The Blade of Shattered Hope

The Blade of Shattered Hope is the 3rd book in James Dashner's The 13th Reality series. This is a series for Young Adults similar in many ways to Harry Potter, as much as James likes to disagree and point out the differences. A teenage boy invited into a a secret world that few others know about with technology that has almost magical properties. Like all secret societies they have an agenda and enemies with ulterior designs.

Atticus 'Tick' Higginbottom as been selected to join the secret society of the Realitants who try to protect the 13 realities. The Realitants started as a group of physicists interested in exploring and mapping the realities but eventually found themselves fighting to protect reality from those with more dangerous motives. Tick was selected along with 2 other kids, Sofia and Paul and the 3 became fast friends. They have been on many adventures together and have faced death more than once, which has only strengthened their friendship.

In my opinion James Dashner tells a great tale, starting with the Journal of Curious Letters and continuing through the Blade of Shattered Hope. Like the Harry Potter books, the story being told grows up with Tick as he grows older in successive book. I keep comparing these to Harry Potter not because I think it's a copy but because I think those that enjoyed Harry will really enjoy Tick as well and James has his own unique tale to tell. I think The 13th Reality fits well into the YA group of Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and Alcatraz Smedry. It's fun, funny and thought provoking, a great read. ( )