Scan barcode
theangrystackrat's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
literarylover37's review
5.0
Thanks to my pick it for me partner for finally making me read the final book in this series. I had been putting it off because I just didn't want it to be over! Wonderful finale to a great series.
postitsandpens's review
4.0
This was a really solid ending to a series I thoroughly enjoyed. While these seem like children's books, there is a lot that kids would miss, so I'm glad it came my way once I was already an adult. I do think that perhaps the ending was a bit too neatly tied up, but considering the aforementioned "children's book" aspect I guess that makes sense. I still really enjoyed the Cantankerous Derby and the race to see who would become queen or king of Fairyland; there were a lot of twists and turns and excitement that kept me eagerly listening the entire time!
judaroo's review
5.0
A bombastic and fittingly epic cap to a wonderful series. This book was an energetic ride from start to finish. I did not at all see the end coming, but it was absolutely perfect!
impalalove's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
kaatiba's review
5.0
Listened to the audiobook, which while lovely, is a different experience from reading it, as i felt i was missing out on the words--a visual feast. But hearing the audio also helped me catch more puns and wordplay. Overall a very satisfying end to September's story, and an excellent and lovely series. It's gonna go on my shelf with Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia as essential children's books.
Edit 2021: reread this and have 0 memory of reading it the first time lol. Excellent and satisfying and wonderful conclusion to the series!
Edit 2021: reread this and have 0 memory of reading it the first time lol. Excellent and satisfying and wonderful conclusion to the series!
fallingletters's review
5.0
Review originally published 17 July 2016 at Falling Letters.
I didn't remember a lot of stuff from the previous books, but the characters felt familiar (I certainly didn't remember that her Dad was in Fairyland Below!).
This book wraps up September's story, but I would have liked to see more of Tam and Hawthorn, after we spent an entire book getting to know them. I'm crossing my fingers for a novella of their adventures during the race.
September has grown believably over the course of the series. She's not a little girl anymore and her words and actions reflect that. Sometimes I feel a character's growth over time can be forced or jagged (as opposed to the natural flow of maturing). September's growth felt very real to me.
The prose I adored in the first book and occasionally felt tired of in the other books seems to have found a balance here. Rather, Valente's busy creativity occupies itself with a vast array of characters. The simple camaraderie of September, Ell and Saturday can at times feel crowded by all other character encounters. When you arrive at the end of series like Fairyland, where your MCs have travelled far and encountered many, you have a lot of characters to catch up with at the end! But then, I suppose you also can't have a race without other racers to go up against.
I liked the conclusion, which wraps everything up nicely without being predictable. I also liked the inclusion of September's parents - I actually would have liked to hear more about them.
A brief narrator interlude towards the end nearly made me cry. The passage as I understood is about returning to the stories we love (told through the metaphor of returning home). I've never heard the experience described so accurately or eloquently. Here's a piece of it:
I didn't remember a lot of stuff from the previous books, but the characters felt familiar (I certainly didn't remember that her Dad was in Fairyland Below!).
This book wraps up September's story, but I would have liked to see more of Tam and Hawthorn, after we spent an entire book getting to know them. I'm crossing my fingers for a novella of their adventures during the race.
September has grown believably over the course of the series. She's not a little girl anymore and her words and actions reflect that. Sometimes I feel a character's growth over time can be forced or jagged (as opposed to the natural flow of maturing). September's growth felt very real to me.
The prose I adored in the first book and occasionally felt tired of in the other books seems to have found a balance here. Rather, Valente's busy creativity occupies itself with a vast array of characters. The simple camaraderie of September, Ell and Saturday can at times feel crowded by all other character encounters. When you arrive at the end of series like Fairyland, where your MCs have travelled far and encountered many, you have a lot of characters to catch up with at the end! But then, I suppose you also can't have a race without other racers to go up against.
I liked the conclusion, which wraps everything up nicely without being predictable. I also liked the inclusion of September's parents - I actually would have liked to hear more about them.
A brief narrator interlude towards the end nearly made me cry. The passage as I understood is about returning to the stories we love (told through the metaphor of returning home). I've never heard the experience described so accurately or eloquently. Here's a piece of it:
I will always be here, in my old chair by the door, waiting for you, whenever you are lonesome. Our little house will always look just the same as when we first blew the dust off the bookshelves, and the kettle will always be just about to boil. Sometimes I will be young, and sometimes I will be old, sometimes you will be young, and sometimes you will be old. But for as long as forever, I will keep a room for you. I swear by the sparkle in my eye and the spring in your step. (299-300).The Bottom Line: A fitting conclusion to a delightful series. I hope these books will be enjoyed as classics by many in years to come.
kittymamers's review
4.0
ma ei loe seda raamatut esimest korda ja iga kord olen mõelnud, et selleks, et siin kõigest korralikult aru saada, tuleb kogu sari otsast lõpuni järjest ette võtta. ma seekord isegi üritasin seda teha, aga esimest osa ikka ei viitsinud üle lugeda ja kolmanda jätsin vahele, sest mul oli justkui meeles, et see ei meeldinud mulle. aa, ja siis püüdsin neljandat ka vahele jätta, aga viienda alguses sain aru, et nii ikka ei saa, ja lugesin vähemalt neljanda üle. noh, sellest kõigest jäi veidi ikka väheks ja osad tegelased ja viited ei tulnud nii tuttavad ette, kui oleks võinud.
tore oli ikkagi, sest siin on September Haldjamaal, möllab koos oma vanade sõpradega (Saturday ja Ell) ja saab lisaks kampa combat wombati, kes on küll heegeldatud, aga hiigelsuur ja oskab lennata ja hammustab tõhusalt. kuna vaja on läbida võidujooks/aardejaht/näljamängud Haldjamaa krooni ja trooni nimel, siis sedasorti liitlasest on abi. käiaksegi läbi nii keskraamatukogu (sest Ell), merepõhi (sest Saturday) kui vombatite maa (sest Blunderbuss) ja peetakse duelle ja kohtutakse vanade sõprade ja vaenlastega ja lõpuks läheb kõik peaaegu et halvasti, aga siis ikkagi ootuspäraselt hästi.
kõige võluvam osa neist raamatutest on minu meelest alati see, kui kirjeldatakse, mis toredaid ja kasulikke riideid Septemberil õnnestu endale hankida ja kuidas need teda edaspidises elus aitavad. vana hea roheline jakk ja oranž Watchful Dress ilmuvad siin jälle lavale ja teevad oma tööd hästi.
tore oli ikkagi, sest siin on September Haldjamaal, möllab koos oma vanade sõpradega (Saturday ja Ell) ja saab lisaks kampa combat wombati, kes on küll heegeldatud, aga hiigelsuur ja oskab lennata ja hammustab tõhusalt. kuna vaja on läbida võidujooks/aardejaht/näljamängud Haldjamaa krooni ja trooni nimel, siis sedasorti liitlasest on abi. käiaksegi läbi nii keskraamatukogu (sest Ell), merepõhi (sest Saturday) kui vombatite maa (sest Blunderbuss) ja peetakse duelle ja kohtutakse vanade sõprade ja vaenlastega ja lõpuks läheb kõik peaaegu et halvasti, aga siis ikkagi ootuspäraselt hästi.
kõige võluvam osa neist raamatutest on minu meelest alati see, kui kirjeldatakse, mis toredaid ja kasulikke riideid Septemberil õnnestu endale hankida ja kuidas need teda edaspidises elus aitavad. vana hea roheline jakk ja oranž Watchful Dress ilmuvad siin jälle lavale ja teevad oma tööd hästi.