Book Review: Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye

Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye
Tania del Rio
Quirk Books, 2015
Source: from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

~What It's About~

Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye introduces us to Warren, the heir to the Warren Hotel. Although only Warrens can run the hotel, our Warren is still a boy and his Uncle Rupert (not a Warren) has run the hotel into the ground. Uncle Rupert's new wife is even worse, tearing apart the rooms as she searches for the mythical All-Seeing Eye. Warren has always thought that it was a silly rumor, but then he finds the journal of Warren the 2nd and he realizes it may actually exist. If it does, then he must find it before his aunt does or the hotel may be destroyed.

~The Good~

Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye is quirky with odd and over the top characters. Uncle Rupert is so lazy he falls asleep at all hours of the day wherever he happens to be. Warren is described as looking like a toad with beautiful blonde hair. The reason he looks so different is not addressed. It simply is so. Although Warren the 13th seems very lonely, it's soon apparent that he does have some friends rooting for him--even if they're all adults. Throughout the story he makes some more friends and they all band together to help one another.

I also enjoyed the sense of adventure and mystery. Kids will enjoy finding out the mystery behind the All-Seeing Eye and the Warren Hotel.  I think they'll be surprised by the results.

~The Not-So-Good~

There were too many characters. Before things take off, Warren has his uncle, aunt, tutor, and the Chef to live with. That number quickly escalates after a turn of events brings hordes of people to the hotel. Not every character is focused on, but he gains a couple of friends, an enemy or two, a mysterious guest, some annoying guests, and one who offers him an escape. All these different personalities felt pressed in and fake. Some were too over the top, trying to be quirky and fit in the tone of book better.

I felt like there was too much going on.  First we have him dealing with his evil Aunt Anaconda (what a name--right?) and there are magical creatures who come into the story.  He meets someone his own age who is supposedly staying at the hotel and there is a mysterious guest who is creeping around.  Add to this the fact that he has to find the Eye before his aunt and suddenly the hotel is swarmed with people also looking for the same object. The ending was also a bit out of nowhere, but I don't want to spoil it if you want to give it a try yourself.

~Final Thoughts~

Overall, I wasn't too thrilled with Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye. It was a bit messier for me and I felt that some things were just jumped over or left behind.


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