Review of THE STUDY TRAIN

THE STUDY TRAIN:  REUNION OF THE UNTOUCHABLES
Kurt Frenier
Eloquent Books,  July 12, 2010
ISBN:  978-1609118846

Ethan, a teenager, is living a rather dismal life in Switzerland, because he has uncaring parents and does poorly in school.  When a magical train comes to pick him up and Lord Althulos, the master of the train, offers him a place on the train with other special teen, Ethan jumps at the chance.  Master Magician Mikhail Pinlkington III had created the train to fly around the world and teach teens to become great leaders, and Ethan is one of the chosen few.  Unfortunately, there is a dark influence hanging around and tempting Ethan onto a dark path.

THE STUDY TRAIN is a young adult fantasy novel, which does have a few curse words but would, probably, still be acceptable for most teens.  Ethan, who is the central character of the novel, has a great struggle within himself over, whom to choose:  Lord Althulos or the shady character lurking around, offering great power.  While I understand that Ethan, who came from a very dysfunctional family, didn't have a good moral foundation, I, still, couldn't warm to him after some of the choices he makes.  Ethan seems very self-absorbed and easily led astray.  Fortunately, the ending has an exciting, climatic battle scene, which has several surprises and leaves room for more books in this series.

Overall, although I found Ethan something of a brat, THE STUDY TRAIN held my interest and left me surprised by the ending.

NOTE:  I was sent this book, in return for an impartial review.