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Published: October 17th, 2013 by Seven Guns Press
Source: Provided for review
Format: eBook
Grade rate: B
Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.
As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.
I wasn't sure what to expect of Jack Templar, but really enjoy the book.
Jack is so funny! He is the typical 14 year old, that is, until the day of his birthday. I don't know why his aunt (or some of the hunters) didn't tell him anything about anything, until it was almost too late. What follows is an action packed night of chasing monsters and being chased by them. I have to say that I learned a lot about the different types :)
The book is very fast paces as much of the story takes place in a span of less than 24 hours. I don't know how Jack could cope with a chance and a loss that big. Jack's friends are so different and I truly adored Will (not so much T-Rex) and Eva is still a mystery to me.
To me Jack Templar: Monster Hunter is kind of a mix of Harry Potter with Percy Jackson; I adore both series, thus I liked the book. The writing is straightforward and it flows very nicely. There are instances in which the narrator (Jack) stops to give the reader a dire warning about reading the book and other times to give the reader a lesson on a certain type of monster; I found these endearing (if a bit repetitive). Did I mentioned this book is really funny? Because it is! I really enjoyed to listen to Jack's voice. The book can be read by middle grade readers as well.
I will definitely read the next book in the series.
About the cover: If I hadn't read the excerpt that came with the invitation to the blog tour I don't think that I would have picked it up. The cover is totally unrelated to the story and not very nice.
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Author Jeff Gunhus
Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.
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Hi! Thanks so much for the great review of Jack Templar Monster Hunter and for having the book on your site! I really appreciate the support. Thanks again!
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