the Grey Griffins trilogy. While I haven’t read the first trilogy yet, I was able to follow the story just fine. I definitely want to go back and read it now though because I want to know more about what happened earlier. I recommend this book for middle grade and young adult readers alike.
Thank you to JS Lewis for sending this book for me to review.
RATING
5 Plot
5 Characters
5 Attention Grabbing
4 Girlie Meter
4 Ending
23 TOTAL
5 STARS
September 13, 2012
The book had an interesting story plot and characters, the mix of mythical creatures, magic, hystorical scociety (templars) and things was an new touch (felt some of it was strange) but I felt that the book was long in spots so I lost some interests. It did have good action scenes but sometimes it felt like something was missing in the description to give me the full image because I would sometimes go, "how did that happen," or "how did we get here?" The protagonist are determined to do the right thing and help other and be true friends. They also want to stop the bad guys and work hard to do so. I haven't decided if I will read the rest of the books in this series but I think the age group who this book is meant for would enjoy it more than I did.
March 6, 2015
A little slow at first but good cliff-hanger in the ending.
August 14, 2018
My name is Max Sumner, and I am the leader of the Grey Griffins. Most of the students and staff at Iron Bridge Academy already know we've successfully battled monsters. However, most of the students also know my father is an evil man, and many of them have lost family members because of him. I haven't seen my faerie in weeks, and changelings have been disappearing from the school. My friend Ernie is a changeling with super speed, and the disappearances have made him even more nervous than usual. My focus has been distracted from the upcoming Round Table tournament where everyone is expecting a big showdown with Xander, the most popular kid in school. I'm not jealous of him... am I? We've discovered the rare Round Table cards we found may hold dangerous creatures, but the greatest terror comes from a man who disappeared a hundred years ago.
The story jumped right into the action, as the kids were stuck deep underground by page ten. Even though this was the first book in the series, it felt like a sequel. It didn't take any time to describe how the Grey Griffins formed, and it made references to their past deeds without sharing any details. It didn't explain how Max's dad became an evil character or anything else about his life growing up. It mentioned these past events like they'd been covered in an earlier book, but the lack of information became a distraction. It made me ask questions with no answers. With that being said, the premise of the story had potential. There were close friends with unique abilities, trying to solve a mystery, while adjusting to a new middle school. Max was the guardian of the Codex, an enchanted book holding dangerous magical creatures. However in the novel, the Codex was mostly depicted as a magical ring and gauntlet worn by Max as a weapon, but there was no further explanation until near the end. The problem was this book appeared to be a spin-off from a Grey Griffins series. I guess you'll need read that series first to appreciate this one.
The story jumped right into the action, as the kids were stuck deep underground by page ten. Even though this was the first book in the series, it felt like a sequel. It didn't take any time to describe how the Grey Griffins formed, and it made references to their past deeds without sharing any details. It didn't explain how Max's dad became an evil character or anything else about his life growing up. It mentioned these past events like they'd been covered in an earlier book, but the lack of information became a distraction. It made me ask questions with no answers. With that being said, the premise of the story had potential. There were close friends with unique abilities, trying to solve a mystery, while adjusting to a new middle school. Max was the guardian of the Codex, an enchanted book holding dangerous magical creatures. However in the novel, the Codex was mostly depicted as a magical ring and gauntlet worn by Max as a weapon, but there was no further explanation until near the end. The problem was this book appeared to be a spin-off from a Grey Griffins series. I guess you'll need read that series first to appreciate this one.
July 24, 2017
The first book in The Clockwork Chronicles series, which is a follow-up series to The Grey Griffins series. The Grey Griffins are now enrolled in Iron Bridge Academy, where "special" students learn to fight the forces of evil. Things, of course, are not as they seem and the Griffins must risk their lives to protect each other and the other students who are in danger from the dreaded Clockwork King. Fans of the first series will enjoy this one as well.
April 13, 2018
I guess u could call it a 4th book, or another adventure, but either way, it was really good
March 6, 2020
I loved it, though I recommend you read the books before this about they Grey Griffins.
May 16, 2020
A little gruesome.
June 16, 2020
Pretty good kids book. I haven't read the others, there were references to previous books, but this story is a new adventure.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
January 5, 2025
Easy and interesting read. Typos were a huge distraction.
