LitPick Review
In this story, we follow Jack Dayton and his friend Hector on their quest to find Black Juan's treasure on the mysterious Peril Island. After Jack's encounter with the mysterious, long-lived Black Juan, he discovers a secret island where the pirate kept his treasure. Armed with this information, he resolves to find and claim this treasure. Eventually he enlists Hector, a close friend, to help and go along.
Yet, they are not the only ones after the treasure; Monkey Swayne, among other men, are also after the treasure. As they race to Peril Island, there are more than a few obstacles that will come their way. Will Jack and Hector outrun Swayne and his men?
Opinion:
The story is well told, and the plot is easy to follow, though in places it may be quite fast-paced and requires backreading. The characterizations are a bit lacking, especially in the sense of motives, and I hoped the backstory would play a larger role in Jack's life. The villains were okay and quite intimidating, and with a good backstory and connections, they could be improved greatly. The setting is a large thumbs up for me, especially Peril Island. It seems to be a character all its own as well. It would be better if there was foreshadowing about the nature of the Island. I also especially like the riddles and how cleverly disguised they were and how they correlated to the real things. Amazing! The story and Jack also reminded me of the "Adventures of Tintin" series.
