THE FALL OF THE TEMPLAR

The Grey Griffins series continues in this middle-of-the-road fantasy adventure. Since acquiring the Spear of Ragnarok, Max’s megalomaniac father Lord Sumner is planning to destroy the world. Murderous trolls attack Max on the highway, while homicidal shapeshifting werewolves replace lunch ladies and pizza boys. Only the Knights of the Templar can defeat Lord Sumner, but they are being massacred all around the world. Even Max’s mentor Iver appears to be dead. Trained by a new—and much less sympathetic—mentor, Max and his friends plan to sneak into the Underworld to save the world. Max’s journey is full of plot holes, flat characters, awkward prose and trite conclusions, but the fast-paced adventure will entertain fantasy readers. (Fantasy. 9-12)