January 2, 2017
A young-adult novel, where the Knights Templar protect humanity against supernatural creatures.
read-but-unowned
November 14, 2009The Brimstone Key is a great start to what looks like it will be a promising new direction in the Grey Griffins stories. As someone who has never picked up a Grey Griffins book before, I found this story easy to understand and catch up with. I may go back and read other Grey Griffins books now, while I wait for the next book, but I won't be going back to read them because I felt I was missing something here. That said, I probably did miss some things that devoted Grey Griffin fans will squee about. There were a few characters that were clearly making cameo appearances in this book, I assume from the previous Grey Griffin escapades, but they weren't so central to this story that I minded not really knowing who they were. Of course, there also might be a bit too much information and back story in the beginning of this book for someone who has just devoured the previous Grey Griffins series. Just because I appreciated all of the explanation and introduction of characters doesn't mean that everyone else will. BUT if you are a Grey Griffins fan, or are providing readers' advisory for one, rest assured that there is a lot after those first few chapters that Max, Natalia, Ernie and Harley were surprised about, so I'm sure you (or your reader) will be too.
This book was pitched to me as a steampunk novel for middle grade readers, and I wondered just how the writers were going to pull that off with established characters from a series set in current times. They did it wonderfully and pretty realistically. Well, maybe realistically isn't the best word given that this is a fantasy novel, but the writers did not require any ridiculous suspensions of disbelief of me in order to fit the steampunk elements into the story. The Grey Griffins nemesis is a man who has spent the last century trapped in a Round Table card. When he somehow escapes, he restarts the experiments and projects that got him imprisoned in the first place. And voila! We have clockwork machines running amuck in the modern day (Templar cloaked) world. Fashions at Iron Bridge Academy also run on the steampunk-y style. At first, this was weird to me, but parts of it get explained away pretty understandably:
* The Academy is not actually in Avalon, but in Iron Bridge, a Templar community outside of the "regular" world that has maintained Victorian sensibilities.
* All the kids wear goggles because they can act out their Round Table tournaments with them.
* A lot of the changelings are depressed about their lot in life, and so bring in the sort-of goth element.
* All the grown-ups have weird weapons strapped all over them, especially when things start to get dangerous.
Put all of that together with a bunch of evil clockwork machines and a "subway" restored to its turn of the century glory and you have a good old steampunk costume party at school every day, and because the Grey Griffins are woefully dorky, fashion-wise, all of this gets explained in great detail. And while I'm a fan of the steampunk elements throughout (clearly), I don't think they are overwhelming to the story. Readers who are just looking for a fantasy or just looking for another Grey Griffins book shouldn't be put off by them.
I really enjoyed getting to know all of the Grey Griffins (and a few yet to be named sidekicks, to avoid being spoiler-y). I'm sure that fans of the previous series will enjoy heading off to school with Grey Griffins here, and new readers are sure to be sucked in as well. There is definitely a Harry Potter vibe going on with the addition of Iron Bridge Academy to these kids lives that will appeal to a lot of readers.
Book source: Review copy from publisher via the yalsa-bk listserv.
This book was pitched to me as a steampunk novel for middle grade readers, and I wondered just how the writers were going to pull that off with established characters from a series set in current times. They did it wonderfully and pretty realistically. Well, maybe realistically isn't the best word given that this is a fantasy novel, but the writers did not require any ridiculous suspensions of disbelief of me in order to fit the steampunk elements into the story. The Grey Griffins nemesis is a man who has spent the last century trapped in a Round Table card. When he somehow escapes, he restarts the experiments and projects that got him imprisoned in the first place. And voila! We have clockwork machines running amuck in the modern day (Templar cloaked) world. Fashions at Iron Bridge Academy also run on the steampunk-y style. At first, this was weird to me, but parts of it get explained away pretty understandably:
* The Academy is not actually in Avalon, but in Iron Bridge, a Templar community outside of the "regular" world that has maintained Victorian sensibilities.
* All the kids wear goggles because they can act out their Round Table tournaments with them.
* A lot of the changelings are depressed about their lot in life, and so bring in the sort-of goth element.
* All the grown-ups have weird weapons strapped all over them, especially when things start to get dangerous.
Put all of that together with a bunch of evil clockwork machines and a "subway" restored to its turn of the century glory and you have a good old steampunk costume party at school every day, and because the Grey Griffins are woefully dorky, fashion-wise, all of this gets explained in great detail. And while I'm a fan of the steampunk elements throughout (clearly), I don't think they are overwhelming to the story. Readers who are just looking for a fantasy or just looking for another Grey Griffins book shouldn't be put off by them.
I really enjoyed getting to know all of the Grey Griffins (and a few yet to be named sidekicks, to avoid being spoiler-y). I'm sure that fans of the previous series will enjoy heading off to school with Grey Griffins here, and new readers are sure to be sucked in as well. There is definitely a Harry Potter vibe going on with the addition of Iron Bridge Academy to these kids lives that will appeal to a lot of readers.
Book source: Review copy from publisher via the yalsa-bk listserv.
