Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
H.I.V.E:Dreadnought
Fiction Series
For ages 12 and up
Simon and Schuster, 2011 ISBN: 978-1442421868
Not long ago, Otto Malpense found out who and what he is. Since then he has been trying to come to terms with the fact that he is at least part machine, that he was fabricated rather than born, and that he can communicate with computers using his mind.
During their last adventure, Otto and his friends put an end to the plans concocted by Number One, the leader of G.L.O.V.E (the Global League of Villainous Enterprises). Now Diabolous Darkdoom is the leader of the organization, and one of the members of the ruling council, Jason Drake, is not happy about this turn of events. In fact, he appears to have left G.L.O.V.E., taking his high tech resources with him. Diabolous, and his friend Doctor Nero, decide that it would be wise to find out what Jason Drake is up to before it is too late.
As it turns out, they are already too late. Jason Drake takes over the Dreadnought, a huge airborne command post that his tech company built for G.L.O.V.E. He also takes Diabolous Darkdoom captive, and almost manages to capture Doctor Nero, Raven, Otto, and Otto’s friends as well. Thankfully, they manage to escape and take refuge in a safe house in New York City. Doctor Nero decides that they have to find out how to track the Dreadnought, and that the only way to do this is to get into Jason Drake’s offices to hack the computer system. Otto is more than happy to help do this, but he and Doctor Nero soon come to appreciate that Jason Drake has more tricks up his sleeve, and his ultimate purpose is more appalling than anyone imagined.
In this fourth H.I.V.E. title, Mark Walden gives his readers yet another fast-paced adventure that is full of surprises. Nothing is what it seems, and it is fascinating to see how Otto and his friends cope as their circumstances change again and again.
