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Matt Archer #3
Matt Archer: Legend
When Matt Archer was fourteen, he was chosen—by a magic, spirit-inhabited knife—to hunt monsters with a special paranormal division of the Army. When he was fifteen, he was thrown into a global war the rest of the world didn’t know existed.
Now Matt’s sixteen and the war has cost him more than he ever thought it would. He’s also learned that the knife-spirits have an agenda he doesn’t totally agree with. The only problem? The spirits have the upper hand, and they plan to control the fight—and Matt.
Then things get worse: the next lunar eclipse cycle is starting, a prominent physicist has gone missing, and Matt’s best friend is thinking about quitting the team. If he loses Will—after everyone else he’s lost—Matt’s not sure how he’ll fight alone.
As the source of his nightmares starts to creep out of the shadows, Matt knows he’ll need all the help he can get…because being alone could prove deadly.
Now Matt’s sixteen and the war has cost him more than he ever thought it would. He’s also learned that the knife-spirits have an agenda he doesn’t totally agree with. The only problem? The spirits have the upper hand, and they plan to control the fight—and Matt.
Then things get worse: the next lunar eclipse cycle is starting, a prominent physicist has gone missing, and Matt’s best friend is thinking about quitting the team. If he loses Will—after everyone else he’s lost—Matt’s not sure how he’ll fight alone.
As the source of his nightmares starts to creep out of the shadows, Matt knows he’ll need all the help he can get…because being alone could prove deadly.
290 pages, ebook
First published July 12, 2012
About the author
Kendra C. Highley
24 books718 followersKendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to four self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes in everyday magic, extraordinary love stories, and the restorative powers of dark chocolate
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 11, 2014
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Matt is dealing with heartbreak, guilt, a knife that tries to take over his mind, and his most dangerous mission yet. Now the threat comes from Africa in the form of mutant cats and he has to deal with news about his family bloodline, explaining why he was chosen for the knife. Getting answers only adds to the responsibility weighing Matt down.
I like the fact that Matt has evolved from the smartass kid to the weary soldier over the course of this series. We see him struggle with his destiny, and having responsibility for the lives of the team is difficult for him to cope with. I enjoy his love/hate relationship with Tink which is becoming a battle of wills as she seeks to fully control his mind in battle, with Matt desperate to hang onto his independence. And now Will is assuming some of that responsibility, Matt has fears for his best friend. He is also worried about baby Kate losing one or both of her parents on his watch, plus he has relationship issues with Ella and his brother Brent. It is a tough time for Matt and it really adds something to the story.
The plot again is all action with some spectacular battle scenes but this time we learn a bit more about Matt's destiny, and a prophecy about the knife wielders. There is still the humour with Matt and Will, tension over who on the team will survive each battle and wondering what can possibly come next in this plot! There are never boring bits, the book flows along nicely and you just keep wanting to read the next chapter.
The characters really do play such an important part in this book. Every time a new battle starts you start to hope that your favourites will make it through ok. New characters are continually coming into the series and they all seem to fit nicely into the story, even if not all of them are there for long. I also continue to enjoy seeing Matt at home with his family, dealing with the normal issues facing a teenage boy, something that the author handles very well.
I don't want to give out too many spoilers but I really do recommend this series for older YA readers and adults who enjoy urban fantasy, monster paranormal or action adventure stories. This series has such a good mix of action, angst and humour that there is something for every reader to enjoy. And I have now ordered books 1-3 in paperback for my own collection!
Matt is dealing with heartbreak, guilt, a knife that tries to take over his mind, and his most dangerous mission yet. Now the threat comes from Africa in the form of mutant cats and he has to deal with news about his family bloodline, explaining why he was chosen for the knife. Getting answers only adds to the responsibility weighing Matt down.
I like the fact that Matt has evolved from the smartass kid to the weary soldier over the course of this series. We see him struggle with his destiny, and having responsibility for the lives of the team is difficult for him to cope with. I enjoy his love/hate relationship with Tink which is becoming a battle of wills as she seeks to fully control his mind in battle, with Matt desperate to hang onto his independence. And now Will is assuming some of that responsibility, Matt has fears for his best friend. He is also worried about baby Kate losing one or both of her parents on his watch, plus he has relationship issues with Ella and his brother Brent. It is a tough time for Matt and it really adds something to the story.
The plot again is all action with some spectacular battle scenes but this time we learn a bit more about Matt's destiny, and a prophecy about the knife wielders. There is still the humour with Matt and Will, tension over who on the team will survive each battle and wondering what can possibly come next in this plot! There are never boring bits, the book flows along nicely and you just keep wanting to read the next chapter.
The characters really do play such an important part in this book. Every time a new battle starts you start to hope that your favourites will make it through ok. New characters are continually coming into the series and they all seem to fit nicely into the story, even if not all of them are there for long. I also continue to enjoy seeing Matt at home with his family, dealing with the normal issues facing a teenage boy, something that the author handles very well.
