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Ronan Boyle #2
Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death
Ronan Boyle may not be the strongest, or the smartest, or the best looking, or the most dexterous member of the secret Garda . . . So why was he picked to save the captain from the harpy who dragged her into Tir Na Nog? He’s not entirely sure. But he may be the captain’s only hope—if he can outrun cannibalistic elves, escape a job in a unicorn’s lounge act, and find the captain before she’s sacrificed to a cult. Eventually Ronan must battle the scariest monster of imposter syndrome.
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Published October 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 26, 2020
I wrote this book, but if I'm being completely honest, it's SLIGHTLY better than the first one. Maybe substantially. I was still kind of figuring stuff out on the first one.
August 8, 2020
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
RONAN BOYLE AND THE SWAMP OF CERTAIN DEATH is a comedic middle grade fantasy that features a young boy on a dangerous quest. Ronan has joined the secret Garda (with a very expensive uniform) in Tir Na Nog, the land of magical creatures. He is on a journey to find his Captain Siobhan de Velera, who has been taken by the Bog Man. The adventure will take him through perilous situations, such as the Free Men (formerly Santa's elves) who have gone a bit haywire and now eat anything that moves, including potentially Ronan. Although Ronan may not seem to be well-equipped, he manages, along with the people/creatures he works with along the way, to always make his way out of tricky situations.
What I loved: This is a very funny book and will definitely make the middle grade crowd laugh. The magical creatures add some extra fun to the book. My favorite parts were the footnotes that add some extra humor throughout. The book is filled with action/adventure (and always a touch of humor) that are sure to keep a reader's attention. The illustrations are really detailed and fabulous, adding a nice touch to the story that will help readers to imagine some scenarios and creatures. I wish there were more of them, but the story works without it, of course, and makes this better for older chapter book readers in the middle grade group.
What left me wanting more: As a small note, some of the jokes seem written for adults and may go over readers' heads. For instance, there are some jokes about VHS tapes, and I am not sure if middle grade readers will know what those are or understand the jokes. On the flip side, this does give adults something to enjoy if they read it aloud a few chapters at a time with their middle grade reader.
Final verdict: Cleverly comedic, this middle grade fantasy is great for readers who love magical creatures and laughter.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
RONAN BOYLE AND THE SWAMP OF CERTAIN DEATH is a comedic middle grade fantasy that features a young boy on a dangerous quest. Ronan has joined the secret Garda (with a very expensive uniform) in Tir Na Nog, the land of magical creatures. He is on a journey to find his Captain Siobhan de Velera, who has been taken by the Bog Man. The adventure will take him through perilous situations, such as the Free Men (formerly Santa's elves) who have gone a bit haywire and now eat anything that moves, including potentially Ronan. Although Ronan may not seem to be well-equipped, he manages, along with the people/creatures he works with along the way, to always make his way out of tricky situations.
What I loved: This is a very funny book and will definitely make the middle grade crowd laugh. The magical creatures add some extra fun to the book. My favorite parts were the footnotes that add some extra humor throughout. The book is filled with action/adventure (and always a touch of humor) that are sure to keep a reader's attention. The illustrations are really detailed and fabulous, adding a nice touch to the story that will help readers to imagine some scenarios and creatures. I wish there were more of them, but the story works without it, of course, and makes this better for older chapter book readers in the middle grade group.
What left me wanting more: As a small note, some of the jokes seem written for adults and may go over readers' heads. For instance, there are some jokes about VHS tapes, and I am not sure if middle grade readers will know what those are or understand the jokes. On the flip side, this does give adults something to enjoy if they read it aloud a few chapters at a time with their middle grade reader.
Final verdict: Cleverly comedic, this middle grade fantasy is great for readers who love magical creatures and laughter.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2022
Definitely did not like it as much as the first. I don’t know if I’ll make it to Book 3….
June 4, 2020
I really liked the first book. Not sure why this one didn't do as much for me. It may be that it draws less from the Harry Potter playbook than the first one. Also this book's humorous sensibility isn't really matched to younger readers, who may not know or care who Judi Dench is.
