Clint and Corbin are having a weird day. Best friends for life, things are getting a little strange around their town, and at school. When they’re followed by a strange man looking for Clint and later attacked by an imp, it makes sense to retreat to the safety of home. But when strangers from another world, Banks and O’Neil, arrive with their medley of allies, things get even weirder. Why are … they here? What do they want? And what is The Requiem that everyone keeps talking about? As Clint and his friends and family are drawn deeper into a thrilling adventure, only one thing is for sure. They may not be getting out alive. And class with Mrs Christenson will seem like a walk in the park after this.
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Clint has no idea his life is about to change. When he goes to school, it seems like any other day where Mrs. Christenson targets him for the principal’s office. But two groups of fantasy creatures have crossed over into his world. Each of them searching for Clint and his ties to the mysterious Requiem. But which side will find him first? And in the end, will the Requiem be used for good or evil? Requiem, Changing Times takes familiar creatures from the fantasy genre and crosses them into the real world. Using a combination of mystery and humor, young readers will immerse themselves in a world of action and adventure.
R.J. Parker made sure to keep a steady stream of humor throughout his story. In particular, the dwarf O’Neil and his trusty sidekick Nuts the squirrel end up in a few situations that will make readers laugh. The witty banter and comical interactions are definitely intended for the younger side of the YA audience. Although with the number of insults used, I’m not sure it is appropriate for the age group. Clint is an opinionated young man, but he isn’t the kindest to people who are different than he is. Anyone who is overweight or older is scrutinized by him.
I also found that there was a large number of similes used. Instead of using descriptions, Clint was often compared to animals. “Clint felt like a cat keeping away from areas with a lot of noise…” “Clint felt like a dog jogging behind his master…” Make sure you like to read similes because as a style choice it held the story back for me. However, I think it would help the younger audience connect to what was occurring in the story.
I do think a younger audience will appreciate this book. Clint goes through many things they can relate to. He deals with the emotional rollercoaster of having a stepfather he hasn’t quite accepted yet. He and his best friend Corbin have innocent antics in school that land them in trouble. And the grand adventure of searching for the Requiem will certainly keep them reading! The only reason I took a star away was for the number of insults used, as I don’t think I would want my kids to repeat some of them.
Requiem, Changing Times by R.J. Parker is a different type of book than I thought it would be. It has the potential to be great.
Can Clint and Corbin help Banks and O’Neil?
Clint and Corbin
Clint Holden is a twelve-year-old kid, trying to get through some interesting challenges at home. Corbin is Clint’s best friend, and they are two peas in a pod. They are trying to deal with middle school, learning about their new teachers, and just generally trying to survive. Well, even more now that they have people from another world after them. These two are pretty interesting characters. I wouldn’t have thought that these two would make a good pair of heroes, but then again, what do I know as they seemed to have done okay here.
Banks and O’Neil
Banks and O’Neil appear before Clint and Corbin did, and I wasn’t too sure about them. These two are part of another world. I’m still unsure about them. Banks is the whole reason why O’Neil is in this mess apparently and that he doesn’t seem to be very popular around some people. O’Neil likes his alcohol a bit too much, as he is always seen referencing it a lot. I’m unsure about these two being the other set of heroes as well.
My Questions and Comments
These two sets of heroes are just so different from each other that I don’t know how they got anything done. Then there is the whole beginning with the assassin, and what happened to him? I would not consider this a middle school book even though Clint and Corbin are in middle school. The whole drunkenness of O’Neil seems to take it out of that entire genre. There are just too many supernatural creatures involved; I felt like the author needs to streamline the creatures by picking like three maybe.
3 Stars
After everything that I have said up above, I am only giving Requiem, Changing Times by R.J. Parker, three stars for a rating. I did finish this book, but as I am writing this review, I am still trying to wrap my head around what I just read. Mr. Parker has a fantastic story, but there were some parts that I probably would have left out of the book. Perhaps a professional editor would be able to assist with some of these issues.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Requiem, Changing Times by RJ Parker.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Requiem, Changing Times by R J Parker is fun, addictive and a real page-turner. Fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Stranger Things, will love this entertaining and compelling young adult urban fantasy.
Take a little magic, a jovial Scottish Dwarf, a misshapen Fury, an ordinary teenage boy, add an ogre or two and drop them all into a typical family, and then wait for the fireworks! Holbrook School has no idea what’s happening! Dead bodies have the police baffled. Mystery lies over the town as supernatural beings create havoc. Clint Holden (unbeknownst to him) is supposed to be the holder of the Requiem. A race is on between The Spell Binder and his ogres and imps, and Banks and O’Neil and their crew to reach the Requiem first. Amongst all the mayhem Clint and his brothers and sisters endeavor to carry on regardless, making trips to school an out-and-out war zone.
Not only did I find this book exciting, but it also made me smile nearly all the way through. I don’t want to spoil things, but I have to say that the Dwarf O’Neil made me chuckle the most, loved his appearance at the school Halloween dance! Also, I really enjoyed the chapter titles, for example a chapter where Clint has to take his parents a letter from school about his bad behavior is called, Do I Need a Lawyer!
All fantasy creatures and mayhem aside, this book is about family. Still raw from the death of his father, Clint finds it really hard to accept that his mother has married again. Thrown into a household of strangers he’s supposed to call family, Clint finds a rage within him that he doesn’t know how to handle. His step-dad John has also been married before and already has children. With a batty, TV crazy grandmother confined to her room upstairs, and a Goth step-sister isolating herself in the cellar and everyone in-between, the house is teeming with people, but loneliness keeps Clint feeling brittle. Through the extraordinary events that come crashing down on them they start learning what it means to be family.
R J Parker has created a well-written, exciting page-turner that you won’t want to miss. Requiem, Changing Times is a fun, gripping fantasy, and comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews.