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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
We are back on track! After a somewhat disappointing book 2, book 3 brings all the great fun, thrills, and most importantly, characters we have all missed. Snark, heroism, and a moral compass, thank goodness, return as well. Oh yes, Hero also brings us the biggest cliffhanger of all...
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This last book is the best in the Monster-Villain-Hero trilogie, but for me it fell flat. The concluding answer of who the Viewers are is disappointing and in a way predictable. I really do think it would have been better if Grant would’ve stopped the Gone series with the original six books. For those who are still debating if they want to read this spin-off because they loved Gone, I would advice not to do it.
The books are okay, but in no way live up to Gone. Problems are quickly solved and new characters are not as developed as I would’ve liked them to be.
The books are okay, but in no way live up to Gone. Problems are quickly solved and new characters are not as developed as I would’ve liked them to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
A heart-pounding conclusion to a series I have loved for close to a decade now.
The commentary on what happens after is so important, the consequences of high intensity action, trauma and brutality is not lightly brushed over. It is real and raw. With Sam, Astrid and Dekka and now with this new group of 'heroes'.
"This stuff, you want to just put it all in a box," Dekka said. "But it never fits. You can never quite close the lid on that box. All of a sudden, from nowhere, for no reason, it just hits you."...."And people always think 'Oh, that won't happen to me. I'm tough.' But you'll be standing in a line at Starbucks or whatever, everything fine, and then it'll come back, and suddenly you have to sit down, you know? It knocks the wind out of you." Trauma isn't romantic, it isn't easy or textbook. It doesn't always take over your life and it isn't always obvious. Sometimes it festers, it seeps into the cracks, erodes at your sense of self, slowly filters into the open sores of your vulnerabilities. Until you split apart.
Also the idea of human free will is a really interesting philosophical question debated throughout this trilogy, in the previous book, quite literally with the reality of powers that emerge in certain characters, but also in this conclusion. That the human mind cannot cope with the idea that is doesn't have free will, that it is limited to the idea that they are wholly in control. What does that say about us? That we seek to find and exert control in every situation. From our political leaders to our youngest of youth. The idea that someone else is making our decisions or threatening our abilities to make decision in any way is a cause of extreme distress. No wonder our exposure to mental illnesses is at an all time high. We are vulnerable by our limitations as human to release control and accept existential existence.
The commentary on what happens after is so important, the consequences of high intensity action, trauma and brutality is not lightly brushed over. It is real and raw. With Sam, Astrid and Dekka and now with this new group of 'heroes'.
"This stuff, you want to just put it all in a box," Dekka said. "But it never fits. You can never quite close the lid on that box. All of a sudden, from nowhere, for no reason, it just hits you."...."And people always think 'Oh, that won't happen to me. I'm tough.' But you'll be standing in a line at Starbucks or whatever, everything fine, and then it'll come back, and suddenly you have to sit down, you know? It knocks the wind out of you." Trauma isn't romantic, it isn't easy or textbook. It doesn't always take over your life and it isn't always obvious. Sometimes it festers, it seeps into the cracks, erodes at your sense of self, slowly filters into the open sores of your vulnerabilities. Until you split apart.
Also the idea of human free will is a really interesting philosophical question debated throughout this trilogy, in the previous book, quite literally with the reality of powers that emerge in certain characters, but also in this conclusion. That the human mind cannot cope with the idea that is doesn't have free will, that it is limited to the idea that they are wholly in control. What does that say about us? That we seek to find and exert control in every situation. From our political leaders to our youngest of youth. The idea that someone else is making our decisions or threatening our abilities to make decision in any way is a cause of extreme distress. No wonder our exposure to mental illnesses is at an all time high. We are vulnerable by our limitations as human to release control and accept existential existence.
Wow....just wow....where do I start, I can't believe I have to leave this world now but alas good things never last, this book tore me to shreds, and the fact that Michael Grant left the ending to us!!!? Like just why would you do that!? Just give me a solid ending!! That's the only complain I have, other then that I am going back in my hole to cry about it ending for the rest of the day.
I'll have to come back and write a more full review, but this was a solid entry into the overall Gone Series and I thought it was better than Villain.
Some of the prose was kind of clunky and in the nose, although now that I'm rereading Animorphs, I don't think it's any worse. I'm just older and have read a bit more.
The story is good. The prose is good. The villain of this one is pretty heavy. A
Some of the prose was kind of clunky and in the nose, although now that I'm rereading Animorphs, I don't think it's any worse. I'm just older and have read a bit more.
The story is good. The prose is good. The villain of this one is pretty heavy. A
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SUCH a cop-out ending, oh my GOD.
4.5*
Wow. What an ending to - I’m going to say it - my favourites series (minus HP of course).
Amazing cast diversity without leaning into stereotypes, action action action, faced paced but brilliantly written so you always know what’s going on and not afraid to be gruesome!
This isn’t much of a review, just me raving about how brilliant it is, and I don’t want to give too much away. I would fully recommend this series, book 2 did suffer a bit from ‘middle book’ syndrome but it is the shortest in the series and builds up to such a big climax in book 3 that it’s definitely worth it.
Wow. What an ending to - I’m going to say it - my favourites series (minus HP of course).
Amazing cast diversity without leaning into stereotypes, action action action, faced paced but brilliantly written so you always know what’s going on and not afraid to be gruesome!
This isn’t much of a review, just me raving about how brilliant it is, and I don’t want to give too much away. I would fully recommend this series, book 2 did suffer a bit from ‘middle book’ syndrome but it is the shortest in the series and builds up to such a big climax in book 3 that it’s definitely worth it.
WOW
what an ending. I cant say that I didnt see the ending coming because I did but still
WOW What an ending.
One negative is I hate the open ended ending. ;)
Just leaves you guess or should I say Michael Grant lift is to the reading to write their own conclusion.
Clever but frustrating.
I am the type that just need ending. I dont want to guess at it or put my own spend on the authors story.
Oh well we cant always get what we want.
Very Good Series read.
what an ending. I cant say that I didnt see the ending coming because I did but still
WOW What an ending.
One negative is I hate the open ended ending. ;)
Just leaves you guess or should I say Michael Grant lift is to the reading to write their own conclusion.
Clever but frustrating.
I am the type that just need ending. I dont want to guess at it or put my own spend on the authors story.
Oh well we cant always get what we want.
Very Good Series read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes