Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins

Before I dive in today (night, whatever), let me just remind you of the contest I'm running right now with AuthorIsland.com , just click the link over there in my sidebar for all the details, but you have to hurry, time is running out to enter for this wonderful prize! And just a warning, I'm tired, I haven't been sleeping well (been unable to fall asleep) lately (we had a death in the family, a family reunion this week-end, ball-games, and swim practices and meets - Bear placed First in Freestyle and Second in Backstroke last night! ) oh, yeah, and the day job. I have a backlog of reviews to post, unfortunately, I'm going a bit slow and I've taken a Benydryl just to get me drowsy enough to sleep, so if I start to make no sense, please leave me a comment and tell me to re-write this when I'm not so stupid from lack of sleep, seriously, I don't mind being called out! Anyway...

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins
(BCC)

WITH TWO PROPHECIES FULFILLED,
Gregor is now focused on the Prophecy or Blood, which calls for Gregor and Boots to return to the Underland to help ward off a plague. But this time, his mother refuses to let him go...until Ripred the rat convinces her that Gregor and Boots need to stay for only a brief meeting. Finally, Gregor's mom relents, provided she is allowed to travel with them.

When they arrive in the subterranean city, the plague is spreading - and it has claimed one of his closest companions. Only then does Gregor start to understand how the illness plays with the fate of all warmblooded creatures, but he still doesn't know how he can help combat it.

You know my family is hooked on this series, right? Well, just like any series, there will always be that one book that clearly stands out in your mind as the "favorite." This book was mine. I will be fair and say we're only halfway through the final book, but this one, so far, remains my favorite.

When Gregor and Boots are summonsed, once again, to the Underland to fulfill yet another of their Prophecies, his mother flat out refuses. That is until Ripred decides to put the pressure on and "convinces" her that they must. Only she won't let them go alone, this time, she will be with those of her family that disappears into the Underland.

But they aren't there for just a short meeting, the Underlanders need Gregor and Boots to lead an expedition to find the cure to a devastating plague that is spreading rapidly through the warmblooded population of the Underland. A plague, that if not stopped, could put an end to the war building between the rats and the humans, as there will be none of them left to fight.

Although Gregor's mother refuses to let them stay and find the cure, after Gregor sees his once amazingly strong friend and bond, the bat Ares, so weak and in so much pain because of the hideous plague, Gregor decides he will do anything to find the cure. It isn't until his mother becomes infected herself, that Gregor takes his leave to find the cure.

Only this time, Gregor won't be going with his usual "questers", Luxa and Aurora are still missing, Mareth suffered greatly on the last quest and is no longer able to be a soldier, and Howard has been infected by the plague. So, in their stead, Boots, Gregor and Temp, set off with a new group of Underlanders. A group made up of humans, rats, and bats, a combination no one would have ever dreamed.

The quest is filled with new dangers, new allies, new enemies, new losses, and a revealed truth that is truly scarier than anything Gregor has faced yet. Will Gregor succeed before time runs out for his mother? Will the cure reunite the rats and the humans, or will the cause throw them into a full-out war?

Warmbloods, is by far one of the most spectacular reads, in any genre, I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. With heartbreaking revelations, touching good-byes, renewed friendships, edge of your seat twists and turns, you won't be able to read the next page fast enough, but you'll be aching for more Underland when you've reached the end.

Don't let the Children's label on this book fool you, this is one book that readers of all ages will love. A non-stop thrill ride that you'll want to take again and again.

Take Care