I don't want to give out too many spoilers but I really do recommend this series for older YA readers and adults who enjoy urban fantasy, monster paranormal or action adventure stories. This series has such a good mix of action, angst and humour that there is something for every reader to enjoy. And I have now ordered books 1-3 in paperback for my own collection!
June 19, 2013
I love this series so much and this third installment does not disappoint in any way. It is full of action and angst. You experience the full range of Matt’s emotions. Kendra Highley has successfully written a character that you can believe in and be proud of. Matt is a hero when the world desperately needs one.
As you can tell, I love Matt. He is such a great character; one where today’s kids can look up to. He has tremendous strength, physically and morally. It’s his high moral standards that make him special. I love that Kendra hasn’t let Matt fall short of our high expectations of him. Even when dealing with girl drama, he is able have a conscience and back off when he needs to.
One of my favorite scenes is between Matt and Ella. I know this had to be difficult to write but Kendra wrote it with such sweetness and honesty. I thought it was just so genuine. I bet you’re wonderful what I’m talking about. Once again, no spoilers; but once you read it, you will know what I’m talking about.
Another great character is Will and he really comes into his own in this book. I’ve had my suspicions about Will and they were true. I won’t give any spoilers but Will finally is feeling comfortable in his own skin. He also meets his match with a new girl at school. Penn is a feisty girl from Oklahoma who gives Will a huge piece of humble pie. She definitely puts him in his place.
Matt’s knife-spirit is really shaping into a very distinct character. Matt has a new name for her…Tink. I love the nickname. It really fits. The relationship between Matt and Tink is getting very intense. Matt doesn’t full trust his knife. He has some serious misgivings of her actions. I think it’s about the ends does not justify the means. Matt is struggling over the sacrifices that are being made in the war.
If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to start NOW. It just keeps getting better and betters.
As you can tell, I love Matt. He is such a great character; one where today’s kids can look up to. He has tremendous strength, physically and morally. It’s his high moral standards that make him special. I love that Kendra hasn’t let Matt fall short of our high expectations of him. Even when dealing with girl drama, he is able have a conscience and back off when he needs to.
One of my favorite scenes is between Matt and Ella. I know this had to be difficult to write but Kendra wrote it with such sweetness and honesty. I thought it was just so genuine. I bet you’re wonderful what I’m talking about. Once again, no spoilers; but once you read it, you will know what I’m talking about.
Another great character is Will and he really comes into his own in this book. I’ve had my suspicions about Will and they were true. I won’t give any spoilers but Will finally is feeling comfortable in his own skin. He also meets his match with a new girl at school. Penn is a feisty girl from Oklahoma who gives Will a huge piece of humble pie. She definitely puts him in his place.
Matt’s knife-spirit is really shaping into a very distinct character. Matt has a new name for her…Tink. I love the nickname. It really fits. The relationship between Matt and Tink is getting very intense. Matt doesn’t full trust his knife. He has some serious misgivings of her actions. I think it’s about the ends does not justify the means. Matt is struggling over the sacrifices that are being made in the war.
If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to start NOW. It just keeps getting better and betters.
February 19, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Reading Addiction Virtual Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series because the action, mystery, quality storytelling, and character development has been very consistent throughout all the books. I love the way that the story had matured with Matt, and It feels like the books age along with him.
There was more romance in this book than the other two and while I enjoyed Uncle Mike's relationship with "Bad Ass Aunt Julie" and Will's budding romance with "Tiny-Penn-the-Destroyer", I'm still not sold on the Matt Ella pairing. Matt loves her and she just dumped him so the fact that he spends a lot of time thinking about her makes sense, but this book is filled with some phenomenal female characters and Ella just isn't as well developed as I would like her to be. I get that Matt likes her, but I need more than that if she is going to continue to be a focal point of the series. From Matt's mom and sister to Aunt Julie and Penn the destroyer and even Tink, Matt's knife spirit, the women in this series rock, but sometimes it feels like Ella is just there for Matt to obsess over in his free time.
Now that I have vented about the one thing that I disliked, let the gushing begin!
Matt was very lonely and isolated this time around. The girl he loves dumped him, both his siblings have gone off to college, Uncle Mike had to move, and because Will is starting to envy Matt's position as a knife wilder, there is a strain on their friendship. But this is the Matt Archer series, and no matter how serious the content becomes or how much the author puts my boy Matt through, these books never become depressing.
Mamie, Brent, and Uncle Mike may live further away from him, but Matt knows that they love him and they remind him of this fact when he needs to hear it the most. Mammie is especially sweet to him. They have a bond that reminds me of my own relationship with my brother. We never fight, we look out for each other, and we actually enjoy spending time together. That's Mammie and Matt's relationship in a nutshell. And although they have broken up, Matt and Ella share some very sweet moments that make it clear that neither one of them is ready to move on.
