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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I liked this book and have loved this series since the beginning. This book just felt hollow to me. It seemed like Delaney wrote this to have some end to his series. It was very anticlimactic and cold. Tom Ward just came off as unemotional to everything but Alice. Overall I enjoyed the book but expected more for a Series ending book.
I cannot even begin to describe my disappointment. First, let me begin by explaining one little thing: I have read all of the Spook's Books since I was little, and they were well up there as one of my favourite series of all time. However, I picked up the final few books a few years later, having forgotten that they'd come out. For me, seemed.... different. Maybe it was just the fact that I'd grown up and couldn't quite get back into them; the writing came across as childish and silly, yet at times it was violent and more adult than I had expected, which was juxtaposed awkwardly, or at least, it was for me.
and I was going to cry.
Sadly, this did not happen. Instead, his death played out as though Delaney knew he had to kill him, but wasn't quite sure how. To me it came across as though it was an after thought. There was no suspense or torment. It was just Tom, stepping over his dead mentor and not even mustering the capacity to care. I wanted to grieve over the death of a stunningly well written character, who is slayed whilst fighting the things he had spent his whole life saving people from. But no, Delaney failed to deliver.
And what on Earth - who on Earth- was this Moustached Mage? And what is the deal with Alice suddenly giving up to the darkness and dating... a mage that was clearly supposed to be dead?
And Alice! Where has your fight gone? You went from one of my favourite characters to someone I really, really wanted to hit. What is wrong with you? Jesus Christ, I spent most of my childhood shipping Alice x Tom... ruined. By the end of the book, I ended up feeling sorry for Tom, which is something I didn't even want to do, considering that his reaction to John Gregory's death was lukewarm, at best. However, Delaney seems to offer some kind of redeeming quality to Alice, and that she will eventually sacrifice her self for Tom.... but frankly, I'm all out of f***s to give about her character, I don't care if she's doing it to save Tom, I really, really don't care anymore.
The only redeeming feature of this book was that Grimalkin was in it, being kick ass as usual, and I couldn't bear to give it any less stars because the previous books demanded it (they were so good, what went wrong?!) I doubt I will even attempt to read the next series; I can't even look at a Joseph Delaney book without feeling depressed. Besides, now that this new threat has been introduced.... seriously? Skelt Gods? What even is this bullshit? Can't you just leave it or are you hell bent on ruining the series even further? God, Delaney...
I just wish that the book had ended, with all the loose ends tied up and with no further sequels. Can't you just go out on a high? I don't think there's a need to drag this out any further. Please, don't torture us any further.
I shut this book feeling completely numb. I had lost all respect for the characters, who I had grown up loving, and I was at a loss as to how Delaney could ever have written such a disappointing ending to such a wonderful series.
Spoiler
Firstly....I cannot get over the Spook's death. With the book in hand, I knew that the only plausible ending was for the Spook to die. So I delved into the novel, knowing full well one of my favourite characters from any book series was going to die a noble, heroic death,Sadly, this did not happen. Instead, his death played out as though Delaney knew he had to kill him, but wasn't quite sure how. To me it came across as though it was an after thought. There was no suspense or torment. It was just Tom, stepping over his dead mentor and not even mustering the capacity to care. I wanted to grieve over the death of a stunningly well written character, who is slayed whilst fighting the things he had spent his whole life saving people from. But no, Delaney failed to deliver.
And what on Earth - who on Earth- was this Moustached Mage? And what is the deal with Alice suddenly giving up to the darkness and dating... a mage that was clearly supposed to be dead?
And Alice! Where has your fight gone? You went from one of my favourite characters to someone I really, really wanted to hit. What is wrong with you? Jesus Christ, I spent most of my childhood shipping Alice x Tom... ruined. By the end of the book, I ended up feeling sorry for Tom, which is something I didn't even want to do, considering that his reaction to John Gregory's death was lukewarm, at best. However, Delaney seems to offer some kind of redeeming quality to Alice, and that she will eventually sacrifice her self for Tom.... but frankly, I'm all out of f***s to give about her character, I don't care if she's doing it to save Tom, I really, really don't care anymore.
The only redeeming feature of this book was that Grimalkin was in it, being kick ass as usual, and I couldn't bear to give it any less stars because the previous books demanded it (they were so good, what went wrong?!) I doubt I will even attempt to read the next series; I can't even look at a Joseph Delaney book without feeling depressed. Besides, now that this new threat has been introduced.... seriously? Skelt Gods? What even is this bullshit? Can't you just leave it or are you hell bent on ruining the series even further? God, Delaney...
I just wish that the book had ended, with all the loose ends tied up and with no further sequels. Can't you just go out on a high? I don't think there's a need to drag this out any further. Please, don't torture us any further.
I shut this book feeling completely numb. I had lost all respect for the characters, who I had grown up loving, and I was at a loss as to how Delaney could ever have written such a disappointing ending to such a wonderful series.
