Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia

Caramel has already reviewed the first two books of Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong series: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky and Tristan Strong Destroys the World. (In case you are curious, he also reviewed the graphic novel adaptation of the first book.) Today he talks to Sprinkles about the third and last book in this trilogy: Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, published first in 2021.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia.
Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, this is the third book about Tristan Strong.

Caramel: Well, actually it is the fourth one I read. I did read the graphic novel version of the first book, too, remember?

S: True. Anyways, this is the last book in the trilogy, right?

C: Yes.

S: So tell us a bit about it then.

C: It starts off with him burning. Spontaneously combusting!

S: Wait, those are big words! And who is burning? Tristan?

C: Yep.

S: Wait, how? Why?

C: Magic? I think it is magic.

S: Hmm, so you are not quite sure.

C: Okay, now that I think a bit more about it, I am pretty sure it is magic.

S: Okay…

C: Well, so I am exaggerating a bit. But anyways there is some flames coming from his knuckles.

S: Alright. So is the whole story about his inflamed knuckles?

C: No. It is again about him versus some baddies from the other world. There is a particular villain, named King Cotton, and we met him in the first book already.

S: You did not mention him back then.

C: Well, I probably should have. Anyways the guy is just evil, and he is the main villain in this book. Where is New Orleans?

S: It is in Louisiana. Why do you ask?

C: Because in this book, Tristan is not in Alabama but visiting New Orleans with his family.

S: New Orleans has a very unique history. So what happens in New Orleans?

C: Tristan figures out that King Cotton is back in the real world and causing mischief. And both Tristan and his friends are in danger.

S: I see. That means more excitement and adventure, I suppose.

C: Yes.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia.
Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia.

S: Okay, so I think you read this book rather fast too.

C: I am a fast reader Sprinkles.

S: That is true. But this is again a big book. How many pages is it?

C: Let me see. 406 pages.

S: That is not bad! And I think you finished in a day or two at most.

C: I think it was one day.

S: School had not started yet then.

C: Yes. That is true.

S: Anyways, that is pretty impressive Caramel.

C: Well it is a good book, and it is very easy to read. You want to read it to know what’s going to happen next. And it is fast paced, and just fun to read.

S: I think that it is a good book for you then!

C: Yes, for me and for any other bunnies who like books about adventures in mythological lands!

S: That sounds almost like a book blurb, Caramel!

C: What’s a book blurb?

S: You know those sentences they have at the back cover of a book advertising it?

C: I see. Blurb is a funny word! Blurb! Blurb!

S: You are right, it is a funny word. Especially if you keep saying it like that.

C: Blurb.

S: Okay, I think you said it enough times.

C: Okay I will stop. Right after this: Blurb blurb blurb! Blurb.

S: Okay. Maybe this means we have come to the end of this review.

C: Maybe. And … blurb!

S: Alright. So let us wrap things up then. If you were to describe this whole series to someone, how would you do it?

C: Blurb!

S: Seriously!

C: Okay, seriously, here goes: magical adventures in and out of this world.

S: I like that!

C: Really? Do you think it would make a good-

S: Don’t say it!

C: -blurb?

S: Okay, I think I deserved that. Okay, let us wrap it up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews! And that would make a good blurb!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia and recommends the trilogy to other young bunnies who love to read mythological adventures.
Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia and recommends the trilogy to other young bunnies who love to read mythological adventures.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia

Earlier this year Caramel reviewed the graphic novel version of Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. A few weeks later he sat down and read the original book and reviewed it for the book bunnies blog. Today he is talking about the second book in the series, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, first published in 2020. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia.
Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, I remember you read and really enjoyed Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. This is a sequel of sorts, right? Can you tell us the main story?

Caramel: I can, yes; the question is: will I?

S: Okay, I can see you are going to be a bit cheeky today.

C: Yes.

S: Alright, cheeky is fine but we do have a review to post. So please tell me a bit about the book.

C: Okay. This book is about Tristan Strong, who was the main character in the first book. He is still in Alabama, living with his grandparents. In the first book he punched a hole in the sky and traveled into a world of magic and myth called Alke. In this book his grandma gets kidnapped in the real world. So Tristan goes to this other world to get help.

S: Is the kidnapping related to Tristan’s actions in this other world?

C: Yes. A bad creature from that other world is the one who kidnaps the grandma. So Tristan Strong asks for help from Gum Baby.

S: I remember you said Gum Baby was really annoying.

C: She is a little, yeah, but she is now a good friend to Tristan. So there is that.

S: I see. So do we meet any new mythological characters?

C: Yes, one particular one, but I can’t tell you.

S: Why? Because he is the villain?

C: I can neither confirm nor deny. I retain the right to remain silent.

S: Hmm, that sounds suspicious, but I will not push you further in this direction.

C: Don’t.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia.
Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia.

S: Okay, then. What else will you tell us about the book?

C: It is again a very long book. It has 390 pages!

S: That is a long book, especially for a little bunny like you!

C: But it is very exciting so I read it very fast.

S: Oh that sounds good!

C: Yes. I think the book is very good. I especially like Tristan Strong. He is funny. And he likes his grandma a lot. I like my grandmas a lot too. I have two!

S: Yes, you are lucky that way! So do we get to meet the grandma before or after she is kidnapped?

C: Both. But I won’t say too much more so I do not spoil things.

