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bookcheshirecat's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
➽ The Secrets of the Stormforest is the finale of the Strangeworlds books! It digs deeper into the lore behind the suitcases and the multiverse, especially as a big threat to the entire universe surfaces. The Seren - a cult-like group that steals magic - is determined to wipe out the multiverse in their hunger for power and unlimited magic. Jonathan, Flick and Avery are the only thing that stands between them and their devious plans, so they have to mobilize everyone they've got to fight on behalf of the multiverse. I liked how the story dug deeper into Flick's special power with schisms and how it impacts her personally. We also see her reconnecting with her grandfather, a former Seren who is determined to fight alongside them, as he knows first-hand what they are like. I really liked how everything was tied up in the end, structurally this is definitely the strongest book of the series, as it brings everything together!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
nugat's review
adventurous
relaxing
medium-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? No
3.75
oscarhp's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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? No
4.0
anawilson05's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A lovely conclusion to a fantastic series
lisserd93's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
4.0
jamescross's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book last month, but needed some time with it to digest. This review won’t contain plot or spoilers as you MUST read the first two, and ideally come to the third with no spoilers for the full experience.
Trilogies are tricky beasts. As we all know, part one has to set up a world and the rules and draw someone in. Part two has to ramp up the tension and expand the world, and the final part must both be epic and draw everything back to a personal moment to close.
Going into this book I was worried. The first Strangeworlds book was perfect. We met Flick and Jonathan, our beloved heroes, and through Flick’s eyes understood how portals in suitcases could work. Wonder, exploration, weirdness and some dropped hints for the future, but a lovely standalone if not.
The second was pure adventure, with pirates, magic, sea beasts and new characters, the arc seemingly a background beat here and there.
But I thought that there was no way that the dropped threads could be resolved as it felt like we only had a little information, that they were more like books 1 and 2 in a 7 book cycle.
But. I should have trusted the absolute genius of L.D. Lapinski here. The story of this final part hums with narrative drive, but is urgent rather than rushed. It explodes in character moments - some teary, and others fistpumpy (new term? Does it work? No? Not at all? We move on).
The story hangs together beautifully because, crucially, we already had all the information and the pieces the author needed to move around the chess board, along with the world knowledge, clues and rules - WE JUST DIDN’T KNOW IT. It’s rarer than it should be to read a trilogy and see things just click into place that you didn’t realise were significant. This was clearly planned as a whole - and more upsettingly there must be lots more detail and ideas locked away in Lapinski’s head that they must have come up with in order to have such a rich world to play in.
Basically, read the trilogy, it sticks the landing - so smoothly that the chinaware on the tray tables wouldn’t even clink.
I laughed, cried, gasped (the moment on the stairs) and I devoured the ending so fast I already need a reread. I would obviously die for the perfect human that is Jonathan Mercator but love all of these messy, lovely, diverse, queer humans. It’s hard to believe this is the end, but having already read them multiple times, I know I will come back again and again.
Trilogies are tricky beasts. As we all know, part one has to set up a world and the rules and draw someone in. Part two has to ramp up the tension and expand the world, and the final part must both be epic and draw everything back to a personal moment to close.
Going into this book I was worried. The first Strangeworlds book was perfect. We met Flick and Jonathan, our beloved heroes, and through Flick’s eyes understood how portals in suitcases could work. Wonder, exploration, weirdness and some dropped hints for the future, but a lovely standalone if not.
The second was pure adventure, with pirates, magic, sea beasts and new characters, the arc seemingly a background beat here and there.
But I thought that there was no way that the dropped threads could be resolved as it felt like we only had a little information, that they were more like books 1 and 2 in a 7 book cycle.
But. I should have trusted the absolute genius of L.D. Lapinski here. The story of this final part hums with narrative drive, but is urgent rather than rushed. It explodes in character moments - some teary, and others fistpumpy (new term? Does it work? No? Not at all? We move on).
The story hangs together beautifully because, crucially, we already had all the information and the pieces the author needed to move around the chess board, along with the world knowledge, clues and rules - WE JUST DIDN’T KNOW IT. It’s rarer than it should be to read a trilogy and see things just click into place that you didn’t realise were significant. This was clearly planned as a whole - and more upsettingly there must be lots more detail and ideas locked away in Lapinski’s head that they must have come up with in order to have such a rich world to play in.
Basically, read the trilogy, it sticks the landing - so smoothly that the chinaware on the tray tables wouldn’t even clink.
I laughed, cried, gasped (the moment on the stairs) and I devoured the ending so fast I already need a reread. I would obviously die for the perfect human that is Jonathan Mercator but love all of these messy, lovely, diverse, queer humans. It’s hard to believe this is the end, but having already read them multiple times, I know I will come back again and again.
kellyjmac's review
5.0
I really enjoyed the whole Strangeworlds Travel Agency series. I read them all within a few days and couldn’t put them down. I picked them up based on the covers and am so glad I did. I loved all of the characters and especially loved the new worlds that were created for them all to travel to. I liked the diversity of characters that were included, it felt natural not forced. By the end of the series I was ugly crying at parts because I had become so attached. Definitely a great fantasy series for all ages.
speakingskies's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
skylarkblue1's review
5.0
Content Warnings: Loss of a Loved One, Blood, Murder, Severe Cigarette Addiction, Thoughts of Running From Home
I love this series so goddamn much it hurts omg. I love the characters, I *adore* the worlds so much. L. D. Lapinski is one of the most creative and descriptive writers I’ve ever read!
This is the 3rd (and last
I love this series so goddamn much it hurts omg. I love the characters, I *adore* the worlds so much. L. D. Lapinski is one of the most creative and descriptive writers I’ve ever read!
This is the 3rd (and last
fae269's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0