At first I didn’t feel like I was going to like this novel as I normally stay away from young adult fiction but there was something about this book that caught my eye. The more I read of it the more intrigued I became and I found myself finishing this book in a day. I felt that this story had all the points of a sci-fi classics but it had a bit of a modern twist to the plot.

This novel is fast paced and will keep the reader turning the pages till the end. I found that all the characters had been well written and this a credit to the author. All the characters are very like able and I feel like the reader can really relate to these characters.

This book is an excellent young adult book that I feel and hope will be enjoyed by many people. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series and would recommend this to people that want to read a fun and enjoyable book.

A copy of this book was received for free and all opinions expressed are my own through reading this book.

This review was first published on http://everybookhasasoul.wordpress.com ( )

Jason Hunter has troubles. New school, new friends, weird neighbors, weird parents. The next thing he knows, he's escaping evil aliens, riding in a flying saucer, and zipping off to the other end of the galaxy in order to save the planet. Along the way, he meets several memorable characters and has adventures on numerous worlds, with barely a moment to catch his breath. It's been a long time since I've read any YA science fiction, and this was a very fun return to the genre. The setting, though clearly inspired by such SF giants as Stargate and Star Trek, is detailed, plausible, and fairly original - and best of all, not dumbed down. My favorite character, by far, was Takkadian Pheno. Scary, hilarious, and all-around awesome. I do hope he shows up again sometime. Now, I will admit to having a pretty good idea of how the other two books in the trilogy will play out (there's reason Jason brought two friends with him, after all), but I'd still like to read them, if only to revisit the universe of these stories. I can see this series becoming very popular among junior high school SF fans. ( )

Article first published as Book Review:The Talisman of Elam: Children of Hathor-Book I by Jim Mastro on Blogcritics.

Something is happening in young Jason Hunter’s life that he does not understand. He is seeing some very odd things and when he discusses them with his parents they just nod and smile. He is determined that he is being followed and is in danger, but he is not able to get them to believe him. He finally talks to his friend Kevin Hayashi with whom he now shares everything. They are the best of friends ever since Jason saved Kevin from being beat up at school. As Kevin is trying to get more information from Jason about an object he found in the woods, another student shows up, Amelia Reis. She too is a friend of Kevin’s and although has heard all about Jason, she has never met him.

Amelia does not fit in with the in crowd in school and is more like Jason and Kevin than anyone else. When Kevin invites her to listen in on the stories he is hearing from Jason, she is intrigued. Because she constantly has her camera with her and is a very curious person she is a good fit for adventure, and has the making of a great new friend.

Once she has left, Jason gets Kevin to come over so that he can help him follow his neighbors, whom he has dubbed the freaks. These are the very same people that seem to be following him, so he and Kevin decide to follow them into the woods. As night breaks, and the freaks leave their house for the woods, Kevin and Jason are right behind, they have every intention of finding out what is happening. When they run into Amelia in the woods, Jason is a bit upset, but she is adamant. She too is following these freaks, and will not leave.

Finding a hidden space ship is the very last thing that any of them expected. Even worse, they find that not only have these neighbors been following Jason, but that his real parents have been kidnapped and only he can save them. He must travel to space and find an ancient talisman, both to prevent destruction of the earth and to save his parents from death. As his friends finally agree to help him in this quest, little do they know that they will learn secrets about themselves unknown to all, and that not only the earth is in danger but the entire galaxy itself is in jeopardy. They find strengths within that make them the perfect foil for Jason, who discovers that he is the Heir of Elam. With the help of Shalan, one of the freaks as he calls them, he becomes someone he does not recognize, and yet it is what he needs in order to survive.

In The Talisman of Elam, Jim Mastro has put together a story of adventure and suspense, a tale that can only be dreamed of. The story is strong and bold, delivering an impression of realism, with characters that walk right off the pages. Jason has to grow up quickly, and he steps up and takes the challenge. Kevin is bright and very much into gaming, and with his background he is able to guide the space ship through dangerous situations, saving the group on several occasions. Amanda, with her background in languages, is very adaptable and picks up new languages easier, but is also the most human, wanting to be home, while the boys are enjoying the situations as they occur.

