| Title | : | Fierce |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1544111932 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781544111933 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 294 |
| Publication | : | First published March 25, 2017 |
In this comedic tale of romance, mystery, and adventure, our hero is joined by his hunky boyfriend, his acerbic boss, an uptight college science professor, and his ex-boyfriend/once crime-fighting partner -- not to mention a whole pack of wolves -- to help foil his nemesis and uncover the secrets of his past to save his future.
Fierce Reviews
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Based on the blurb alone, I suspected I would like this story. A superhero who was raised by wolves in the wilds of Montana until age seven, who is now a teenager with several secrets in his past, has an enormous ego and an almost pathological need to become famous combined with Rob Rosen’s trademark humor, after all, is bound to be amusing. But that isn’t all this novel has to offer. I also got a significant dose of suspense, conspiracies out the wazoo, hilarious references to other superhero fandoms, hormonal teenagers trying to save the world, and a great action adventure with lots of superpowers on display. The characters are fascinating as well, not at all the “standard” good-versus-bad guys most superhero stories thrive on, but instead real men with moral issues and very human needs. With a plot that twists more times than a superhero’s cape in a storm, as far as I am concerned, ‘Fierce’ lives up to its name – and then some!
Lucas tells his story in first person and his tone of voice alternates between philosophical, boasting, and very, very funny. He goes through what he remembers of his childhood before launching into the story itself, but it’s all a flashback that leads up to the very beginning of the book: Lucas in a cage, yelling for help. I was on pins on needles to find out how he got there, why his superpowers were not sufficient to get him out, and what would happen next.
While the focus is on Lucas trying to discover who he really is, where he came from, and who his biological parents are, the secondary characters with their individual agendas are almost as interesting. There is Craig, childhood friend, first boyfriend, and ex whose motives and actions throughout most of the book are less than transparent. There is Lucas’s boss at the café where he works, who is older and becomes a great mentor. There is Lucas’s newest boyfriend who has a homophobic brother he doesn’t know about, a farmer in financial trouble as a father, and who goes from roommate to essential supporter of Lucas’s case in a very selfless way. There are others as well, and I loved getting to know and love – or hate, as the case may have been – each and every one of them.
If you like snarky, sarcastic teenagers with a secret to uncover and a cause to fight for, if you enjoy action/adventure of the superhero kind with a somewhat unusual explanation for said superpowers, and if you’re looking for a read that is laugh-out-loud funny, suspenseful, mysterious, hot, surprising, and has an ending that is as sweet as it is poignant, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It’s entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time, and has some great character growth as a very enjoyable bonus. What more could I ask for?
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on
Rainbow Book Reviews. -
I’ve had a terrific run of off-the-wall superhero/villian stories lately, so I was kinda all over this book when it came up for review. The story of Lucas who figures out he is a super-human, who then sets out to become a superhero, with a wild and interesting cast of enemies and friends alike, sounded like a lot of fun. And the blurb did an excellent job of selling this book. It sounded right up my alley.
Unfortunately, from page one (from almost paragraph one) I ran into trouble.“Help!”
I know, strange way to start a story, me screaming at you like that, but they say you need to grab the reader’s attention right off the bat. Help! I figured would do just that. Plus, you know, help was just what I needed. I mean, I was locked in a cage, my life in jeopardy of being snuffed out—which was par for the course, but still. In any case, help! seemed right on up there with the greats: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; Call me Ishmael; Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret. And I only needed four little letters to get my point across. Take that, Judy Blume!
The almost instantaneous break of the fourth wall, the scatterbrained writing, they way it just threw in that line about how writers are told to catch the reader’s attention with the first line–all of it just totally tossed me out of the story so fast if I looked back there would have been dust swirling where I had been standing. It also had the unfortunate effect of making the story feel like a first draft of a writing assignment in Creative Writing 101. And from that moment on I couldn’t find my way back in. Instead of being submerged in the world where superheros were possible (and thereby the rules of physics and common sense were meant to be broken) every time something impossible happened in the story (and it damn well happened a lot) I found myself scoffing at it.
