Paul Durham

Another fabulous entry in this series! It's official, The Luck Uglies has become a new favorite series and I have Paul Durham to thank. Do you love action and adventure? Are you a fan of courageous heroines and all manner of mischief? If you are, trust me when I say that this series is for you. This is the type of story that stills my MG loving heart. I love exploring new places, and Durham hasn't disappointed me yet.

If you've read my review of the last book, you already know that I'm a show more huge fan of Rye O'Chanter. She's scruffy, mischievous, and full of that fire that I just can't get enough of. Rye is a quick on her feet, and smart as a whip. I think my favorite part about Rye though is how much she loves her family and friends. She's loyal to the end, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect what's important to her. Throw in a whole cast of well built, intriguing characters? You have my utter devotion.

Where the last installment of this series had me wishing for a bit quicker pace, this one moves at a perfect clip. Action sequences are interspersed with introductions of new characters. Best of all, this time Durham whisks the readers away from Village Drowning and into a whole new part of Rye's world. I was giddy as I traveled along with our motley crew of characters. Witty banter, devilish schemes, I ate it all up and was eager for more.

Yes friends, I'm not ashamed to admit that I have a new favorite series. Whenever a second book manages to keep me engrossed, I find myself with big expectations for what comes next. I truly can't wait for more of the O'Chanters! They're absolutely brilliant. show less

I seriously love this book so insanely much.
Rye is a young girl who lives in the Village Drowning, a ramshackle little sea town where women aren't allowed to read, and the power of the nobility is pretty much absolute. She lives with her mother and her little sister, and their cat, and early on we learn about the pendant charms each wear around their necks. The story follows Rye through a little of daily life in Drowning, edged with just enough mystery to not take away from the village life show more itself. But soon, weird things happen. Bog Noblins are coming back, and to protect the village and everyone in it, the Luck Uglies must be called. There's also the mysterious Harmless, who's identity is easily guessed, but still adorable.
The story is well constructed, with well defined life and culture. It's fun. The little house rules that Rye often repeats turn out to actually mean something, and I enjoyed that. This is a story where looking closer reveals a little more that you thought was originally there - for example, near the end, when everything goes down, Rye never actually sees it. I like this, because instead of most kids books where a 12 year old is responsible for taking down the beast, or stopping the dictator, or completing the prophecy - Rye is more realistic. She doesn't do anything that I feel like a child her age actually could or would have.
Very fun, very much looking forward to the next foray into the world of Drowning. show less

In my mind, exploring new worlds is the best part of reading. Imagine my excitement when The Luck Uglies transported me to the Village Drowning and gave me enough rich backstory to fully immerse myself there. I was dropped into a world where magic and mischief rule the day. Where dark things lurk in the shadows. A story where a brave heart means everything. Needless to say, I adored my trip to Drowning. I honestly can't wait to go back.

Rye O'Chanter is a wonderful main character. She's show more brave and resourceful. The type of young girl who readers of all ages will easily fall in love with. In fact, Durham writes a whole cast of characters who are fully formed. From the dastardly regent of the land, to the blind boy who becomes Rye's ally, each one of them were beautifully done. It's not hard to fall into step with them. I had a lot of fun getting to know these characters.

The story is where this first book suffered a little bit. As I said, the world is large and the characters vivid. It takes a lot of descriptive writing to get them to that point. While there was definitely a fair amount of forward movement in this, and some moments of action-packed goodness, there were big portions of explanations. In my case, it didn't really phase me too much. I love getting to know more about the people and places in my books. Just giving a warning to those of you who might feel that things are a bit slow. Keep going! By the end I promise you'll be extremely eager for more.

Last month was a tough reading month, and this book helped immensely with getting me out of that slump. It was just so much fun to read! I'm thrilled that The Luck Uglies was only the first installment, and that Rye O'Chanter will be back for more adventures. I can't wait to go back to the Village Drowning. show less

A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Mum said the fiends usually came after midnight. They'd flutter down silently from rooftops and slither unseen from the sewers under a Black Moon. Luck Uglies she'd call them, then quickly look over her shoulder to make sure they weren't listening."
-Loc 102 of eARC

I just love a good middle grade adventure story. The Luck Uglies definitely delivered that, and more. It's strange because the first chapter show more had me scratching head a bit. It jumped right in and I had trouble connecting the characters and what was going on, as well as a unique writing style. But, by the third chapter I was hooked. I couldn't wait to see how the story would unfold for Riley (Rye) and her friends Quinn and Folly.

Basically, the best way I can explain the goodness that is this book is this: think of a little village on the edge of a creepy forest. It's in it's own world, and has it's own legends. The townspeople have to obey the evil Longchance, he's the ruler who is supposed to "protect" them from creatures that would kill and destroy the village -- the Bog Noblins. But there are other creatures that stalk the night. Are they real? Rye and her friends are determined to find out. What are Luck Uglies? Why doesn't anyone want to say their name aloud?

I really enjoyed the fact that Rye was an independent girl. She didn't act older than her age, or younger. She was a mature, capable, and imaginative 15 year old girl. I loved her courage and bravery, as well as her love for family and friends. She didn't shy away from responsibility or expectation, and I loved that. I also loved how unique the story felt. It didn't feel like anything I'd read before! I even developed a major crush on Harmless, the green tattooed outlaw with two knives strapped to his back... ;)

I can't recommend this book enough! If you like great adventure stories that are somewhat creepy and very imaginative -- you must read this book. show less