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booksong's review against another edition
5.0
I waited a long time for this book, and it didn't disappoint. Once again Diane Duane proves herself capable of adding to and expanding upon this amazing world she's created, in poignant and sweeping style.
Mars, the red planet that has captured Earth's imagination for centuries. And it's also got its hooks into a certain handful of wizards, who are investigating the history of the planet, which is mysterious even by their standards.
But when Kit, involved heart and soul in the Mars project, unwittingly wakes up the dormant message-in-a-bottle that's been waiting for millenia, he will become tied to Mars in ways he could never have imagined. And as usual, there's only one wizard who knows him well enough to follow him down the dangerous path he's embarked on...Nita.
This book was one of the slower paced installments, but I know and love the series well enough by now to fully appreciate both the sci-fi and magical action as well as the quieter character-driven parts. Duane handles all the aspects masterfully as usual, keeping each familiar face true to themselves as well as expanding on the changing parts of their feelings and personalities. And there are a few fun newcomers as well, each already well on their way to becoming a full-fledged denizen of this series, which is already populated with an almost unfair number of brilliant characters.
New spells, new rules, new relationships, and new histories are introduced, bent, broken, and forged. I loved how Duane connected so much of Mars to Earth perceptions, both playing with them and subverting them. The constructs of Martian stereotypes experienced by the wizards were especially clever cameos, and provided both action and some surprising and great humor (think War of the Worlds invasion and a certain Looney Toons Martian!)
I really hope the next installment doesn't take as long to publish as this one did...there's so much left to be explained. In particular, I hope (as I think many others readers of this series do too) to see Dairine's education and search for Roshaun take a bigger role, if not the main one, in the next book. Like Dairine, I miss my stuck-up Wellakhit prince.
As my official 1000th book recorded here, I'm proud it was this one. :)
Mars, the red planet that has captured Earth's imagination for centuries. And it's also got its hooks into a certain handful of wizards, who are investigating the history of the planet, which is mysterious even by their standards.
But when Kit, involved heart and soul in the Mars project, unwittingly wakes up the dormant message-in-a-bottle that's been waiting for millenia, he will become tied to Mars in ways he could never have imagined. And as usual, there's only one wizard who knows him well enough to follow him down the dangerous path he's embarked on...Nita.
This book was one of the slower paced installments, but I know and love the series well enough by now to fully appreciate both the sci-fi and magical action as well as the quieter character-driven parts. Duane handles all the aspects masterfully as usual, keeping each familiar face true to themselves as well as expanding on the changing parts of their feelings and personalities. And there are a few fun newcomers as well, each already well on their way to becoming a full-fledged denizen of this series, which is already populated with an almost unfair number of brilliant characters.
New spells, new rules, new relationships, and new histories are introduced, bent, broken, and forged. I loved how Duane connected so much of Mars to Earth perceptions, both playing with them and subverting them. The constructs of Martian stereotypes experienced by the wizards were especially clever cameos, and provided both action and some surprising and great humor (think War of the Worlds invasion and a certain Looney Toons Martian!)
I really hope the next installment doesn't take as long to publish as this one did...there's so much left to be explained. In particular, I hope (as I think many others readers of this series do too) to see Dairine's education and search for Roshaun take a bigger role, if not the main one, in the next book. Like Dairine, I miss my stuck-up Wellakhit prince.
As my official 1000th book recorded here, I'm proud it was this one. :)
mufasa_nafisa's review
5.0
I can't believe it's over after NINE BOOKS. I really loved this series even if it did overwhelm me with feels sometimes, but it wouldn't be a good book if it didn't. I really wanted to know more about Kit and Nita's relationship but other the. that this entire series and award worthy for fantasy and sci fi lovers!!
angelarenea's review
4.0
I liked this book alright. The things I liked were a lot of the same things that I didn't like. I felt like this was a good story pasted on top of a whole bunch of recycled stories. I decided to read the Barsoom books because this book was so clearly based at least partially off of them. I really liked that this book tied up story lines that started 3 and 4 books ago without us even knowing. That is excellent planning. I think that this was my favorite of all the Young Wizard books, but I was still a bit relieved to be done.
hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to get back into the story since it had been a few years since I read the last book in the series, but it was enjoyable to reacquaint myself with Kit, Nita, and their other wizard peers. I liked the story taking place on Mars and seeing what they found about the past inhabitants. Very enjoyable series.
nanceoir's review against another edition
3.0
More of a 3.5, but closer to 3 than 4.
Also, I'm not sure if I'm getting Young Wizards fatigue or what.
Also, I'm not sure if I'm getting Young Wizards fatigue or what.
leleisreading's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
markphilpot's review against another edition
5.0
Diane Duane has done it again. An incredibly well crafted story in the universe she has crafted and evolved over nine fantastic books. For any fan of the series, this is a must read. Anyone new, I highly recommend starting from the first installment.
The painstaking descriptions of the Mars environment really makes everything real - as if this could really be happening and we are oblivious to it. The plot development is a bit like A Wizard's Dilemma and A Wizard Alone where Kit and Nita are separated for much of the book. I happen to like the stories where they are together a bit more, but I felt the separation was well done and not as forced or contrived as it was in the earlier two books.
Bottom line: I loved it. Duane's series continues to be one of my all time favorites!
The painstaking descriptions of the Mars environment really makes everything real - as if this could really be happening and we are oblivious to it. The plot development is a bit like A Wizard's Dilemma and A Wizard Alone where Kit and Nita are separated for much of the book. I happen to like the stories where they are together a bit more, but I felt the separation was well done and not as forced or contrived as it was in the earlier two books.
Bottom line: I loved it. Duane's series continues to be one of my all time favorites!
peytiebear's review against another edition
5.0
This whole series is a work of genius, second only to the Harry Potter series.
troacctid's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0