For example, when Lucas mentions that: “As a baby, I was raised by wolves in the mountainous wilds of Montana.” All my brain was saying, was: No, no you were not. Even though, in this story, he clearly was.
And when his best friend (who is like probably 17 years old) said he broke into a military base computer to steal the plans to some kind of super-Kevlar cloth in order to make them super-suits…I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. Because a) despite the fact that Craig is apparently a genius, I didn’t believe for a second he could do this; and b) even if he could, I had serious doubts that he would then be able to construct this cloth that had to have taken millions of dollars to create and manufacture…especially since as far as I can tell both Craig and Lucas are like middle class kids out in the wilds of Montana.
Those are only two examples of the sheer leaps of faith that this book requires of the readers, and my faith didn’t even get me to the top of the building, let alone out on a ledge. This book kept asking me to believe the impossible and I just couldn’t do it. The combination of way this book just broke down the fourth wall as well as the first-person narrative made it nearly impossible. Because instead of drawing me into the story, it did the exact opposite. It threw this mess of a narrative into my world and let’s face it, in the real world, none of this has legs to stand on.
That is not even factoring in the way the plot was basically a sequence of deus ex machina reveals. Like, every single problem in this book was solved by some completely ridiculous coincidence. And it was all supposed to be some grand mystery–this search to find out who Lucas really was and where he came from–but to be honest, I didn’t care. I wasn’t sure why I should care about where he came from, or who he is, or why he can do the things he does. Mostly because I didn’t really care about him or any of the other characters at all. Also, I kinda stopped wanting to know where his powers came from after the utterly absurd suggestion that he got his powers by being bit once by a wolf. Not even a radioactive wolf. Just a normal, everyday wolf.
(And if anything made me question the genius of Craig it was his assertion that being bit by a random wolf would somehow change the genetics of a human being. Not even in comic books, dude, does that make any sense.)
I wish I could say more good things about this book, I do. It had a decent set up, but man was the way it was written so far from what I was expecting or hoping. Even for a YA book (and despite 3/4 of it taking place while Lucas is in college it is extremely YA–and probably not in the best of ways). The characters felt sophomoric–my god, by the time I got to the halfway point I would have paid to have Lucas stop mention his dick and what he wanted to do with it–and the constant scene breaks just so Lucas could go have sex or mention having sex, or wanting to have sex, were off-putting. It may have been true to life, as to what goes on in the brain of an 18 year old male, but it was tedious and repetitive and it slowed the pace of the story every time it happened. The guy is horny, I get it, time to move on, now…
Part of my eventual dislike probably came from my issue with YA as a whole, but even that could not explain away the poor writing and plotting of this story. It is pretty easy to read…but that is mainly because there is not a whole lot there of substance. The bad guy is exactly who you think it is, the explanation for Lucas’ backstory is everything you guess it is, and the characters never do anything to try and make this a fresh and interesting take on the genre of gay superheros. It is, in the end, everything you expect out of this type of story, and in the end that is its downfall.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
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A
Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
You guys, I can’t tell you how much I loved this book. Seriously, this is my favorite book of the year thus far. It had everything…romance, action, intrigue, sex, and a whole lot of humor. Every single character was perfectly written and fit perfectly with all the others. Even the wolves had roles to play and they totally rocked it.
Now, I can’t give away too much because if I tried to sum up the plot other than what I wrote in the first paragraphs, I’ll ruin it for you. This is a book that needs to be read from beginning to end. There should be no skipping paragraphs, skimming to the end, or even a break or two. I was so caught up in this story, I read it from beginning to end in one sitting, not even a trip to the bathroom.
