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drsurgeonguy's review against another edition
4.0
Good ending to a trilogy, ending was just a bit shaky but still great, and that final scene, so good!
alyshadeshae's review against another edition
5.0
A perfect ending. A truly perfect ending. I would have cried if I hadn't been so pleased. I did expect part of the ending, but I didn't expect the perfection of the epilogue. I will be recommending this series to sooooo many people!
emromc's review against another edition
5.0
100% recommend these books! Maybe I'll write a real review later.
bjkatcher's review against another edition
5.0
You know you're reading a great series when you are angry it's all over. This one does not disappoint. How the Umber series is not the new Harry Potter, I'll never know.
mikaydo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
ink_and_feathers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
contre_qui's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This is a good conclusion for the trilogy, and a good book on its own merit. It's emotional enough to make you feel things, but not enough to make you weepy. I found it a little quick, but it's a really solid series for the age group it's intended and in general. It's approachable for younger readers but still entertaining and complex enough for older readers as well.
spacklefritz's review against another edition
5.0
We start off the book with Umber falling into his moods, in fact this one is the worst yet, as a result of what happened in the previous book. Balfour, who hopes to restore Umber to his regular self, takes him (or rather kidnaps because he refuses to go) on an adventure. Luckily, something happens on the adventure to bring Umber back to his old self again ^_^ After this the reader and the gang are thrown into numerous fast paced adventures.
I loved this book. No lie. The plot, from the first book, has been tightly placed and there are no unnecessary fillers. Hap really comes into his own in this one as he accepts his role of a Meddler. Most (if not all) the mysteries surrounding the Meddlers have been revealed. We also get a better understanding of how the Meddlers think.
So we've come to the conclusion of this trilogy that has action, adventure, fantasy, mystery, and a sprinkling of romance and it was a satisfying end. We get a glimpse into all our favourite character's lives also ^_^
ahh Oates you big lug, I'm going to miss you. Umber and your eccentric ways *sniffles* and lastly Hap, may you have an adventure of a lifetime ;) (*hint* you probably will in your old age )
review can also be found at musingsandbooksandmore.blogspot.com
I loved this book. No lie. The plot, from the first book, has been tightly placed and there are no unnecessary fillers. Hap really comes into his own in this one as he accepts his role of a Meddler. Most (if not all) the mysteries surrounding the Meddlers have been revealed. We also get a better understanding of how the Meddlers think.
So we've come to the conclusion of this trilogy that has action, adventure, fantasy, mystery, and a sprinkling of romance and it was a satisfying end. We get a glimpse into all our favourite character's lives also ^_^
ahh Oates you big lug, I'm going to miss you. Umber and your eccentric ways *sniffles* and lastly Hap, may you have an adventure of a lifetime ;) (*hint* you probably will in your old age )
review can also be found at musingsandbooksandmore.blogspot.com
deltz025's review against another edition
4.0
Please note, I have not hidden this review because of spoilers, as I only discuss one major plot point towards the end of the review. It has been clearly labeled a "MAJOR SPOILER SECTION."
You have been warned.
It isn't often that I find a book series that is not only engaging, but consistent and enjoyable through every entry. I'm rather glad to say that I found The Books of Umber to be one such series. In fact, I'd go so far as to say my biggest complaint for the series is that it does resolve, and far too quickly at that. But more on that later.
In his epic conclusion, Catanese offers a reading experience completely unlike its predecessors. While the main characters are still there and the plot does progress steadily, the story lacks a physical and visible antagonist, such as Occo or Brugador. Instead, the book follows an almost episodic plot, feeling as though it is more a series of shorter arcs rather than a single larger one. Please bear in mind, this in no way discounts the book; it merely provides a different perspective.
Without delving too deep into spoiler territory, the book spends much of its time tying up a number of plot details: Sophie and Hap's relationship, Umber's past, the fate of Fay and Sable as well as a few other subtle mysteries from previous entries. While this is satisfying, it leads me to one of the books biggest flaws. The entire book, with some exceptions, is like watching a time lapse of life and death. It's sobering and even a bit unsettling to know that, as every plot hole is filled in, the series is one step closer to being over, and Catanese does nothing to hide that. He leaves no room whatsoever for continuation of the series, and often leaves the reader torn between rushing full force into the next chapter or waiting to savor it.
