8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Twists, Turns, and Astonishing Surprises!, Jan 15 2009
By Jake Chism - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Gatekeepers (Hardcover)
Xander and David King will do anything to get their mother back. After they moved into their creepy, old house they discovered a secret hallway filled with portals to different places in time. Their mother was captured by a maniac and vanished into one of the worlds. After a long search, a recent clue might lead to her whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the mysterious and sinister Taksidian is causing more trouble for the King family and will do anything to stop their mission. When all hope seems lost, a strange old man arrives offering answers to Xander and David's questions. It seems that their involvement with the house is more than a coincidence. It's time for the brothers to embrace their role as Gatekeepers.
Gatekeepers is everything I have come to expect in this groundbreaking new series from Robert Liparulo. This exciting installment is jam packed with action, adventure, suspense, and a subtle does of heart. It is impossible to sit down and not devour this well crafted tale that is full of twists, turns, and astonishing surprises.
Amidst the chaos and frenetic pace, we find a silver lining message about the importance of family and what it means to fight for those you love. While this series is geared towards the young adult audience, I cannot help but find myself captivated by these beloved characters and their dangerous quest.
If you haven't checked out the Dreamhouse Kings series yet, I highly recommend that you start with the first two books (House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods). Not only are they well worth your time, but both need to be read to fully grasp the gist of this story. This series is truly some of Liparulo's best work and with three books to go I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Open Door To Darkness, Dec 25 2008
By S. Stevenson "FictionAddict" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Gatekeepers (Hardcover)
As soon as I saw GATEKEEPRS on the shelf at the local bookstore, I grabbed it and ran -- stopping momentarily to throw some money at the man behind the cash register. As soon as I was able to sit down at home, I devoured this latest offering from Robert Liparulo. And as with the previous two books in THE DREAMHOUSE KINGS series, I was not disappointed.
This book opens up right after WATCHER IN THE WOODS -- almost so close to that ending, that I had to go back and refresh myself on what had happened at the close of WATCHER. There's even a warning right up front that says to read the first two books before starting in on GATEKEEPERS. And that is definitely recommended. It's almost like the series is one large story having to be broken up by books because otherwise it would be ridiculously long for one single book.
I'm not going to talk much about plot here, other than to mention that this installment brings out a couple answers to nagging questions that had been burrowing around in my mind after the first two, and the ending will leave you wishing you didn't have to wait until July for book four.
Liparulo definitely knows how to amp up the action and suspense. Things are never easy for the King family as they deal with mysterious strangers, red tape, and danger in every world they visit through their house. This is a must-read for any fan of suspenseful and terrifying fantasy. Don't leave this one on the bookshelf. Read and don't stop until you've come to the end, gasping for the next one. I know I'm going to be waiting and watching for book four with a lot of anticipation.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Winner From Liparulo!, May 29 2009
By Lorrie Covington "lc13" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Gatekeepers (Hardcover)
Since Robert Liparulo is one of my favorite authors, I just HAD to pick this series up despite it being more for the tween/teen set. I'm glad I did! This is a fun, fast-paced, action thriller that just gets better and better with each installment. I do recommend you read the first two books before you read this one, but as others have said, it's still a good story either way.
I would recommend you read them yourself prior to allowing your children read them though. They can get rather intense at times, and only you know whether or not your children can handle it.
I can't wait for the fourth one to come out!