The relationship that I enjoyed reading about in this book was the one between Matt and Will. I was actually a little annoyed when Will told Matt that he was sick of being the sidekick. I thought that a rift was developing in their relationship and Will might start to resent Matt, but Will's envy comes from a good place. He doesn't envy Matt because of his strength or how important he is, he just knows that more lives would be saved if he were more than just bait and a bodyguard. He and Matt hit a few rough patches, but they love each other like brothers and it would take a lot more than a rough patch to tear them apart. Both Will and Matt are compassionate, brave, and caring young men who share a true friendship. .
The action in this series never fail to entertain. Whenever I pick up my Kindle for a Matt Archer book, I know I will be in for some powerful monsters and kick butt fighting scenes.They may not be old enough to enlist, but Matt and Will are 100% Green Berets! They are fighting a war between light and dark, and their enemy is ruthless. The monsters that they have to take on just keep getting bigger, badder, and smell worse than ever! But as the monsters get stronger so does Matt so the battles are more intense to read than ever.
Before I go, I have to spend a little time on Matt's knife spirit, Tink (I love that nickname even if the knife spirit hates it). Matt Archer has become a favorite character mine so I am very protective of him, and in my opinion, Tink it to hard on the kid. He is a sweet and pure person who doesn't seem to have an evil bone in his body, but she doesn't give the poor kid any room to breathe! But even though she is too hard on Matt, I grew to like her in this book. She gives Matt a hard time about staying focused because lives are at stake. Sure Matt is just a teenager, but he is a teenager who is responsible for saving the world some day. That reality may suck, but coddling him won't change anything. Matt has a mother and sister who are more that willing to baby him AFTER he saves the day so he doesn't need his knife doing it too. Tink gets the job done, and I admire her spunk!
A lot of things were left unresolved at the end of this book, and I am very worried about what all of these lovely characters will be forced to endure in the next one, but I also can't wait to read it because I am such a sucker for this series!
Because of language violence and mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Reading Addiction Virtual Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series because the action, mystery, quality storytelling, and character development has been very consistent throughout all the books. I love the way that the story had matured with Matt, and It feels like the books age along with him.
There was more romance in this book than the other two and while I enjoyed Uncle Mike's relationship with "Bad Ass Aunt Julie" and Will's budding romance with "Tiny-Penn-the-Destroyer", I'm still not sold on the Matt Ella pairing. Matt loves her and she just dumped him so the fact that he spends a lot of time thinking about her makes sense, but this book is filled with some phenomenal female characters and Ella just isn't as well developed as I would like her to be. I get that Matt likes her, but I need more than that if she is going to continue to be a focal point of the series. From Matt's mom and sister to Aunt Julie and Penn the destroyer and even Tink, Matt's knife spirit, the women in this series rock, but sometimes it feels like Ella is just there for Matt to obsess over in his free time.
Now that I have vented about the one thing that I disliked, let the gushing begin!
Matt was very lonely and isolated this time around. The girl he loves dumped him, both his siblings have gone off to college, Uncle Mike had to move, and because Will is starting to envy Matt's position as a knife wilder, there is a strain on their friendship. But this is the Matt Archer series, and no matter how serious the content becomes or how much the author puts my boy Matt through, these books never become depressing.
Mamie, Brent, and Uncle Mike may live further away from him, but Matt knows that they love him and they remind him of this fact when he needs to hear it the most. Mammie is especially sweet to him. They have a bond that reminds me of my own relationship with my brother. We never fight, we look out for each other, and we actually enjoy spending time together. That's Mammie and Matt's relationship in a nutshell. And although they have broken up, Matt and Ella share some very sweet moments that make it clear that neither one of them is ready to move on.
The relationship that I enjoyed reading about in this book was the one between Matt and Will. I was actually a little annoyed when Will told Matt that he was sick of being the sidekick. I thought that a rift was developing in their relationship and Will might start to resent Matt, but Will's envy comes from a good place. He doesn't envy Matt because of his strength or how important he is, he just knows that more lives would be saved if he were more than just bait and a bodyguard. He and Matt hit a few rough patches, but they love each other like brothers and it would take a lot more than a rough patch to tear them apart. Both Will and Matt are compassionate, brave, and caring young men who share a true friendship. .
The action in this series never fail to entertain. Whenever I pick up my Kindle for a Matt Archer book, I know I will be in for some powerful monsters and kick butt fighting scenes.They may not be old enough to enlist, but Matt and Will are 100% Green Berets! They are fighting a war between light and dark, and their enemy is ruthless. The monsters that they have to take on just keep getting bigger, badder, and smell worse than ever! But as the monsters get stronger so does Matt so the battles are more intense to read than ever.
Before I go, I have to spend a little time on Matt's knife spirit, Tink (I love that nickname even if the knife spirit hates it). Matt Archer has become a favorite character mine so I am very protective of him, and in my opinion, Tink it to hard on the kid. He is a sweet and pure person who doesn't seem to have an evil bone in his body, but she doesn't give the poor kid any room to breathe! But even though she is too hard on Matt, I grew to like her in this book. She gives Matt a hard time about staying focused because lives are at stake. Sure Matt is just a teenager, but he is a teenager who is responsible for saving the world some day. That reality may suck, but coddling him won't change anything. Matt has a mother and sister who are more that willing to baby him AFTER he saves the day so he doesn't need his knife doing it too. Tink gets the job done, and I admire her spunk!
A lot of things were left unresolved at the end of this book, and I am very worried about what all of these lovely characters will be forced to endure in the next one, but I also can't wait to read it because I am such a sucker for this series!
Because of language violence and mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.
November 24, 2013
Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm
From the first installment, Monster Hunter, to the sequel Blade’s Edge I had been telling you guys over and over how much I enjoy this series and how it will rock your socks off. This series contains everything that comprises to what a good series is all about: amazing characters, engaging plot line, exciting and gripping action scenes and nerve-wracking cliffhangers that will make you want to read the next installment like it’s the last piece of chocolate bar on earth. Okay,enough – let me tell you reasons why you should pick this series
NOW:
Plot – any story that engages a reader is definitely and should be on top of a readers list. Apart from well written and developed characters, this is one aspect of any book that impacts my overall opinion of whether I would recommend it. From Monster Hunter up to this book, it didn’t disappoint in keeping me hooked. I enjoyed every word of every page and the excitement just builds up throughout the story without any down time for anyone to get a chance to be bored.
Characters – Matt Archer is a very strong and charismatic lead. I love his attitude and chemistry with the supporting characters, even with those that has the shortest life span. He’s easygoing yet very mature and responsible. Very enjoyable to read plus he is kinda cute in spite the scary bad ass knife wielding powers he possess. The loyal friend Will is very entertaining as well. The chemistry between these two just seals the deal. You can see the difference of our main characters from the first book up to now and I love how everyone fits the bigger picture so far but looking forward to what happens next because that last page was definitely a WTF moment in the series.
Pacing – I can definitely attest on how effect Highley’s writing style is. As I said, there were no down time in the book – the pacing was very bam bam bam if you know what I mean. You get one scene after the other so be sure that you do have time to read through because it’ll be hard putting the book down. Don’t worry about the world building as well because the story wasn’t written with a complicated one. It’s very realistic asides e the magic and monsters.
Ending – It’s an OMG, WTF and I-need-to-read-the-next-installment-right-now-or-else moment for me. This is one example of a cliffhanger done right. It was perfect and again, as I said I am looking forward on how Highley will continue with this story because that ending can go different ways from there. My excitement is through the roof and definitely reading the next book ASAP.
So there you have it. If I didn’t express how awesome and amazing this book is, then I definitely and highly advice that you pick a copy of Monster Hunter and thank me afterwards. You’ll never regret it, trust me.
From the first installment, Monster Hunter, to the sequel Blade’s Edge I had been telling you guys over and over how much I enjoy this series and how it will rock your socks off. This series contains everything that comprises to what a good series is all about: amazing characters, engaging plot line, exciting and gripping action scenes and nerve-wracking cliffhangers that will make you want to read the next installment like it’s the last piece of chocolate bar on earth. Okay,enough – let me tell you reasons why you should pick this series
NOW:
Plot – any story that engages a reader is definitely and should be on top of a readers list. Apart from well written and developed characters, this is one aspect of any book that impacts my overall opinion of whether I would recommend it. From Monster Hunter up to this book, it didn’t disappoint in keeping me hooked. I enjoyed every word of every page and the excitement just builds up throughout the story without any down time for anyone to get a chance to be bored.
Characters – Matt Archer is a very strong and charismatic lead. I love his attitude and chemistry with the supporting characters, even with those that has the shortest life span. He’s easygoing yet very mature and responsible. Very enjoyable to read plus he is kinda cute in spite the scary bad ass knife wielding powers he possess. The loyal friend Will is very entertaining as well. The chemistry between these two just seals the deal. You can see the difference of our main characters from the first book up to now and I love how everyone fits the bigger picture so far but looking forward to what happens next because that last page was definitely a WTF moment in the series.
Pacing – I can definitely attest on how effect Highley’s writing style is. As I said, there were no down time in the book – the pacing was very bam bam bam if you know what I mean. You get one scene after the other so be sure that you do have time to read through because it’ll be hard putting the book down. Don’t worry about the world building as well because the story wasn’t written with a complicated one. It’s very realistic asides e the magic and monsters.
Ending – It’s an OMG, WTF and I-need-to-read-the-next-installment-right-now-or-else moment for me. This is one example of a cliffhanger done right. It was perfect and again, as I said I am looking forward on how Highley will continue with this story because that ending can go different ways from there. My excitement is through the roof and definitely reading the next book ASAP.
So there you have it. If I didn’t express how awesome and amazing this book is, then I definitely and highly advice that you pick a copy of Monster Hunter and thank me afterwards. You’ll never regret it, trust me.
February 13, 2014
4.5 stars
Did I enjoy this book: I really did. I started this book thinking I would read it in between tour books and other “required” reading. Yeah. That didn’t work out as planned. I devoured this book in a day. I could not stop reading. I put everything on hold, read every free chance I had, and could not put it down.