October 31, 2010
The Brimstone Key is a fabulous book where mythological creatures meet the modern day world. This awesome "steampunk for kids" is set in Avalon, MN, but also in area that exists between the human world and in a world where changelings, fairies, werwolves (just to name a few) and a whole lot more live. Let me just say, I would go visit Iron Bridge Academy in a heart beat.
This elite academy is now the school where the legendary Grey Griffins will be attending. Max, Natalia, Harley and Ernie are normal kids growing up in a normal world, but have extraordinary abilities. I really enjoyed reading about this close knit group's adventures and I really liked how easy they were to read about, and how well they got along. It would have been a blast to grow up with friends like this. They are characters with whom both guys and girls will relate to. They're intelligent and all work together to solve mysterious. Max is the leader and while you wouldn't know from meeting him, he comes from money. Then there is Harley, the inventor. He's never had the type of money Max has, but that doesn't stop him. Natalia is the sleuth and a very intelligent, fearless female heroine. Ernie is a changeling, and he becomes more faerie each time he uses his new found abilities, which I have to say are pretty cool.
My favorite female character was Natalia. She's one feisty ( I mean that in a very respectful way), fearless girl who doesn't care what others think of her, nor does ever lose site on who she really is. I think that sends a powerful message to young girls to be stand firm in who they are and be proud of that, no matter what anyone says. I really liked Max, as the leader of the group he has little fear and a lot of compassion when it comes to his friends. Harley is just hard not to love, muscle and all. Being a Changeling, Ernie has some amazing abilities/powers. If I could pick a character to be from this series, I'd pick a Changeling. Who wouldn't want to have the power to teleport, run super fast, have enhanced eye site and heal quickly!?! Being a changeling is also a danger.
When you're dealing with danger, you definitely need these powers, as danger is through out this book. The Grey Griffins are on a quest to stop an evil scientist and his minions of Clockwork creations and find out what's happening to the changelings who keep disappearing. With out giving away any spoilers, let's just say this is a great tween read, with a lot of adventure, magic and action. I know this series is being compared to Harry Potter, and I can sorta of see that, but there's too many difference to compare the two in my book. I've not read the original Grey Griffins series, but I never once felt lost as to what was going on. I felt this story stands well on it's own, but I am planning on reading the original series now.
I recommend The Brimstone Key to tween, teen and adult readers. I think there's a little bit of everything in this book that will hook readers of all ages, as they enjoy getting to know the Grey Griffins and following them on their adventures. It's a fun read that grabbed my attention from the first page and I quickly found myself devouring it's story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
This elite academy is now the school where the legendary Grey Griffins will be attending. Max, Natalia, Harley and Ernie are normal kids growing up in a normal world, but have extraordinary abilities. I really enjoyed reading about this close knit group's adventures and I really liked how easy they were to read about, and how well they got along. It would have been a blast to grow up with friends like this. They are characters with whom both guys and girls will relate to. They're intelligent and all work together to solve mysterious. Max is the leader and while you wouldn't know from meeting him, he comes from money. Then there is Harley, the inventor. He's never had the type of money Max has, but that doesn't stop him. Natalia is the sleuth and a very intelligent, fearless female heroine. Ernie is a changeling, and he becomes more faerie each time he uses his new found abilities, which I have to say are pretty cool.
My favorite female character was Natalia. She's one feisty ( I mean that in a very respectful way), fearless girl who doesn't care what others think of her, nor does ever lose site on who she really is. I think that sends a powerful message to young girls to be stand firm in who they are and be proud of that, no matter what anyone says. I really liked Max, as the leader of the group he has little fear and a lot of compassion when it comes to his friends. Harley is just hard not to love, muscle and all. Being a Changeling, Ernie has some amazing abilities/powers. If I could pick a character to be from this series, I'd pick a Changeling. Who wouldn't want to have the power to teleport, run super fast, have enhanced eye site and heal quickly!?! Being a changeling is also a danger.
When you're dealing with danger, you definitely need these powers, as danger is through out this book. The Grey Griffins are on a quest to stop an evil scientist and his minions of Clockwork creations and find out what's happening to the changelings who keep disappearing. With out giving away any spoilers, let's just say this is a great tween read, with a lot of adventure, magic and action. I know this series is being compared to Harry Potter, and I can sorta of see that, but there's too many difference to compare the two in my book. I've not read the original Grey Griffins series, but I never once felt lost as to what was going on. I felt this story stands well on it's own, but I am planning on reading the original series now.