S: Well, I imagine Tristan Strong and Gum Baby will save the grandma, but maybe it is okay if you do not say it explicitly.

C: Thank you.

S: Alright. What else do you want to tell us?

C: I really liked the book. But it ends with a cliffhanger again! So now I have to read the third book.

S: I see. But is the main story of the book tied up well enough at least?

C: Yes.

S: So if you were to describe the book in three to five words, what would you say?

C: Fun, fast-paced read about an adventure full of myth and legend.

S: Hmm, I think that is quite a few words more than I asked for, but that is alright. So let us wrap up this review. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia and is curious about what Tristan will do next.
Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia and is curious about what Tristan will do next.

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer

Last week, Caramel reviewed Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer, the second book about the evil boy genius Artemis Fowl. Today he reviews Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, the third book in the series, first published in 2003. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer.
Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer.

Sprinkles: So here we are, about to start talking about yet another Artemis Fowl book. So this is number three. Tell us about it.

Caramel: This book starts out with Artemis Fowl building a supercomputer he calls C Cube. He tries to bargain with a business man who steals it from him. And his friend Butler is shot. The supercomputer uses fairy technology that Artemis stole from the fairies, and the fairies detect it when he uses it to show off to the businessman. They come to figure out what is going on, and the fairy officer Holly ends up helping Artemis again.

S: So we have some old characters, and some new ones, too. Right?

C: Yes, the businessman Jon Spiro is new. But for example, Foaly the centaur and Mulch Diggums are not new, and they have very important roles in this book.

S: I see. So is the plot as convoluted and complicated as the one from Book Two?

C: Yes, I think so. That’s why I have been rereading the book, to make sure I got all the details.

Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer.
Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer.

S: So is Artemis Fowl still evil?

C: Pretty much. Or maybe, not as much. He seems to be planning to go legitimate.

S: How so?

C: Like he knows that the supercomputer he built can be dangerous, and he actually wants it not to be in the hands of bad people.

S: You mean, other bad people? Because he built it after all, and he is probably still kind of bad?

C: He built it because he wanted it for himself, but he was not going to use it to cause any trouble. He was even thinking of making a version of it that could be marketable, like a real product.

S: So he was trying to become a “legitimate businessman” like Fat Tony in The Simpsons always claims to be?

C: No! Fat Tony is not a legitimate businessman. Artemis Fowl was trying to become a real legitimate businessman. He was trying to make a version that would not be dangerous at all and could be useful to a lot of other people.

S: I see. So there is some character development for the main character, then?

C: Yes. I mean he is still arrogant and so on, but I think he is softening up a bit.

S: I see. Do you like that?

C: Yes I do. He is still brilliant and funny.

S: Okay, so now I bet you will want to read the next book?

C: Yes! Especially because this book kind of ends on a cliffhanger.

S: Oh no! Okay then, I guess we will have to locate a copy of the fourth book now.

C: Yes, we have to!

S: Okay Caramel, I am guessing this is a good time to wrap this review up. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer and is ready to read Book Four.
Caramel enjoyed reading Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer and is ready to read Book Four.

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

A couple months ago, Caramel reviewed Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, the very first book about the evil boy genius Artemis Fowl. Today he reviews Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, the second book in the series, first published in 2002. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer.
Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, apparently we are back with Artemis Fowl, the evil boy genius. Tell me about this second book.

Caramel: As it turns out, everything is not too well.

S: What does that mean?

C: Artemis Fowl’s dad gets kidnapped. And the fairy lands are also in trouble. And the two troubles are related. And so Artemis ends up working together with Holly, the fairy detective from the first book, and together they try to figure out what is going on. And then they will foil the plans of the evil characters behind all the bad things going.

S: I see.

C: Actually there is a lot more, but it is really quite complicated.

S: Do you mean the plot is complicated?

C: Yes. There are plot twists and all kinds of new shady characters. I felt kind of anxious while reading it.

S: Hmm, that sounds intense.

C: It was intense. But in a good way.

Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer.
Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer.

S: Okay, so you described the first book as “fast-paced and action-packed page-turner.” What about this one?

C: That would work for this book too.

S: So this book did not disappoint?

C: No it definitely did not disappoint. In fact I liked this book a lot more than the first one.

S: That is interesting! Why?

C: I think it is more interesting. You already know the characters…

S: Hmm, so you feel a deeper connection to them.

C: Exactly.

S: And it sounds like the plot is a lot more convoluted, so there must be a lot going on all the time.

C: Yes. I could not put the book down when I was reading it. In fact I am holding it even now.

S: I can see that! Are you going to reread it?

C: Yes! I like rereading books I like. You know that.

S: I do.

C: And this is a book I liked!

S:Apparently there are at least six more books in this series. Do you think you will want to read some of those books, too?

C: Yes! Artemis Fowl is interesting! And I like how there are fairies, too, and it is totally normal that there is this other world.

S: Sounds like you found yourself a new series.

C: Yes! And this book also has the runes at the bottom of each page. And you know I like runes!

S: I do. And they are fun to play with. Here is a two-way translator that translates between the runes of the book and common English if any of our readers want to play with it.

C: I think there might be a few bunnies who might play with it right now.

S: Okay, let us wrap this review up first. Then you can play.

C: Okay.

S: What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer and is ready to dive right into Book Three.
Caramel loved reading Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer and is ready to dive right into Book Three.