This is a wonderful installment in the Matt Archer series. It is action-packed, exciting, adrenaline-pumping, funny, sad — you name it, I felt it. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments. A few that stood out were when Matt called Brandt a squib, when Johnson claimed Mamie would smite them, and when Matt narrates: “No, really — the US Army was sending her sixteen-year-old son halfway around the world to investigate supernatural activity and the first concern she voiced was malaria.” These really had me laughing.
I loved the name Matt gave to his knife-spirit. I can totally see her as a Tink. Millicent is a sweetheart and I loved how she stood up to Will’s family. Penny and Ella are great matches for Will and Matt. Great girls. So happy what happened with Will happened. I was hoping!
The battle scenes had me on the edge of my seat. As I said, I could not put this book down. It was just too much to let go, even for a moment.
The ending?!?!? My first word was “No!!!!!!” Then, “WOW!!!!!” I can’t wait to read Bloodlines.
You’ve probably read this glowing review and are wondering why I am only giving it 4 1/2 stars. Well, there were quite a few errors (mainly typos) in my copy of the book. The first few books in this series didn’t have these errors; they were pretty clean.
Would I recommend it: Absolutely, but with one caveat: Legend departs from the middle grade and is now more suitable for YA audiences (as well as adults, obviously). There is an almost sex scene and the language is definitely not middle grade. Still, a wonderful story!
Will I read it again: Yes. I am loving this series. I can’t wait to start Bloodlines. It will be read very soon!
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/02/re...
Did I enjoy this book: I really did. I started this book thinking I would read it in between tour books and other “required” reading. Yeah. That didn’t work out as planned. I devoured this book in a day. I could not stop reading. I put everything on hold, read every free chance I had, and could not put it down.
This is a wonderful installment in the Matt Archer series. It is action-packed, exciting, adrenaline-pumping, funny, sad — you name it, I felt it. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments. A few that stood out were when Matt called Brandt a squib, when Johnson claimed Mamie would smite them, and when Matt narrates: “No, really — the US Army was sending her sixteen-year-old son halfway around the world to investigate supernatural activity and the first concern she voiced was malaria.” These really had me laughing.
I loved the name Matt gave to his knife-spirit. I can totally see her as a Tink. Millicent is a sweetheart and I loved how she stood up to Will’s family. Penny and Ella are great matches for Will and Matt. Great girls. So happy what happened with Will happened. I was hoping!
The battle scenes had me on the edge of my seat. As I said, I could not put this book down. It was just too much to let go, even for a moment.
The ending?!?!? My first word was “No!!!!!!” Then, “WOW!!!!!” I can’t wait to read Bloodlines.
You’ve probably read this glowing review and are wondering why I am only giving it 4 1/2 stars. Well, there were quite a few errors (mainly typos) in my copy of the book. The first few books in this series didn’t have these errors; they were pretty clean.
Would I recommend it: Absolutely, but with one caveat: Legend departs from the middle grade and is now more suitable for YA audiences (as well as adults, obviously). There is an almost sex scene and the language is definitely not middle grade. Still, a wonderful story!
Will I read it again: Yes. I am loving this series. I can’t wait to start Bloodlines. It will be read very soon!
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/02/re...
August 12, 2014
this series keeps getting better. Here matt is struggling with the agenda of the knife spirits, his guilt, who he is, how he can reconcile what he is doing, and still dealing with school. Matt's friend feels like a second wheel and contemplates walking away which would hurt matt. Will is his support and friend. all that helps keep Matt together.
Matt has grown so much over the last two years and he is becoming more serious and less wide eyed and happy. gone are the smiles and in are the serious looks and guilt. His nightmares are becoming real and this petrifies him. He sees that there is more to what is going on in the world than people think but doesn't quite get what it is. He doesn't get too much time to figure this out because he is dealing so much with his guilt, his status as a hunter, fighting monsters, keeping his best friend with him always and school.
His peace comes in ella and his sister. Ella helps ground him. Mamie helps him feel loved and he sees how special she is. the guys he works with are accepting him but are seeing his changes and secretly worried.
a book of action and learning more of who you are. About matt trying to come to grips with what he is and what he is being used for. Trying to accept the guilt of death, the moral dilemma and keeping who he is. A wonderfully written fun book that will start to have you put the puzzle pieces together and what matt's role is in this strange new fight.
Matt has grown so much over the last two years and he is becoming more serious and less wide eyed and happy. gone are the smiles and in are the serious looks and guilt. His nightmares are becoming real and this petrifies him. He sees that there is more to what is going on in the world than people think but doesn't quite get what it is. He doesn't get too much time to figure this out because he is dealing so much with his guilt, his status as a hunter, fighting monsters, keeping his best friend with him always and school.
His peace comes in ella and his sister. Ella helps ground him. Mamie helps him feel loved and he sees how special she is. the guys he works with are accepting him but are seeing his changes and secretly worried.
a book of action and learning more of who you are. About matt trying to come to grips with what he is and what he is being used for. Trying to accept the guilt of death, the moral dilemma and keeping who he is. A wonderfully written fun book that will start to have you put the puzzle pieces together and what matt's role is in this strange new fight.