I recommend The Brimstone Key to tween, teen and adult readers. I think there's a little bit of everything in this book that will hook readers of all ages, as they enjoy getting to know the Grey Griffins and following them on their adventures. It's a fun read that grabbed my attention from the first page and I quickly found myself devouring it's story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
December 1, 2010
The Brimstone Key is a fabulous book where mythological creatures meet the modern day world. This awesome "steampunk for kids" is set in Avalon, MN, but also in area that exists between the human world and in a world where changelings, fairies, werwolves (just to name a few) and a whole lot more live. Let me just say, I would go visit Iron Bridge Academy in a heart beat.
This elite academy is now the school where the legendary Grey Griffins will be attending. Max, Natalia, Harley and Ernie are normal kids growing up in a normal world, but have extraordinary abilities. I really enjoyed reading about this close knit group's adventures and I really liked how easy they were to read about, and how well they got along. It would have been a blast to grow up with friends like this. They are characters with whom both guys and girls will relate to. They're intelligent and all work together to solve mysterious. Max is the leader and while you wouldn't know from meeting him, he comes from money. Then there is Harley, the inventor. He's never had the type of money Max has, but that doesn't stop him. Natalia is the sleuth and a very intelligent, fearless female heroine. Ernie is a changeling, and he becomes more faerie each time he uses his new found abilities, which I have to say are pretty cool.
My favorite female character was Natalia. She's one feisty ( I mean that in a very respectful way), fearless girl who doesn't care what others think of her, nor does ever lose site on who she really is. I think that sends a powerful message to young girls to be stand firm in who they are and be proud of that, no matter what anyone says. I really liked Max, as the leader of the group he has little fear and a lot of compassion when it comes to his friends. Harley is just hard not to love, muscle and all. Being a Changeling, Ernie has some amazing abilities/powers. If I could pick a character to be from this series, I'd pick a Changeling. Who wouldn't want to have the power to teleport, run super fast, have enhanced eye site and heal quickly!?! Being a changeling is also a danger.
When you're dealing with danger, you definitely need these powers, as danger is through out this book. The Grey Griffins are on a quest to stop an evil scientist and his minions of Clockwork creations and find out what's happening to the changelings who keep disappearing. With out giving away any spoilers, let's just say this is a great tween read, with a lot of adventure, magic and action. I know this series is being compared to Harry Potter, and I can sorta of see that, but there's too many difference to compare the two in my book. I've not read the original Grey Griffins series, but I never once felt lost as to what was going on. I felt this story stands well on it's own, but I am planning on reading the original series now.
I recommend The Brimstone Key to tween, teen and adult readers. I think there's a little bit of everything in this book that will hook readers of all ages, as they enjoy getting to know the Grey Griffins and following them on their adventures. It's a fun read that grabbed my attention from the first page and I quickly found myself devouring it's story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
This elite academy is now the school where the legendary Grey Griffins will be attending. Max, Natalia, Harley and Ernie are normal kids growing up in a normal world, but have extraordinary abilities. I really enjoyed reading about this close knit group's adventures and I really liked how easy they were to read about, and how well they got along. It would have been a blast to grow up with friends like this. They are characters with whom both guys and girls will relate to. They're intelligent and all work together to solve mysterious. Max is the leader and while you wouldn't know from meeting him, he comes from money. Then there is Harley, the inventor. He's never had the type of money Max has, but that doesn't stop him. Natalia is the sleuth and a very intelligent, fearless female heroine. Ernie is a changeling, and he becomes more faerie each time he uses his new found abilities, which I have to say are pretty cool.
My favorite female character was Natalia. She's one feisty ( I mean that in a very respectful way), fearless girl who doesn't care what others think of her, nor does ever lose site on who she really is. I think that sends a powerful message to young girls to be stand firm in who they are and be proud of that, no matter what anyone says. I really liked Max, as the leader of the group he has little fear and a lot of compassion when it comes to his friends. Harley is just hard not to love, muscle and all. Being a Changeling, Ernie has some amazing abilities/powers. If I could pick a character to be from this series, I'd pick a Changeling. Who wouldn't want to have the power to teleport, run super fast, have enhanced eye site and heal quickly!?! Being a changeling is also a danger.
When you're dealing with danger, you definitely need these powers, as danger is through out this book. The Grey Griffins are on a quest to stop an evil scientist and his minions of Clockwork creations and find out what's happening to the changelings who keep disappearing. With out giving away any spoilers, let's just say this is a great tween read, with a lot of adventure, magic and action. I know this series is being compared to Harry Potter, and I can sorta of see that, but there's too many difference to compare the two in my book. I've not read the original Grey Griffins series, but I never once felt lost as to what was going on. I felt this story stands well on it's own, but I am planning on reading the original series now.
