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yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Book 2 of this series ends with a HUGE reveal, and this one picks up exactly at that point. This is a must read for fans of the series. The first 3/4 of the book were amazing. I couldn't stop reading. The final 1/4 of the book was a bit more confusing and left some questions not quite answered. I would definitely recommend this to fans of science fiction and alternative history, grades 4 & up. Must read the series in order.
kmc3050's review against another edition
3.0
3. Kind of a disappointing ending. Jaime wouldn't be able to just join a new timeline and have everything be the same. It doesn't match with how a multiverse would work. Still, the series is pretty good.
Adam Verner still does a good job narrating.
Adam Verner still does a good job narrating.
octygon's review against another edition
4.0
I have really enjoyed these books, but I am not sure who their ideal audience is. I am over 50 years old. As a librarian and a mom, I have read my fair share of books written for middle graders—the supposed intended audience for the York series—but I am a far cry from a middle grader. These books are so far above the average middle grader book in so many ways, it’s hard to even compare them. I don’t mean that they are above them in quality—even though I do think they’re great. But the themes, the complexity of the writing, etc., are definitely more mature. I just don’t see your average 6th grader enjoying this series. Maybe if they read them together with their parents? But do they WANT to read books with their parents? I don’t think so. Maybe I am not being fair to your average 6th grader; after all, I was reading Agatha Christie’s and Watership Down in 6th grade. I don’t know.
pomegranateseedpress's review
2.0
Well that was unsatisfying.
Even the kids when we finished it exclaimed in disbelief, "That's the end of the series? THAT is the end of this book? There just HAS to be more."
Too many unfinished plot lines to me, too many unanswered questions. I was hoping for a neat and tidy ending to all these pieces and people coming together but it felt like a mish-mash rushed ending and after absolutely LOVING the first two books with all our hearts, we feel cheated and heartbroken.
So sad.
I sadly must remove this from one of my most recommended book series purely because of the ending. I think I wouldn't have been so disappointed if the first two hadn't been so amazing. We can hope for another book I suppose? But the "THE END" typed at the finish of this book makes us sadly believe the author thinks this wraps everything up. We disagree :( This is like the Tearling books all over again - great beginning - absolutely unsatisfying ending that leaves me not liking the first books in the series because of the ending.
Even the kids when we finished it exclaimed in disbelief, "That's the end of the series? THAT is the end of this book? There just HAS to be more."
Too many unfinished plot lines to me, too many unanswered questions. I was hoping for a neat and tidy ending to all these pieces and people coming together but it felt like a mish-mash rushed ending and after absolutely LOVING the first two books with all our hearts, we feel cheated and heartbroken.
So sad.
Spoiler
I mean only Jaime travels in time and after having every perspective shared, she leaves out the perspective of him traveling back in time? This is what we've been gearing up for in all these books and it's just omitted? Why? What happened? How did he change things or did he just jump to an alternate timeline, but without any explanation? And the vague end of Ono, one of our favorite characters? Just no. Sad, sad faces over that. And what happened with Darnell Slant, who has been the big bag guy (admittedly, more the face of the bad guy, with others operating behind) but I still wanted to see some sort of resolution. I suppose leaving him out entirely of the new timeline would be just reward for a narcissist but still.I sadly must remove this from one of my most recommended book series purely because of the ending. I think I wouldn't have been so disappointed if the first two hadn't been so amazing. We can hope for another book I suppose? But the "THE END" typed at the finish of this book makes us sadly believe the author thinks this wraps everything up. We disagree :( This is like the Tearling books all over again - great beginning - absolutely unsatisfying ending that leaves me not liking the first books in the series because of the ending.
the_fabric_of_words's review
5.0
The last book in the series kinda did what I knew it was going to do, wrap up with time-travel, but it's done in such a way you're not really sure everything works out alright until the very, very end....
I'm not spoiling it, I promise! But if you haven't read book 1, I strongly suggest you start at the beginning.
The book starts where the book two left off -- with the photo of the Morningstarrs. Only now you know, for sure, it's Tess and Theo Biedermann. They don't believe it, but there's no other way all of this could have been possible. Some sort of time travel has got to be going on. Jaime Cruz begins to unravel the clues, starting with the Morningstarrs building York more than 160 years ago...
In fact, the current Mayor is buying up the Morningstarr buildings and running on a platform of razing them, tearing them down to their roots and starting over, shiny and brand new, adding new features for the city, and to heck with the old, pain-in-the-keister cipher no one can solve.
Except the Bidermanns are still finding pieces. This time, they're pieces to a physical puzzle -- something they must put together from the pieces of strange and oddly unrelated objects, such as discarded dolls' heads.
The narrative takes a point-of-view and time-shift, so the reader gets a glimpse of what's going on in the Morningstarr's past. And it's not what you expect, not at all. York is not a bright, bustling city. It's falling apart, the Morningstarrs are on the brink of starvation. It's grim, they're on the verge of defeat. It's not Theo and Tess' history.
As a reader, you kinda know where this is going, so I won't spoil it by revealing any more.
Just know, this was a satisfying series conclusion, even if time travel and all its possibilities make my head hurt.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
I'm not spoiling it, I promise! But if you haven't read book 1, I strongly suggest you start at the beginning.
The book starts where the book two left off -- with the photo of the Morningstarrs. Only now you know, for sure, it's Tess and Theo Biedermann. They don't believe it, but there's no other way all of this could have been possible. Some sort of time travel has got to be going on. Jaime Cruz begins to unravel the clues, starting with the Morningstarrs building York more than 160 years ago...
In fact, the current Mayor is buying up the Morningstarr buildings and running on a platform of razing them, tearing them down to their roots and starting over, shiny and brand new, adding new features for the city, and to heck with the old, pain-in-the-keister cipher no one can solve.
Except the Bidermanns are still finding pieces. This time, they're pieces to a physical puzzle -- something they must put together from the pieces of strange and oddly unrelated objects, such as discarded dolls' heads.
The narrative takes a point-of-view and time-shift, so the reader gets a glimpse of what's going on in the Morningstarr's past. And it's not what you expect, not at all. York is not a bright, bustling city. It's falling apart, the Morningstarrs are on the brink of starvation. It's grim, they're on the verge of defeat. It's not Theo and Tess' history.
As a reader, you kinda know where this is going, so I won't spoil it by revealing any more.
Just know, this was a satisfying series conclusion, even if time travel and all its possibilities make my head hurt.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
bookedcoffee's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
ceridwyn's review
4.0
The characters in this are wonderful. I like the relationships, the world within this world building and the twists and turns, while not surprising are politically interesting and bound up in ideas of justice.
arrr's review
3.0
It's weird when authors acknowledge Indigenous peoples generally, but fail to identify the actual nations. New York city is on Lenape, Rockaway and Canarsie traditional lands. This was a good end to the story. I don't think I'll read it to my kid. I imagine it would appeal more to Americans. But it was interesting and held my attention. No extreme violence. Technology as magic. Moves from futuristic eco steampunk to science fiction time travel. Some discussion of race, though missed opportunity to talk about modern racism and classism. The mom is a cop, which is kind of gross. Some people will like this series. Not my favorite.
sheltzer's review
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
shoelessgirl's review
4.0
A satisfying end to the series. I enjoyed this a great deal, even if there were some inconsistencies with villains! I really liked the trio’s friendship.