July 2, 2013
Holy crap do I love these Matt Archer books!!! With every installment I'm shocked by the "more-ness" of it all! Kendra Highley brings her A-game every time, but then manages to step it up even .... well, more!!! There's more crazy military action, more freak-tastic monsters, more high school drama (in a good way) and more twists and turns than your fav roller coaster!
In Legend, we see even more depth to the characters we've come to adore. Will especially develops and some really exciting things happen with him in the latter part of the book. Some of which I had my suspicions while others totally threw me. Matt is his witty, hilarious self, but with more maturity and world-weariness that really adds to his complexity. He's also given his knife spirit the nickname Tink which is so freakin perfect!
The plot continues to thicken with more bumps and turns as we are given more insight into the origins of the monster issue. The action is crazy-sauce intense and plentiful! Just when you think it's all good -- wham! -- the battle burns on!!! And then, right at the end, a huge bomb is dropped on us (no, not a literal one)! My jaw fell open. Just you wait and see what those last sentences hold!
I'm stoked to tell you there's two more Matt books to come. I will be emailing the author daily for release updates .... tee hee hee! **evil giggle**
In Legend, we see even more depth to the characters we've come to adore. Will especially develops and some really exciting things happen with him in the latter part of the book. Some of which I had my suspicions while others totally threw me. Matt is his witty, hilarious self, but with more maturity and world-weariness that really adds to his complexity. He's also given his knife spirit the nickname Tink which is so freakin perfect!
The plot continues to thicken with more bumps and turns as we are given more insight into the origins of the monster issue. The action is crazy-sauce intense and plentiful! Just when you think it's all good -- wham! -- the battle burns on!!! And then, right at the end, a huge bomb is dropped on us (no, not a literal one)! My jaw fell open. Just you wait and see what those last sentences hold!
I'm stoked to tell you there's two more Matt books to come. I will be emailing the author daily for release updates .... tee hee hee! **evil giggle**
July 23, 2013
I absolutely love this series! Matt continues to grow and mature, but still has a certain naïve quality that resonates well with me. The monster world continues to expand and broaden under Kendra’s magical direction, as well. There are some super cool “pincushion” monsters that I never could have dreamed up in a million years –fanciful and frightening. I really like that Will is evolving into a force to be reckoned with, too, instead of just Matt’s friend and follower. As a matter of fact, all the characters continue to grow and change as the story gets increasingly more complex. The humor is still there to lighten the darker moments, and twice I got so emotionally involved that my eyes teared up during particularly moving moments. Another thing that I very much appreciate about this series is that Kendra has ended each book, so far, logically and after a satisfying story arc. While there are always new challenges for the team to face in the future, there have not been any super-frustrating cliff-hanger endings. I am, as usual, eagerly awaiting the next adventure.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
July 23, 2013
I've been a fan of this series since the first book, and this one is my absolute favorite. As much as I loved Matt as an innocent kid with a gift for slaying monsters, he's even more compelling now as a teenager with complex feelings about his role as one of the saviors of humanity. This book has a great blend of action, romance, and humor. Matt's voice feels very real, both as an extension of his personality from prior books as well as a typical boy. Awesome job with the relationship between Matt and his best friend, Will, as well as his girlfriend, Ella. Be warned, the book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger that made me very anxious to read the next book in the series. I am hoping Highley will release a sneak peek of chapter 1 before 2014, because I'm not sure I can wait that long for my next monster fix!
April 9, 2014
After finishing the second Matt Archer book, I jumped right into the third. The third continues to build on the themes in the second. Matt is learning how to cope with his role as a chosen knife yielder and the sacrifices that go with it. Much like Harry Potter, Matt and the characters mature as the series continues and the themes get darker and more complex. Even with the darker themes, Highley still blends in humor through the novel, especially with the dialogue between the characters. I also love how Matt continuously calls his aunt Badass Aunt Julie. My only complaint is the cliffhanger at the end! Unlike the first two books, Legend ends on a complete cliffhanger leaving you wanting more. Lucky for me, I'm late to the Matt Archer party and I get to move straight onto the fourth in series!
September 1, 2014
I received a free ecopy of this book for an honest review.
It is now the fall of Matt’s junior year in high school. He still has issues to work through but now his best friend, Will, is starting to have his own issues. Kendra C. Highley does a good job of continuing to develop the characters.
More is revealed about the knives and how/why the wielders came to be. There are a couple of surprises in this book, too, which I always like.
I did a little skipping at the beginning of this book but only because I had just finished #2 and the author included enough history that this could be read on its own. I recommend reading the books in order, though.
Even though this is an ongoing series, the first two books ended after a mission was completed. This one didn’t end with things as resolved, but I didn’t mind since I am going to read the next book right now.
It is now the fall of Matt’s junior year in high school. He still has issues to work through but now his best friend, Will, is starting to have his own issues. Kendra C. Highley does a good job of continuing to develop the characters.