I recommend The Brimstone Key to tween, teen and adult readers. I think there's a little bit of everything in this book that will hook readers of all ages, as they enjoy getting to know the Grey Griffins and following them on their adventures. It's a fun read that grabbed my attention from the first page and I quickly found myself devouring it's story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 8, 2010
This was an ARC Don brought home, so I thought I'd give it a go before it comes out in June. This particular ARC was more unfinished and full of typos than some I've read, but hopefully they'll all get caught before the book actually prints. That said, there was one I found particularly amusing. On page 74, one teacher says, "However, Robert's schedule puts him under my car." Heh.
Anyway, the book itself wasn't bad. I have not read any of the original Grey Griffins series, so I'm sure there were certain things I would have understood better if I had, but despite that, I really didn't have any trouble following the action or figuring out who was who or anything like that.
Some people call this series a wannabe Harry Potter, and there definitely is that vibe, but it's a steampunk Harry Potter, so I'm OK with it - even despite some of the notable similarities: Max = Harry, the hero with extra power even though he's not a changeling, who's basically orphaned, with a family betrayal in his past. Natalia = Hermione, the slightly bossy, very bookish token girl. The other two bear certain similarities to some HP characters, but not enough to really count. Harley has a certain Ron quality, but it states explicitly that he never complains, so obviously he's not Ron's alter-ego, even though there's some clear foreshadowing to a potential future relationship with Natalia. And Ernie, the changeling, doesn't really have an HP equivalent, though at times, he reminds me a bit of Neville. I could probably take it farther, but really, I think it'd be reaching at that point.
The story was good; kept me interested enough that I read it in a day. True, it's not a challenging read, but still. The ending definitely left me interested in reading the subsequent books, although whether or not I actually do remains to be seen. It wasn't that good a cliffhanger.
There was one thing that seriously irritated me, and that was the spelling of "arithmetick." I kind of hate the K that sometimes gets added to things like "magic" and the like, but if you're going to do it, at least be consistent. This book spelled "magic" without the silly K, but randomly adds it to "arithmetic." WTF?
Ultimately, though, I enjoyed this book, and would certainly recommend it to kids. And it will be added to my list of books for boys, for sure.
Anyway, the book itself wasn't bad. I have not read any of the original Grey Griffins series, so I'm sure there were certain things I would have understood better if I had, but despite that, I really didn't have any trouble following the action or figuring out who was who or anything like that.
Some people call this series a wannabe Harry Potter, and there definitely is that vibe, but it's a steampunk Harry Potter, so I'm OK with it - even despite some of the notable similarities: Max = Harry, the hero with extra power even though he's not a changeling, who's basically orphaned, with a family betrayal in his past. Natalia = Hermione, the slightly bossy, very bookish token girl. The other two bear certain similarities to some HP characters, but not enough to really count. Harley has a certain Ron quality, but it states explicitly that he never complains, so obviously he's not Ron's alter-ego, even though there's some clear foreshadowing to a potential future relationship with Natalia. And Ernie, the changeling, doesn't really have an HP equivalent, though at times, he reminds me a bit of Neville. I could probably take it farther, but really, I think it'd be reaching at that point.
The story was good; kept me interested enough that I read it in a day. True, it's not a challenging read, but still. The ending definitely left me interested in reading the subsequent books, although whether or not I actually do remains to be seen. It wasn't that good a cliffhanger.
There was one thing that seriously irritated me, and that was the spelling of "arithmetick." I kind of hate the K that sometimes gets added to things like "magic" and the like, but if you're going to do it, at least be consistent. This book spelled "magic" without the silly K, but randomly adds it to "arithmetic." WTF?
Ultimately, though, I enjoyed this book, and would certainly recommend it to kids. And it will be added to my list of books for boys, for sure.
February 20, 2017
Lots of really frustrating allusions to previous books about the Grey Griffins, and a plot that jumps all over the place, leaving me behind and struggling. Would have benefited from strong editing, in my opinion.
August 23, 2016
hmmmm..... struggled so hard to finished this.
i knew that this series is second set of Grey Griffins story, but come on... all you guys need to make a proper introduction for the characters other than the name and explanation about who they are (at the first page). it's 2 years from the last volume of the first set, and for people like me who have just start read from this series, it gave me headache.
The story itself, it's for kids isn't it? so it'll be wiser if the choice of words/ vocabulary is simplified, i knew it's steampunk mixed with technology/science which full of mechanical or technical terms in it. but this book is full of it, and hardly to understand for the first reader, like me. fortunately the half of this book towards the end is more understandable than the beginning.
the other thing is when it came to school as a based of the story i know it's full of children and teachers or any other person who attend it, but with this a lot of character that pop up one after another, seriously?? feels like my brain gave me error message, especially when it's only appear in one occasion than *poff* gone in an snap. not every book need more character to make it alive, sometimes as people said less is more.
---
buku pertama dari set kedua grey griffins yang benar benar membuat kepala pusing. Tanpa adanya pengenalan yang jelas dan terlalu banyaknya karakter yang muncul hampir secara bersamaan membuat ini buku ini sangat sulit untuk dicerna. apalagi karena bergenre steampunk dicampur dengan teknologi dan mahkluk berkekuatan 'lebih' seperti changeling atau peri, membuat kita harus menghapalkan sang karakter dengan apa yang mereka punyai.
meski buku ini adalah semacam sekuel dari seri sebelumnya, saya rasa tidak banyak orang yang sudah membaca seri sebelumnya, dan sepertinya penulis beranggapan bahwa pembaca seri ini sudah mengerti siapa dan apa yang mereka lakukan.
i knew that this series is second set of Grey Griffins story, but come on... all you guys need to make a proper introduction for the characters other than the name and explanation about who they are (at the first page). it's 2 years from the last volume of the first set, and for people like me who have just start read from this series, it gave me headache.
The story itself, it's for kids isn't it? so it'll be wiser if the choice of words/ vocabulary is simplified, i knew it's steampunk mixed with technology/science which full of mechanical or technical terms in it. but this book is full of it, and hardly to understand for the first reader, like me. fortunately the half of this book towards the end is more understandable than the beginning.
the other thing is when it came to school as a based of the story i know it's full of children and teachers or any other person who attend it, but with this a lot of character that pop up one after another, seriously?? feels like my brain gave me error message, especially when it's only appear in one occasion than *poff* gone in an snap. not every book need more character to make it alive, sometimes as people said less is more.
---
buku pertama dari set kedua grey griffins yang benar benar membuat kepala pusing. Tanpa adanya pengenalan yang jelas dan terlalu banyaknya karakter yang muncul hampir secara bersamaan membuat ini buku ini sangat sulit untuk dicerna. apalagi karena bergenre steampunk dicampur dengan teknologi dan mahkluk berkekuatan 'lebih' seperti changeling atau peri, membuat kita harus menghapalkan sang karakter dengan apa yang mereka punyai.
meski buku ini adalah semacam sekuel dari seri sebelumnya, saya rasa tidak banyak orang yang sudah membaca seri sebelumnya, dan sepertinya penulis beranggapan bahwa pembaca seri ini sudah mengerti siapa dan apa yang mereka lakukan.
March 3, 2024
I was so excited to receive a copy of The Brimstone Key for review from the authors! I mean, just look at that cover! And I love to read books for this age with my two younger kids, and this book seemed to be right up all of our alleys! I mean, Steampunk, changelings, and Clockwork creatures....for kids? What's not to love?
This book continues the adventures of Max, Ernie, Natalia, and Harley, the group of young kids called The Grey Griffins, but I didn't feel lost having not read the earlier books. This is a new series, and a new adventure for the kids. I really loved all the different facets of this story. There are so many different elements that it would be difficult to explain them all to you. I personally enjoyed the fantasy elements. The fairies, the changelings, the clockwork creatures, and the monsters. I'm intrigued by the codex, which is a book that Max is just beginning to understand how to use. I can't wait to see what happens in the future books, to see how Max develops as a hero. I think Max had to be my favorite character in the book. I just really liked him a lot!
I think this book has so much in it that will relate to all kind of kids, tweens, teens and even adults. I know my son loved the fact that the Griffins used Round Table cards to play games, almost like Pokemon cards, only these cards took on a three-dimensional role, when the kids played the game with special goggles. He also loved the Clockwork creatures. Especially the giant Dreadnaught! My daughter really enjoyed the magical aspect of the book. Like me she loves fairies and changelings. Ernie (a changeling) was her favorite character.
With adventure, mystery, fantasy, friendship, and the possibility of death and destruction around every turn, The Brimstone Key is a must read for any book lover!
-andye
This book continues the adventures of Max, Ernie, Natalia, and Harley, the group of young kids called The Grey Griffins, but I didn't feel lost having not read the earlier books. This is a new series, and a new adventure for the kids. I really loved all the different facets of this story. There are so many different elements that it would be difficult to explain them all to you. I personally enjoyed the fantasy elements. The fairies, the changelings, the clockwork creatures, and the monsters. I'm intrigued by the codex, which is a book that Max is just beginning to understand how to use. I can't wait to see what happens in the future books, to see how Max develops as a hero. I think Max had to be my favorite character in the book. I just really liked him a lot!
