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nadkaznan's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
laellyra's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
firstorderpixie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
booksnorkel's review against another edition
4.0
Tal and Milla know what they have to do, but it seems impossible. They have to stop the shadows from taking over their world, but to do so they have to go to Aenir. The spirit world where they have the most power. Tal knows his heritage, Milla is still trying to accept her destiny. They have a lot to overcome and even more to overpower. Can they free their world from the shadows, and restore balance to the Castle.
This is a fun series, I love Garth Nix and I can see where some of his other ideas sort of bleed into this one. Or vice versa, regardless, this is a fun fast series with covers from the 90's. Slow to start, and the fact that the first three books could be combined to make kids think that they are reading above their level, and that the story will eventually pick up. For Fourth grade on up with strong characters, who are able to fear change then accept it head on and the challenges those changes have brought.
This is a fun series, I love Garth Nix and I can see where some of his other ideas sort of bleed into this one. Or vice versa, regardless, this is a fun fast series with covers from the 90's. Slow to start, and the fact that the first three books could be combined to make kids think that they are reading above their level, and that the story will eventually pick up. For Fourth grade on up with strong characters, who are able to fear change then accept it head on and the challenges those changes have brought.
megank320's review against another edition
Really felt like there should have been a seventh book. The ending felt very rushed unlike the rest of the series.
bl0ndekitten's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ssjonoyoung's review
5.0
I am in a state of disbelief right now there is nothing I can say that will make the ending any less painful. But it was majestic, the whole book had a sense of adventure and urgency that never seems to fail in these books. Both Milla and Tal are making their ways to the Violet Tower as Sushin and Sharrakor are ready to dismantle the Veil once and for all.
Now as always I'm gonna start at the end and how awesome it was. The return to Aenir was a perfect way to end it though the disconnection of Adras and Odris from Tal and Milla broke my heart a little. The banter between the two pairs was exquisite and Adras's humour was always a highlight of the book. But it was perfect as they had to start as they meant to go on and that meant no more Spiritshadows. The confrontation with Sharrakor was intense the whole flying into the middle of a hurricane thing would look so good on a big screen and then the fight with the dragon was awesome but of course it came with heartbreak. My poor Crow.
Now I feel like you aren't meant to like Crow because he is a backstabbing asshole but he's also ridiculously cool. Him and Tal share some awesome scenes and the fact Crow came to Tal to help him from the Hall of Nightmares was a mark that you can be wrong about people. And Crow kind of does admit that he is wrong and he needed to do better. But that's okay because he did do better, he worked with Chosen and Icecarl to get to Aenir and its thanks to him that Sharrakor died. The bottle of caveroach poison was lethal to touch so even if they had plummeted of the tower of the Khamsoul he would have died anyway. He knew it though I think, he had already asked them not to forget about the Underfolk and to unite them so now it felt like he knew all along he had a chance that they didn't. He was brave and awesome and him and Tal are faves.
Of course throughout the book we get a mix of Tal and Milla chapters. Milla at the beginning is learning more of her light magic which is awesome even if it does almost get her killed but she is clearly running out of steam. All the Icecarl are worn out but they are ready to keep going. I just realised while typing this that most of the Icecarl we see are exceptionally strong women so fuck yeah for that. Go Garth Nix! By the end she has learnt so much of being a chosen but she is still an Icecarl at heart. She keeps fighting till the very end and she is awesome for that. Milla is never defined by her interactions with Tal and she doesn't become a love interest just a really good friend to Tal. With the Talon's of Danir she is a dangerous warrior and she is just incredible.
Tal my precious flower has come a long way too. Of course he is now Emperor of the Castle because he is the true wielder of the Violet Keystone. Which was a great moment when Milla's like nahh he can have it. Because he is very talented that must be said he is incredible with Light Magic. But it's been an ongoing thing that he has improved massively. He really has and by the end he can wield so much without aid it's just amazing. But he's also learnt a lot along the way, the sadness of when Crow died was touching and his not wanting to Emperor is a mark of how young he truly is. He makes mistakes but he keeps fighting and I'm so glad he does because at the end he really does go toe-to-toe with Sushin and Sharrakor and it's epic.
