The Three Hares: Bloodline was gifted by the author via the Great Middle Grade Reads group. I apologise for the delay in reading it – it is first class!
This is another post joining in Marvellous Middle Grade Mondays, run by Greg Pattridge at Always in the Middle. I had a load of MG reads to review, so I’ll see how long it takes me to get through them if I post on the third Monday of the month.
The Three Hares: Bloodline
by Geoffrey Simpson
The Adventure of a lifetime . . .
Ethan Drake is a living legend. If only his late father had mentioned it.
Ethan and his friends decode a series of cryptic riddles from an ancient treasure map. Their discovery entangles them in a centuries-old struggle between warring secret societies.
It soon becomes clear that Ethan is not just an adventurous teen who accidentally stumbles upon a shadowy world. He is a catalyst… a spark which ignites the resurgence.
The Three Hares is a smart, twisty adventure mystery, one that will keep you reading until the remarkable end. (Goodreads)
My Review
Like most of the Goodreads reviewers for this book, I got my copy of Three Hares: Bloodline for review from the author via one of the forums. I must apologise to Geoffrey Simpson for taking so long to get around to it.
The opening sequence reminded me of several other MG books where the friends gang together to overcome damage and destruction to their local wilderness habitat. What makes this different is the degree of intricacy surrounding the plot. Several of the gang have shadowy backgrounds (some a little too obvious, perhaps), but the main character, Ethan turns out to have a past that is more enlightened. He just doesn’t know it yet. That of course, is also a trope that irritates me, but if I was a twelve-year-old I’m sure I’d be thrilled to discover his secret. And the way the author brings him from zero to hero is captivating. None of this lengthy teaching and instruction, just go on retreat in the forest and work it out for yourself (with a little help from the powers that do that sort of thing.)
The blurb is accurate, but mysterious, the action is great, and Ethan’s small town with a big business problem is entirely true to life.
It’s definitely on prime MG territory, maybe 9 and up for some of the sophistication, and I wondered why I only gave it four stars on Goodreads. It’s because of the tropes…but I think of it now with great fondness, and I think I’ll up it to five stars.
I’m so glad you joined our group this week! I like stories where the characters have mysterious paths. I’m glad you enjoyed this book so much. Hope you’ll keep joining our group and sharing more books you’ve read.
I hear you about those tropes. It probably irritated you more when you were reading more of the MG stuff :).
Isn’t funny how when you find yourself reflecting back on a book that fondness you speak of bumps it up. I do that too all the time. Liked a book but can’t stop thinking about something in it. As Natalie said, welcome to MMGM looking forward to see what you’re reading next. I have a belated MMGM post for Elephant Touch on my blog in case you’re interested in checking it out.
Ethan sounds like a character you won’t soon forget. Your review has me anxious to read this mystery. Thanks for featuring it on this week’s MMGM.
Welcome to the group. The book sounds like it is packed with intrigue. Like the opening about Ethan being a legend but doesn’t know it. Great tease from the start. Sounds like an interesting read!
It’s funny how thinking over a book can make you revisit your rating (I’ve done that too!). I like the idea of decoding cryptic riddles, and it sounds like the author has done a good job, I am intrigued by the title too! Thanks for sharing!
On my list for a Christmas present this year!
This sounds like a fun one. It is easy to be put off by tropes, but I suspect kids don’t mind as much as adults. Thanks for joining MMGM and for your review.
I haven’t read this one (or heard of it). Sounds like a good book and I enjoyed reading your thoughts. Glad you enjoyed it so much!