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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Last read of 2019, and my continuing Underland Chronicles buddy read with Stephanie!
This series continues to be alright. I can't help but keep mentally comparing it to Animorphs, my absolute fave in terms of a middle-grade series handling children in war, and thus the Underland Chronicles just aren't as good -- but the further Collins gets into the series, the better the content becomes, slowly introducing additional complexities and shades of grey. The revelation/resolution in this one was my favourite so far, I think: finally incorporating the idea that the good guys are not uniformly good, in addition to the message all along that enemies like the rats are not uniformly bad, either. It's a great ending.
I think my main issue rn is that the books are very formulaic: Gregor and his family are struggling along in the overland, there's a brewing prophecy that requires his involvement, he goes below, Boots is cute to underland creatures, and the final interpretation of the prophecy is not what they expected. There's some slight changes of the status quo, but not a lot.
My greatest desire for the next/fourth book is for Lizzie to join them below (she's like the only family member who hasn't yet!), and for Gregor to actually stay in the Underland between the 4th and 5th books, to shake up the formula. Considering how things have been slowly escalating in each book, though, I'm intrigued to see what'll happen in the last two.
This series continues to be alright. I can't help but keep mentally comparing it to Animorphs, my absolute fave in terms of a middle-grade series handling children in war, and thus the Underland Chronicles just aren't as good -- but the further Collins gets into the series, the better the content becomes, slowly introducing additional complexities and shades of grey. The revelation/resolution in this one was my favourite so far, I think: finally incorporating the idea that the good guys are not uniformly good, in addition to the message all along that enemies like the rats are not uniformly bad, either. It's a great ending.
I think my main issue rn is that the books are very formulaic: Gregor and his family are struggling along in the overland, there's a brewing prophecy that requires his involvement, he goes below, Boots is cute to underland creatures, and the final interpretation of the prophecy is not what they expected. There's some slight changes of the status quo, but not a lot.
My greatest desire for the next/fourth book is for Lizzie to join them below (she's like the only family member who hasn't yet!), and for Gregor to actually stay in the Underland between the 4th and 5th books, to shake up the formula. Considering how things have been slowly escalating in each book, though, I'm intrigued to see what'll happen in the last two.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This one was frustrating. Still good, but yeah.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think I'm feelin' it with this one, folks: the dreaded, satisfying realization that I am half through this series...and it's starting to feel like a long ride. Which is quite ironic considering this book's pacing is somehow even faster than the previous installments.
The pacing was a problem particularly in the middle, where Gregor and the rest of the team are in the jungle facing new threats, like poisonous dart frogs, lakes, and plant life; meeting new allies,the believed long-dead uncle of Luxa, Hamnet and his Halflander son, Hazard; and finding Luxa who had been missing since the last book. The jungle is a new territory of worldbuilding for the Underlander series, so we should've spent a slower amount of time within that setting.
Another element that was lacking was the emotional resonance prevalent throughout the story. For their third trip, Gregor's mother journeys into the Underland with Gregor and Boots. Unfortunately, she contracts the warmblood's curse, forcing her children to find a cure for her, Ares, and others infected. The scene of Gregor leaving his sickened mother and, later, seeing her again upon his return from the jungle, was endearing;likewise, their reunion in the fourth book will be too. However, Gregor's relationship to his mother was the only strong emotional point of the story. To be completely honest, I did not care all that much that Hamnet died.
There is another twist in this installment. Although it delivered that mystery punchwho would've thought Solovet was a war criminal?! , I feel as though I'm getting slightly better at uncovering the twist just minutes before the characters. ALSO, we spend very little time with the person behind the twist, except for a couple of chapters in the beginning where she and Vikus appear to be experiencing marital troubles, "I love my wife, but her and her biochemical warfare tendencies." And that's it...There's no natural demonstration of Solovet's true nature unfolding. It's just told instead of shown...
Well. Anyway. Onto book 4!....
The pacing was a problem particularly in the middle, where Gregor and the rest of the team are in the jungle facing new threats, like poisonous dart frogs, lakes, and plant life; meeting new allies,
Another element that was lacking was the emotional resonance prevalent throughout the story. For their third trip, Gregor's mother journeys into the Underland with Gregor and Boots. Unfortunately, she contracts the warmblood's curse, forcing her children to find a cure for her, Ares, and others infected. The scene of Gregor leaving his sickened mother and, later, seeing her again upon his return from the jungle, was endearing;
There is another twist in this installment. Although it delivered that mystery punch
Well. Anyway. Onto book 4!....
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:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No