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katie_took's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
verkisto's review
3.0
With Worlds Apart, Riley brings his Story Thieves series to an end. As expected, he takes the threads from the previous books and winds them back together into a single strand. Most of the characters from the previous books find their way into the story, and they interact in ways both expected and not. The book feels familiar in style and tone, but it isn't as compelling as the other books, which surprises me, since this is the culmination of the series, and the stakes are high.
At the end of Pick the Plot, the fictional and nonfictional worlds had been separated, and Worlds Apart shows what happens when they no longer interact. In the nonfictional world, imagination is stifled, and people are boring. When Owen finds himself drawn back into fictional events, everything starts to come together as he risks everything -- quite literally -- to deafeat Nobody and rejoin the two worlds.
The book brings the series to a satisfying close, but it wasn't the BOO-YAH ending I expected. It didn't help that Pick the Plot was creative and exciting, both in structure and story, and Worlds Apart seemed to plod along in parts. I found myself having to force myself to return to the book, when the previous book had been one I hadn't been able to put down.
Obviously, anyone who's come this far with the series will want to see how it concludes, and I can't say that I didn't like the book, but it wasn't as fun as the previous books in the series. I'd still recommend the series to younger readers, and to older readers who enjoy the cleverness of books like the Thursday Next series. It falters a bit near the end (which is exacerbated by the Return of the King syndrome, where we get two endings too many), but the rest of the journey is a lot of fun, and it would be a shame to pass up the whole thing for that reason alone.
At the end of Pick the Plot, the fictional and nonfictional worlds had been separated, and Worlds Apart shows what happens when they no longer interact. In the nonfictional world, imagination is stifled, and people are boring. When Owen finds himself drawn back into fictional events, everything starts to come together as he risks everything -- quite literally -- to deafeat Nobody and rejoin the two worlds.
The book brings the series to a satisfying close, but it wasn't the BOO-YAH ending I expected. It didn't help that Pick the Plot was creative and exciting, both in structure and story, and Worlds Apart seemed to plod along in parts. I found myself having to force myself to return to the book, when the previous book had been one I hadn't been able to put down.
Obviously, anyone who's come this far with the series will want to see how it concludes, and I can't say that I didn't like the book, but it wasn't as fun as the previous books in the series. I'd still recommend the series to younger readers, and to older readers who enjoy the cleverness of books like the Thursday Next series. It falters a bit near the end (which is exacerbated by the Return of the King syndrome, where we get two endings too many), but the rest of the journey is a lot of fun, and it would be a shame to pass up the whole thing for that reason alone.
jesbee's review
5.0
That was. Wild. I know I am repeating myself but I seriously loved this series. Each book was phenomenal!! Just total insanity trying to follow along with all the chaos. But just. So, so good!!!
Also, while reading (and absolutely enjoying) the acknowledgements section, I have to complain that book 4 had no acknowledgments and I really missed that!! I read it on my Kindle and am hoping maybe somehow a physical copy has the acknowledgements!
Also, while reading (and absolutely enjoying) the acknowledgements section, I have to complain that book 4 had no acknowledgments and I really missed that!! I read it on my Kindle and am hoping maybe somehow a physical copy has the acknowledgements!
bangerlm's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I had reread the previous 4 books before finishing up on this one. While I love complicated, clever plots this one was really confusing especially when you couldn't remember the previous book references all that well. But it was still enjoyable and the kids liked it.
juliaherkel's review against another edition
5.0
AT LONG LAST!!
THE BOOK CAME AT THE LIBRARY.
LET'S REVIEW IT!
CONS OF WORLDS APART
Pfffffft cons? Such a word doesn't EXIST for this book.
PROS OF WORLDS APART
Where do I begin?
I love how everything from previous stories tied into this final book.Fowen, Kara, Charm, Kiel, even the Magister and Dr. Verity! And the Magister's tower!! AND OWEN'S HEART.
After the end of book 4,because Bethany was split into her fiction and nonfiction halves, we got to truly see what each half of her was like, and how each part contributed to the whole series. Like, now I can look back and be like 'that was definitely her fictional side' or whatever
The acknowledgments were amazing, as always!
JAMES RILEY PUT HIMSELF INTO HIS OWN BOOK
Honestly, when I was reading book 2, I kept thinking that these would be the funnest books to write EVER. And now I agree with that thought even more.
