Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

EVIL STAR is the second book in the Anthony Horowitz series called THE GATEKEEPERS.

In book one, titled RAVEN'S GATE, main character Matt discovers he is one of five specially chosen teens. Their purpose is to save the world. Matt doesn't know the other five and must "close" Raven's Gate on his own. As the second book, EVIL STAR, begins, Matt finds himself in Peru meeting up with Pedro, who turns out to be one of the chosen five.

Matt and Pedro join forces, although it isn't easy since Matt speaks only English and Pedro speaks Spanish. Their unusual connection does allow them to communicate while in a dream state. They learn each others' stories and realize that their paths will someday cross the paths of their remaining team.

Together Matt and Pedro must find and prevent the opening of the second gate. Its history is intertwined with the ancient Incas and the Peruvian culture. As they search the seamier side of Peru, they encounter kidnapping, gun battles, the evil "big headed" Salamanda, high altitude jungle treks, and terrifying helicopter rides. Exactly what is the Evil Star and can they find the next gate in time to close it and save the world from the Old Ones?

Horowitz provides his usual fast-paced, non-stop action in this new series. It is sure to impress his already established fans and create plenty of new ones. ( )

Original post at The Little Bookworm

Evil Star is the second in the Gatekeeper series after Raven's Gate. I switch from book to audio for this series for no particular reason. Simon Prebble is the narrator and he does a good job. He tries to vary the voices for the characters and does an okay job with that. He's British and I tend to listen to audio with British narrators for unknown reasons.

Anyway, it was a good book, a good second in a series. It certainly wasn't a filler, adding a lot of excitement and action. It pretty much gets started right away with Matt's visit to London and from then on was non-stop action. Horowitz is moving things right along and now I'm curious to what happens next. I'm wondering about the rest of the Five and their abilities. I liked the description of Peru and the background stuff. That was very interesting and gave me good visuals. So onto Nightrise, the next book in the series. ( )

I had hoped after having set up the world of The Gatekeepers in the first book that Horowitz's storytelling would improve in the second book. This was not to be the case. While the overall concept of kids fighting the Old Ones is cool, Horowitz executes it incredibly awkwardly. I was left skimming to get the general gist of the book, as I wanted to find out the story, but cringed and got bogged down when I attempted to read his writing. I doubt I'll be finishing the series. ( )

The Gatekeepers series involves a teenaged English boy discovering that he is one of five children who are destined to prevent the Old Ones from returning and claiming the Earth. In the first book in the series, he successfully prevented a coven of witches from opening a gateway to the dimension in which the Old Ones are imprisoned. This time, Matt travels to Peru and locates both a second gate and another one of the Gatekeepers.

I have been impressed with Anthony Horowitz's work in this series. While the Alex Rider series got more unbelievable and worsened in quality as the series progressed, right up to the shark-jumping book Arc Angel, this series seems to be increasing in quality and originality with each book in the series. While it may not be Dickens, Austen, or Tolkien, it's pretty good for YA fantasy. ( )

Matt thought his troubles were over when he closed Raven's Gate . . . but in fact they were just beginning. His fate -- and the fate of the world -- is tied to four other kids across the globe. The second is a street kid in Peru. He and Matt have never met; they don't even speak the same language. But destiny is going to throw them together as the evil threat of the Old Ones grows . . . and another Gate suddenly comes into play.