BOOK REVIEW: The Hangman's Revolution by Eoin Colfer (W.A.R.P. bk 2)

This review originally appeared as a booktube review on my YouTube channel. You can watch the original or read the text review below.

This sequel was five times better than the first book, The Reluctant Assassin *. And I really liked the first book.


There were two things that I absolutely loved about it. I mean, aside from the great story, fun characters, and hilarious banter.
 
One: W.A.R.P. stands for Witness Anonymous Relocation Program and -surprise, surprise- we're dealing with time travel. In the Hangman's Revolution especially, Colfer turns the whole time travel thing on its head. Time travel is hard to write, boys and girls, because you can't please everybody. There's always someone who nitpicks about how something doesn't add up because it would effect the time stream or it's paradoxical or something. There are many different types or theories of time travel and they don't always agree. Someone is always going to have a problem with something when there's time travel. But Eoin Colfer anticipated this.

"Time travel creates chaos, and chaos doesn't follow your rules. That's why it's called chaos, dummy."

The book is full of similar quotes by Charles Smart, Colfer's inventor of time travel, and come on people, you have got to give him props for that. He takes the biggest issue with time travel fiction, and he turns it into a recurring joke in the book.

Now that's not to say that Colfer skimps on the actual time travel stuff. He doesn't brush the logical aside with a joke. Not at all. The effects featured all make sense, and it's a really clever use of the time travel story.

Two: OTTO MALARKEY.

I love Otto Malarkey, King of the Battering Rams gang, and I have ever since I first read about him. One of the great things about this character is that he's a carry-over from Colfer's novel Airman (which is also really, really good). Otto showed up in The Reluctant Assassin and I cherished and relished every moment of his presence. He quips, and he beats people up, and he's totally obsessed with his hair. He had a bit part in the first book, which was great, but I figured it would kind of be a one-off thing, so the moment he walks into this book my reaction was something like

 

To Read or Not to Read?

Okay, so great story, awesome characters, the reunion of our spunky heroine and favorite assistant magician/assassin, and some lovely mucking about with time travel.

Unlike the first book, I was sucked into this story from page 1. Starts right off with a bang, and really doesn't let up. It's full of Colfer's true-to-form action, wit, and adventure, and I didn't realize just how much I'd been missing that. 

I also got to see a little more into the heads of Chevie and Riley in this book, which I really enjoyed. I am hoping that the next book delves much more heavily into Riley. He's the most interesting character to me, and I would love to see more from him.

The one thing that didn't ring 100% true for me was the villain. He was more the calm and calculated, 'everything must be reasonable' type, and I just didn't really feel it. I did enjoy the minor villains much more, so they kept the evil side interesting for me.

I have seen many one-star reviews for this book due to no character development. I'll be honest. There really isn't any character development. The characters have great personality and interaction, the story is fast-paced, and there's so much action that I didn't really notice the little growth of the characters. So yes, there is a lack of character development in the book, but the book itself isn't lacking.

This one gets five stars because I enjoyed every moment and the pages flew by. What really had me squealing with fangirl glee was Otto Malarkey and how much Colfer twisted history around.

Verdict: TO READ. 

*You can find my review for The Reluctant Assassin in text and on video.