Review: Matt Archer: Legend by Kendra C. Highley

Matt Archer: Legend (Matt Archer #3)
written by Kendra C. Highley
published by Kendra C. Highley

find it here: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Goodreads, Kobo

Why did I pick this book: I loved the first two and a half books in this series, and I could not wait to read this book!

See my reviews of the first books here: Matt Archer: Monster Hunter (Matt Archer #1), Matt Archer: Monster Summer (Matt Archer #1.5), and Matt Archer: Blade’s Edge (Matt Archer #2).

Did I enjoy this book: I really did. I started this book thinking I would read it in between tour books and other “required” reading. Yeah. That didn’t work out as planned. I devoured this book in a day. I could not stop reading. I put everything on hold, read every free chance I had, and could not put it down.

This is a wonderful installment in the Matt Archer series. It is action-packed, exciting, adrenaline-pumping, funny, sad — you name it, I felt it. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments. A few that stood out were when Matt called Brandt a squib, when Johnson claimed Mamie would smite them, and when Matt narrates: “No, really — the US Army was sending her sixteen-year-old son halfway around the world to investigate supernatural activity and the first concern she voiced was malaria.” These really had me laughing.

I loved the name Matt gave to his knife-spirit. I can totally see her as a Tink. Millicent is a sweetheart and I loved how she stood up to Will’s family. Penny and Ella are great matches for Will and Matt. Great girls. So happy what happened with Will happened. I was hoping! The battle scenes had me on the edge of my seat. As I said, I could not put this book down. It was just too much to let go, even for a moment.

The ending?!?!? My first word was “No!!!!!!” Then, “WOW!!!!!” I can’t wait to read Bloodlines. 

You’ve probably read this glowing review and are wondering why I am only giving it 4 1/2 stars. Well, there were quite a few errors (mainly typos) in my copy of the book. The first few books in this series didn’t have these errors; they were pretty clean.

Would I recommend it: Absolutely, but with one caveat: Legend departs from the middle grade and is now more suitable for YA audiences (as well as adults, obviously). There is an almost sex scene and the language is definitely not middle grade. Still, a wonderful story!

Will I read it again: Yes. I am loving this series. I can’t wait to start Bloodlines. It will be read very soon!

About the book: When Matt Archer was fourteen, he was chosen—by a magic, spirit-inhabited knife—to hunt monsters with a special paranormal division of the Army. When he was fifteen, he was thrown into a global war the rest of the world didn’t know existed.

Now Matt’s sixteen and the war has cost him more than he ever thought it would. He’s also learned that the knife-spirits have an agenda he doesn’t totally agree with. The only problem? The spirits have the upper hand, and they plan to control the fight—and Matt.

Then things get worse: the next lunar eclipse cycle is starting, a prominent physicist has gone missing, and Matt’s best friend is thinking about quitting the team. If he loses Will—after everyone else he’s lost—Matt’s not sure how he’ll fight alone.

As the source of his nightmares starts to creep out of the shadows, Matt knows he’ll need all the help he can get…because being alone could prove deadly.