Book Reviews and More: ManuelAlfonseca

...

Earth-9 Colony Series:

…

Solar System Series:

Operation Viginti

...

The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Series:
Quetzalcoatl's Zahir
The Mystery of the Haunted House
The Mystery of the Sapphire Bracelet
The Mystery of the Honeymoon
The Mystery of the Egyptian Vulture Country House
...

Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Series:
The Journey of Tivo the Dauntless
The Mystery of the Black Lake
The Silver Swan
The Secret of the Ice Field

The Lost Continent

…

The Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Series:

The Seal of Aeolus

The Emerald Tablet

The Tartessian Crown

…

Non-Fiction:
Human Cultures & Evolution
World Population: Past, Present, & Future

The Fifth Level of Evolution

...

Ennia - Manuel Alfonseca - Spanish Edition

Monday, 5 August 2024

The Mystery of the Black Lake - Manuel Alfonseca - Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Book 2

The Mystery of the Black Lake

Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Book 2

Manuel Alfonseca
ISBN 9781520228327

eISBN 1230000122876

ASIN B00D8YFLS6

This was the 23rd volume I have read from the pen of Manuel. Or I should say 23rd reading as I have read some of them more than once. It is a great story continues a fun series. With each new volume I read from the pen of Alfonseca I have a greater appreciation for his skill and talent as an author. I first encountered his works based on the recommendation of a friend back in 2017. Once I started reading this book I could hardly put it down.

The description of this volume states:

“Fifty years after the journey of Tivo the Dauntless, his grandson Elvor wishes to imitate his exploits and become the owner of one of the pieces of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle. Will he be able to do it? The Spanish version of this book was selected for the final phase of the Lazarillo Award in 1983.Manuel Alfonseca is a professor in the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid, Spain. In the last 30 years he has published 24 novels in different genres: historic, science-fiction, adventure and fantasy. In 1988 he won the Lazarillo Award, in 2012 the La Brújula Award, and he has been a finalist in several additional prizes.”

About the author we are informed that:

“Manuel Alfonseca is a professor in the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid, Spain. In the last 30 years he has published 24 novels in different genres: historic, science-fiction, adventure and fantasy. In 1988 he won the Lazarillo Award, in 2012 the La Brújula Award, and he has been a finalist in several additional prizes.”

And on a differ volume

The chapters in this work are:

1. A strange proposal

2. Farewell to Tiva

3. The cavern in the mountain

4. In the darkness

5. The kingdom of shadows

6. The gloomy forest

7. The black lake

8. The castle

9. The prisoner

10. The strife in the throne hall

11. The knight

I have had these books for a little while now but had not got around to reading them. They have been in the running to be the GoodReads Catholic Book Club book for the month. Last year I read book 1 but did not get back to the series, in June 2024 they were selected for the book club, but I was so busy with work and home I did not read them with the club. I am reading them now and interacting with the club chats for this series. The series is a classic adventure quest story. It can be read to younger children, and enjoyed but older adults like myself.

The characters are well written. It has an intriguing plot. Some important lessons, and it deals with some serious issues like prejudices and unhealthy ambition, but it also has themes of family, hope, and faithfulness. A very interesting aspect is that in this one Kyle does not make a personal appearance. But The spirit does when a character turns to Kyle for help and comfort. In many ways this one reminds me of C.S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair.

The characters are well written. There is a lot of action and the story moves at a great pace. We see charterer development and towards the end how it ties back to book 1.

It was a fun read and set up the rest of the series well. I look forward to reading the other 3 volumes. A great book in the epic adventure quest series style. A really solid 4/5 stars. It is a fun book to read to middle grade readers and excellent for tweens and teens. I can easily recommend this book!

Note: my only real complaint is the map has not been translated into English. I could make do with my French from years ago but my son could not translate it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Manuel Alfonseca in English:
Jacob's Ladder
The Ruby of the Ganges
The Last Dinosaur
Ennia in Faerie
The Heirloom of King Scorpion
Beyond the Black Hole
The Water of Life

Albatros

...

Earth-9 Colony Series:

…

Solar System Series:

Operation Viginti

...

The Lost Continent

…

The Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Series:

The Seal of Aeolus

The Emerald Tablet

The Tartessian Crown

…

Non-Fiction:
Human Cultures & Evolution
World Population: Past, Present, & Future

The Fifth Level of Evolution

...

Monday, 29 April 2024

The Last Dinosaur - Manuel Alfonseca

The Last Dinosaur

Manuel Alfonseca
ISBN 9781540802712

eISBN 1230000258483

ASIN B00MHRW2L4

This was the 22nd volume I have read from the pen of Manuel. Or I should say 22nd reading as I have read some of them more than once. It is another great story. It seems that with each new volume I read I have a greater appreciation for his skill and talent as an author. I first encountered his works based on the recommendation of a friend back in 2017. Once I started reading this book I could hardly put it down.

