Jennifer Scales by MaryJanice Davidon & Anthony Alongi: Book Series Review

Have you ever read any of the Undead and... series by MaryJanice Davidson? They are simply too funny- I mean laughs at loud, snort one's coffee funny. I am a huge fan of her books.

When I came across a young adult book of hers while sorting books at work... I thought to myself... hey-let me give this one a shot and see what I think. After all, this appears to be the first of a series.

Entitled Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace, I thought... I probably will not like it but, at least I can say I read it, therefore; my recommendations to customers will be valid. The title just did not entice me to want to read it... the author did.

Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace -

Jennifer Scales is a typical teenager. Growing up meant change... everyone teenager is aware of that... however, it is a very small minority that experience change similar to Jennifer's change. She morphs into dragon form right before she turns fifteen. Jennifer is a weredragon... so is her father. Her mother, however, is a beaststalker... weredragon's sworn enemy. She discovers who she is in the midst of adolescent turmoil and battles with a weredragon's second greatest enemy...werachnids.

This book did not grab me and hold me... however... I was interested to see where the writers would go next. So... on to the second book in the series...

Jennifer Scales and the Messenger of Light-

Jennifer Scales finds herself ensnared as the focal point of tensions and rivalry between weredragons, beaststalkers, and werachnids. It is up to her to stop her newfound sibling (half weredragon and half werachnid- his father was married before... and no one knew!) from going on a murderous rampage through town.

Jennifer and her friends search for a peaceful solution before an all out epic battle begins that could result in genocide of one of the three races. This books picks up the pace a bit... yet still manages to relay Jennifer's adolescent angst and confusion. On to the next one.

The Silver Moon Elm-

What would you do if you awakened one day to a new world... a world where everyone and everything was different except you? That is what happens in this third installment of the series. Jennifer discovers that Skip had honorable intentions (in his mind) to save her out of his love for her. He sacrificed so much (in his mind) to spare her life and bring her with him to a new universe where werachnids ruled and weredragons and beaststalkers were hunted to the point of extinction.

She discovers greater depth to her powers and to self character as she races against time to change things back... to bring back her family and her world. Does she do it... of course.

Seraph of Sorrow-

The fourth installment of this series (published this year so now I am all caught up) is my favorite. The tone is a bit more grown up... since the main character is growing up. This book, written from several different character perspectives allows us, as readers, to see more into the plot and character development of the story. Jennifer must learn not only an ancient elder dragon skill but also how to save all three races from an all out war. An epic battle brings the factions together and maybe peace has a seedling of a chance now.

These books did not keep me up at night. I did not stay up into the wee hours devouring page after page. But I did enjoy them. I did recommend them to my niece and several youth at work. Some have reported to me on their enjoyment of the series.

My niece now wants to read the Undead series...not until she is older!