Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Violence: Several battles take place between the different ant colonies, as well as ants fighting other insects, such as butterflies and centipedes.  The Schumannian ants are attacked by Phorid flies. Each ant is given a thorax wound containing fly larvae. Minim warrior ants fight Zombie ants. Death occurs on both sides.  There is a major battle between carpenter ants and leaf cutter ants.  Many ants die in this conflict. Maxillosa, a super-soldier ant attacks Conjurata and Sidini.  A wheel bug kills Maxillosa. Queen Cordia’s guards give their lives for her.

Adult Themes:  Queen Invicta and her fire ant colony aim to take over Queen Cordia’s nest by whatever means necessary.  She and her troops spread lies about Queen Atta and her motives to protect the land from an all-out fly infestation. Ants infected by the Phorid fly larvae gradually lose their faculties and turn into zombies.  The zombies turn aggressive.

Summary

Welcome to a world of giant insects!  After a phroid fly swarm attacks his colony, Nodosa, the lone surviving son of the ant queen Cordia, must cross a great desert to enlist the help of their ally, Queen Atta.   The flies have laid their eggs inside the ants, causing the ants to morph into a dangerous zombie state before they die.  Cordia and her nest have buried themselves inside their underground home to prevent the fly spawn from destroying the entire land. Nodosa and Atta’s brave leafcutter soldier ants attempt a bold rescue of the Queen.  Invicta, the nemesis fire ant queen, wants Cordia’s territory for herself and an ensuing battle between good and evil is inevitable.  Along the way, Nodosa discovers his  unique healing talents.

This book has a fresh and unique storyline that would appeal to those who like the fantasy genre.  There is plenty of action, adventure and exciting plot twists using personified ant characters to keep the reader entertained.  This story is well-researched and laced with scientific terminology and background details, which could prove to either expand a young reader’s vocabulary and knowledge or detract from their ability to understand.  Instructions on how to locate a helpful, on-line glossary are provided to readers. Insecta: Planet of the Ants is book 1 of a 4 part series.  There are several characters and sub story lines that are introduced in book 1.  Unfortunately, not all of these story lines are completed.  I am guessing these will continue in the subsequent books.