More is revealed about the knives and how/why the wielders came to be. There are a couple of surprises in this book, too, which I always like.
I did a little skipping at the beginning of this book but only because I had just finished #2 and the author included enough history that this could be read on its own. I recommend reading the books in order, though.
Even though this is an ongoing series, the first two books ended after a mission was completed. This one didn’t end with things as resolved, but I didn’t mind since I am going to read the next book right now.
July 22, 2013
"Matt Archer: Legend" is the third book in the 'Matt Archer Series'. Kendra C. Highley continues her fantastic writing in her third Matt Archer book. Filled with action, more twists/turns and emotions, Matt's character matures in this book along with some new characters introduced and more in depth of the characters we all know from the previous books. I honestly can't wait for the next book to come out and then I heard another one after that will be the final book of the series. I do suggest reading them in order so your not losing any information and highly recommend the whole series to everyone.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
June 16, 2014
*No Spoilers*
As Matt faces challenges from both the knife and the monsters, he perhaps faces his greatest threat yet when Will considers quitting the strike force. The biggest twists in the series occur, and readers better be prepared for an amazing and exciting ride! Legend definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat and thoroughly entertained. The sacrifices Matt makes become even bigger, and the danger and heartbreak he faces continue to wear him down. But he comes back stronger than ever with each fight, and readers will definitely love his courage and the battle scenes that play out. I'd recommend this to young adult readers and above. If the five star rating doesn't give it away, this will: Read Matt Archer!!!
As Matt faces challenges from both the knife and the monsters, he perhaps faces his greatest threat yet when Will considers quitting the strike force. The biggest twists in the series occur, and readers better be prepared for an amazing and exciting ride! Legend definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat and thoroughly entertained. The sacrifices Matt makes become even bigger, and the danger and heartbreak he faces continue to wear him down. But he comes back stronger than ever with each fight, and readers will definitely love his courage and the battle scenes that play out. I'd recommend this to young adult readers and above. If the five star rating doesn't give it away, this will: Read Matt Archer!!!
March 6, 2017
Loved this book so much, and again, ending with his dad asking why Matt's there, when he's only 17, and yeah, so freaking good!
*First read June 18th, 2013*
Man, oh, man, I loved this book! So freaking good, we got a new character who was spectacular, and there was a lot of developments in the whole "original monster places have important people" angle, and then the ending, with the possessed guy (not saying his name so I don't spoil) and the absolute end? Man, is that going to torment me till book #4, I want to know what's going to happen next!!!! Oh, and Mamie became a god to some of the soldiers, which I found hilarious, loved it!!
*First read June 18th, 2013*
Man, oh, man, I loved this book! So freaking good, we got a new character who was spectacular, and there was a lot of developments in the whole "original monster places have important people" angle, and then the ending, with the possessed guy (not saying his name so I don't spoil) and the absolute end? Man, is that going to torment me till book #4, I want to know what's going to happen next!!!! Oh, and Mamie became a god to some of the soldiers, which I found hilarious, loved it!!
July 6, 2013
Another action-packed entry in the Matt Archer series. Matt's character continues to grow, and the story continues to take unexpected, exciting turns. Can't wait for the next one! My stepson recently read the first three books in the series, and at the end he said to me of Ms. Highley, "She better write a whole bookcase full of books!" Whether books about Matt Archer or others, I agree -- please keep writing more books!
July 7, 2013
I read a chapter...maybe two...never more than three each night to make the book last longer. Kendra C. Highley doesn't publish Matt Archer books fast enough! I love the action - both the monster/army variety and the Matt/Ella-Mike/Julie-Will/Penn variety. (It's young love with angst, yet not annoyingly so.) Mrs. Highley knows how to balance love & war in this series. I'm ready for the next book, please! Also, has anyone thought about who will play these people in the movie?!
December 8, 2013
I rarely say this about books in a series… but this series just keeps getting better and better with each book! I'm hooked and can't wait for #4 to release in January of 2014 (yes, I looked it up)! The character development keeps getting more and more interesting, the monsters more exciting, and the storyline more thrilling! The author even has a blog where you can get even more Matt Archer stuff… I'm hooked!
July 30, 2013
This is I think my favorite of the series. LOVED it!
September 28, 2013
I read the first three books (plus the novella between 1 & 2) in 2 days! I cant wait until 2014 for the last two books! AHHHH!!!!
March 3, 2018
Great YA series that I'm just enjoying way too much. Fast-paced, lots of action, and some humor to keep the story moving along. The main character is a teenage boy struggling to cope with some heady responsibility - he's been chosen by a magical knife to save the world. Sounds a little corny but Highley makes it work. She's also not afraid to deal with some difficult subjects, and Matt Archer has to learn to deal with the sorrow and guilt that comes from seeing some of his fellow hunters killed.
October 16, 2018
High Adventure from Highley
Read Matt Archer in order, please, as if you don't you will get lost in a hurry. I don't like horror. I don't like military fiction. I am a 75-year-old woman. This is a horror military series written for teenage boys.
