Monster Squad: The Iron Golem

By: Christian Page

Narrated by: Natalie Hoyt

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Dark forces are converging on the sleepy town of Autumn's Hallow. Monsters in the woods, mad scientists on the loose, and sinister minions lurk. Four young friends must band together to uncover a secret plot that threatens them, the town they live in, and the people they love. It's up to Blaine Davis, Daschle Gaunt, Shelley Merry, and Drake Harker, heirs to fantastic powers, to stop an evil that threatens to consume the world. Can the Monster Squad thwart the evil Victor von Frankenstein in time? Find out in book one of an exciting new series!

©2014 Christian Page (P)2015 Christian Page

A fun and exciting new series.

Any additional comments?

When a spaceship crash lands in Roswell, the scientists on the scene see a giant metal man emerge. They are then exposed to something that gives them strange powers.

Years later, we meet Blaine, Daschle, and Shelley who all attend Autumn's Hallow school. Strange things start happening and the gang don't know what to do, that is until Drake comes to school and he explains what's happening. All four must band together if they are to survive.

Right from the start of this book I knew I'd love it. The author just had a way about her writing that grabbed me and drew me in. It starts out in Roswell in the 1930s where we see some scientists going to the site of a crash only for their lives to change forever, then we are transported into the present and meet a ragtag group of friends. Just what do they have to do with what happened in the past? Well the author slowly weaved the details throughout the book with just enough information to keep you turning the pages. I loved finding out everything along with the kids.

The characters are all well written and developed. They all grow so much throughout the book. Saying that, they have no choice but to because monsters keep trying to kill them ;) Plus strange things are also happening to each of them so they need to find the answers before they are taken, or killed. We also get to see them trying to deal with their dysfunctional families, which is a great thing to teach kids!!

I loved the fact that the author made each monster ones we know, example, the Iron man that came out of the ship is known as Frankensteins' monster because it only responded to Victor von Frankenstein, the scientist who first saw it. We also have the wolf man and Igor etc, so it had a real old school monster mash feel to it which I thoroughly enjoyed.

In all this is a fast paced and engaging read and one that all ages will love. I couldn't stop listening to it because I had to see what happened next. My son is even listening to it as we speak and he told me he loves it!! Great plot, lots of action and adventure and lovable characters, what more does a great book need??? I'd highly recommend this to any age and I can't wait to see what the gang do next, though we get a hint to where they're going and who they are going after!!

This is the first book I've listened to by Natalie Hoyt and she has a pleasant voice for a middle grade novel, easy to listen to and follow. She did a good job with the vocalisation of each character, though I wanted a little more to certain ones, like the bad guys. I felt she could of made them a little more evil sounding!! But I enjoyed her performance overall.

*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

What a great kids adventure

What a great kids adventure and even for older listener will enjoy this as well. It is an enjoyable listen but, if looking for a stand-alone read this book leaves you off where the next adventure will begin. The story can stand on its own but, you will be wanting more as the ending indicates. So let me get started with this delightful Sci-fi Fantasy. For Christian’s book has it for those older generations that are into the mysteries of Roswell. For the young that love those boxy type of monsters that you see in the “B-rated movies of the 50’s”.

Starting in 1938, a young girl sent to the barn to fetch her dad for dinner. She stops when she hears and then turns and sees what she thought was a meteorite way out in the distance. Until it decides to slow down and shift course. Crashing into the mountains near their home. Something she thought was only on the radio shows she listened to at night. Moving now over to the site is the scientists that are assigned to investigate the site with military escort. This sets you up for the first of 2 main characters. Peter and Nina. While investigating they come to examine what they thought would be a meteorite. Only to see a round metal object. Fearing that someone would possible be injured. Nina out of instinct approaches the craft. Being told by Peter to watch it was probably really hot. But, it wasn’t, it was cool and soft to the touch. Acknowledging that no one was inside. Then they heard a sound behind them and turned around and there was the creature. A huge metal man standing there. Slits for his eyes glowing. Motionless, yet Nina felt connected somehow to this being. As this robot is taken down by military along with the space ship to Area 51. Next comes in the head research doctor to take over is Von Frankenstein. You will learn about him and his assistant Igor in the Prologue of the book.

Heading to present time. A group of young friends. Some of them not knowing of their special abilities. This gives us the next set of prime characters of the story. Friends Shelley, Blaine, Kevin, Dash and Drake. Minor character Blaine’s Sister Vicki. Drakes’ parents Peter and Nina (Miss Poe, teacher), Von Frankenstein (under the name of Giles, head master of Grimm Academy) comes to this town called Autumn Hallow. This where all the kids live with their families. Strange things start to happen to the kids. Some having special skills that they didn’t even know they have.

Well, that is as much as I will give you. The brief overview of an adventure that none of the kids thought would change their lives when they woke up that faithful first day back to school. Christian took a lot of care into how he handles each chapter with a smooth transition from each time period. I like that it was not a harsh back in forth. Some books can make you dizzy when they do that. But, the way he handled it by giving an overview of the Von Frankenstein character and how he got the nickname in the Prologue was enough. So that this way he was able to concentrate on the other characters backgrounds. When he went back to Peter and Nina in 1938 with a continuation of how their powers developed. Any additional information leading up to the present and the re-energizing of the robot. The terror that wrecks the town. It is non-stop action that Natalie Hoyt did when she brought each character to life.

I really enjoyed Natalie Hoyt. This was my first time listen of her work and was really impressed. I was able to tell the difference between the girl characters and the male characters. I know from listening to past narrators that they sometimes have a hard time with the voice recognition of the opposite gender. But, Natalie did not. I think that being younger kids she could give the boys that voice of a before voice change age. However, she did the accent of Von Frankenstein and the older voice of Peter quite well. Sound effects throughout the audiobook. You certainly will not be disappointed with the story or the performance of this young adult book. I would say 8 years and up!

The cover design was simple yet conveyed the character of the book. But, did not really convey the kids now part of the Monster Squad.

Audiobook provided for review by the author.

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