Publishers Weekly
03/30/2015
In this opening installment of the Nightsiders series, Maberry (the Rot & Ruin series) mixes genres to admirable effect. Six years after the alien Swarm invaded Earth, the remaining free humans exist as nomadic refugees and rebels, scavenging to survive while plotting ways to fight back. Eleven-year-old Milo Silk belongs to one such group. Troubled by recurring dreams in which the so-called Witch of the World exhorts him to become the hero Earth needs, Milo is astounded to discover that creatures of myth and legend—werewolves, faeries, spirits of wood and stone—exist and are also fighting the Swarm. Humans and monsters must form an uneasy alliance to recover the missing Heart of Darkness, a powerful magical artifact, before their alien foes evolve into an even greater menace. Maberry skillfully blends postapocalyptic warfare with supernatural adventure, presenting memorable characters and a tense narrative. Excerpts from Milo’s dream journal provide extra insight into the bizarre circumstances as they occur. It’s a strong start to what looks to be a highly entertaining story line. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger. (May)
Michael Northrop
The Nightsiders is an earthshaking adventure brimming with non-stop action and crawling with creepy insectoid villains. It’s impossible not to root for Milo Silk and his mysterious allies, a new generation of mythic creatures from the earth’s misty past, as they battle the voracious swarm. There’s plenty of magic, too: shape-shifting and illusions, sure, but also the powerful spells cast by friendship, bravery, and heroism.
BCCB
"A sequel can’t come too soon for readers who will be eager to see what this unlikely team can accomplish."
Neal Shusterman
From the opening lines The Orphan Army grabs you and doesn’t let you go! Once again, Jonathan Maberry has created a stunning world of real people in extraordinary circumstances.
Ilsa J. Bick
Move over, Percy Jackson. Using breakneck pacing and relentless action sequences, Jonathan Maberry has crafted a captivating and heady mix of science fiction and fantasy as eleven-year-old Milo fights the Bugs, aliens bent on exterminating humanity, and also discovers that magic and the supernatural still exist. Short chapters alternating with longer, exquisitely choreographed fight scenes will keep reluctant readers turning the pages. More mature middle-graders will appreciate quieter character moments that lend depth, richness, and real emotion to this story. Older teens and adults will appreciate references to sci-fi staples, from E.T. to Falling Skies. With nods to literary greats—Joseph Conrad and Tolkien get their due—nearly every reader will find something to enjoy here. The Orphan Army is dark, deft, and daring . . . I loved it.
Charlie Higson
The Orphan Army makes me wish I was a kid again, settling down with this book and being taken off on a wild adventure.
Adam Gidwitz
"Jonathan Maberry is a master of fast, scary, and awesome. The Orphan Army will submerge you in its world, and you won't want to come up for air."
Kendare Blake
Nightsiders is a smart, action-packed adventure, perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to fight alongside magical monsters against alien invaders. And really, who hasn't wanted to do that? I've never read anything like it, but I want more!
Tonya Hurley
Nightsiders is a thrilling mashup of sci-fi, adventure, and supernatural fantasy with a heart. In The Orphan Army, the action-packed first chapter of the saga, Maberry introduces us to a twilight world of magic and mayhem where nothing less than the survival of mankind is at stake and the most powerful weapon against a nightmare is a dream. Maberry is a master.
Thomas E. Sniegoski
Jonathan Maberry is one of those rare writers who shows that he is comfortable in just about any genre, cranking out pulse pounding tales of Horror, Science Fiction, Action and Adventure. The Nightsiders will terrify, thrill and delight with the frantic turn of every page.
Steve Hockensmith
You could use a lot of adjectives to describe Jonathan Maberry’s The Orphan Army. ‘Exciting,’ ‘surprising,’ ‘funny,’ ‘touching,’and ‘creepy’ all come to mind. But only one word sums up this barrier-breaking, multi-faceted book in its entirety: ‘fantastic.’
#1 bestselling author of The Isle of the Lost: Melissa De La Cruz
The Nightsiders is heart-pounding action and a well-paced thriller from one of the masters of sci-fi and fantasy!
New York Times bestselling author of Snowblind and Christopher Golden
Jonathan Maberry is a magician, a writer of great talent and versatility. From spooky fun to cinematic action to heartfelt character, he can do it all, and he does it with a sense of joy and enthusiasm that few writers can match!
New York Times bestselling author of Darwen Arkwri A.J. Hartley
It’s one thing to battle an invading army of high tech aliens, but it’s something quite different to do so in the swamps of Louisiana where the extraterrestrial bugs are not the strangest things in the woods. A tale of friendship, trust, and heroism, The Orphan Army is an electrifying thriller that builds to a climax as gripping as it is thoughtful and satisfying.
Kami Garcia
"The secret to becoming a hero is hidden between the pages of this unforgettable adventure.
Booklist
"In this fast-paced, compelling blend of old-school sci-fi, magic, environmental themes, and hero’s quest, Maberry introduces an everyday, likable protagonist who develops courage, confidence, and skills in a good-versus-evil battle...this Nightsiders series launcher will draw fantasy and sci-fi fans, who’ll anticipate the sequel."
Dan Abnett
"Fast, frightful, and fantastic—a faery story like no other."
D.J. MacHale
Hold on tight to this book because Jonathan Maberry’s Nightsiders: The Orphan Army will take you on a breathtaking sci-fi adventure that’s loaded with mystery, mayhem and imagination. There’s a surprise on every page and full throttle action from beginning to end. Best of all, this first volume is only the beginning!
School Library Journal
03/01/2015
Gr 5–8—Milo Silk is not a hero. This mantra of Milo's, repeated throughout much of this series opener, couldn't be further from the truth. In a slightly futuristic world, where ruthless insectlike monsters are exterminating humans and the Earth itself, Milo discovers secrets that change the tides of war in a serious way. The Nightsiders are a group of mystical beasts leading the fight to defend Earth and its inhabitants from the maleficent Bugs, led by the fantastic Evangelyne Winter. This story is told with all of the skill that Maberry brought to his "Rot & Ruin" series (S. & S.). Readers will instantly take to Milo, as well as Evangelyne and the other Nightsiders. The story flows well, and though it ends with a cliff-hanger, it is satisfying. Underlying themes center on conservation and bravery. VERDICT A must-have for fans of Maberry's previous books and middle grade sci-fi.—Chad Lane, Easton Elementary, Wye Mills, MD
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2015-02-03
Ever since the alien invasion, 11-year-old Milo has suffered from nightmares, but when a voice in his dreams tells him the world needs a hero, he has a hard time believing it could be him. It's been six years since the Dissosterin, a race of giant, buglike creatures, invaded Earth, knocking out communications, destroying cities and decimating the human race. The surviving population has banded together into small nomadic groups, intent on surviving and on finding a way to strike back at the evil extraterrestrial swarm. During a routine scavenging trip, Milo and his friends Shark, Lizabeth and Barnaby stumble upon the Nightsiders, magical creatures who are staging their own battle against the interlopers. This riveting, sci-fi tale of the Earth's last stand is enhanced by the addition of fantastical elements, which fall into place seamlessly. A fast-paced and explosive plot is enriched by strong characters, amusing dialogue and impossible odds. Maberry's prowess in fiction as well as comic books is evident in his well-crafted story, which balances over-the-top battle scenes with the quiet moments between characters that give substance to what could be a heartless thriller. This first book in an explosive new series is the perfect mix of science fiction and magic. (Fantasy/science fiction. 8-12)