Harsher note I wish it had been Ebbitt that died. It's kind of a tricky moment because it seems like he is going to but he pulls through. But Ebbitt always saddens me because his mind is truly addled with age. Which is intriguing to see in fantasy because though he is so smart and helpful yet he is limited because his mind does wander. Like with the Wormwalker he is so interested in them he has to be lead away. But he does have great lines such as 'Do Something Imperial.' It's so great but sadly I wish it was him....
There are of course many other things to discuss such as what the harpoons were for because we do get told thank god. They stop things moving so yay for that. We get to see Zicka again who is of course King of Information/ quick bit of exposition. Malen who is actually interesting because of the struggle with being so detached from the Crone hive mind. And she goes to Aenir and helps with the taking down of Sharrakor so ten points for being awesome Malen.
In the end though everyone is happy, Milla and Tal are going their separate ways for at least a year. Tal's family is reunited and he is Emperor. It's excellent but like where's the sequel series?
Now as always I'm gonna start at the end and how awesome it was. The return to Aenir was a perfect way to end it though the disconnection of Adras and Odris from Tal and Milla broke my heart a little. The banter between the two pairs was exquisite and Adras's humour was always a highlight of the book. But it was perfect as they had to start as they meant to go on and that meant no more Spiritshadows. The confrontation with Sharrakor was intense the whole flying into the middle of a hurricane thing would look so good on a big screen and then the fight with the dragon was awesome but of course it came with heartbreak. My poor Crow.
Now I feel like you aren't meant to like Crow because he is a backstabbing asshole but he's also ridiculously cool. Him and Tal share some awesome scenes and the fact Crow came to Tal to help him from the Hall of Nightmares was a mark that you can be wrong about people. And Crow kind of does admit that he is wrong and he needed to do better. But that's okay because he did do better, he worked with Chosen and Icecarl to get to Aenir and its thanks to him that Sharrakor died. The bottle of caveroach poison was lethal to touch so even if they had plummeted of the tower of the Khamsoul he would have died anyway. He knew it though I think, he had already asked them not to forget about the Underfolk and to unite them so now it felt like he knew all along he had a chance that they didn't. He was brave and awesome and him and Tal are faves.
Of course throughout the book we get a mix of Tal and Milla chapters. Milla at the beginning is learning more of her light magic which is awesome even if it does almost get her killed but she is clearly running out of steam. All the Icecarl are worn out but they are ready to keep going. I just realised while typing this that most of the Icecarl we see are exceptionally strong women so fuck yeah for that. Go Garth Nix! By the end she has learnt so much of being a chosen but she is still an Icecarl at heart. She keeps fighting till the very end and she is awesome for that. Milla is never defined by her interactions with Tal and she doesn't become a love interest just a really good friend to Tal. With the Talon's of Danir she is a dangerous warrior and she is just incredible.
Tal my precious flower has come a long way too. Of course he is now Emperor of the Castle because he is the true wielder of the Violet Keystone. Which was a great moment when Milla's like nahh he can have it. Because he is very talented that must be said he is incredible with Light Magic. But it's been an ongoing thing that he has improved massively. He really has and by the end he can wield so much without aid it's just amazing. But he's also learnt a lot along the way, the sadness of when Crow died was touching and his not wanting to Emperor is a mark of how young he truly is. He makes mistakes but he keeps fighting and I'm so glad he does because at the end he really does go toe-to-toe with Sushin and Sharrakor and it's epic.
Harsher note I wish it had been Ebbitt that died. It's kind of a tricky moment because it seems like he is going to but he pulls through. But Ebbitt always saddens me because his mind is truly addled with age. Which is intriguing to see in fantasy because though he is so smart and helpful yet he is limited because his mind does wander. Like with the Wormwalker he is so interested in them he has to be lead away. But he does have great lines such as 'Do Something Imperial.' It's so great but sadly I wish it was him....
There are of course many other things to discuss such as what the harpoons were for because we do get told thank god. They stop things moving so yay for that. We get to see Zicka again who is of course King of Information/ quick bit of exposition. Malen who is actually interesting because of the struggle with being so detached from the Crone hive mind. And she goes to Aenir and helps with the taking down of Sharrakor so ten points for being awesome Malen.
In the end though everyone is happy, Milla and Tal are going their separate ways for at least a year. Tal's family is reunited and he is Emperor. It's excellent but like where's the sequel series?
constant_reader_19's review against another edition
4.0
Solid conclusion to the series. Would have liked a little more in the epilogue.
kendalf's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75