Shalan starts out as an unknown and while she is still very introspective throughout the first part of the book, when she finally breaks out of her shell she is courageous and very intelligent. She knows the information that will be needed, and when she is injured and almost killed, it takes everything that Jason, Kevin and Amanda have to keep her alive. She is their only link to both where they are going as well as their homes on earth and they need her.

The pace is quick and flowing, with strange and unique individuals, different and dangerous travel, and an exciting type of magic, which is imbued only to the owner of the Talisman.

This is a great young adult book, but with a strong story for anyone that is an enthusiast of science fiction. This is a first in the series of this young group of travelers, and I look forward to hearing more about them.

This book was received as a free copy from the Author. All opinions are my own based of my reading and understanding of the material. ( )

Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:

The Talisman of Elam, the debut novel in Jim Mastro's Children of Hathor trilogy, is a fun action filled sci-fi adventure that had me hooked from the first paragraph. With wonderful characters, a thrilling non-stop plot line, and a universe filled with possibilities fans of 'Harry Potter' will love this book!

Much like in the famous wizarding series, this novel follows a young group of friends as they get dragged into an intergalactic plot to steal not only the Earth, but the council that governs the universe as well. The unique premise is what instantly grabbed my attention. Yet, with any novel focusing on 12 year olds you have to worry that they won't be all that highly developed, or that the plot would end up being merely cheesy. In this case, have no fear because the plot, the characters and the worlds housed within these pages are all wonderfully developed.

From the first paragraph this novel really drew me in. The quirky characters reminding me of old sci-fi movies about alien invasions with amusingly odd beings lurking around in neighborhoods studying the 'locals'. But, it doesn't stay amusingly mundane for long, instead becoming a roller coaster adventure as the harrowing adolescents are thrust into a battle to save the Earth, the universe and Jason's parents. The worlds the group visit are all wonderfully built, from a brief overview of the history of the planets and its inhabitants to the lush descriptions that bring the settings to life. The creativity and easily imagined locales really add an aspect I hadn't counted on giving it a greater depth and believability. The premise itself is never veered from, the focus of the novel never shifting randomly to focus on alternate planets or other random and meaningless topics. This was also something I rather enjoyed because it would have been all but too easy to have the story drift leaving much of the plot forgotten. Instead, you taken from point A to point B and beyond as the characters methodically accomplish their goals. That's not to say that there aren't a lot of the unexpected situations the group must persevere through because it's these unforeseen situations that helps to keep the reader on their toes.

The characters themselves are all nicely developed as well, but the true enjoyment comes from the ensemble and not merely the individuals. Their emotions, thoughts and fears are all wonderfully explored as they grow and learn to push the boundaries of what they consider to be possible. The companionable bond between them gives the novel a nice air of camaraderie and trust, the group supporting the individuals helping them all to overcome immeasurable and impossible odds. In truth, their relationship is a bright spot in the otherwise dark situations they find themselves in, the connection giving strength and will when they otherwise would have none. I also have to love the individual quirks of the group and how these 'talents' help aid the troop on their journey. For instance, Kevin is an admitted nerd who loves video games, especially those that simulate flight. Without this particular skill, the group would not have been able to easily pilot the ship through unbelievable odds. Or Amelia and her gift of languages, without which the explorers would often be stuck in dire circumstances. Without a doubt the ensemble cast all play their roles in the plot, helping in their own ways to aid Jason in his quest for the Amulon Talic.

Over all this novel was masterfully written with a nice mix of perspective, atmosphere, characterization and adventure. The plot development and growth of the characters is simply first rate with a fast paced plot that keeps you reading, wanting to know what will happen next. I for one will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next installment, The Hand of Osiris. ( )