Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
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
What a soap opera-y installment. Tobias still seems to draw the short end of the stick at every turn but at least this development has some benefits.
These books have become more and more touchy. Hmmm... I didn't understand the last part,though.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Tobias, our angsty hawkboy, goes through a character journey with every book he narrates. This is only his third entry as the primary narrator, and the other two dealt with a. his coming-to-terms with being trapped in a hawk body and b. having to decide if he will return to being human and give up his morphing powers. Compared to the other Animorphs, it strikes me how mature he sounds. All of the Animorphs have had to grow up very quickly – especially Tobias – but even so, he may have had an old soul even before the start of the series. A rough childhood can do that. His mixture of kindness and world-hardened toughness has only grown more pronounced as a wild animal, learning to live by the laws of nature. Tobias’s variety of kindness is different than Cassie’s: though I love Cassie and see a lot of myself in her, Tobias has a more grounded compassion, more practical and world-wise than Cassie’s idealistic morality. His hawk mind knows he must kill to survive, but his human soul still cares for the baby rabbits he leaves behind.
The Pretender includes some huge character developments that move the story forward. Most notably, of course, Tobias learns that Elfangor is his dad . But we also get some great Tobias/Rachel moments and some really intense Tobias depression hearkening back to book 3 – it is an essential book in several of the series’ arcs. Meanwhile, the plot is fine. The missing Hork-Bajir are not really the focus of the book; instead, they’re more of a backdrop for the aforementioned character developments. Fittingly, the resolution to that storyline happens offscreen, keeping the attention on Tobias, where the impact and the heartbreak of this book lie.
Miscellaneous notes:
- I almost started this review with “Tobias, the Miles O’Brien of the Animorphs series…” Every story needs a grouchy-yet-lovable soul to throw endless tragedies at.
- Upon this reread, I am actually more of a fan of the Rachel/Tobias than the Cassie/Jake ship, even though I’m a Cassie fangirl. Rachel/Tobias just feels so much deeper (and sadder).
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tobias books are always compelling. It's nice to see his inner conflict about being a predator, and yearning for a normal human life. Also, it's the most explicitly we've seen the book being about his relationship with Rachel. Glad to see the plot thread from The Andalite Chronicles paying off as well.