I love how the covers on the first and last (this one) book both had dragons on their covers!
I love how all the characters ended up with one another in the end.
I also love how all of them actually got sucked into the potential, except for Kiel and Dr. Verity
And now, some quotes! (please don't read them if you haven't read the book; they're spoilery)
All of those made me squeal and flail so much. ESPECIALLY the first and second ones. And the third one.
OVERALL
You know when people ask bookworms (bookwyrms? this is the best day of my life! we all are book DRAGONS and wyrms are DRAGONS so IT'S PERFECT) what their favorite book is, and you're just like... um, random person, I cannot just choose ONE! You then proceed to mention your top 20 or so favorite book series. And, in fact, I was talking to someone about that just over a week ago. But now??
Guys, I have a top favorite book series.
THIS IS CRAZY.
Let us name some reasons:
-James Riley got to put himself into his own book
-Book 3 was done so well I was STRESSING OUT about book 4!I didn't want to accidentily kill Owen! (I'm serious, I was waiting to go to the library to get the book, was trying to build a puzzle, but my hands were literally shaking. I kept knocking over puzzle pieces.)
-Everything ties in so nicely throughout the entire series! (see above in the pros section)
-The covers are glorious; I want the person who drew them to do mine.
-*stares at the cover for a minute instead of writing this review* Point made.
-It sucked me in so fast! As soon as book 2 started, I was a gonner. The slowest book for me was book 3, but that was only because I had to get past the beginning. But otherwise, I read them all SUPER fast.
-OWEEEEEEEEEEN (need I say more?)
Okay, so this is basically my longest 'overall' section ever... but I really could rave about this book for a long time!! James Riley, you are a genius, and now have an absolutely devoted fan.
Time to go read Half Upon a Time.
Or draw some fanart.
THE BOOK CAME AT THE LIBRARY.
LET'S REVIEW IT!
CONS OF WORLDS APART
Pfffffft cons? Such a word doesn't EXIST for this book.
PROS OF WORLDS APART
Where do I begin?
I love how everything from previous stories tied into this final book.
After the end of book 4,
The acknowledgments were amazing, as always!
Honestly, when I was reading book 2, I kept thinking that these would be the funnest books to write EVER. And now I agree with that thought even more.
I love how the covers on the first and last (this one) book both had dragons on their covers!
And now, some quotes! (please don't read them if you haven't read the book; they're spoilery)
"If you're going to challenge me," Owen said, Charm's sword arm in his hand, "then I guess I'm going to have to challenge you. Now, like my friend said, come at me"
"But you didn't leave me," she whispered, staring at him. "Everyone leaves me, but not you. I don't... I don't know what to say to that."
"You're going to get us both in trouble, you know," Kiel Gnomefoot said, stepping out of the shadows. "I want your dad to like me!"
She rolled her eyes. "You think I'd forget what you looked like five years ago? Even an alternate evil twin version?" He started to blush, which she loved.
Charm sighed. "I really hate Orion, and we'll never get Kara without him following her like some puppy. Do we really need her help?"
All of those made me squeal and flail so much. ESPECIALLY the first and second ones. And the third one.
OVERALL
You know when people ask bookworms (bookwyrms? this is the best day of my life! we all are book DRAGONS and wyrms are DRAGONS so IT'S PERFECT) what their favorite book is, and you're just like... um, random person, I cannot just choose ONE! You then proceed to mention your top 20 or so favorite book series. And, in fact, I was talking to someone about that just over a week ago. But now??
Guys, I have a top favorite book series.
THIS IS CRAZY.
Let us name some reasons:
-
-Book 3 was done so well I was STRESSING OUT about book 4!
-Everything ties in so nicely throughout the entire series! (see above in the pros section)
-The covers are glorious; I want the person who drew them to do mine.
-*stares at the cover for a minute instead of writing this review* Point made.
-It sucked me in so fast! As soon as book 2 started, I was a gonner. The slowest book for me was book 3, but that was only because I had to get past the beginning. But otherwise, I read them all SUPER fast.
-OWEEEEEEEEEEN (need I say more?)
Okay, so this is basically my longest 'overall' section ever... but I really could rave about this book for a long time!! James Riley, you are a genius, and now have an absolutely devoted fan.
Time to go read Half Upon a Time.
Or draw some fanart.
leannj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
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