Monstrous Devices

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Alex, who is twelve, receives a gift from his grandfather of what appears to be an old tin robot, with a note saying ‘this one is special’ but it does not take too long for Alex to begin to wonder just what it is his grandfather has sent him, as things in his already somewhat abstract world, are becoming more so, horribly, terribly, dangerously so!

The Shadow Arts: Monstrous Devices, Book 2 - Common Sense Media The Shadow Arts: Monstrous Devices, Book 2 - Common Sense Media

I am not a fan of fantasy, either in literature or film. I fell asleep watching the first Harry Potter movie. I tried, unsuccessfully (much to my dismay) to fall asleep during the second Lord of the Rings film, thus enduring the longest two hours and fifty-nine minutes of my life. Therefore, I tend to shy away from anything even hinting at fantasy in my reading selections. So, Monstrous Devices was not my particular cup of tea. Having said that, I could appreciate the relationship between twelve-year-old Alex and his beloved grandfather. Most anyone else would likely find the novel exciting, full of mystery and adventure. Word imagery is author Damien Lowe's strong suit so I could almost feel the biting cold of winter in Prague and hear the muffled tones of a snowy night. My own preferences meant I slogged through the book all the while becoming excited at the possibilities it afforded for the classroom. Interweaving the Czech origin of the word ‘robot’ (meaning ‘forced labour’ and derived from Karel Čapek’s ‘RUR’ play), and Prague’s 16th century legend of the golem (a man made from clay created to protect the city’s Jewish Quarter) with contemporary pace and punch, this feels at once timeless and of the 21st century. The mystery leads Alex and his grandfather to Prague in the Czech Republic, just as the city is preparing for Christmas. This local hymn is something that might be overheard coming from an old church as they go hurrying through the Old Town.The toy robot accompanies Alex and Grandpa to Paris and as the story unfolds we discover its history and why the evil villains in the story will stop at nothing to get it. But Alex’s robot isn’t the only robot, there are also armies of toy robots, life sized robots and fliers (drone like robots). Time and time again Alex and his grandfather have to defend themselves from the robots and the girl who unleashes them. When twelve-year-old Alex receives an old tin robot in the post, the note from his grandfather simply reads: 'This one is special'. But as strange events start occurring around him, it doesn't take Alex long to suspect that the small toy is more than special; it might also be deadly.

Monstrous Devices: THE TIMES CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

He did get on my nerves at times. I can see why the author would go "Oh, I'm going to let grandfather smoke a cigaret but then make him repeat two times Alex should never do that since it's bad for your health!" Not only regarding smoking, but different subjects. I couldn't help think that maybe.. you shouldn't make his grandfather do those things in the first place then? The whole "yeah, you shouldn't do this yourself, Alex"-thing got repetitive after a while and I didn't like it. [It might definitely not be an issue for younger readers, but it got to me, okay.] Alex has time to add only a brief message to the note he and his grandfather leave for his mother. There’s a race to St Pancras and thereafter to Paris, for Alex’s latest gift from his grandfather, an old, ugly tin robot is wanted. What is this gift? Who wants it and why? Furthermore, the nature of those who hunt them down is something terrifying; it’s like they’re Monstrous Devices. They’re charged with knife-edged mini drones, or fliers, as Alex’s grandfather informs him. There are life-sizers, too.

A superbly assured debut... an effortless, atmospheric evocation of place and history combine in an unforgettable, immersive reading experience.' * Guardian * The action was so gripping that I thought I was in the book... great for all young ages that love a fantasy filled with amazing description and daredevil stunts. Can't wait for the sequel!' * Barnaby, aged 11 * An effortless, atmospheric evocation of place and history combine in an unforgettable, immersive reading experience.’ Guardian Let me start with the stupidest one first. I am aware it is kind of silly, but for some reason it drove me batty. Alex is bebopping all over the place with his cell phone, able to make calls and texts, but WITHOUT AN INTERNATIONAL PLAN. Also, his mom was able to text him, and he was texting her, but there wasn't the hassle of area codes. It was just like he knew how to make international calls no prob. Alex, 12 year old jetsetter. Things that should have been obstacles, even trifling ones, were just easily ignored or solved.

Monstrous Devices by Damien Love | Goodreads Monstrous Devices by Damien Love | Goodreads

What fun! An evil villain, a host of scary robots, big and small, and a hero with commendably bad personal habits. Loved it!' - John Flanagan, New York Times bestselling author of the Ranger's Apprentice seriesI love to read stories of machinations, robots, artificial intelligence; you name it. Can’t get enough of it. But this book, while it certainly had many robots and machinations, took a very odd and unexpected twist towards religion. It thankfully did not offer absolutes to theological questions (nor did the book delve into theology aside from a few brief conversational instances) but it was very much out of the blue. An ingenious tale… an array of menacing miniature machines equipped with whirling blades; a mystery that it takes the whole book to gradually unravel…and a properly apocalyptic Christmas finale” – BOOKS FOR KEEPS While the grandfather didn't grow on me, I liked Alex's character. He embodied the innocence of a twelve year old thrust into a world of magic and secrets that he was struggling to understand. I think Alex's youth and him still trying to grasp the truth about his broken family makes the events of the story much better. What fun! An evil villain, a host of scary robots, big and small, and a hero with commendably bad personal habits. Loved it!' * John Flanagan, New York Times bestselling author of the Ranger's Apprentice series *