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Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
The Salamander Stone is the first installment in The Beowulf Brigade series by Heidi Nickerson. The story follows 16-year-old Ellie Adair as her world turns upside down. For nearly a year, things have gone to hell worldwide. Monsters roam freely in the open, terrorizing people and paralyzing their lives. However, this is the least of Ellie’s worries. She has to worry about her mother’s mental health and her father’s sudden disappearance. But pales in comparison to what is happening with her. She is slowly becoming a vampire and cannot do anything about it. Things turn sinister when teenagers from her school disappear, and Ellie knows she has to take action before it gets out of hand. But can she do it when she has her problems and bloodthirst to control?
The Salamander Stone is my favorite novel this year, and I can confidently say it will remain in my top five. Ellie is a class act, and I adore her. She is smart and has accepted her fate. However, she is not a pushover and gives back just as good as she gets. I love her responses and how she battles everything with a straight head. While I love Ellie and her charming personality, the real star of the story is the narrative. Heidi Nickerson creates the perfect environment for her protagonist and the plot to flourish. She breathes life into it with quick-witted dialogues and short descriptions. I love the action and the way the story flows. The opening explains how much Ellie relies on her grandfather, especially now that the world is riddled with monsters and absolute madness. The humor is alive and makes things even better. I can read over and over and never get bored. I hope Heidi Nickerson releases the second installment soon because I can hardly wait.
