Bran Hambric: The Specter Key (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
Bran Hambric is back to his old life after his death-defying encounter with Baslyn. But things are a little different. Rosie is gone. He's aware of his own power, though he tries not to use it. And then the box turns up. The safety deposit box with his mother's name, and its mysterious contents. It doesn't take long for Bran to once again be fighting forces far vaster than he can comprehend, and for a far more dire cause.The sequel to The Farfield Curse, The Specter Key picks back up with Bran and dumps him right into the action. Thankfully, the wild absurdities in the first book have been toned down, and the pace this time around is a lot more even. The mystery of the box is balanced with the growing sense that Elspeth's evil plans may be winding around Bran without his realizing it.And then the unthinkable happens---but if you read the book's blurb on the inside cover it isn't nearly the surprise it should be. Really, that's my major irritation with the book. The blurb shouldn't give away something that happens at the halfway point, especially when that something was meant to be a horrible shock. I enjoyed the first book. This one preserves the action, the powers, the grand conspiracies and the heroic efforts Bran puts forth to do what's right in the midst of an increasingly gray battle. The only thing missing was a "wow" moment similar to his conversation with Rosie about heroism in the first book. It felt like his conversation with Thomas about fate was aiming for a similar profundity, but I found Bran's appeal to a nameless fate a weak substitute for God. It puzzles me why something like fate would care enough to address the evils of the Farfield Curse. And the way the conversation runs, it feels like Bran himself doesn't even believe he's destined to do the things he's doing---he's just pressing ahead because he's desperate not to lose someone close to him, and if fate will give him an excuse he'll take it.The book reads well, and quickly, as the story never lets up. There are enough dangling questions to make me anticipate a sequel and hope it arrives soon; but nothing major is left unsaid. I rate this book Recommended. The humor is awesome. KN is a funny author (and vlogger, and blogger, and speaker), and his ideas are new and just fun.The magic, though, doesn't seem well thought out. Or, at least, it's not presented as such. Sometimes the mages use wands. Sometimes they have to say words to do magic. Good thing is, I can't point to a part where a mage was in danger and could've used magic and didn't. A lot of authors make that mistake, conveniently "forgetting" that their characters can do magic just to escalate the tension. KN didn't, so that's a plus.The action was also lacking. It was hard to follow. Maybe my imagination can't keep up with KN's. Maybe I was so excited I had to read too fast and missed things (most likely).The characters were good. Bran's personality shows up a bit more in this book, and Sewey is, as always, one of the most unique and outrageously hilarious character I've ever met. The dialogue was also measured well, pretty character specific and not forced sounding.All in all, good job for the second book of a twenty-two-year-old. (Though I might've been tempted to give it a 3 if I didn't like his vlogs so much.)
What do You think about Bran Hambric: The Specter Key (2010)?
Bran is a pretty dull character to me tbh. But overall this is a really fun book.3 stars
—Tiaaarrr
Better than the first book! Kaleb really finds his writers voice in this installment.
—leandrab
It was so much better than the first! It's worth reading the first to read this one!
—HCody