I can't actually believe I'm done with this series.
Its so long, and I've been reading it over two years now.
And now its done.
Its actually a bit sad...
But what a ending as well!
We've followed this group for 13 books - give or take - and while we've mostly seen some of the stuff happening in this book coming a long way, it was still a ''surprise''.
This is a well written series for children or teenagers, and I wish I'd found it when I was younger!
If I ever have a child, I'll teach them to read English at an early age so they can read this series.
Its so long, and I've been reading it over two years now.
And now its done.
Its actually a bit sad...
But what a ending as well!
We've followed this group for 13 books - give or take - and while we've mostly seen some of the stuff happening in this book coming a long way, it was still a ''surprise''.
This is a well written series for children or teenagers, and I wish I'd found it when I was younger!
If I ever have a child, I'll teach them to read English at an early age so they can read this series.
J'ai adoré me retrouver dans ce monde une dernière fois et enfin avoir une conclusion aux aventures d'apprenti de Tom. J'aime toujours autant l'univers et l'intrigue, néanmoins, beaucoup de questions restent sans réponse - puisqu'une autre série est en cours - et je trouve ça dommage, parce que je ne veux pas devoir lire davantage de romans alors que j'en ai déjà lu treize... Du coup je suis un peu frustrée. J'ai tout de même adoré cette série et apprécié sa conclusion !
It was okay. I didn't care for the change in the background mythology that began with I Am Slither and it's conclusion in this book. I thought the conclusion was kind of a let down.
6/5/2014: Finally ordered this today!!!! Yippee!
6/13/2014: FINALLY GETTING TO READ THIS!
*Spoilers*
Ramblings & Musings:
I'm feeling very sad for Tom at the moment. I do agree with people who say that Tom hasn't changed (much) from book to book. I can't see much growth from the very first book to this one, though he's several years older. It's not that he seems immature, just that I didn't get the sense of him turning from child to adult. He's always seemed of the same mindset.
I'd also like to note how disappointing it is that a mere opening of a book (albeit one strongly connected to the dark) pushed Alice over the line into becoming a fully malevolent witch. It feels like a cheat because she did so much in the last book to help the plan defeat the Fiend and seemed so hopeful it would work. I'm feeling very mad (and sad for her, too). If she can still reason enough to NOT regard Tom as an enemy, why has dark magic ceased to let her love Tom like she used to? She's under a spell of sorts, or just brainwashed, no matter what she says. I really loved Alice as a character in the past 11 (of 12) books, so it's frustrating to see her suddenly despise Tom so much.
Even Grimalkin loved her son, who was 100% unmagical/untouched by the dark, so I don't see where Alice is coming from when she says she can't care for people (of the non-magical sort, since she seems to love a warlock) like she used to. She's either lying or, because she's the most powerful witch, she is also the most heartless. Also kind of icky that she's in her mid-teens and dating a centuries old warlock!
I do feel kind of disappointed the whole threat wasn't resolved yet in this series, but I wasn't ready yet to give up on this series with the state of things between Tom and Alice. Maybe she is under a spell like Tom thinks; I hope so.
6/13/2014: FINALLY GETTING TO READ THIS!
*Spoilers*
Ramblings & Musings:
I'm feeling very sad for Tom at the moment. I do agree with people who say that Tom hasn't changed (much) from book to book. I can't see much growth from the very first book to this one, though he's several years older. It's not that he seems immature, just that I didn't get the sense of him turning from child to adult. He's always seemed of the same mindset.
I'd also like to note how disappointing it is that a mere opening of a book (albeit one strongly connected to the dark) pushed Alice over the line into becoming a fully malevolent witch. It feels like a cheat because she did so much in the last book to help the plan defeat the Fiend and seemed so hopeful it would work. I'm feeling very mad (and sad for her, too). If she can still reason enough to NOT regard Tom as an enemy, why has dark magic ceased to let her love Tom like she used to? She's under a spell of sorts, or just brainwashed, no matter what she says. I really loved Alice as a character in the past 11 (of 12) books, so it's frustrating to see her suddenly despise Tom so much.
Even Grimalkin loved her son, who was 100% unmagical/untouched by the dark, so I don't see where Alice is coming from when she says she can't care for people (of the non-magical sort, since she seems to love a warlock) like she used to. She's either lying or, because she's the most powerful witch, she is also the most heartless. Also kind of icky that she's in her mid-teens and dating a centuries old warlock!
I do feel kind of disappointed the whole threat wasn't resolved yet in this series, but I wasn't ready yet to give up on this series with the state of things between Tom and Alice. Maybe she is under a spell like Tom thinks; I hope so.
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can't say enough about this series. I'm sad to see it end because I've loved it from book one. I hope the movie coming out does this series justice. Can't recommend it enough!
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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:
No
