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gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is the final book in the The Obernewtyn Chronicles and with this the quest and journey that have span across the series is complete.
I think the beginning of this book was one of the slower in the series. Coming from how much was happening in the previous book and just the series as a whole, this felt like the series was trying to reset the pace and itself for the final book.
We don't met many new people in this book but there is a lot of familiar faces that come together to which was nice to see some people we haven't seen for a couple of books and to see them all together at the end was beautiful.
Speaking of the end,the end of the book was really strange to me. It felt like it happened not because it was meant to or had to for the world but because people said it did. If Elspeth did or did not go with the animals it felt like it wouldn't make a difference. It just confused me why she would go expect that everyone said she would. It didn't feel like a choice that was thought out and we came to a conclusion because of reasons A B or C.
I think the beginning of this book was one of the slower in the series. Coming from how much was happening in the previous book and just the series as a whole, this felt like the series was trying to reset the pace and itself for the final book.
We don't met many new people in this book but there is a lot of familiar faces that come together to which was nice to see some people we haven't seen for a couple of books and to see them all together at the end was beautiful.
Speaking of the end,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Slavery, and Death
Moderate: Torture and Murder
Minor: Trafficking and Kidnapping
liibbyo8's review
4.0
I don't know what to feel right now. It's been such a long journey and I grew up with Elspeth a little bit, experiencing all of her trials and growth alongside my own. This series has been with me for the better part of my adolescence and into adulthood, and now it is over, I feel quite lost.
This book dragged on a bit at times, which was frustrating. Some of the conversations and speculation about what might happen seemed to halt the momentum of the story, and that whole time in Habitat, while important in the end, was quite tedious.
And I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the way the story and Elspeth's quest came to its conclusion, though it was true to the rest of the series and effectively tied up all we had learnt, with some poignant reflections on the Beforetimers (who are not so very different to humans of the present).
But I do know I am very grateful to Isobelle Carmody for this series and I believe that I am a better, more rounded person for having known Elspeth and Dameon and Maruman and Gahltha and all the other complex and loveable characters. I'm sure that my view of the world has been shaped by the author's wisdom and I have immensely enjoyed becoming immersed in the vivid and magical world that she created.
This book dragged on a bit at times, which was frustrating. Some of the conversations and speculation about what might happen seemed to halt the momentum of the story, and that whole time in Habitat, while important in the end, was quite tedious.
And I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the way the story and Elspeth's quest came to its conclusion, though it was true to the rest of the series and effectively tied up all we had learnt, with some poignant reflections on the Beforetimers (who are not so very different to humans of the present).
But I do know I am very grateful to Isobelle Carmody for this series and I believe that I am a better, more rounded person for having known Elspeth and Dameon and Maruman and Gahltha and all the other complex and loveable characters. I'm sure that my view of the world has been shaped by the author's wisdom and I have immensely enjoyed becoming immersed in the vivid and magical world that she created.
charlmax's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
simonescat's review
3.0
Slightly disappointing ending to a great series.
The first half of the book spend a very very long time on new characters and which it had some interesting twists in it, the twists were never actually revealed and the characters never found out (especially our slightly slow main character).
The second half of the book which was meant to resolve all the plot points was very rushed and the ending that was built up throughout the books was disappointing.
Good writing though and still enjoyable.
The first half of the book spend a very very long time on new characters and which it had some interesting twists in it, the twists were never actually revealed and the characters never found out (especially our slightly slow main character).
The second half of the book which was meant to resolve all the plot points was very rushed and the ending that was built up throughout the books was disappointing.
Good writing though and still enjoyable.
slipsthrufingers's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
darkslinky's review
5.0
I finished this book in the early ours of this morning after being unable to put it down for 3 straight days because the final chapters were so gripping. The book was a little slow at times compared to previous books, but it was well worth it to reach the conclusion I have been waiting for. I have been reading the Obernewtyn Chronicles for over 10 years now, and I am so glad the end of my all-time favourite series was perfect, yet unpredictable, in so many ways. The final page of the book has left me feeling emotional and vulnerable; so many questions were answered, but I have so many new questions now!
I highly recommend this series to people who love post-apocalyptic fantasy themes.
I highly recommend this series to people who love post-apocalyptic fantasy themes.
maddyclair's review
2.0
A terrible end to an otherwise beloved series.
I can’t write a proper review, I’m so disappointed.
I can’t write a proper review, I’m so disappointed.
_cassidyreads_'s review
2.0
I'm quite sad,
While Carmodys' completely awe-inspiring imagination continued to delight me at points in this novel, I felt as if the book was full of insignificant words and sometimes, pages. I did not think the habitat/dome place with the cryogenic sleepers was interesting enough or important enough to warrant 483 pages ( The amount could have easily been cut in half and contain the same amount of VALUABLE content)
I was irritated that Elspeth (Being the intelligent Seeker we all know her to be) often, could not draw conclusions from obvious clues and also seemed to take a long time to ponder things. Whilst her 'gnawing' is a cherished and somewhat vital aspect of her character I felt that it was used as a way to put more words and less content into the story.
I enjoyed Daemons, Swallow and Ana's character development thoroughly, though I thought that Dragons' character development took a backwards twist, I felt that I got more development from Tash (the speci character we met in habitat) than from the Red Queen herself.
The exciting part of the book.....the conclusion also felt drawn out in all the wrong areas! It seems it takes Elspeth forever wandering around looking for Dragon, meeting new people...falling asleep... and doing all sorts of boring things before being catapulted into action, this part ran smoothly and I was intrigued by Carmodys' construction of Sentinal (and machines in general) being conscious and of having feelings.
