Thank you ASmouseInTheHouse for sending me this! He was the winner of the fan art contest and gets to make a guest post
The Blackgaard Chronicles Book Series
Warning: Major spoiler alert for all the books in this series!
It all started in August 2017, when the first book of a new AIO series called “The Blackgaard Chronicles” was released, written by Phil Lollar. The book was titled Opening Moves and was said to contain a behind-the-scenes perspective on the events of the Blackgaard Saga. Opening Moves specifically covered….well…opening moves that set the stage of the beginning of the most epic and legendary sagas in the history of Adventures in Odyssey.
But why, some might ask, would you read the book series when there are actual episodes?
I thought the same thing when the books started coming out. I read them on the Club when they were availible….
And was surprised.
I might have expected a word-for-word echo of the scenes from the episodes, but that was not the case.
When reading any book from the Blackgaard Chronicles, readers find out things that were not mentioned in the audio episodes. Everything from added lines, insightful descriptions of the setting and characters, extended scenes, and best of all, entirely new scenes!
I was amazed upon reading the first few books. Who knew the ridiculous scheming and manipulating that had gone into obtaining the building for Blackgaard’s Castle? Who knew how Richard Maxwell had been caught up in Blackgaard’s team? Who knew the story of why Whit was in Chicago for Waylaid in the Windy City?
Not only do readers learn about the behind-the-scenes workings, they also get a fresh perspective on scenes that are heard in AIO. We suddenly learn more specific descriptions of characters, their thoughts, or their favored facial expressions. We learn of Phillip Glossman’s backstory in the opening of the series. We learn that Blackgaard had more plans that we ever realized. We learn why Maxwell left Whit’s End to speak of his plan with Lucy, and that his cologne actually is a thing (not confined to the whimsical I Slap Floor!).
Sometimes, readers notice that a scene continues even after the audio scene would have ended. Sometimes it continues in description. Other times in dialogue. No matter which, this additional information is always interesting to devour.
In addition, we sometimes get the extra bonus of added humor to seen and unseen scenes.
“Glossman stewed in anger and in rank-smelling cologne. He had no building, no way to get the building, and no good news for Blackgaard. And to top it all off, he was going to have to sell his car and burn his clothes because they smelled like Richard Maxwell. This was not a good day.” -Book 2, chapter 3.
“I am not cleaning your litter box.” -Book 4
“And your name is really…Pinky?” -Book 5
“Alright, nobody move!” “That’s my water gun.” -Book 5
…to name a few of my favorites.
I gobbled up Pawn’s Play, Cross-Check, and Rook’s Ruse. Recently, I got Knight’s Scheme.
I’m not sure which book I’d say is my favorite. It’s safe to say that I enjoyed every single one and am looking forward to reading the rest! I did particularly enjoy Cross-Check and Rook’s Ruse. If you ask me, they are definitely worth reading.
Oh, and by the way, check out the Young Whit books too. These two book series are starting to connect in some interesting ways! But that’s another story for another time… maybe I’ll post an article about that on my new AIO blog, the Odyssey Obsessors! www.odysseyobsessors.wordpress.com
Have any of you read the Blackgaard Chronicles? If so, how did you like them?
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