The Sword Thief (The 39 Clues, Book 3) Paperback – Illustrated, September 1, 2018

Very entertaining and it is so cool to travel to distant places with the Cahills. I am so excited for the next one!!!

“‘Oh, great, I’m in South Korea and my sister has turned into Julie Andrews,’ Dan said.” This series is giving me nostalgia, and reminding me why I spent my formative years researching code breaking. The Sword Thief is just as fast-paced as its predecessors, which makes me sound like a broken record, so what, sue me, I like quick books. My one complaint is the constant backstabbing, which I know is a major plot point, but it’s getting a tad old. Again, I recommend it to historical mystery fans and ninja and samurai fans.

Another book, another clue. That's the pattern of the 2nd and 3rd books and I suspect many of the rest as well. While one might get the impression that such a pattern would lead to repetitive and predictable story telling such is not the case. The different authors are mixing things up nicely. The characters remain in character of course but viewpoints are subtly changing from book to book. In this book Dan and Amy share the spotlight with their mysterious uncle Alistair Oh who is is portrayed much more sympathetically than previously with some interesting background for motivation. Also front and center are the Kabra siblings with hints that they are not irredeemably evil. The Holts make a brief appearance for comic relief, Irina even briefer, but Jonah Wizard doesn't show up in this book.The travelogue aspect is skillfully woven in as well. The reader gets some historical references which can be pursued at leisure but it never descends to gratuitous lectures; everything moves the plot forward. There is also more Cahill back story doled out, both that of the family as a whole and Alistair, Amy and Dan in particular. We also are told what the object of this global scavenger hunt is but I suspect that might be misdirection.The Kindle version is the perfect reading experience. However, I couldn't care less about the online/interactive features.Highly recommended. While it is hardly necessary to read them all one after another it probably is a good idea not to let too much time go by between books. On to book four.

The Sword Thief is an entertaining addition to a fun series. I am a teacher and I have recommended this book to my students. One of the unique aspects of this series is that it has a sister game on the Internet that kids get hooked on. In order to play, they need to have read the books, and the game takes the adventure to the next level. I know of siblings who have teamed up to play together and 5th-7th graders who are competing for high rankings, all of whom are eagerly waiting for the next book to come out. This series is educational and the shorter length of the novels makes it a great starter for young readers.

I don't have time to read the actual text like my 8 year old. However, I am able to buy the audiobook and read along with him since they come unabridged. It is very interesting how the authors tell the story using modern references while still teaching the reader about History. Having the same narrator throughout the series is the best part.The first two audio books offered short glimpses into Grace Cahill's early life before the hunt; each audio book has information not available in the regular book.Either product comes with the same trading cards. I didn't bother to purchase the card packs but the ones inside offer some more puzzles for enhanced story details. Very good series.

I really liked the 39 Clues series and I believe that this is a great addition to it. The suspension rises throughout the book and then leaves you on an amazing cliff hanger making you want to read more. I think that if you like suspension, mystery, and adventure this is defiantly the book for you.

My whole family loves this book series! It’s exciting enough to draw my wife’s and my attention while being simple enough that my kids can imagine what’s happening as we read! My 10 year old is constantly asking for another chapter! The whole series is WONDERFUL!

My 9-year-old son and I are reading the first book in this series, "The Maze of Bones", and really enjoying it. I bought this one to continue reading about all the clues. These books are very good, but I wouldn't recommend them for under age 9. It can be a little confusing when purchasing, so just know that different authors have written books in this series.