And I love every word of it.
Read Matt Archer in order, please, as if you don't you will get lost in a hurry. I don't like horror. I don't like military fiction. I am a 75-year-old woman. This is a horror military series written for teenage boys.
And I love every word of it.
June 14, 2014
matt's week goes downhill from the moment he and will are attacked by rock monsters in canada.
then he has to deal with an anthropologist who has been possessed, all whilst dealing with the heartache of ella breaking up with him.
to compound everything else he's also having to worry that his uncle or aunt could be hurt or worse leaving baby kate an orphan,
then there's the fight he has with his brother brent giving him trouble at home, and with will pining after the new girl at school who want's nothing to do with him matts life just couldn't seem to get any worse.
so off course to top off everything else he's dealing with he get's sent to africa to deal with the oncoming eclipse,
whilst there he has to deal with another wielder who is lazy and uncoperative.
he meets zenka the wife of the deceased african shaman who tells him more about the prophecy and shows him he may have a more important part in its destruction than he ever thought possible.
the strikforece itself also has new members, one in particular shows a little more fascination with the monsters than is wise.
and the loss of a wielder and the knifes new owner that just gives matt more to add to the weight of the world that he already carries on his shoulders,
throw in a suprise cameo at the end of the book and matts world might just collapse.
another book in the series and it just gets bigger and better.
despite everything going on with the plot and emotion there is still that underlying sense of humour that makes theese books amazing.
i may be biased given how big a fan i am of the series but i still recomend them to anyone looking for a new book to read.
they are aimed at the young adult genre but are great at all ages.
then he has to deal with an anthropologist who has been possessed, all whilst dealing with the heartache of ella breaking up with him.
to compound everything else he's also having to worry that his uncle or aunt could be hurt or worse leaving baby kate an orphan,
then there's the fight he has with his brother brent giving him trouble at home, and with will pining after the new girl at school who want's nothing to do with him matts life just couldn't seem to get any worse.
so off course to top off everything else he's dealing with he get's sent to africa to deal with the oncoming eclipse,
whilst there he has to deal with another wielder who is lazy and uncoperative.
he meets zenka the wife of the deceased african shaman who tells him more about the prophecy and shows him he may have a more important part in its destruction than he ever thought possible.
the strikforece itself also has new members, one in particular shows a little more fascination with the monsters than is wise.
and the loss of a wielder and the knifes new owner that just gives matt more to add to the weight of the world that he already carries on his shoulders,
throw in a suprise cameo at the end of the book and matts world might just collapse.
another book in the series and it just gets bigger and better.
despite everything going on with the plot and emotion there is still that underlying sense of humour that makes theese books amazing.
i may be biased given how big a fan i am of the series but i still recomend them to anyone looking for a new book to read.
they are aimed at the young adult genre but are great at all ages.
July 18, 2014
Matt is 16 now and is changing from bright eyed kid to weary solider. His knife is ever present in his mind and thinks she knows what's best even if it goes against what Matt wants. He's figuring out that things don't always go the way you want them to, but still needs to learn to accept what he can't change.
Will is having a hard time in his roll and is trying to understand his place in the war, or if he even has one. He's still the sanity to Matt's sometimes madness, and he's the voice of reason when Matt will listen to no one else.
While Matt's personal life is three sheets to the wind the war is ramping up and he begins to understand more about the knives purpose. He's become hardened by events and it takes it's toll on him, leaving him scrambling to find balance.
As the story continues to grow you find yourself sucked into it more and more, wanting to find out what will happen to the characters in the uncoming books in the series.
Will is having a hard time in his roll and is trying to understand his place in the war, or if he even has one. He's still the sanity to Matt's sometimes madness, and he's the voice of reason when Matt will listen to no one else.
While Matt's personal life is three sheets to the wind the war is ramping up and he begins to understand more about the knives purpose. He's become hardened by events and it takes it's toll on him, leaving him scrambling to find balance.
As the story continues to grow you find yourself sucked into it more and more, wanting to find out what will happen to the characters in the uncoming books in the series.
June 14, 2014
As the middle entry to the series, Matt Archer: Legend sets the ground for the previous sequels while, at the same time, setting on resolving the issues from the previous issues.
And while we have already seen Will’s indecision on remaining on the team - since he felt like he wasn’t worth it -, the knifes, apparently, have something of their planned on this blade’s edges. And, of course, Matt’s own knife continues to give him the time of his life - and not in a good way, as it continues to meddle in his affairs with the love of his life and shows no signs of backing down.
All in all, a promising book, with very real characters, all unique in flavor.
And while we have already seen Will’s indecision on remaining on the team - since he felt like he wasn’t worth it -, the knifes, apparently, have something of their planned on this blade’s edges. And, of course, Matt’s own knife continues to give him the time of his life - and not in a good way, as it continues to meddle in his affairs with the love of his life and shows no signs of backing down.
All in all, a promising book, with very real characters, all unique in flavor.
June 29, 2015
Great story!
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