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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I had heard a lot of buzz about this book so I was actually quite disappointed. While the story did keep me reading to the end of the book, there were too many times where I considered not finishing, which is never a good thing for a book. I found the use of switching point-of-views between the three children at times a bit sloppy and distracting. The characters were frustratingly flat and one-sided and the main characters especially had too much step-by-step explanation for their feelings, making them feel unnatural, especially in the many scenes where the siblings swapped from anger to forgiveness far too quickly to feel believable. There was too much overall explanation and hit-you-over-the-head exposition, including way too many scenes where the time-traveling characters must recap the entire plot to other characters throughout the book.
Humorous relief to a dark, complicated story came from the comic dwarf characters, especially Hamish. I enjoyed the plot, which was paced well considering the time-travel aspects. The Books of Beginning concept is an interesting one and has good trilogy potential, though I don't intend on reading future books.
Humorous relief to a dark, complicated story came from the comic dwarf characters, especially Hamish. I enjoyed the plot, which was paced well considering the time-travel aspects. The Books of Beginning concept is an interesting one and has good trilogy potential, though I don't intend on reading future books.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
a bit too long at times but will continue with the series! Loved the audiobook!
I hated the main characters. It took me three months to finish this book. Every time I picked this book up I wanted to put it down immediately. I was so bored by the end it took me a week to finish the last 4 pages.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The Emerald Atlas is a thrilling adventure into the realms of magic and mystery. As the story begins three children--Kate, Michael and Emma--are scooped from their beds by their parents and turned over to an unnamed man in an old tweed suit. The old man indicates that a mysterious "they" have found them and are coming for the children. Kate & Michael & Emma's parents pack their small children into the man's vehicle and the children are then spirited away into the darkness.
We rejoin the children ten years later. They are residents in the latest of a long string of orphanages. Kate, as the oldest, is the only one who remembers their mother and her whispered promise that she will see her children again and they will be together as a family once more.
Due to an incident between the children and a prospective adoptive parent (who has a bizarre obsession with swans), the three siblings are sent to yet another orphanage. The new orphanage is in Cambridge Falls and when the children arrive they realize they are the only residents in the entire orphanage. This is the first of many unsettling discoveries. In their explorations the children discover a strange green book which has the power to send them back in time.
When Michael is inadvertently left behind, trapped in the past, the prisoner of the evil Countess, Kate and Emma must find a way to rescue him. Their originally straightforward rescue mission becomes an amazing journey into the events of the past. They encounter unspeakable evil--witches and monsters who desire the book the children now possess, courageous friends, a wise wizard dedicated to the preservation of good and the truth about the loss of their parents.
The Emerald Atlas is a thrill ride that barely lets you catch your breath before plunging on to the next fight-or-flight situation. For readers who love series like Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Septimus Heap and The Alchemyst, The Emerald Atlas is a perfect independent or read-aloud selection.
I am already almost finished with the second book: The Fire Chronicle and it fulfills the same promise of adventure and suspense--with even a dash MORE humor! I can't wait for the third and final book in the trilogy!
We rejoin the children ten years later. They are residents in the latest of a long string of orphanages. Kate, as the oldest, is the only one who remembers their mother and her whispered promise that she will see her children again and they will be together as a family once more.
Due to an incident between the children and a prospective adoptive parent (who has a bizarre obsession with swans), the three siblings are sent to yet another orphanage. The new orphanage is in Cambridge Falls and when the children arrive they realize they are the only residents in the entire orphanage. This is the first of many unsettling discoveries. In their explorations the children discover a strange green book which has the power to send them back in time.
When Michael is inadvertently left behind, trapped in the past, the prisoner of the evil Countess, Kate and Emma must find a way to rescue him. Their originally straightforward rescue mission becomes an amazing journey into the events of the past. They encounter unspeakable evil--witches and monsters who desire the book the children now possess, courageous friends, a wise wizard dedicated to the preservation of good and the truth about the loss of their parents.
The Emerald Atlas is a thrill ride that barely lets you catch your breath before plunging on to the next fight-or-flight situation. For readers who love series like Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Septimus Heap and The Alchemyst, The Emerald Atlas is a perfect independent or read-aloud selection.
I am already almost finished with the second book: The Fire Chronicle and it fulfills the same promise of adventure and suspense--with even a dash MORE humor! I can't wait for the third and final book in the trilogy!