The plot is, as readers have come to expect from the series, complicated and darker than before, and the action is played out to the perfect extent. The book refrains from adding new characters, choosing instead to focus on expanding some of the seemingly unimportant or limited ones. The descriptions are vibrant and allow the reader to easily visualize exactly what Catanese intended. The End of Time is, by all accounts, a fantastically well made novel and kept me engaged for the few hours it took me to read.
MAJOR SPOILER SECTION
I am actually uncertain how to feel about the epilogue. Having aged Kurahaven's best by thirty years and Hap even more, the short scene drips with melancholy, and the novel plays to this by recounting all of the characters' exploits. While Oates, Umber, Fay and Balfour all have fittingly comfortable and prosperous pasts. Sophie, however, has a visibly contrived fate; after a book and a half of setting up a relationship between Hap and Sophie, I felt a little cheated knowing it was nothing more than a bait-and-switch with Eldon. Hap's life, as he recounts in the final pages, also seems undeservingly difficult, and left me pining for a better end for him.
END MAJOR SPOILER SECTION
The End of Time is, for all intents and purposes, a fantastic novel and a powerful finale to a fantastic series. The only drawback for readers is the fact that it truly feels like it is closing the book as one finishes it, and feels bittersweet at times. Still, the book is engaging and well characterized, resulting in an overall enjoyable experience.
Final score: 8/10
You have been warned.
It isn't often that I find a book series that is not only engaging, but consistent and enjoyable through every entry. I'm rather glad to say that I found The Books of Umber to be one such series. In fact, I'd go so far as to say my biggest complaint for the series is that it does resolve, and far too quickly at that. But more on that later.
In his epic conclusion, Catanese offers a reading experience completely unlike its predecessors. While the main characters are still there and the plot does progress steadily, the story lacks a physical and visible antagonist, such as Occo or Brugador. Instead, the book follows an almost episodic plot, feeling as though it is more a series of shorter arcs rather than a single larger one. Please bear in mind, this in no way discounts the book; it merely provides a different perspective.
Without delving too deep into spoiler territory, the book spends much of its time tying up a number of plot details: Sophie and Hap's relationship, Umber's past, the fate of Fay and Sable as well as a few other subtle mysteries from previous entries. While this is satisfying, it leads me to one of the books biggest flaws. The entire book, with some exceptions, is like watching a time lapse of life and death. It's sobering and even a bit unsettling to know that, as every plot hole is filled in, the series is one step closer to being over, and Catanese does nothing to hide that. He leaves no room whatsoever for continuation of the series, and often leaves the reader torn between rushing full force into the next chapter or waiting to savor it.
The plot is, as readers have come to expect from the series, complicated and darker than before, and the action is played out to the perfect extent. The book refrains from adding new characters, choosing instead to focus on expanding some of the seemingly unimportant or limited ones. The descriptions are vibrant and allow the reader to easily visualize exactly what Catanese intended. The End of Time is, by all accounts, a fantastically well made novel and kept me engaged for the few hours it took me to read.
MAJOR SPOILER SECTION
Spoiler
The novel strongly plays up the common superhero trope of attachments being weaknesses. While most books, movies and comics resolve this so that the hero's friendships actually become his or her strongest assets, Happenstance willingly sacrifice almost all of his emotion for the people he loves. Though this is a duty versus care conflict, it just feels wrong after forming such strong bonds for two books. In many ways, the reader is made to relate to Hap, and I as a reader was not immediately willing to give up on all the friends I'd made in the series.I am actually uncertain how to feel about the epilogue. Having aged Kurahaven's best by thirty years and Hap even more, the short scene drips with melancholy, and the novel plays to this by recounting all of the characters' exploits. While Oates, Umber, Fay and Balfour all have fittingly comfortable and prosperous pasts. Sophie, however, has a visibly contrived fate; after a book and a half of setting up a relationship between Hap and Sophie, I felt a little cheated knowing it was nothing more than a bait-and-switch with Eldon. Hap's life, as he recounts in the final pages, also seems undeservingly difficult, and left me pining for a better end for him.
