01. The Invasion
WARNING: Reviews contain spoilers!
Rating Scheme
| S | Exceptional | This book changed my life. Not only is this book well-written and free of anything more than the most minor issues, it does something to go above and beyond and provide a transcendant experience. Perhaps the characters are utterly fascinating and written with layers upon layers of depth. Perhaps the plot contains one or more moments that left me utterly stunned in all the right ways. Perhaps the atmosphere or the writing or the dialogue stuck with me long after I had finished reading the book. Overall, I will insist you read this book. |
| A+ | Perfect | The book is well-written, enjoyable, and provides good entertainment, intellectual stimulation, emotional exploration or catharsis, and/or a widening worldview. Characters feel real and interesting or effective. The plot is free of major plotholes or sticking points and is well paced. Overall, this is a book I would consider essential reading. |
| A | Essential | |
| A- | Superb | |
| B+ | Great | This is a good book - enjoyable and interesting to read and worth the time invested in it - but does have some flaws that mar the overall experience: for example, the plot may be enjoyable but briefly contrived, characters may be interesting but occasionally out of keeping with past books, the pacing may be good overall but have moments that drag. Overall, I would highly recommend reading this book. |
| B | Really Good | |
| B- | Good | |
| C+ | Pretty Good | This book has some flaws, but they don't render the book unreadable. The plot may be badly paced or contrived, or some characters may be Flanderised. There may be minor issues in many areas, or a larger failing in one specific area. It may simply be boring, or a poor execution of a good idea. Overall, this is a book I would softly recommend. |
| C | Okay | |
| C- | Okayish | |
| D+ | Not Great | This book isn't unsalvageable, but it's more flawed than positive. Characters or plot elements may be out of keeping with the series, or may be uninteresting, unbelievable, or unconvincing. The book may be badly paced, have badly written dialogue, or have a disjointed or vague atmosphere. One element may be egregiously bad, or many aspects may have failings. Overall, this is a book I would consider skipping. |
| D | Bad | |
| D- | Really Bad | |
| F | Terrible | This book actively hurt to read. It is a slog to get through the frustrating, boring, or contrived plot, which may have major plot holes; the characters are uninteresting, unlikeable, and may in fact be different characters with the same name; the dialogue may be forced, events may undermine past books, or the vibes may simply be off. There are few to no redeeming aspects to this book. Overall, this is a book I would avoid. |
| F- | The Worst | |
(Borrowed and modified from the BMBS (Brutalmoose Broadcast System)) | ||
Main Series
02. The Visitor
Rating: A Essential
16. The Warning
Rating: C Okay
Jake finds a website dedicated to the Yeerks, the gang investigate and quickly get in over their heads.
A book that has definitely got far more entertaining with age - tech never ages well - but also has some issues with balancing humour and intensity.
19. The Departure
Rating: B+ Great
Cassie considers the ramifications of leaving the Animorphs and of sacrifice.
More of a character study than an exciting plot, but an effective way of exploring the morality of the series so far. A number of plot and character elements felt contrived, however, that left the ending in particular feeling quite hollow.
20. The Discovery
Rating: B Really Good
The first book in a trilogy, the Animorphs discover that not only was the Escafil device not destroyed, it has been found by a kid just like them. The newest member of the Animorphs, however, is not all that he seems.
21. The Threat
Rating: B Really Good
The second book in the David trilogy, featuring the newest member of the Animorphs.
22. The Solution
Rating: A- Superb
The final book in the David trilogy.
23. The Pretender
Rating: C Okay
Tobias receives word that his father left a message for him. Meanwhile, one of the free Hork-Bajir has gone missing.
24. The Suspicion
Rating: D+ Not Great
The "toy spaceship" that Cassie donated to a charity shop turns out to not be a toy at all, but a second, slightly smaller alien invasion.
25. The Extreme
Rating: C- Okayish
The team travel to the Arctic to investigate a Yeerk plan to build a transmitter.
26. The Attack
Rating: A- Superb
The Elimist is back, and he has a vitally important challenge for the Animorphs - one that concerns the fate of an entire species.
27. The Exposed
Rating: C- Okayish
The Chee are failing - their holograms are switching off and their motors are seizing up. All of a sudden, the Animorphs have a countdown to be able to save them.
28. The Experiment
Rating: D+ Not Great
The Yeerks have acquired both an animal experimentation facility, and a meatpacking plant. The animorphs decide to walk right inside.
29. The Sickness
Rating: A Essential
The Animorphs are falling ill, one by one. It is left up to Cassie to rescue Aftran from the predicament that Cassie is responsible for.
30. The Reunion
Rating: S Exceptional
Visser One is back. Marco's plan to reunite with his mother quickly becomes a plan to use her and Visser Three to wipe each other out.
31. The Conspiracy
Rating: D Bad
Jake's Grandpa has passed away, and his funeral is coming up. Tom - or more specifically the Yeerk in his head who can't be away for more than three days - is willing to do anything to get out of it.
32. The Separation
Rating: C+ Pretty Good
Rachel is accidentally split in half when she morphs as a starfish - not just her starfish body, but her very self. Now the two Rachels have to be kept under control until the team can find a way to reunite her.
33. The Illusion
Rating: S Exceptional
The Yeerks have developed their newest weapon - the anti-morphing ray. Tobias volunteers for a very risky mission - not only to investigate the Ray, but to convince the Yeerks that it doesn't work. And for that, he has to become their prisoner.
34. The Prophecy
Rating: B- Good
The free Hork-Bajir have been given an opportunity by the last remaining Arn - there is a cache of weapons and a ship on their home planet. But the only person who knows where it is is Aldrea, and she's dead. But there is a "recording" of her from before she died. All it needs is a host.
Other Books
The Hork Bajir Chronicles
Rating: S Exceptional
The Hork-Bajir are drawn into the war between the Andalites and the Yeerks, and the Hork-Bajir who could