Lucas/Fierce is awesome! He’s a typical teenager, a little on the nerdy side, and unsure of his place in the world. It doesn’t help that he’s extremely hairy, has no real friends, and has to hide how fast he really is when he runs track. Aside from his adopted parents, the only person he’s close to is Craig, the neighbor boy who is home schooled and brilliant. In fact, Craig is so brilliant, he becomes Fierce’s crime fighting partner, calling himself The Brain. Craig makes their costumes (bulletproof, of course), masks (with built in earpieces, of course), and all of their cool toys (laser beams in their super secret lair, of course). Together, Fierce and The Brain are smart, sexy, and hilarious.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety
here. -
That ended much better than I'd feared! Good story, very enjoyable, and the only quibble I would have had was dealt with. Still, I would have liked to see the senator sweat. *evil grin*
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5 Stars!
Rob Rosen knows how to write comedy. I have to remember not to read his books late at night in bed because I tend to wake the whole house with my cackling.
Fierce is a story of a Young Nerdy Superhero with amazing abilities and a talent for letting his oversized ego and raging libido get the better of him all while saving the world or at least his small college town in Montana. Finding his birth parents and the truth of his existence is a quest that leads him places he never imagined. Working with his boss Doug, Simon a college professor, his boyfriend Todd and his ex "The Brain" aka Craig, Todd uncovers secrets and some hard truths.
I really don't want to spoil this one for anyone because, honestly, I loved blindly following through the story with Lucas. He's so funny and adorable and definitely not all that bright but it's more endearing than it is annoying. He's just one of those characters you can't help but love and want to succeed, yet at the same time, his mistakes and blunders sometimes are what add the comic relief to the story.
I won't pretend I didn't love Doug, Simon and most definitely, Todd. Like Superman had Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, Lucas or Fierce has Doug, Todd and Simon. The whole cast of characters bring this story to life and make it hard to put down. That combined with Rob's amazing ability to tell a wonderful and unique story make this a MUST READ!
Highly Recommendable!
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*** -
I enjoyed "Fierce." I like the quirkiness of the character, the self-doubts he has, the teenager-filled moments. He's not a superhero in the true sense of the word, but he is interesting. The writing was crisp, the similes popped out to entertain and the story made me smile. Definitely YA-ish, and recommend.
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A riotously funny novel with a ton of heart.
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Another great book by Rob. Thanks for the snarky Fierce...
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I was lucky enough to get an advance reader's copy of Fierce. God, what a great book! Fierce is one part superhero book, one part romance, one part comedy, one part mystery, and a 100% enjoyable. Rosen takes the superhero genre to a whole new level, giving his hero, Fierce, foibles and real-life problems that he needs to overcome, all while saving his friends and family from certain harm. And all while a freshman in college, no less. This book is sexy and funny and fresh! LOVED it!
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~ 3.5 Stars ~
I totally enjoyed this book for what it was, and I personally really liked it; though, admittedly, it won’t be for everyone. There is a specific reader group out there for this type of book. If you are a reader who prefers a lot of substance and angsty-drama (which is something I usually go for, but needed a break from) it definitely doesn’t fit that mold. Also, it’s pretty much YA, with a lot of references to sexy times, without a lot of description of them when they happen (though Lucas is eighteen, so he often thinks with his hormones, it’s just not detailed).
The humor could go either way. I can see some people finding it hard to get into the book, because the comedy really is sort of non-stop and over the top. Even when the “drama” happens, it is hard to take anything too seriously. Told from the first person POV, Lucas is a hoot, but I could definitely see how some readers may find it all just a wee bit too much. Though I liked the comedic tones throughout, it could have used a little more seriousness here and there to break up some of the constant humor being volleyed at me.
What will you find in this story? You will find a clearly outrageous, funny and unbelievable plot involving Lucas, who was raised by a pack of wolves as a baby, eventually is found as a feral child, and adopted. Somehow he developed superpowers, and now, as an eighteen-year-old, he has questions, okay? Like, who were his real parents? What was he doing as a baby in the mountains of Montana? When can he get laid, again (because he is eighteen and hormones—okay)? He isn’t really the most prepared superhero out there, but he does go with the flow. When he is in superhero mode, I totally pictured my own internal dialogue being pretty much the same as Lucas’s, and that helped me connect with him as a character.“Give yourself up or else.”