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
One of our new family faves. Fast moving and compelling adventure with lots of heart and emotional turmoil. Can't wait to start book 2.
Different perspectives move the story along, and it works well for the most part. Very happy that the author has very dark characters, monsters, and scenes. A breath of fresh air, like when I first picked up a Brandon Mull story. I was surprised at the complexity and depth, as well as the darkness, of this story. The timey-wimey aspect mixed with the different perspectives did create a challenge in keeping the story straight. A fun journey overall, though; could easily be on a YA shelf.
Kate, Michael, and Emma have a very odd surname – P. That’s not all that is odd with them. They are sure that their parents are alive yet they have spent most of their lives in a number of orphanages all over the country. Kate, who was four years old when their parents left them, vaguely remembers their parents. The ginger hair of her father and her mother’s insistence that she takes care of her siblings are the only things that she remembers from that night when they were handed over to the first orphanage. Michael was two and Emma was one. Kate’s memories and Michael’s Book about dwarves is all they have. When the warden of their latest orphanage sends them off to an elusive place called Cambridge Falls, they expect to find yet another scrummy orphanage. Little do they know that what await them there are Dr.Pym and great adventures that will test them is the most dangerous ways.
Kate, Michael and Emma are really young but each of their personalities is well defined. I guess having to grow up in a number of orphanages has forced them to grow up early, but they haven’t lost the innocence completely. I love the way the way they hold out on the hope of being re-united with their parents even though circumstances may reflect differently. Kate being the oldest feels responsible for her siblings and as such her nature is that of a responsible caregiver first. Michael, who has very little memory of his parents, is enamored by the lives of dwarves because his only connection to his father is the book about dwarves. Emma has no memory of her parents and only knows her siblings. So the love of Kate and Michael and their opinions matter the most to her. Like all siblings, they fight and irritate each other to death, but when it matters the most, they stick up for each other.
The adventure that follows has loads of ups and downs and surprises for the siblings. But they persevere through it all. Interesting part of it all is the fact that the author has managed to keep his protagonists true to their age. Not one situation in the book made me think – ‘how could a kid manage this?’ Of course they had help when they needed the most and the side characters all fit in perfectly in the story.
The thing is that I am still suffering from Harry Potter hangover and couldn’t help but compare this book to the series. Dr.Pym reminded me of Dumbledore – a powerful wizard who liked his secrets. Gabriel, reminded me of the caring giant Hagrid – of course anybody would probably seem like a giant beside the young Emma. But I know it isn’t fair to this book which actually has the capacity to hold its own torch. A brand new fantasy world where there are ‘normal human’, witches and wizards and dwarves dwelling. There is an antagonist – the Dire Magnus, who can hold his own.
It’s a fun adventure to undertake for a ride along with some really loveable characters.
Kate, Michael and Emma are really young but each of their personalities is well defined. I guess having to grow up in a number of orphanages has forced them to grow up early, but they haven’t lost the innocence completely. I love the way the way they hold out on the hope of being re-united with their parents even though circumstances may reflect differently. Kate being the oldest feels responsible for her siblings and as such her nature is that of a responsible caregiver first. Michael, who has very little memory of his parents, is enamored by the lives of dwarves because his only connection to his father is the book about dwarves. Emma has no memory of her parents and only knows her siblings. So the love of Kate and Michael and their opinions matter the most to her. Like all siblings, they fight and irritate each other to death, but when it matters the most, they stick up for each other.
The adventure that follows has loads of ups and downs and surprises for the siblings. But they persevere through it all. Interesting part of it all is the fact that the author has managed to keep his protagonists true to their age. Not one situation in the book made me think – ‘how could a kid manage this?’ Of course they had help when they needed the most and the side characters all fit in perfectly in the story.
The thing is that I am still suffering from Harry Potter hangover and couldn’t help but compare this book to the series. Dr.Pym reminded me of Dumbledore – a powerful wizard who liked his secrets. Gabriel, reminded me of the caring giant Hagrid – of course anybody would probably seem like a giant beside the young Emma. But I know it isn’t fair to this book which actually has the capacity to hold its own torch. A brand new fantasy world where there are ‘normal human’, witches and wizards and dwarves dwelling. There is an antagonist – the Dire Magnus, who can hold his own.
It’s a fun adventure to undertake for a ride along with some really loveable characters.