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clockworkbook's review
3.0
Heartbreaking ending. Storyline changed and a lot of plot issues/holes never answered.
kambmoore's review
4.0
4.5/5
I can't deal right now...that ending broke me in. Every. Way. Possible. I was near tears, which RARELY happens when I read books (and has happened only once when I was reading the last 50 pages of BEAUTIFUL CHAOS).
This book started off rocky for me; I just couldn't find the rhythm of the book, and couldn't force myself into reading as much as I wanted to. But then I hit page 200, and I was finished with the book in one night, lol. Although, the fact that I stopped in the middle to read HEIR OF FIRE may have contributed just a little bit to the fact that I couldn't get into as much as I wanted to.
Anyway, fabulous book, definitely recommend this series to fans of dark magic, hot guys with Southern accents, and historical YA fiction!
I can't deal right now...that ending broke me in. Every. Way. Possible. I was near tears, which RARELY happens when I read books (and has happened only once when I was reading the last 50 pages of BEAUTIFUL CHAOS).
This book started off rocky for me; I just couldn't find the rhythm of the book, and couldn't force myself into reading as much as I wanted to. But then I hit page 200, and I was finished with the book in one night, lol. Although, the fact that I stopped in the middle to read HEIR OF FIRE may have contributed just a little bit to the fact that I couldn't get into as much as I wanted to.
Anyway, fabulous book, definitely recommend this series to fans of dark magic, hot guys with Southern accents, and historical YA fiction!
renuked's review
5.0
Can I get a hell yeah for Eleanor Fitt??? Cause yes she is awesome WOOP WOOP. Review to come.
celjla212's review
4.0
This is one of my favorite series I’ve ever read. It’s also the only steampunk type series I’ve ever read. I originally started the series because of the promise of zombies, but I got into it quickly and discovered the books were about a lot more than just that.
The final novel starts out right in the middle of where the previous book left off. This can be a problem if it has been a long time since you read the books in the series, as was the case with me. The author does drop some hints about what happened to get us up to the point where we are, but I ended up having to Google to recall who certain characters were and I still found myself a bit lost at times.
Thankfully, the action in Strange & Ever After is immediate, and I found myself once again lost in Eleanor’s world. You can tell that Eleanor has changed so much, not just over the course of the series, but actually from one book to the next. She has experienced so much loss at the hands of Marcus, that her singular fixation is on making sure he is destroyed. She doesn’t intend to let anyone get in her way, be they friend or foe.
The reader can tell Eleanor’s magic has changed her as well. She is no longer tentative about using it, even though internally she is struggling with the thought of taking it too far. Her use of necromancer magic has many effects: it physically drains her; it puts her at odds with her fellow Spirit Hunters; it makes her forget any sense of propriety she ever had. I’m not going to say I didn’t like Eleanor in this novel, but her new demeanor did take a lot of getting used to, and I felt bad for some of the interactions she had with other characters.
I’m still undecided on whether I liked the ending. I think I’m going to go back and give it a second glance and maybe change up this review a bit. I will say that I’m happy I read this series; as I stated before it’s one of my favorites from start to end. I definitely recommend it to steampunk fans, zombie fans, romance fans, and anyone who loves to see the main characters grow and change throughout a series. Very well done, Ms. Dennard.
The final novel starts out right in the middle of where the previous book left off. This can be a problem if it has been a long time since you read the books in the series, as was the case with me. The author does drop some hints about what happened to get us up to the point where we are, but I ended up having to Google to recall who certain characters were and I still found myself a bit lost at times.
Thankfully, the action in Strange & Ever After is immediate, and I found myself once again lost in Eleanor’s world. You can tell that Eleanor has changed so much, not just over the course of the series, but actually from one book to the next. She has experienced so much loss at the hands of Marcus, that her singular fixation is on making sure he is destroyed. She doesn’t intend to let anyone get in her way, be they friend or foe.
The reader can tell Eleanor’s magic has changed her as well. She is no longer tentative about using it, even though internally she is struggling with the thought of taking it too far. Her use of necromancer magic has many effects: it physically drains her; it puts her at odds with her fellow Spirit Hunters; it makes her forget any sense of propriety she ever had. I’m not going to say I didn’t like Eleanor in this novel, but her new demeanor did take a lot of getting used to, and I felt bad for some of the interactions she had with other characters.
I’m still undecided on whether I liked the ending. I think I’m going to go back and give it a second glance and maybe change up this review a bit. I will say that I’m happy I read this series; as I stated before it’s one of my favorites from start to end. I definitely recommend it to steampunk fans, zombie fans, romance fans, and anyone who loves to see the main characters grow and change throughout a series. Very well done, Ms. Dennard.
aliceboule's review
3.0
Honestly very average series that falls flat. Dennard's later series is WAY better (Witchlands).
bookishmadness's review
5.0
What I Thought: Strange and Ever After is a stunning, tragic yet beautiful conclusion to the Something Strange and Deadly series. For three books now, we have grown to love these characters, considering friends and most definitely developing crushes on certain people *ahem* Daniel *ahem* but now it is time to say goodbye.
Strange and Ever After takes from France to Egypt this time and the whirlwind adventure continues. Marcus is still one step ahead, but Eleanor, Joseph, Daniel and Oliver are determined to get Jie back and finish off Marcus once and for all. But of course, it wasn't as easy as they expect, and they have many a long way to go before they can even dream of that. For reals though. Eleanor takes a few more trips to the spirit realm, meets some ancient Egyptian gods, fights with Oliver, makes up with Oliver, fights with Oliver again, fights with Daniel, makes up with Daniel. It's an endless Miss Fitt cycle. But Eleanor is full of secrets, from not only the Spirit-Hunters, but from her Demon too.
Of course there has to be betrayal, even though I really wasn't expecting it - and of course there is romance too. Susan Dennard would not have left us hanging! But all-in-all, be prepared for the onslaught of feels, because once you've started, there is no turning back...
The Good: Nothing was what I expected!
The Bad: Now I weep for it is all over...
Rating: 5 stars
Strange and Ever After takes from France to Egypt this time and the whirlwind adventure continues. Marcus is still one step ahead, but Eleanor, Joseph, Daniel and Oliver are determined to get Jie back and finish off Marcus once and for all. But of course, it wasn't as easy as they expect, and they have many a long way to go before they can even dream of that. For reals though. Eleanor takes a few more trips to the spirit realm, meets some ancient Egyptian gods, fights with Oliver, makes up with Oliver, fights with Oliver again, fights with Daniel, makes up with Daniel. It's an endless Miss Fitt cycle. But Eleanor is full of secrets, from not only the Spirit-Hunters, but from her Demon too.
Of course there has to be betrayal, even though I really wasn't expecting it - and of course there is romance too. Susan Dennard would not have left us hanging! But all-in-all, be prepared for the onslaught of feels, because once you've started, there is no turning back...
The Good: Nothing was what I expected!
The Bad: Now I weep for it is all over...
Rating: 5 stars
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
5.0
I definitely was not expecting this ending, that's for sure! It was creative, heartbreaking, and ultimately the best ending for this trilogy (after some thought and my inner fangirl calmed down). There was mythology (which really surprised me and took a little while to get used to), romance, intense action, and heart-wrenching goodbyes. There was a major focus on the characters, particularly Eleanor as she battled her inner demons and repair the relationships that were damaged.
I was glad to see more of Jie, who honestly deserves a spin-off of her own! Joseph and Daniel needed more time because I adored them (yes, Daniel finally won my heart). I was actually most interested in the complicated relationship between Eleanor and Oliver.
The action was wild, especially near the end as Eleanor came to terms with her powers and what it meant to have them. It added to an ending I did not expect and was stunned by. There were definitely tears in my eyes. On reflection, it was truly the right ending for Eleanor Fitt, beloved misfit and powerful necromancer looking for a purpose. Great for any fan of Susan Dennard and zombie stories with a powerful hero!
I was glad to see more of Jie, who honestly deserves a spin-off of her own! Joseph and Daniel needed more time because I adored them (yes, Daniel finally won my heart). I was actually most interested in the complicated relationship between Eleanor and Oliver.
The action was wild, especially near the end as Eleanor came to terms with her powers and what it meant to have them. It added to an ending I did not expect and was stunned by. There were definitely tears in my eyes. On reflection, it was truly the right ending for Eleanor Fitt, beloved misfit and powerful necromancer looking for a purpose. Great for any fan of Susan Dennard and zombie stories with a powerful hero!
thebookhaze's review
5.0
I hate it. And I love it. And I hate it again.
I'm sorry I'm not much help here, but I need time to process and right now, I just can't even.
*heaves heavy sigh*
I'm sorry I'm not much help here, but I need time to process and right now, I just can't even.
*heaves heavy sigh*
mandalaclair's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a beautiful ending to the trilogy but why did it have to be daniel!!!😭😭😭