He squinted my way. He didn’t look as afraid as I would have liked. “Or else what?”
I gulped. I hadn’t thought of the or else. In fact, I was pretty much winging it by that point. I mean, I’d made it there. I lived through a bullet party. He should’ve been cowering. FYI, he wasn’t cowering. In fact, he looked the opposite of cowering. Mad, actually. Yes, he looked mad. Like crazy mad. Then again, bank robbers/hostage takers aren’t exactly the sanest people—or so I surmised.”
Doug, his acerbic boss at the coffee shop, has ideas. Ideas that help point Lucas in the right direction to find his answers. Ideas that help find others to help Lucas get his answers, because Doug prefers to drink coffee and that’s about it. If only he could get ideas to help Lucas remember how to serve decaf and regular coffee appropriately. Spoiler: it probably won’t happen.
I got caught up a couple times on the plausibility factor of the plot in the beginning. The plot is so far-fetched and beyond realistic in so many areas, so I basically just had to take a leap of faith. I decided to let go of figuring out whether the situations were believable (which a lot weren’t), and just go with the flow. Once I did that, I delighted in it so much more.
I enjoyed this book for what it was and what it gave me, which happened to be a lot of laughter. It wasn’t meant to be serious, and it wasn’t meant to be believable (at least, I don’t think it was. I surely hope not!). But it was a fun-filled and crazy little journey, with an eccentric cast of characters and an eighteen-year-old with no filter, priorities that generally are dictated by hormones, and a hairy back, who was frustrating and endearing, at the same time. It was the perfect way to get me out of my somewhat grumpy mood over the last couple days, and fall asleep with a smiling face.
Reviewed by Lindsey for
The Novel Approach -
This was great. Witty and fast-paced, with a super extroverted MC, who told the story from his point of view. The whole book was comically exaggerated. Loved that. Lots of awkward situations only youngsters can create and survive without dying of embarrassment.
The book starts off with Lucas telling us how he grew up and how he became a superhero with the help of his friend and lover Craig. Due to different opinions about morals and who should/can be in the spotlight their ways part. And while Craig starts working for a politician after finishing school, Lucas moves out to get his university degree.
At university he starts looking for his roots. Since he was adopted as a child, he wants to find out about his birth parents. With the help of his employer, his new boyfriend and an emeritus professor he uncovers a mysterious government project that might be connected to him. Let's not forget about Craig at this point, he know something and until the end it's hard to figure out, where he stands...
If you don't mind a narrator who is super full of himself, gay and a horny teenager who likes to point out that he is a bit more hairy than your average boy, give it a try. I'm sure you'll love this book. -
I'm a huge fan of queer superhero novels, which are few are far between. And so, with delight I devoured Rob Rosen's latest. Unlike most superhero books, this was also a romantic comedy, with laughs aplenty and lots of poignant moments. But it's also a mystery. Where did Lucas get his powers from? Why is there a strange lab up in the mountains, a lab somehow connected to Lucas? What's the senator's involvement with the lab, with Lucas? Is Lucas's ex evil or good? In other words, I came for the super stuff, but was quickly riveted by the backstory, then enthralled with the zany cast of supporting characters Rosen surrounded our hero, Lucas, with. Doug especially. Doug is the ultimate smart-ass sidekick, Alfred with attitude. This was a quick read, mainly because I couldn't put this book down. Times the way they are, we all need a good laugh. Thank you, Mister Rosen, for that!
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2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Fierce Rob Rosen
1) Laugh out loud funny with lots of grins and groans, which I'm sure the author hoped for. Super cute and adorable. The romance is sweet, the plot solid and the supporting cast well drawn. The hero of the story steals the show, however, with his completely uncool sense of humor and unspoiled moral compass. I was cheering him on from the very first page.
