Book Tour: Jack Templar, Monster Hunter by Jeff Gunhus

Title: Jack Templar, Monster Hunter
Author: Jeff Gunhus
Print Length: 197 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0988425904
Publisher: Seven Guns Press (October 17, 2012)
ASIN: B009SRYACA
Source: NetGalley
[Amazon]

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems. [Goodreads]

Review

Rebecca got an email from Kathy at I’m a Reader not a Writer looking for hosts for this tour, and knowing my love for all things Percy Jackson, she told me I should sign up.  I am SO glad I did!  Jack Templar, Monster Hunter is so much fun!

I was immediately drawn into the story.  Gunhus’s writing style is entertaining and real.

It was the first sense of what has now become part of my everyday life.  People want help when they are in danger, but after the danger has passed, people fear you if you’re different.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve just rescued them from a bully or just saved their lives by skewering a werewolf with a sward right in front of them.  Fear beats appreciation.  Every time. [Kindle location 243 of 1643]

He told Jack’s story in a way that made me want to read.  Like nonstop.  I had to find out what happened next.  The story flowed so effortlessly, moved so quickly that it took no time at all to read Jack Templar.  There was so much going on that when it ended, it felt hard and abrupt.  Then there’s a little bit of a epilogue of sorts that will serve as a transition into the next book, which I CANNOT wait to read [hint, hint, Mr. Gunhus!].

This read like a middle-grade version of the Iron Druid Chronicles, which y’all know I love!  The heroes are quirky, clever, awesome, and genuine.  I was invested and cared about them.  I rooted for them and mourned with them.  I championed their cause!

I want to continue this series and see what happens next to Jack and crew.   My one complaint is that the book ended so quickly!

If you love action-packed, slightly irreverent, books written for boys or know someone who does, Jack Templar, Monster Hunter is for you!

5 Moons

Get to reading,


PS: This review was hard to write because I loved the book so much!