I had to relisten to a chapter or two because I was trying to grocery shop while listening. It didn't go well. With everything going on, I'm having to be hyper-aware of my surroundings so I was overly paranoid. Didn't hear much of the first 2 chapters. But now I'm in the swing of it. 

Marco was always my least favorite of the Animorphs. He always voted against missions, claimed he didn't like his super awesome powers, and made stupid jokes all the time. That was always theoretically balanced by the fact that he was dealing with a lot of grief at home. His mother had died, lost at sea, two years before, and his father left work and never went back. Being a jerk was a Marco's defense mechanism. Sure, that's a real thing, but ten-year-old me didn't have to like it, and I still don't.

Getting Marco's perspective did not add as much dimension to his character as it did the others on the team. He worries about his dad and what would happen if he never came back from a mission. The Animorphs keep getting into more dangerous territory and Marco wants out.

This book is important because it involves more development of the newest Animorph, Ax, and the decision to infiltrate a known Controller's office in an ant morph. It's best read, but that experience gets referenced a lot in later books.

The requisite set-piece ending was pretty damn cool, but doesn't make a whole lot of sense if you think twice, except as a necessity to keep the story going. And, since we've finished meeting the whole original team inside their heads I'm going to say Applegate probably never returns to the woman the team rescued from the Yeerk Pool back in 'Invasion'

Animorphs

Next: 'The Capture'

Previous: 'The Message'

Lol, my "non-fiction true crime list of books I want to read" just went through the roof. These sound all amazing.

I haven´t read any of these books, but again: I want to read them all. And I definitely have to shoehorn another non-fiction book or two into my bingo reading. 

Predator's Gold is book two in the Mortal Engines Quartet. Written as a YA book, it is easy to read, enjoyable, and has plenty of betrayal, violence, death and now a little romance.

The book is again about the journeys of young Tom (now age sixteen)  and Hester and their struggle to stay alive.  Reeve sends our couple to the moving ice city called Anchorage that is governed by a young margravine by the name of Freya.  It is her job to keep the city moving, getting her directions from the ancient ice gods, but being the last in her line and most of the city lost to a plague makes things difficult.  Reeve does a good job of making sure that where ever Tom or Hester goes gloom and despair is sure to follow.

But enough of the spoilers.  If YA fantasy/science fiction is something you're looking for, then search no more. The 2nd book in the Mortal Engines Quartet series is worth reading.

Predator's Gold by Philip Reeve

Mortal Engines Quartet series book #2.

When Predator was released unexpectedly in 1987, it was one of the finest science fiction movie of its time since the release of Alien in 1979. In 1989, Dark Horse published Predator, the comic book series as an in-direct sequel to the movie before 1990 Predator 2. I have not read any of the comic versions until finally, I bought this... and I have some mix feelings towards it.

Predator: The Essential Comics Volume 1 features three reprinted mini-series that was published before over the years and one never before published adaptation of Predator 2 until now. In Predator: Concrete Jungle, the story takes place in New York city where during the hottest summer, the Predator is on the hunt again... except, he brings his compatriots. Detective Schaefer, brother of Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer, together with Detective Rasche investigates the murders and the conspiracy of one certain general that was involved from the movie. As the Predators invade New York City, it take Schaefer and Rasche to save the day. In Predator: Cold War, the Predators are now in Siberia and once again, on the hunt. Schaefer and Rasche once again together with a beautiful Russian soldier will stop the Predators on their hunting game... only the Russian government and the American government and a certain general want the Predators technology. In Predator: Dark River, its summer all over again and this time, a crazed Predator from Schaefer's past returns and wreck havok in South America. Once again, Schaefer investigates and this time, he will put an end to it.

The comic book series is filled with a lot of one-liners and cheesy action. I can see that writer Mark Verheiden really love the movie and so, his style of writing is similar to how the 1980s are then but it doesn't get any better. Although I do feel the concept of the Predator universe is some what not understood, its not exactly the best of its own when it comes to reading. On art, Chris Warner and Ron Randalldid a good job capturing the presence of the characters. Its not really good and its not that terrible. Its just how it is when reading a Predator adaptation comic and felt as if a fan would have envision it. Overall for me, Predator: The Essential Comics Volume 1 would appeal to fans but not as an introductory story to those who are not familiar with.