2) I enjoyed "Fierce." I like the quirkiness of the character, the self-doubts he has, the teenager-filled moments. He's not a superhero in the true sense of the word, but he is interesting. The writing was crisp, the similes popped out to entertain and the story made me smile. Definitely YA-ish, and recommend. -
This book reminded me that teenage boys are basically hormones in a skin, as Lucas showed so aptly during the story. So I had fun with the superheroing, I liked Todd and Doug and Simon and found Fierce amusing. All the mentioning of dicks, sex, buckets full of sperm was not so fun, though. After a while, it is not hot anymore, it is tedious.
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What would happen if a boy was taken out of a foreign country and raised by a pack of wolves in the wilds of Montana until he was seven years old and adopted by an American couple? That's what happens in this wonderful book. Lots of gay content.
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A
ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found
here.
2.5 Stars
Lucas has superpowers or as he likes to call it, he is super. He was raised by wolves, is as hairy as one and is in love with his best friend Craig. But as luck would have it Craig reciprocates Lucas’ love and also knows his super secret.
In the summer before senior year Craig and Lucas start a relationship and become a superhero duo that saves the world, but as they are superheroing the differences between Craig and Lucas become starkly apparent. Will things work out between these two or will this difference of opinions turn them into mortal enemies?
I am utterly confused as to whether I liked this book, loved it or barely tolerated it. As I read this book there were parts that I barely tolerated, some that I liked and some that I loved.
Let’s start with the things about this book I barely tolerated and the first among those things would be Craig. Early on in the book I mistakenly made the assumption that Craig and Lucas were end game and this made the fact that I didn’t like Craig all that more disquieting. I think quite a few people reading this book would make that assumption, I know I did, but I feel like this book should be read as an adventure that follows Lucas’ life story. Craig falls more in the evil genius than superhero category in this book and his backstory does make him the perfect foil for Lucas’ Fierce (Lucas’ superhero name).
I personally didn’t find the beginning of this book interesting to the extent that if I wasn’t reviewing this book I would have probably quit reading it at this point but having said that I do realize that if I hadn’t continued reading I would have missed the best part of this book.
The best part of this book was the dilemma of being a superhero. Almost in all superhero stories the people closest to the superhero are benefitted even if they are in the wrong because well that’s how the story goes and the same thing happens in this one to an extent. But what I liked about this book was that it took that example and made Fierce/Lucas face the truth that even when you do the right thing it will turn out be the wrong thing for someone good, someone who doesn’t deserve the punishment for the justice you have meted out. I think the best part of this book was bringing into focus that superhero stories make the world black and white when the world is rarely so. I loved this book for that and I loved the confused, struggling with himself and his superhero identity version of Lucas.
I liked Lucas’ character quite a bit and I understood and fully sympathized with his fervour to find out about his birth parents. But from here on the plot feels a little repetitive, it seemed like all these people did was go to Granite peak and back and up again and back and so on and so forth. Also the resolution of the plot isn’t as cut and dry as I would have liked. I didn’t understand the idea behind the whole revenge plan that happens post Fierce’s rescue and after that the story is all muddled up.
For me none of the side characters, except Craig, stood out much. I liked Todd and Lucas and their relationship though I think it is time that someone tells Lucas that he does a very bad job of hiding his superpowers.
This book has its moments but you will have to take the good with the bad.
Cover Art by Rob Rosen. I liked the cover but why Lucas is wearing glasses on the cover is beyond me… a tribute to Superman perhaps? -
Utter thrash. Nonsensical. Boners were mentioned way too many times.
I loved it. -
Such a crazy book and I loved all the zany one-liners!
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This is a gay, campy, and funny wild ride through the life of a teenage super 'hero' and the family he surrounds himself with. Loved it!
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From Bayou Book Junkie: "Rob's amazing ability to tell a wonderful and unique story make this a MUST READ!"
http://bayoubookjunkie.blogspot.com/2...
From Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews: "This is a story that has to be experienced. It’s quirky, different, thoroughly egotistical and has emotional ups and downs; I suspect it will be a guilty pleasure for many."
http://sinfullymmbookreviews.blogspot...
From Rainbow Book Reviews: "If you like snarky, sarcastic teenagers with a secret to uncover and a cause to fight for, if you enjoy action/adventure of the superhero kind with a somewhat unusual explanation for said superpowers, and if you’re looking for a read that is laugh-out-loud funny, suspenseful, mysterious, hot, surprising, and has an ending that is as sweet as it is poignant, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It’s entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time, and has some great character growth as a very enjoyable bonus. What more could I ask for?"
http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com/boo... -
Funny, goofy YA romp.
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Awesome! I needed a good laugh. I got hundreds. Bravo, Mister Rosen!
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I'm a huge Rob Rosen fan. Rob does zany comedy better than anyone else, but always mixed with a message or two, with some poignancy. Fierce is no exception. Lucas, after all, isn't your typical superhero. He's trying to save the world while protecting his friends and family, all while he's searching for his birth parents and going to college. In other words, Lucas has his plate full! Seriously, I enjoyed the hell out of this book, and I was rooting for Lucas and his screwball cast of friends from beginning to end. Please, Rob, if you're reading this, I'd love a sequel!
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Original review on
Molly Lolly
Four stars!
This was such a fun story. This is my first book by Mr. Rosen and I was thrown a little bit at first by his unique writing style. Once I got into the swing of the story and Mr. Rosen’s voice I couldn’t put the book down. I was fascinated by Lucas’ journey. Plus Lucas’ quest to find love. I wound up really liking the story and enjoying the storytelling style.
Lucas was so over the top in many ways, but also a typical older teen at the same time. He struggled with doing the right thing and what each decision meant for him and those he cares for. I liked how he was realistic in his thought process. You truly felt like he was telling you his story and like you were there with him on the adventure. His heartbreak was sad but I liked how he handled it. The friends Lucas made throughout the story wound up being wonderful characters as well. I liked how Lucas realized each of them were important in his life. By the end you could tell Lucas was content with his life and was excited to continue fighting crime with his Fierce Force.
The suspense/mystery/intrigue plot line was fascinating. I loved all the not knowing and guessing about what happened, who was behind everything and how they would figure it out. Each of the characters play a role in unraveling the plot. Once the whole truth and plot came out I was floored how well laid out everything was. I was glad everything was wrapped up at the end. I’m not left with any lingering questions about Lucas’ past or his powers.
I liked how the romance element was woven throughout the story but didn’t take over the story. It was definitely part of the whole and couldn’t have been removed all together. But it was subtle. I was definitely rooting for Lucas to find a special someone to fall in love with. By the end of the book I had a sense of pleasant hopefulness for Lucas and his future. I would love to read more stories with him, and the Fierce Force. -
4.5 Stars!!!
I have to admit I have a bit of a weakness for superheroes and one of my co-bloggers has been telling me that I just had to check out Rob Rosen's works, so, of course, I couldn't pass up on reviewing this book.
Lucas/Fierce was raised by wolves after being abandoned as a baby and has super powers. He's sarcastic, arrogant, sweet and has a fantastic sense of humor that I adored. He wants to do good deeds, find his parents and maybe get laid in the meantime, too. After all, he's just 18 and a hormone bomb. His first love was his partner in crime fighting/best friend until one day he decided to take a job with a shady senator, and really, I'm so thankful for that because Lucas was too good for Craig. His second attempt at love was much better and even if there were a few bumps on the road, Todd and Lucas were awesome together. There's no on-page sex, really, mostly it's just mentioned, but with everything going on and with Rob Rosen's masterful writing, you won't even miss it.
I adored the Fierce Force, Simon, Doug and Todd were just perfect allies for Lucas and were instrumental in helping him find the answers he'd been looking for all along.
All in all, this was my first Rob Rosen book, but it certainly won't be the last. His writing style was fun, captivating and engaging and I couldn't get enough of Lucas and Todd and their adventures, which is always a good thing. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