I think this book has so much in it that will relate to all kind of kids, tweens, teens and even adults. I know my son loved the fact that the Griffins used Round Table cards to play games, almost like Pokemon cards, only these cards took on a three-dimensional role, when the kids played the game with special goggles. He also loved the Clockwork creatures. Especially the giant Dreadnaught! My daughter really enjoyed the magical aspect of the book. Like me she loves fairies and changelings. Ernie (a changeling) was her favorite character.
With adventure, mystery, fantasy, friendship, and the possibility of death and destruction around every turn, The Brimstone Key is a must read for any book lover!
-andye
Read
December 30, 2010The Grey Griffins are many things - monster hunters, associates of the Templar knights, legends in their own right - but they are also children. School aged children. The first book in the Clockword Chronicles takes them to the Iron Bridge Academy.
And that was about as far as I got. I wanted to give it ye olde college try. I have a soft spot for steampunk, have had it since that time in my life where I watched my VHS cassette of The Rocketeer over and over and over again. And as a middle-school reader, I obsessed over any book that included a school designed specifically for people with advanced skills. You know, as a warm-up for when Xavier's School for the Gifted and Talented finally got around to sending my admittance packet.
But this series relies too heavily on a few crutches. For starters, when I read something is Book One, I assume it is The Beginning. But too much of the character development and falling-in-loveness you need to do with The Grey Griffens happens in the first series of books about them.
I didn't feel invested in their Harry Potter-esque start to a new school, with the weird Metro commute and immediate feuds. Nor could I stand the sthe ridiculous cards. I get it! Juvenile series need marketable angles. Kids love card games and so will love kids who rely on cards to save the world. I guess. I spent a great deal of my own childhood around baseball cards, but for some reason any juvenile series relying on cards drives me up the wall.
The book wasn't terrible, it just wasn't for me.
And that was about as far as I got. I wanted to give it ye olde college try. I have a soft spot for steampunk, have had it since that time in my life where I watched my VHS cassette of The Rocketeer over and over and over again. And as a middle-school reader, I obsessed over any book that included a school designed specifically for people with advanced skills. You know, as a warm-up for when Xavier's School for the Gifted and Talented finally got around to sending my admittance packet.
But this series relies too heavily on a few crutches. For starters, when I read something is Book One, I assume it is The Beginning. But too much of the character development and falling-in-loveness you need to do with The Grey Griffens happens in the first series of books about them.
I didn't feel invested in their Harry Potter-esque start to a new school, with the weird Metro commute and immediate feuds. Nor could I stand the sthe ridiculous cards. I get it! Juvenile series need marketable angles. Kids love card games and so will love kids who rely on cards to save the world. I guess. I spent a great deal of my own childhood around baseball cards, but for some reason any juvenile series relying on cards drives me up the wall.
The book wasn't terrible, it just wasn't for me.
October 5, 2011
The Brimstone Key was a pretty good book. i recommend it to all young adults.if you like magic and mystery then you will most likely enjoy this book.although if you do not read the books in the previous series then allot of stuff will not be understood.for example max gave his father,Lord Sumner, Ragnorock the spear of ultimate power that could destroy the world and almost Dstroyed the Templars. because of that many Templars were mad at the Grey Griffins.Ernie was almost killed and would have died if max had not givin Ernie one drop of fairy blood. because of the fairy blood Ernie was transformed into a changeling. changelings all have supernatural powers.the clockwork king who almost destroyed the Templars during world war two is back and he wants revenge on the Templar knights. so by using the souls of changelings he can create a robotic army. the brimstone key is the first book in a new series called Grey Griffins:the clockwork chronicles.the authors name is Derek Benz.the griffins live in a seemingly normal town called Avolon in Minnesota.everything seems alright until the changelings start to disapear.the Grey Griffins must stop this new threat before it destroys the town of Avolon the Templar Knights and the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2015
The Brimstone Key is about a boy named Max who discovered a year ago that evil fairies, monsters, dragons, and unicorns exist. They came from the cards him and his friends played called Round Table. Him and his friends have formed a secret group called the grey griffins which was a secret team that fought for the Templar knights and they are needed again because an old Templar enemy returns with a devastating plan.
One of the writing styles I really liked that the author used was show not tell because without it you would not feel like you are in the book and there would not be as much action. The only thing I did not like about the book was how she wrote the mystery. It was more interesting in the beginning because of all the mystery, but they revealed all of it too early in the book. In the series before The Grey Griffins The Rise Of the Shadow King the plot was better and it had more mystery and action. It also did not release the mystery right away instead they revealed it bit by bit through the book. Overall this was still a good book and it was interesting how The grey griffins had to go to a new Templar school. I recommend this book for people who love fantasy to read the series before this book.
One of the writing styles I really liked that the author used was show not tell because without it you would not feel like you are in the book and there would not be as much action. The only thing I did not like about the book was how she wrote the mystery. It was more interesting in the beginning because of all the mystery, but they revealed all of it too early in the book. In the series before The Grey Griffins The Rise Of the Shadow King the plot was better and it had more mystery and action. It also did not release the mystery right away instead they revealed it bit by bit through the book. Overall this was still a good book and it was interesting how The grey griffins had to go to a new Templar school. I recommend this book for people who love fantasy to read the series before this book.
November 1, 2010
The Brimstone Key by Derek Benz and JS Lewis, is the first book in the The Clockwork Chronicles (the overall series is known as the Grey Griffins). This book is a great! I loved the detail and description especially about Steampunk. This book continues to follow Max, Natalia, Ernie and Harley as they as they begin a new adventure attending Iron Bridge Academy. The characters were incredibly relatable and realistic. I think giving characters, even in a fantasy setting, very real qualities allows the reader to connect. Natalia was one of my favorite characters. She shows girls it is ok to be who you are and stand up for what you believe in. The book is filled with myth and magic described in just enough detail to keep people of all ages attention. I gave this book to some of my students to and they loved it. Here is what they had to say:
"I had no idea what Steampunk was but the book explained and made it so much apart of the story I didn't feel stupid not knowing."
"The characters were really cool. Max is a great leader. I wish I could attend Iron Bridge Academy and hang out with the Grey Griffins."
"I had no idea what Steampunk was but the book explained and made it so much apart of the story I didn't feel stupid not knowing."
"The characters were really cool. Max is a great leader. I wish I could attend Iron Bridge Academy and hang out with the Grey Griffins."
June 22, 2010
Classification: Fantasy
Overall Evaluation: Excellent
Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior High
Annotation: Friends calling themselves the Grey Griffins enroll at a new school, discover new alliances and enemies, and embark on a quest to thwart an evil scientist and his Clockwork creations, long-thought dead.
Evaluation: Percy Jackson fans looking for something to tide them over until the release of The Lost Hero will not be disappointed. Max, Harley, Natalia and Ernie, the members of the Grey Griffins, are likable characters, each with their own unique skill set and idiosyncrasies. The plot develops nicely, and while this book series (of which this is the first installment) is a spin off of another series, I didn’t feel that I was missing anything integral. I look forward to subsequent titles.
Overall Evaluation: Excellent
Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Junior High
Annotation: Friends calling themselves the Grey Griffins enroll at a new school, discover new alliances and enemies, and embark on a quest to thwart an evil scientist and his Clockwork creations, long-thought dead.
Evaluation: Percy Jackson fans looking for something to tide them over until the release of The Lost Hero will not be disappointed. Max, Harley, Natalia and Ernie, the members of the Grey Griffins, are likable characters, each with their own unique skill set and idiosyncrasies. The plot develops nicely, and while this book series (of which this is the first installment) is a spin off of another series, I didn’t feel that I was missing anything integral. I look forward to subsequent titles.
September 5, 2012
This story is a young adult novel with steampunk elements in it.
I didn't feel it wasn't true steampunk since the environment the Griffins actually lived in was current and 'normal'.
The kids are now in a new school where the current student body dress up in Victorian era fashion and where goggles. Their mission is to defeat the 'Clockwork' King and his minions of automatons.
I need to remember when I read a young adult novel that it's not geared towards my age. Consequently some things, especially characters, I have difficulty accepting. I find myself often saying things like, "really, what 12 year old would do that".
I felt the book was well written, depicting kids of varying personalities (nerds, cool kids, goths) and creating deeper characterizations for the four main protagonist. Of course with the addition of a mad evil scientist, robots and automatons, there is plenty of action.
The prose was appropriate for this particular age group and the story will keep interest levels going as there is a cliff hanger.
I didn't feel it wasn't true steampunk since the environment the Griffins actually lived in was current and 'normal'.
The kids are now in a new school where the current student body dress up in Victorian era fashion and where goggles. Their mission is to defeat the 'Clockwork' King and his minions of automatons.
I need to remember when I read a young adult novel that it's not geared towards my age. Consequently some things, especially characters, I have difficulty accepting. I find myself often saying things like, "really, what 12 year old would do that".
I felt the book was well written, depicting kids of varying personalities (nerds, cool kids, goths) and creating deeper characterizations for the four main protagonist. Of course with the addition of a mad evil scientist, robots and automatons, there is plenty of action.
The prose was appropriate for this particular age group and the story will keep interest levels going as there is a cliff hanger.
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