I felt extremely disgruntled at the conclusion which left me with a sort of empty feeling - partially from the fact that this fantastic series has finished - but also because there was absolutely no reason for Elspeth to leave her friends and home behind!! I found it almost rude that she would be taken to Eden (thinking that she HAD to go) when her being there served no purpose to freeing the beasts, as to it being a gift........WHYYYYYYYY... what exactly made this a gift? Not all of the animals went to Eden and therefore Gahltha and Maruman could have easily stayed behind aswell?
I would have much more enjoyed the prophesy to be 'wrong' or even better!!! : That in order to complete her mission as the seeker Elspeth simply had to 'think' that she would never return (another reason for her to dislike futuretellers!) and if she had to leave, why not make her vital to freeing the beasts? or maybe Ruston was bitten by an animal that had the same disease as Miryum and he thus had to be taken with them to Eden?? I don't know, it simply felt way too long in places that didn't need to be long and then rushed in areas that I was genuinely drawn into.
I can't help but wonder if Elspeth is angry at being taken to Eden in this manner and is cursing Maryon and her prophesies.
I hate that this sounds like a rant because although there are many aspects of this book that bored me and made me feel really really irritated, I do absolutely love Carmodys' stories and endlessly love the world that began with Obernewtyn, but I hope desperately that this isn't the last we see of our characters because I would love to see how the rest of their lives played out!
Do Matthew/Dragon reconcile and maybe even state their feelings to one another??
Dragon in general!! I want to hear more of her time as Queen!!
What does Miryum do after she is cured?
Does Dameon find someone? What does he end up doing? He's my favourite character and I feel as if he was burdened constantly not only by the emotions of others, his own feeling of inadequacy due to his blindness and his passionate unrequited love for Elspeth who leaves and is never to return!? I want him to have a life that he deserves!
Does Lidge recover?
What happens to Brydda?
Does sentinel recover communication with Ines thus making it possible to communicate (haha Skype??) with Dell and the others?
I also want to know Ruston and Elspeths' story, what kind of place do they live in now? Do they have children? Do they learn how to contact their friends via the dream trails more efficiently now that the destroyer no longer seeks them?
What was the reaction of the freed beasts in Eden?
I love this world. I am sad that it feels so incomplete and pray to Lud that there will be a spinoff to satisfy the endless turmoil of questions that we were left with at the end of this series!!!!!
While Carmodys' completely awe-inspiring imagination continued to delight me at points in this novel, I felt as if the book was full of insignificant words and sometimes, pages. I did not think the habitat/dome place with the cryogenic sleepers was interesting enough or important enough to warrant 483 pages ( The amount could have easily been cut in half and contain the same amount of VALUABLE content)
I was irritated that Elspeth (Being the intelligent Seeker we all know her to be) often, could not draw conclusions from obvious clues and also seemed to take a long time to ponder things. Whilst her 'gnawing' is a cherished and somewhat vital aspect of her character I felt that it was used as a way to put more words and less content into the story.
I enjoyed Daemons, Swallow and Ana's character development thoroughly, though I thought that Dragons' character development took a backwards twist, I felt that I got more development from Tash (the speci character we met in habitat) than from the Red Queen herself.
The exciting part of the book.....the conclusion also felt drawn out in all the wrong areas! It seems it takes Elspeth forever wandering around looking for Dragon, meeting new people...falling asleep... and doing all sorts of boring things before being catapulted into action, this part ran smoothly and I was intrigued by Carmodys' construction of Sentinal (and machines in general) being conscious and of having feelings.
I felt extremely disgruntled at the conclusion which left me with a sort of empty feeling - partially from the fact that this fantastic series has finished - but also because there was absolutely no reason for Elspeth to leave her friends and home behind!! I found it almost rude that she would be taken to Eden (thinking that she HAD to go) when her being there served no purpose to freeing the beasts, as to it being a gift........WHYYYYYYYY... what exactly made this a gift? Not all of the animals went to Eden and therefore Gahltha and Maruman could have easily stayed behind aswell?
I would have much more enjoyed the prophesy to be 'wrong' or even better!!! : That in order to complete her mission as the seeker Elspeth simply had to 'think' that she would never return (another reason for her to dislike futuretellers!) and if she had to leave, why not make her vital to freeing the beasts? or maybe Ruston was bitten by an animal that had the same disease as Miryum and he thus had to be taken with them to Eden?? I don't know, it simply felt way too long in places that didn't need to be long and then rushed in areas that I was genuinely drawn into.
I can't help but wonder if Elspeth is angry at being taken to Eden in this manner and is cursing Maryon and her prophesies.
I hate that this sounds like a rant because although there are many aspects of this book that bored me and made me feel really really irritated, I do absolutely love Carmodys' stories and endlessly love the world that began with Obernewtyn, but I hope desperately that this isn't the last we see of our characters because I would love to see how the rest of their lives played out!
Do Matthew/Dragon reconcile and maybe even state their feelings to one another??
Dragon in general!! I want to hear more of her time as Queen!!
What does Miryum do after she is cured?
Does Dameon find someone? What does he end up doing? He's my favourite character and I feel as if he was burdened constantly not only by the emotions of others, his own feeling of inadequacy due to his blindness and his passionate unrequited love for Elspeth who leaves and is never to return!? I want him to have a life that he deserves!
Does Lidge recover?
What happens to Brydda?
Does sentinel recover communication with Ines thus making it possible to communicate (haha Skype??) with Dell and the others?
I also want to know Ruston and Elspeths' story, what kind of place do they live in now? Do they have children? Do they learn how to contact their friends via the dream trails more efficiently now that the destroyer no longer seeks them?
What was the reaction of the freed beasts in Eden?
I love this world. I am sad that it feels so incomplete and pray to Lud that there will be a spinoff to satisfy the endless turmoil of questions that we were left with at the end of this series!!!!!