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dreadandsolace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Solace: More Ax, more Andelite knowledge and politics, and more complexities between them all. We learn more about how Ax thinks, where his loyalties lie, and the conflict he feels and deals with when he realizes who can and cannot be trusted.
The Dread: This was wholly focused on character development for Ax, with only a small consequence (0-time blip) to their lives back on Earth.
Overall, I love diving deeper into Ax and the lure of the Adelites. This group of kids is going through it.
The Dread: This was wholly focused on character development for Ax, with only a small consequence (0-time blip) to their lives back on Earth.
Overall, I love diving deeper into Ax and the lure of the Adelites. This group of kids is going through it.
kartrick's review against another edition
3.0
I was pretty sick and tired of Ax moaning about not being a true Andalite and all that. Nuff said.
hawkelf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alyskarstark's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
leontyna's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookshelfmystic's review against another edition
4.0
Ax books are fun: I always enjoy the angle of humans being described as aliens for an alien audience. The Decision has an extra layer of alien, too, as we’re transported across the galaxy to the Leeran homeworld. (Have the Animorphs been off the planet before? Besides that time they were in Earth orbit in a Yeerk ship?) The space-sci-fi setting has the same draw as [b:The Andalite Chronicles|363423|The Andalite Chronicles (Animorphs Chronicles, #1)|K.A. Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545201775l/363423._SX50_.jpg|2859410], in that we get to see new, imaginative worlds and experience them for the first time along with the humans.
This Ax installment isn’t as comedic as [b:The Alien|324508|The Alien (Animorphs, #8)|K.A. Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375602744l/324508._SY75_.jpg|2239361] (though it did have its moments; e.g. “I am very good at passing for human”). Instead, it delves more into Ax’s dual allegiances to the Andalites and the Animorphs. His internal conflict is brought to a head in a moving scene. In his panic and indecision, you're reminded that he too is just a kid.
We see more intra-Animorph conflict in this book too, which we first saw come to the surface in [b:The Warning|363405|The Warning (Animorphs, #16)|K.A. Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375602987l/363405._SX50_.jpg|353480]. Fear and the stress of war seem to be reducing the Animorphs’ empathy for each other. In this book, Rachel tears into Ax viciously as he’s processing the aftermath of a tragedy. Especially on the heels of the previous book, Rachel is really becoming more of a butt. But you can’t blame her – not with what the Animorphs go through. It’s fascinating how the characters are being shaped by their ongoing trauma.
The plot (and the editing) in The Decision felt a little sloppier than usual. The initial hook of trying to morph a high-ranking Secret Service agent is dropped abruptly, and it’s never really picked back up or resolved. And the twist of didn’t really make sense. And then Ax’s preoccupation with Visser Three having a kafit bird morph seemed silly. Wouldn’t Alloran have had a chance to acquire a kafit morph before becoming host to Visser Three? In [b:The Andalite Chronicles|363423|The Andalite Chronicles (Animorphs Chronicles, #1)|K.A. Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545201775l/363423._SX50_.jpg|2859410], Elfangor explains that Andalites use the kafit morph to train their morphing skills. Ax would know that too, surely. Near the end of the book, it’s explained that most Andalites don’t usually use the morphing technology, but that doesn’t preclude Alloran from having done so in the past. It just seemed like such a nonsensical hang-up.
Other thoughts:
- I did like the Leerans and the experience of their psychic connections. It was a poignant moment when Ax lamented the Animorphs closing off their minds to each other.
- I can’t stop noticing that these books won’t use the word “kill”. There are so many instances of the Animorphs talking about “destroying” someone. I assume it’s some rule in children’s publishing. But it’s silly.
- I love Tobias. I love how he’s grumpy. And I love how he sticks up for Ax.
This Ax installment isn’t as comedic as [b:The Alien|324508|The Alien (Animorphs, #8)|K.A. Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375602744l/324508._SY75_.jpg|2239361] (though it did have its moments; e.g. “I am very good at passing for human”). Instead, it delves more into Ax’s dual allegiances to the Andalites and the Animorphs. His internal conflict is brought to a head in a moving scene
Spoiler
in which he is the only survivor as hundreds of Andalites sacrifice themselves to prevent being taken by the YeerksWe see more intra-Animorph conflict in this book too, which we first saw come to the surface in [b:The Warning|363405|The Warning (Animorphs, #16)|K.A. Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375602987l/363405._SX50_.jpg|353480]. Fear and the stress of war seem to be reducing the Animorphs’ empathy for each other. In this book, Rachel tears into Ax viciously as he’s processing the aftermath of a tragedy. Especially on the heels of the previous book, Rachel is really becoming more of a butt. But you can’t blame her – not with what the Animorphs go through. It’s fascinating how the characters are being shaped by their ongoing trauma.
The plot (and the editing) in The Decision felt a little sloppier than usual. The initial hook of trying to morph a high-ranking Secret Service agent is dropped abruptly, and it’s never really picked back up or resolved. And the twist of
Spoiler
an Andalite being a traitor for the YeerksSpoiler
What did the traitorous Andalite have to gain from this arrangement? Why would any Andalite work with the Yeerks? He just seemed like a bad guy for the sake of being a bad guy.Other thoughts:
- I did like the Leerans and the experience of their psychic connections. It was a poignant moment when Ax lamented the Animorphs closing off their minds to each other.
- I can’t stop noticing that these books won’t use the word “kill”. There are so many instances of the Animorphs talking about “destroying” someone. I assume it’s some rule in children’s publishing. But it’s silly.
- I love Tobias. I love how he’s grumpy. And I love how he sticks up for Ax.
sizrobe's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty decent book in that some actual plot advancement happened in the war with the Yeerks. The z-space nonsense has happened before so it has precedent, but it still feels cheap. The bit about Ax and cinnamon buns still manages to produce some laughs, but it's starting to get old.
kendiepants's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75