Michael Molloy (2)Besprekingen

Clearly I'm 30 years (and then some) too old for this, but it had some good things going for it.
The main characters are two children, Abby and Spike. They are both likeable, dynamic little things, and the fact that they are both involved in the action makes this a good book for youngsters. Spike is the one who worries about Abby, Abby, though, volunteers for the dangerous stunts and carries them out.

There were a few continuity errors, like Captain Starlight looking at a map when last we knew he was blindfolded with his arms tied to his sides being just one. But that would be quibbling over smaller issues. I don't enjoy magic or books that rely on magic to resolve things, I'm far too practical to find that appealing. And it annoyed me in this book too, but the characters were good, the adventure had some challenges, needed some thinking and some brawn, there was trepidation and violence did not always win the day. The adults couldn't succeed without the children, and everyone learns something. A little bit good triumphs over evil, but the leader of the dark side gets away, so there remains that threat of future peril (always a bonus).
Not my thing, but surprisingly enjoyable.

'The House on Falling Star Hill' is a great book for all ages. It lies with a mystery and as you go through you find little clues. The end will startle you , and is really suprising.Overall, this is a great book and I encourage other booklovers to read this great book.
- Rayna

I really like the plot of this book. The story simply fascinates me. However, I think that it could have been written better. The story is quite fast-paced and I think I could use with some more details about people and places in this story.

Michael Molloy is, apparently, an accomplished author of young adult fiction -- his "witch" books are very popular. With Peter Raven Under Fire, he turns his hand to historic naval fiction for young adults. Peter, the well-educated son of a clergyman is determined to go to sea and has prevailed on his father to find him a midshipman's berth. He is almost immediately swept into intrigue and espionage as he becomes the protégé of the mysterious Commodore Beaumont. Unfortunately, Molloy has not done his homework. Or rather, he has not done it well enough. The book is riddled with howlers and inaccuracies. He makes a muddle of naval vessels (100-gun frigates, indeed!), naval ranks and shipboard vocabulary. He makes no pretense at describing ship handling -- captains simply turn their ships. There are also language issues that a copy editor should have caught, like confusing "feint" and "feign". Molloy's conception of interactions among officers and men is based more on his imagination than on research. Still, this is fiction and written to engage young adults, so maybe that excuses some liberties. The same must be said for the preposterous plot in which Raven and Beaumont pit themselves against an evil villain who, like Dr. No, plots to rule the new world from his secret island fortress. For all that, Molloy is a skilled story teller and sweeps the reader into the action. For those willing to suspend disbelief and overlook historical inaccuracies (or, like many young readers, be unaware of them), this is an engaging story. I imagine a youngster would enjoy it, but if I were choosing historic naval fiction for a young friend I would probably start with Linda Collison or Paul Doswell.

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

Thirteen-year-old midshipman Peter Raven is assigned to active duty aboard the HMS Torren. Boys became men early in England in 1800, and Great Britain is in her seventh year of struggle with France. The French Revolution is over, and Napoleon Bonaparte is in power. He needs money to defeat the English and exploit the Louisiana territory where he plans to install a "King of New Orleans" under French rule, and has chosen one of the privateers that are active in the Caribbean; a vile and quite mad pirate that has promised him the money he needs. These pirates attack any ships that cross their paths, murdering the crews and stealing the cargoes.

When the HMS Torren falls prey to the pirates, Peter and the charismatic Matthew Book manage to separately escape, but everyone else is murdered. Peter becomes apprenticed to a British Spy, and is reunited with Matthew. The three of them strive to outwit the pirates and French government and keep America out of their hands.

This lively book has a multi-level plot and exciting characters. I thought the size of the book might be a bit intimidating for reluctant readers, but it left me wanting more. The action goes from the English Channel to Paris to the Caribbean and back again. It's a seafaring adventure on a grand scale that is impossible to put down. Molloy promises a sequel, and I can't wait...Peter Raven is one of my favorite characters. There is even a bit of romance with the beautiful, rich young American girl, Lucy Cosgrove.

Abby and her best friend Spike, a foundling, live in an ordinary seaside town, or so they think. They learn that nearly everyone they know are light witches, and together they are dragged into a battle against the dark witches, in a struggle for ice dust, the source of all magical power, and along the way, discover who Spike really is. This is a great start of a great trilogy.

This is an INCREDIBLE book that I read a long time ago! It's one of those books that just goes great with your imagination. A must read for anyone of any age! n_n