END MAJOR SPOILER SECTION
The End of Time is, for all intents and purposes, a fantastic novel and a powerful finale to a fantastic series. The only drawback for readers is the fact that it truly feels like it is closing the book as one finishes it, and feels bittersweet at times. Still, the book is engaging and well characterized, resulting in an overall enjoyable experience.
Final score: 8/10
alesia_charles's review against another edition
5.0
Book 3 of The Books of Umber. I finished it and said, “This might possibly be the best series ending I have ever read.”
Never mind that it’s a YA series. I keep telling you, you’re missing a lot if you wave it all off as “just kid stuff.”
I’m actually a big fan of Catanese’s work, though I’ve never gotten around to posting a review here before. (If I reviewed everything I read, nothing else would get done.) He’s got a whole series of at least five “what happened after the fairy tale” books that are just great.
The Umber series is distantly related to those, being set in possibly the same world of medieval technology, magic, and magical creatures. It features, however, a man (Umber) who was transported from a future version of our world. He’s working to provide useful cultural and technological items to his new world, but also has been given hope that he’ll be able to go back and save his old one from the violent end it was hurtling toward.
The apparent instrument of that salvation is Happenstance (known as Hap), a boy with startling green eyes and a variety of unusual powers. The most unusual one is, in theory, the ability to perceive and manipulate people’s fates. Umber has been advised to bring Hap along on all of his adventures, which are often quite hair-raising, but exactly why is not clear through most of the series.
The third volume presents the final working-out of at least three different plot threads that started back in the first volume, as well as a dangerous new element and (ta-da!) the resolution of the main plot. The other characters – Sophie the one-handed artist, Oates the man cursed to always speak the truth, Smudge the archivist, and more – also make the book far more than just the adventures of Umber and Hap.
It also includes dragons, carnivorous plants, evil princes, dangerous sorceresses, an obsessed monster, and explosions. Seriously, what’s not to like?
You’ll need to start with the first volume (Happenstance Found) to understand a bunch of the conclusion, though. I can’t recommend it enough as a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy with elements of SF and serious ethical-philosophical concepts. And it has a very, very good ending, too.
Never mind that it’s a YA series. I keep telling you, you’re missing a lot if you wave it all off as “just kid stuff.”
I’m actually a big fan of Catanese’s work, though I’ve never gotten around to posting a review here before. (If I reviewed everything I read, nothing else would get done.) He’s got a whole series of at least five “what happened after the fairy tale” books that are just great.
The Umber series is distantly related to those, being set in possibly the same world of medieval technology, magic, and magical creatures. It features, however, a man (Umber) who was transported from a future version of our world. He’s working to provide useful cultural and technological items to his new world, but also has been given hope that he’ll be able to go back and save his old one from the violent end it was hurtling toward.
The apparent instrument of that salvation is Happenstance (known as Hap), a boy with startling green eyes and a variety of unusual powers. The most unusual one is, in theory, the ability to perceive and manipulate people’s fates. Umber has been advised to bring Hap along on all of his adventures, which are often quite hair-raising, but exactly why is not clear through most of the series.
The third volume presents the final working-out of at least three different plot threads that started back in the first volume, as well as a dangerous new element and (ta-da!) the resolution of the main plot. The other characters – Sophie the one-handed artist, Oates the man cursed to always speak the truth, Smudge the archivist, and more – also make the book far more than just the adventures of Umber and Hap.
It also includes dragons, carnivorous plants, evil princes, dangerous sorceresses, an obsessed monster, and explosions. Seriously, what’s not to like?
You’ll need to start with the first volume (Happenstance Found) to understand a bunch of the conclusion, though. I can’t recommend it enough as a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy with elements of SF and serious ethical-philosophical concepts. And it has a very, very good ending, too.