Frank LambertBesprekingen

Cult of the Clan (Napoleon Xylophone Book 3) by Frank Lambert is another great book by this author. The cover art of this book is simply amazing and absolutely horrifying. I love how that sets the tone for the book. This is a great read: a perfect fantasy book filled with menace and treachery. This book carries on pretty seamlessly from the first two books in the series, giving it solid continuity. I got right into this book with no problem. Zam is a well-described character and goes on an amazing journey in this book. Overall a great read and highly recommend it for those who love fantasy, danger, and adventure.

In Cult Of The Clan the third book in the Napoleon Xylophone Books by Frank Lambert instead of grandpa being in danger this time it’s Xams grandmother. Unlike the first two books this time he is not waiting around to run from them and try and keep out of danger but he will hunt them down it seems they want to be immortal and the only way they can do that is to eat a changeling. Anyone who is familiar with these books knows that is what Xams grandmother is. Can he save her from certain death or is he doomed to lose her yet again? I’d love these books and I especially love the way they have normal conversations that you think mean nothing to the story but eventually you realize it meant everything Frank Lambert has a great knack for inventing creepy scenes and heartwarming dialogue despite that usually not going together he makes it look easy. Just the prologue alone gave me heebie-jeebies but then we switched to Xam‘s 18th birthday and that is just the beginning of the action packed ever-changing vibe of the book and it all makes for one great read! I am really enjoying this book series it really has wonderful characters a great disabled hero and so many quirky friends and companions and villains along the way. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

In book 2 of Napoleon xylophone it starts with the hunter named Bonnyman he is in search of a cannibalistic shape shifter and is task with its death. Unfortunately when battling said shape shifter bonnyman is the last man standing the only problem is he isn’t standing because both of his legs are broken before he knows it to survive he eats the flesh of the Shapeshifter which in turn causes him to be a canna ballistic monster of sorts and he eventually eats the Shapeshifter and all of his dead companions. In a more familiar part of Scotland Xam is that home with grandpa Eli when a monster tries to drag him through Amira and he is only saved by one of Eli‘s inventions given to him for defense and it worked. When he tells grandpa Eli he doesn’t seem surprised at all when he finds out he is going to half to hunt down the monster that tried to take him he tells grandpa Eli they should bring Hestia with them. Xam it’s surprised when grandpa is a little reluctant not that he doesn’t like Hestia but maybe because he likes her a little too much. Hestia is a changeling from book one Ghost Doors it seems the more Xam learns about grandpa Eli‘s world the stranger it gets so when he finds himself hunting down a magical cannibalistic creature with a ghost as a stalker he starts to think all of this must just be par for the course. However the attack through the mirror will not be the last attempt on Xam’s life and during this quest they will see old friends and make new ones as well as enemies this book is full of craziness which is cannibal changelings ghost and so much more and it all makes for a great interesting paranormal sci-fi adventure. I love these books and cannot wait for the third one! Xam is a great poster boy for heroes because even though he is in a wheelchair that may or may not be a Shapeshifter as well he doesn’t let that stop him. I love grandpa Eli Hestia Xara and many other wonderful characters you’ll find in this book as well as great villains. I love this book and highly recommended please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The book, Xyz follows up Ghost Doors, featuring Napoleon Xylophone, a clairvoyant teen hero in a wheelchair. I loved the first book and this one doesn't disappoint. You are taken into the Underworld, meeting new and old faces smoothly. It's a dark story, perfect for teens yet enjoyable for adults. Lambert's poetic style adds depth, making the story unique yet engaging. The banter among the characters feels natural, and they are all interesting. Napoleon's bravery shines through, making this such a brilliantly crafted tale that sticks with you, a testament to Lambert's creativity. Recommended.

Ghost Doors by Frank Lambert is a well-written and engaging story featuring great characters. Get ready for an exciting adventure. When Zam's grandpa mysteriously disappears, Zam and his buddy Ezzy decide to dive into the underworld on a crazy mission to save him. This story has everything you need for a fun read, mystery, excitement, and more. The characters are so unique, each with a cool role introduced cleverly. The author shows that anyone, disabled or not, can achieve awesome things. It's a positive message, especially for young readers. I liked how the friendship between Zam and Ezzy was described. The author did his homework, and the well-organized and fast-paced plot keeps things entertaining on every page. Highly recommend.

