I read this middle grade book back in November 2020 and am finally getting around to writing a review for it because I am constantly behind as a book reviewer. I have come to accept this fate in the fast paced world of book reading. Anyways, here is my review for James Clyde and the Tomb of Salvation by Colm McElwain.
Synopsis: Picking up shortly after the events of the first adventure, James Clyde returns with his best friends Ben and Mary Forester to his grandfather’s house in search of a map that will lead them to the Tomb of Salvation – an ancient shrine, where the three diamonds of Orchestra must be returned with the promise of immortality.
James and his company of adventurers journey through treacherous lands fraught with danger and meet many obstacles along the way – dangerous assassins on board a train, the dastardly Gilbert, also known as the ‘man in black’, and even an unlikely encounter with a fabled lake monster.
If they reach the Tomb of Salvation, James knows they will then face their greatest threat, for the tomb is said to be home to a terrifying demon – an entity that has shown no mercy to anyone who has ever entered its lair.
I actually had not realized this was a second book when I picked it up and that was okay because the way it was written, it could be taken as a standalone as well. You are given enough backstory from the first one to make this book be able to hold up on its own.
I thought it was a fun middle-grade read with lots of fantastical elements to it. The kids acted and made decisions very much like kids would which made it fun because kids are unpredictable. It felt like a cookie cutter magical adventure that these kids go on and I was happy with that because it was well done.
That being said, I wasn’t pulled into it as much as I wanted to be and that could be because it was middle-grade. I like having a more complex story to try and piece together and this one was pretty laid out for you.
I think this book would be great for the age range of 9 to 14! It seems like an adventure that would be enjoyed by many.
Book Rating: 3.5/5
You can buy this book on Amazon and find it on Goodreads.
Disclaimer: I was sent a physical copy of this book by the author to read and give an honest review.
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I decided to show off some of the books that I recently hauled and do an unboxing of my latest Culture Carton box with you guys! Let me know if you have read any of the books I hauled and what your favorite item is from the box!
Check out the video below:
