Book Review: Gladius and the Bartlett Trial by J.A.Paul

Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (April 14, 2011)
anguage: English
Buy the book: Amazon
Visit J.A. Paul's website!

When fifteen year-old Gladius Oldmont is thrust from his peaceful home into the dangerous Longwood Forest he finds himself pitted against a tyrant who has been terrorizing the lands in search of answers to an ancient secret that could unlock absolute power. From the shadows of Longwood Forest to the Hills of the Moon, Gladius must survive encounters with a near extinct scimitar cat, an ornery dragon, a horde of death bats and a tumultuous underground river which leads to a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels. Along the way, he makes new acquaintances and discovers the true meaning of friendship, including Elle – a girl who captivates his heart. Can Gladius and friends solve the riddle of the ancient secret before the evil Mulhurt does? If they can, will they be able to do anything about it?

My Review

Gladius and the Bartlett Trial is a great fantasy book. With so many imaginative and creative elements to it, it made for a very entertaining read. Although the genre is a bit of what I associate with "generic fantasy" - something that started with Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia and was carried on by many authors - it still held a uniqueness that I really enjoyed.

This book was greatly written, with wording that never left me bored. I really wanted to know this book. It was a great story that I loved!

Something I love about fantasy books: Dragons. I love it when an author includes a dragon or dragons in any story. And there was a scene including a dragon in Gladius that I loved. Very well written and timed.

All-in-all, this is a story about growing up. And it's a great book for any middle-grade readers who like the idea of sort of medieval fantasy. This is a good one that will keep you reading till the end! Excellent job Mr. Paul!