The description of this volume is:

“Ignacio Bastos was seventeen when he met Victor Arias, an old man obsessed with paleontology. This encounter changed his life by sending him on an amazing expedition to Malta, during which they make a unique, revolutionary discovery. Everything starts with the find of a fossil: the skeleton of a dinosaur.”

About the author we are informed that:

The chapters in this work are:

The extinction of the dinosaurs

The diggings

The fossil

The metallic box

What was in the box

The translation

Suspicion

The crooks

The attack

The flight of the dinosaurs

The civil servant

An ancient catastrophe

The flight of Victor Arias

A modern catastrophe

I have had this book for a little while now but had not got around to reading it. I really wish I had read it earlier. It is a fascinating concept and it is well executed. In many ways it reminds me of T.M. Doran’s Toward the Glean trilogy. The tale includes the discovery of something that should be impossible in a most improbable place. Leading to the translation of an ancient document. The hopes and dreams of an old man, and a young man just trying to survive and look after his patron.

The characters are well written. It has an intriguing plot. It was a great read. I will note I prefer the original cover with the green trim, but that is personal taste. It is a great book to read to late middle grade readers and also excellent for tweens and teens. I can easily recommend this book!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Manuel Alfonseca in English:
Jacob's Ladder
The Ruby of the Ganges
The Last Dinosaur
Ennia in Faerie
The Heirloom of King Scorpion
Beyond the Black Hole
The Water of Life

Albatros

...

Earth-9 Colony Series:

…

Solar System Series:

Operation Viginti

...

The Lost Continent

…

The Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Series:

The Seal of Aeolus

The Emerald Tablet

The Tartessian Crown

…

Non-Fiction:
Human Cultures & Evolution
World Population: Past, Present, & Future

The Fifth Level of Evolution

...

Sunday, 26 November 2023

The Journey of Tivo the Dauntless - Manuel Alfonseca - Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Book 1

The Journey of Tivo the Dauntless

Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Book 1

Manuel Alfonseca
ISBN 9781542692465

ASIN B07S8WR1TG

This was the 21st volume I have read from the pen of Manuel. Or I should say 21st reading as I have read some of them more than once. It is a great story and looks like the beginning of a fun series. It seems that with each new volume I read I have a greater appreciation for his skill and talent as an author. I first encountered his works based on the recommendation of a friend back in 2017. Once I started reading this book I could hardly put it down.

There are two online descriptions for this volume they are:

“In the far country of Tiva, king Tivo discovers that finding one of the lost pieces of the magic jigsaw puzzle is the only way to save his bethroted Aquamarine. This book describes the adventures and difficulties he had to fight to succeed in his dangerous undertaking.”

And

“In the far country of Tiva, king Tivo learns that the only way to cure his betrothed, Aquamarine, will be by means of one of the lost pieces of the magic jigsaw puzzle. This book, which was selected for the final phase of the Lazarillo Award, describes the adventures and difficulties he had to fight in his dangerous quest.”

About the author we are informed that:

The chapters in this work are:

1. The Illness Of The Princess

2. Elavel

3. The Great Forest

4. The Lost Valley

5. Kial

6. The Desert

7. The Cavern In The Mountain

8. The Nomads Of The Steppe

9. The Huntress

10. The Way To Klír

11. Duva’s Ball

12. The Sacrifice

13. The Chasm

I have had these books for a little while now but had not got around to reading them. They have been in the running to be the GoodReads Catholic Book Club book for the month. But I couldn’t wait any longer and give this first story a read. It is a classic adventure quest story. It can be read to younger children, and enjoyed but older adults like myself.

The characters are well written. It has an interesting plot. It deals with some serious issues like fatal illnesses and death and also friendship, family and love. A very interesting aspect is the character of Kyle and how he helps. In some ways he is like a winged or angelic version of Aslan.

It was a great read and set up the series well. I look forward to reading the other 4 volumes. I will note I prefer the original cover with the green trim, but that is personal taste. I great book in the epic adventure quest style. It is a great book to read to middle grade readers and excellent for tweens and teens. I can easily recommend this book!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Manuel Alfonseca in English:
Jacob's Ladder
The Ruby of the Ganges
The Last Dinosaur
Ennia in Faerie
The Heirloom of King Scorpion
Beyond the Black Hole
The Water of Life

Albatros

...

Earth-9 Colony Series:

…

Solar System Series: