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terese_utan_h's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
aryastarkstan2000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
frumiouslyalice's review against another edition
5.0
Edited a lot here just because I realized how stupid I was being putting major spoilers under a spoiler tag for an anticipated book. Made things more vague, may put them back after publication.
I literally snatched this out of our ARC box when it came I was so FRIGGIN' PUMPED FOR IT. I started it at work and I finished it as soon as I got home and man, it's a great finish. (It's already in the hands of my friend who I've been gushing at back and forth about the series ever since its start.)
It continues mostly everything I love of the series. The creepiness is admittedly dialed back somewhat to me in the sense that the book is more action-y than the others. In comparison to the first three books, which focused significantly on certain settings (1: the village, 2: the Thickety, 3: the Well of Witches), there is no grounding of *A* location in the Last Spell - which is fine, but means that the book takes on more of a movement heavy tone that allows less of the subtle nervousness that freaked me out in the first novel, or the tension of the Thickety realm in the second. But the creepiness was, as everything was, tied to moral ambiguity. Difficult decisions. Making the right decision, it turning out badly, but it not necessarily having been the wrong thing to do. And plenty of that still exists in the book, and gives it that immense strength that the author has enforced throughout.
One of the things I liked most about it is how free Kara feels in this last installment. Not that she isn't being chased by horrors beyond the imagination and so forth, but due to the events of the last book, Kara doesn't feel claustrophobic in herself. She has a new clarity to her decisions and consequences, which, even if they aren't the greatest, it isn't because it reflects badly on her, and she finally understands that after the results of the last book. It doesn't give her a confidence that abounds, but it's definitely a breather from the first three. A character development that has made her stronger without losing herself entirely. I loved loved loved this message in #3, and it's nice to see it fleshed out more here.
My favorite thing about #4, though, is definitely Grace. I wasn't sure if I would have been excited to see her before I started; I was thinking a lot about it even before I got the ARC. Not necessarily because she's a poorly written character, but because through Kara I really just hated her down to the core, and didn't feel enthusiastic about seeing her again. She was a character written perfectly to hate, and the glimpses of her better character weren't enough to turn it around, especially when considering her history... until this one. It's hard to emphasize how much I was with Kara in regards to Grace. The immediate suspicion, the conflict, the reluctant acceptance (but with lingering hesitation). Through and through I wanted her to be good, even if I hated her.
So... some things definitely did feel a little bit quick to the finish, but, at the end of the end of it all, I didn't care.
This was an amazing series, something I wish I'd had the pleasure of reading as a kid so that I could think of it fondly not just as a classic but as a formative thing for me. But to read it as an adult has also set a bar for children's lit, a focus on compassion - not necessarily even love as it happens, but a wider consideration of people's beings and feelings. Any hiccups it has (and I'm not one to say that it doesn't) are outweighed by the better messages it holds and presents. I'm so sad that it's over and yet INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO READY ANYTHING HE'S GOT GOING SOON.
I literally snatched this out of our ARC box when it came I was so FRIGGIN' PUMPED FOR IT. I started it at work and I finished it as soon as I got home and man, it's a great finish. (It's already in the hands of my friend who I've been gushing at back and forth about the series ever since its start.)
It continues mostly everything I love of the series. The creepiness is admittedly dialed back somewhat to me in the sense that the book is more action-y than the others. In comparison to the first three books, which focused significantly on certain settings (1: the village, 2: the Thickety, 3: the Well of Witches), there is no grounding of *A* location in the Last Spell - which is fine, but means that the book takes on more of a movement heavy tone that allows less of the subtle nervousness that freaked me out in the first novel, or the tension of the Thickety realm in the second. But the creepiness was, as everything was, tied to moral ambiguity. Difficult decisions. Making the right decision, it turning out badly, but it not necessarily having been the wrong thing to do. And plenty of that still exists in the book, and gives it that immense strength that the author has enforced throughout.
One of the things I liked most about it is how free Kara feels in this last installment. Not that she isn't being chased by horrors beyond the imagination and so forth, but due to the events of the last book, Kara doesn't feel claustrophobic in herself. She has a new clarity to her decisions and consequences, which, even if they aren't the greatest, it isn't because it reflects badly on her, and she finally understands that after the results of the last book. It doesn't give her a confidence that abounds, but it's definitely a breather from the first three. A character development that has made her stronger without losing herself entirely. I loved loved loved this message in #3, and it's nice to see it fleshed out more here.
My favorite thing about #4, though, is definitely Grace. I wasn't sure if I would have been excited to see her before I started; I was thinking a lot about it even before I got the ARC. Not necessarily because she's a poorly written character, but because through Kara I really just hated her down to the core, and didn't feel enthusiastic about seeing her again. She was a character written perfectly to hate, and the glimpses of her better character weren't enough to turn it around, especially when considering her history... until this one. It's hard to emphasize how much I was with Kara in regards to Grace. The immediate suspicion, the conflict, the reluctant acceptance (but with lingering hesitation). Through and through I wanted her to be good, even if I hated her.
So... some things definitely did feel a little bit quick to the finish, but, at the end of the end of it all, I didn't care.
This was an amazing series, something I wish I'd had the pleasure of reading as a kid so that I could think of it fondly not just as a classic but as a formative thing for me. But to read it as an adult has also set a bar for children's lit, a focus on compassion - not necessarily even love as it happens, but a wider consideration of people's beings and feelings. Any hiccups it has (and I'm not one to say that it doesn't) are outweighed by the better messages it holds and presents. I'm so sad that it's over and yet INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO READY ANYTHING HE'S GOT GOING SOON.
booksandbosox's review against another edition
4.0
This series is such a dark fantasy for kids and I love it. This concluding volume is wonderful, really compelling and satisfying.
elna17a9a's review against another edition
5.0
*Review of 2-4*
As a series, it's incredible. Wonderful world-building, realistic characters, and an undercurrent of darkness that never totally overwhelms.
My only real quibble is that Taff and Safi are written beyond their years, though I understand why they had to be and why they had to be the ages they were. I don't know how to feel about Grace.
As a series, it's incredible. Wonderful world-building, realistic characters, and an undercurrent of darkness that never totally overwhelms.
My only real quibble is that Taff and Safi are written beyond their years, though I understand why they had to be and why they had to be the ages they were. I don't know how to feel about Grace.
gracew's review against another edition
5.0
Oh gods. This book!!!! THIS! BOOK! I cried, I cheered, I think I whispered "oh my god" about twenty times. This is a truly incredible ending to a fantastic series. I was worried sick about the outcome of the book and there was at least one death that broke my heart. But overall this series is mind blowing. I want to cuddle the entire collection!
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