February 1, 2020
I didn’t read the first book in the series, Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles, and I suggest you do before you read this story since it’s the continuation.
Lieutenant Ronan Boyle, 15-year-old human Special Agent for the (Name of Force) is on a double mission. He’s been tasked to find Captain de Valera who’s being held by the weegees and the Bog Man, the same Bog Man he’s determined to find because he’s behind the reason Ronan’s parent are in prison.
This is a truly fantastical story, full of Irish folktales, faeries, brownies, elves, wolfhounds, sheeries, puca’s, etcetera. A full-on adventure story that takes you many fun and frightening places with a cast of characters that make you scratch your head in wonder. Perfect for middle grade kids, I used my 11-year-old daughter to figure that out. She was absolutely intrigued, which is amazing, since she no longer reads like she used to. I can’t wait to buy her both stories in this series (I of course will be reading the first book once she’s done). Mr. Lennon has done an amazing job with this story, so fun and imaginative!
*I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review
Lieutenant Ronan Boyle, 15-year-old human Special Agent for the (Name of Force) is on a double mission. He’s been tasked to find Captain de Valera who’s being held by the weegees and the Bog Man, the same Bog Man he’s determined to find because he’s behind the reason Ronan’s parent are in prison.
This is a truly fantastical story, full of Irish folktales, faeries, brownies, elves, wolfhounds, sheeries, puca’s, etcetera. A full-on adventure story that takes you many fun and frightening places with a cast of characters that make you scratch your head in wonder. Perfect for middle grade kids, I used my 11-year-old daughter to figure that out. She was absolutely intrigued, which is amazing, since she no longer reads like she used to. I can’t wait to buy her both stories in this series (I of course will be reading the first book once she’s done). Mr. Lennon has done an amazing job with this story, so fun and imaginative!
*I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review
December 6, 2019
Loved it! I may even love it more than the first one and I didn’t think that was possible.
September 24, 2020
My name is Ronan, and I don't know why I volunteered for such a dangerous mission. I'm soooo unqualified. I must enter the world of fairie folk to rescue my wonderful captain from being used as a human sacrifice and to capture the Bog Man. I will do anything to stop the weegees from using my mentor's blood to resurrect the sun god. And no, I don't love the captain. I don't care what I've said or done before; I do not love her. I'm lucky to have my good friend Log along on the vendetti (not sure if that's a real word), as she's the strongest, loyalest ally a detective in the Garda Special Unit of the Tir Na Nog could ever have. I'll probably die during this mission, but I must try to save the captain (I don't love her!) and stop the mummy my parents released.
You should probably read the first book, but it's not necessary. My biggest warning for the series and book is that you must have a high tolerance for silliness. One of Ronan's "dangers" is becoming the assistant for a unicorn's daily performances. One of his colleagues randomly changes appearance without any control. The colleague becomes a naked human, a pig, and a hedgehog with all of them wearing his familiar hat. The plot of a quest to rescue someone is common, but I found the frequent descriptions of Ronan's insecurities distracting. There were already enough funny and entertaining elements to the story without cluttering them by adding an over-abundance of sidebars and anxiety-ridden thoughts. Overall, I found the book funny with many creative ideas. I must admit that I skipped some paragraphs that diverted my attention from the quest, but I can recommend the book, if you're not put off by g
You should probably read the first book, but it's not necessary. My biggest warning for the series and book is that you must have a high tolerance for silliness. One of Ronan's "dangers" is becoming the assistant for a unicorn's daily performances. One of his colleagues randomly changes appearance without any control. The colleague becomes a naked human, a pig, and a hedgehog with all of them wearing his familiar hat. The plot of a quest to rescue someone is common, but I found the frequent descriptions of Ronan's insecurities distracting. There were already enough funny and entertaining elements to the story without cluttering them by adding an over-abundance of sidebars and anxiety-ridden thoughts. Overall, I found the book funny with many creative ideas. I must admit that I skipped some paragraphs that diverted my attention from the quest, but I can recommend the book, if you're not put off by g
April 14, 2020
It’s 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic has shaken a stern finger at the world, sending us to our rooms to think about what we’ve done. While some people may take solace in some heavy dystopian fiction, I, as always, prefer to turn my mind to something nonsensical, whimsical, or just plain frickin’ weird. In steps the pole thin, beret wearing, Garda Special Unit Detective Ronan Boyle.
In Ronan and Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death, our awkward hero must travel through the Undernog in search of Captain Siobhan de Velera and Lily, who have been taken captive by the Bog Man. Thankfully, he is not alone. Log and Ri have joined him as well as Figs, a shapeshifting puca working undercover. Together, they traverse upnog through several dangerous territories dodging Unicorns reminiscent of popular ice cream flavors, confusing huge fruits, a swamp of nope ropes, a wall that just cannot stop complaining, and (Screams in horror) a brief gig at the theater.
Generally the second book in a series carries a little less magic than the first. However, I found Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death more enjoyable than the first book of the series. The characters are memorable, each scene is memorable, and frankly, I laughed out loud quite a bit. So, in short, I give this book ten out of ten pickletoots.
In Ronan and Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death, our awkward hero must travel through the Undernog in search of Captain Siobhan de Velera and Lily, who have been taken captive by the Bog Man. Thankfully, he is not alone. Log and Ri have joined him as well as Figs, a shapeshifting puca working undercover. Together, they traverse upnog through several dangerous territories dodging Unicorns reminiscent of popular ice cream flavors, confusing huge fruits, a swamp of nope ropes, a wall that just cannot stop complaining, and (Screams in horror) a brief gig at the theater.
Generally the second book in a series carries a little less magic than the first. However, I found Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death more enjoyable than the first book of the series. The characters are memorable, each scene is memorable, and frankly, I laughed out loud quite a bit. So, in short, I give this book ten out of ten pickletoots.
March 3, 2023
The second Ronan Boyle entry is, if anything, even FUNNIER than the first (though please read Bridge of Riddles first). I will repeat from my earlier review of Bridge that these books are hilarious, and there is so much more to them than the phrase “YA novel” might imply. The satire on police work, the exploration of traditional folklore, including lots of “little people” characters, the portrayal of awkward-teenager issues, the comments on Irish and other politics – these books are just wonderful to read. I challenge you to read through these and not at least guffaw out loud, if not laugh so hard your significant other wonders what is wrong with you. I don’t care how old you are, if you have a sense of humor about all things human, give these YA adventure tales a read.
March 28, 2020
I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I love Thomas Lennon as an actor and now I love him as an author. I did not read book 1 prior to reading this book and although you can enter the series at book 2, I feel like I need to go back and read it to find out how Ronan enters the secret Garda (one more book for the TBR list 😊).
This book was really fun and seeing how it takes place in Ireland I love that the author included the Fae and Wolfhounds. Looking forward to book 3 to see if Ronan’s self-confidence increases and reading book 1 to find out more of his back story.
#RonanBoyle #NetGalley
I love Thomas Lennon as an actor and now I love him as an author. I did not read book 1 prior to reading this book and although you can enter the series at book 2, I feel like I need to go back and read it to find out how Ronan enters the secret Garda (one more book for the TBR list 😊).
This book was really fun and seeing how it takes place in Ireland I love that the author included the Fae and Wolfhounds. Looking forward to book 3 to see if Ronan’s self-confidence increases and reading book 1 to find out more of his back story.
#RonanBoyle #NetGalley
January 8, 2022
This kept me laughing. The jokes keep coming at an amazing rate. However, I agree with the readers who suspect that many references will be incomprehensible to middle graders. Furthermore, after completing the book __ and coming from a family ruptured by an alcoholic __ I wonder if excessive alcohol intake is only funny on paper and not in life. Although I am never for censorship, perhaps __ especially in books for the young __ care should be taken in presenting constant drunkenness as funny.
February 21, 2023
I bought it as a gift for a middle school boy. I read it before I wrapped it. I have not read the first book and this was a continuation of it. Lots of middle school humor... lots and lots of Irish references....hoping that is not too much for the giftee. I enjoyed Ronan's inner dialogue with himself, I enjoyed the dogs. Not sure I understood what was up with LOG, maybe that was explained in the first book and was pretty confused by all the different types of Irish creatures they ran into while on their adventures.
