The Eye of the Forest (Children of the Lamp Series #5) by P. B. Kerr

Children's Literature

The fifth book in the "Children of the Lamp" series follows the continued adventures of djinn twins John and Philippa Gaunt. Being djinn gives them a rather unusual life—like being asked to help save the world. Together with their Uncle Nimrod, his English bodyguard, and another djinn girl named Zadie, the twins are off to South America and the heart of the Amazon jungle to stop a destructive power from being unleashed. Yet their trip is fraught with giant insects, poison frogs, and headhunters slowing them down. That is, until they realize just who they are up against—an old friend and a new nemesis. What could have been an thrilling adventure story is slowed by a lot of unnecessary exposition and definitions. While the overall plot is interesting and has the potential to be exciting, too often the events come to a complete stop as the characters discuss what they would do next. While fans of the series might overlook this in order to spend more time with their favorite characters, those new to the series might want to start back at the beginning before tackling this title. Reviewer: Kathleen Foucart

VOYA

Kerr's action-packed fifth entry in the Children of the Lamp series hurtles twins John and Philippa Gaunt into a typical assortment of adventures and tribulations - typical for teenagers whose Djinn ancestry confers on them the ability to grant wishes and perform other supernatural feats. This time, nothing less than the fate of the world rests in the hands of the twins and their familiar coterie of companions. An ancient Incan artifact, deep in the heart of the Amazonian jungle, might unleash a terrible power if the Gaunts, accompanied by their Uncle Nimrod and assorted Djinn and human companions, cannot manage to stop it. As their journey unfolds with misadventures and magical attacks, they realize they have enemies working against them - perhaps even amongst their own companions. This entry in Kerr's series is particularly strong. Although some of the previous adventures occasionally suffered from too much detail or too many plots, the story here stays on track as the heroes battle every obstacle in their paths. Kerr's characters remain mostly caricature, and readers looking for development will remain unsatisfied. In their fifth adventure, John and Philippa are more adept at using their Djinn abilities but are essentially the same youth that readers met and admired in the first book. Those looking for a rollicking adventure with plenty of laughs as well as danger, however, will be glad that these Djinn are once again out of their bottles. Reviewer: Catherine Gilmore-Clough

Product Details