The Lightning Catcher Paperback – December 31, 2075

More entertaining than I expected. Some unexpected twists and turns made this an interesting read. It was a great book to read over the summer.

"The Lightning Catcher" is a brilliant book. It's exciting, clever, action-packed from start to finish, and races along at a cracking pace. The three main characters, Angus (who is a Storm Prophet), Dougal (a bit of a nerd) and Indigo (who has a dark secret), are highly likeable, and the dialogue is so funny at times it made me laugh out loud.Together they must stop the villainous Scabious Dankhart -- who has already kidnapped Angus's parents -- from discovering the whereabouts of the secret Lightning Vaults, or he will unleash the never-ending storm kept inside, and gain world domination.It's all great stuff, but in particular I loved the showers of newts and frogs, the fire dragon, storm globes, fog mites and the ingenious names. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written story full of thrilling adventures and lots of fun. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

The Lightning Catcher is a very enjoyable read from start to finish with lots of exciting twists and turns which keeps the reader engaged and wanting to know what happens next. Angus, Dougal and Indigo have a great friendship between the 3 of them which weathers all storms. I highly recommend this book.....

Review by my 12-year old daughter: Angus's entire life he never knew that his parents really were part of a secret group of lighting catchers. Harry Potters entire life he didn't know that his parents were wizards. When Angus was 11 he was taken away by a man to a school for lightning catchers. When Harry was 11 he was taken away by a man to a school for wizards. When Angus got to the school he met 4 people, this boy named Dougal who became his best friend quickly, this girl named Indigo who they didn't like at first but then they got to know her and they became best friends, and these two dumb bullies. When Harry got to school he met 5 people, Ron a boy who became his best friend very fast, Hermoine a girl who they hated at first but then they got to be best friends, at 3 dumb mean bullies. During Angus's time in school he learned about an evil sorcerer. During Harry's time at school he learned about an evil wizard. At the end of Angus's school year he learned the evil sorcerer was looking for a secret chamber of lightning and he found it! At the end of Harry's time at school he learned the evil wizard was looking for the chamber of secrets and he found it! Angus, Dougal, and Indigo, all went to the Chamber to confront the evil sorcerer. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all went to the Chamber to confront the evil wizard. Angus went ahead and when he stepped through a door he fell a long way and landed on cushions. Harry went ahead and fell through the trapdoor and landed on something to cushion his fall. When Angus came into the room he saw the librarian and he asked him for help to defeat the evil sorcerer. When Harry came into the room he saw his professor and asked him for help to defeat the evil wizard. Angus's librarian laughed and revealed that he IS the evil sorcerer. Harry's professor laughed and undid his turban and revealed the evil wizard on the back of his head. Angus defeated the evil sorcerer. Harry defeated the evil wizard. Angus fell unconscious. Harry fell unconscious. When Angus woke up a professor was standing over him and Angus started shouting, "in the dungeons, the evil sorcerer, help!" and the professor calmed him down saying the sorcerer was gone. When Harry woke up a professor was standing over him and he woke up shouting, "in the dungeons, Voldemort, help!" and his professor reassured him that all was okay. The reason this book was good was because I loved Harry Potter! And Harry Potter was written before The Lightning Catcher!

I found The Lightening Catcher to be a Harry Potter wanna-be that misses the mark. It has a very interesting premise and the science is fascinating where it relates to lightening, but that's the best I can say about the book. Lightening Catcher has all the elements of Harry except... the delightful humor? the terrifying suspense? the brilliant mystery? believable characters? the finely constructed plot? a satisfying ending? The book tries to have all these things, but it just falls flat. There was nothing that made me want to keep reading. I would have quit after about 100 pages except that my son really wanted to know what I thought of it. He's in 4th grade and an avid reader, but he didn't bother to finish the book. The book is OK, I guess, it's just not Harry and it sooooo wants to be.

The authors must have assumed while writing the book that if they essentially replicated the first Harry Potter book then they could become extremely popular and rich, as if they could replicate J K Rowling. However, the authors merely look uncreative and foolish. The writing quality is poor, and I felt a strong sense of twisted deja vu, climaxing when the Harry doppelganger wakes after fighting the Voldemort/Quirell look alike, and frantically tells the 'kindly headmaster' (read Dumbledore) that 'Voldemort' had the magical item that could return the evil guy to power. Immediately Dumbledore relieves Harry's fears... now where have I seen this before? Hmmm.... Get real. YOUR READERS ARE NOT IDIOTS! WE CAN TELL WHEN A NOVEL IS A CARBON COPY OF ANOTHER!!!! You guys are not Rowling, no matter how you attempt to mimic her, and your writing just pales in comparison to her phenomenal works that was the Harry Potter series.

It was ok not much more to say than that

My young daughter said this book was, and I quote, "It was acceptable." She believes it is the first part of a series and would read the second if there was nothing better to do.