Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic: Book 1 (Timeless)

Awesome Illustrated novel with really good story and breathtaking art!

This was the perfect book for a quarantine, rainy day and a 10yrs old who loves all things with crazy imagination. One small warning: one of then character’s swears or uses rude language a couple of times. While it is true to the character, and we were not phased by this in our family, there maybe some out there who want to know this is in the book.

Absolutely exciting and engaging story. I could read it over and over again and always enjoy it

Armand Baltazar has created a masterpiece in the form of writing and drawing. This book has breathtaking illustrations on nearly every page that are thoughtful ways of granting the reader with visionaries of exactly what every scene should look like. The writing is precise and describes exactly what the images are showing, occasionally with even more detail. This book includes a dangerous amount of robots, planes, dinosaurs, steampunk-themed architecture and design, and some violence, but the entire bundle is perfect for any fan to squeal in excitement over the plot.I picked up Timeless, and I admit, I wasn't expecting what I was in for. I was immediately sucked into the story...and I was barely done with the second page. Being a thirteen-year-old girl who had recently began to find reading...well...boring...I was surprised as to how this book motivated me to draw and read. It's so exciting and the whole book is one gigantic fish hook that you get stuck on and you can't put the book down. As I said in the paragraph above this one, the illustrations are gorgeous. They are surprisingly realistic and Baltazar's way of portraying the characters is wonderful. Each character has their own, recognizable, face that prevents confusion and each has their own special personalities that make a lot of sense. I snuck Timeless into my over-crowded backpack, and the 624-page book was read every time during silent reading time. I even introduced the story to a table mate and friend of mine.Overall, 6/5 stars. Yes, this book deserves more stars than are available on Amazon, probably because it's one of the best books on the face of the planet. I highly recommend his book for you sci-fi lovers out there. For an age range, I'd say 11+ rather than Amazon's "8-12," and I'm giving it this because of a bit of language and violence. I'm ready for a seventeen-book series! Bring it on, Armand! I'll read them all!

Armando Balthazar hits it outta the park on this one! His first novel is exceptionally beautiful; his artwork so realistic, it looks like photographs! Not quite a graphic novel and not quite a chapter book, but an unconventional mashup of the two forms. Balthazar weaves a masterful tale telling parts of the story visually. I love that the main character, Diego, is based on his own son, too! I see a few sequels in his future! At least that is what I'm hoping for myself. The full-color renderings really captured the imagination of my students and they begged me to lend them my copy when I finished it. (Yeah, you read that right. Can't buy better advertising than that!) So, I did what any good teacher does when students ASK for a book to read, I went to my principal and asked if we could buy a class set of them. And she said what all of us wanted to hear: YES! So, we are reading it now together and marveling at his mastery in graphic arts and storytelling.

My eleven-year-old grandson said it was the best book he ever read.