"Ghost Doors" by Frank Lambert, was an engaging and unique YA fantasy novel that stood out for me for its imaginative storytelling. The story revolves around Zam, who embarks on a fantastical journey in the Underworld of Newcastle to rescue his grandfather, who has been abducted by a supernatural being. What makes Zam a refreshing protagonist is his walking disability, which doesn’t hinder his adventure, showing a different type of heroism.
The book is fast-paced and includes a range of magical characters, it has plenty of action, humor, and emotion, making it a well rounded novel.
"Ghost Doors" is a great addition to the YA fantasy genre in my opinion. TI think the book's creativity and character development makes it a valuable read for those looking for diversity in young adult fiction​​​​.

This book would definitely give you a new definition of the Central character, as the main lead is a specially abled person yet solves many mysteries. This was one of the unique facets of this book.

The book tells a story of friendship, trust, care, and support for family. The central character, Zam, is wonderfully written, and his friend Ezzy has a remarkable edge. Their demonstration of friendship while searching for Zam's grandfather is commendable. They engage in a mysterious world, but they manage to sail together with each other's help. The author has beautifully brought together these two characters, and they serve the purpose of engaging the readers. The plots and subplots are aligned to keep the readers entertained and engaged. It seems the author researched adequately before bringing up this book. The title is interesting, and trust me, you will be more than entertained while reading each and every page.

Ghost Doors by Frank Lambert isn't your average stroll through the fantasy section. It's more like a headfirst dive into a whirlpool of magical underworld shenanigans. Our hero, Zam, who doesn't let his walking disability slow him down, is on a mission to rescue his grandpa from an underworld filled with the stuff of nightmares - changelings, wytes, gargoyles, and more. It's like Harry Potter met Percy Jackson in a dark alley.

The book is a fast read, but don't let that fool you. It's packed with twists and turns that had me going, "Wait, what?" more than once. There's this sense of authenticity to Zam, probably because he's named by kids in writing workshops, which is adorable and genius. And the illustrations? They add a whole new layer of charm.

Sure, it's a bit like trying to follow a rabbit through a hedge maze at times, but the emotional rollercoaster and humor make it worth the ride. Plus, seeing a different kind of hero front and center is refreshing. It's a solid pick for teenagers, especially those who'd cheer to see a hero who's not your typical able-bodied protagonist. Just maybe keep a flowchart handy for the plot.

It is a really exciting adventure about helping family and friends. Zam's grandpa disappears mysteriously, so he and his best friend Ezzy decide to go on a thrilling journey into the underworld to save him. The story is a great mix of mystery, adventure, and friendship.

The characters in the book are well-made, and they all fit into the story well. Each character has a special part to play, and how they are introduced is done very cleverly. The author does a good job showing that someone with a disability can still do great things. It tells us that everyone can achieve something, no matter their abilities. This is a positive and encouraging message, especially for young readers.

Ghost Doors is a fast paced fantasy for teenagers, that features a wide range of magical characters. There is action, humor and emotion spread through the novel.

The protagonist, Zam, is a disabled teenage boy who travels to the underworld to rescue his grandfather, along with new and old friends. Illustrations add extra charm to the story, bringing the characters to life.

There was a lot of plot happening, which often felt confusing to keep up with, however the author doesn't linger too long on any element which helped the plot keep moving forward.

The character names are charming and are named by disabled children during writing workshops with the author. I think this is a great book for teenagers, especially but not limited to those who are disabled and would relate to Zam.

This is a joint review of two books, Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History by Brian Kilmeade and The Barbary Wars: American Independence in the Atlantic World by Frank Lambert.

The Lambert book is definitely much better than the Kilmeade book, but it's really a good idea to read the two of them together and to read Kilmeade first. Kilmeade will give you a better overview of the cast of players; but note that Kilmeade concludes with the end of the First Barbary (Tripolitan) War in the Jefferson presidency while Lambert also includes the shorter Second Barbary (Algerine) War in the Madison presidency.

Lambert provides much more background and analysis. One of the reasons for the ultimate American success in the Algerine campaign was because it came with the conclusion of the US/British War of 1812 and the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars. With the ending of these "major" wars, the Atlantic became a theater of trade rather than a theater of war, and this very substantially improved the American position since some of the European powers had actually been encouraging the Barbary pirates to prey on American merchant shipping. This was particularly true of the British, who wished to suppress American carrier trade after the recognition of American independence and, even more so, actually saw the Barbary pirates as allies during the US/British War of 1812. (The pirates had the good sense not to prey on British shipping and confront the Royal navy.) With post-Napoleonic peace combined with a new-found respect for the U.S. navy after its success in the Algerine campaign as well as the growing U.S. population, the British decided that trade with the U.S. would prove more economically advantageous than a mercantilist exclusion of the U.S. from carrier commerce in the Atlantic.

Kilmeade (3½***) is a quick read. Lambert (4****) is a more thorough analysis.

Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield: Theologically, they were miles apart, yet they became affectionate friends.