November 7, 2021
I read this out loud to my 7 year old and it cracked him up constantly. Sure there are some jokes he doesn't get or old school things he doesn't understand but that's part of why I liked it too. We bonded over this and the 1st one and can't wait for the 3rd. It also helps that it had just the right amount of slapstick and toilet humor. For me, I'm just a fan of Mr. Lennon so he can do no wrong in my book.
January 24, 2025
It's got funny bits, but after realizing Lieutenant Dan was the author and narrator things made more sense. The absurd and ridiculous. Not as enjoyable as the first, but only because this really should've just been a book or two for a, so far, four-day adventure, and I just wanted to be done. I don't really want to listen to the next one, but I do want to know how it ends. Plus they're short books, so...
February 7, 2021
This book made me laugh out loud more than once, and today, that's enough to get it five stars. I agree with Thomas Lennon's own review that it's better than the first book in the series.
Kids may not fully appreciate that the main character has an imaginary version of Judi Dench in his head giving him advice, but I did. I love all of the side characters, too, especially Log.
Kids may not fully appreciate that the main character has an imaginary version of Judi Dench in his head giving him advice, but I did. I love all of the side characters, too, especially Log.
February 23, 2025
Hilarious one liners. Character thoughts that shows the author has a great handle on the human psyche. I found it entertaining and a joy to read. If you get a chance to do the audio the author /narrator is the best I’ve ever heard! But are we surprised? This is the guy who wrote Night of the Museum.
March 26, 2020
Nearly as good as the first book! Ronan actually shows a little growth, and lots of good interactions with leprechauns and and their mortal enemies the unicorns. More sly Douglas Adams references, which is always appreciated.
May 5, 2020
I enjoyed the heck out of this one.... Lennon finds a stride work Ronan, and the adventure starts to feel like one. This one strikes a similar chord to the one Hitchhikers Guide did.... Clever, funny. Highest possible recommendation.
July 28, 2020
Great humour and intriguing characters. Personally had a hard time tracking the settings with the ever changing names and main character’s inner dialogue got distracting at times. But I know I have kids in my classroom who will love it.
August 5, 2020
I read this with my 8-year-old. We liked the first book but loved this one. He immediately asked me to look when a third book in the series will be released, so we'll call that a success. I'll never look at Saint Patrick the same way again.
June 16, 2021
I thought the first title in this series was funny. This was so funny it had me laughing out loud! Particularly loved the theatre section. I love any book with footnotes. I hope they are more in the next book. Great for all ages. I hope this series goes on & on. Enjoy!
March 26, 2022
What an exciting adventure. I’m going to share this with my 10 yo grandson. So many parts made me LOL with boyish crude humor. If you’re looking for a tale of adventure, this is the book for you.
I forgot to mention the best part. This book has footnotes! They are fantastic. What a wonderful way to introduce a young reader to how useful footnotes can be.
I forgot to mention the best part. This book has footnotes! They are fantastic. What a wonderful way to introduce a young reader to how useful footnotes can be.
September 7, 2022
I did not enjoy it as much as the first one but this still had multiple laugh out loud moments. Ronan Boyle is the perfect character to root for and his adventures in Tir Na Nog with the wee folk are a delight to read.
April 21, 2020
A very good book, it is very odd, but it is a very fun read. I liked it.
July 30, 2020
4 stars for how many times I giggled. Ronan Janet Boyle, you are freaking hilarious.
September 15, 2020
This sequel was just as giggle-worthy as the first. The audio narration by the author really brings this silly tale (including retired unicorns) to life.
Want to read
November 29, 2020Note: I received an ARC of this book at ALA Midwinter 2020.
December 5, 2020
Hilarious
These books know how to ruin a rainy day. I can't wait for the next! Don't read while eating or drinking.
These books know how to ruin a rainy day. I can't wait for the next! Don't read while eating or drinking.
December 24, 2020
Super, just as funny as the first in the series, great storyline.
August 2, 2021
best bit was the Scandinavian/nordic/whathaveyou elves.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews