Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-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:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There is no way to read this book and not enjoy it. John flanagan has a good way of telling a story. I can't help wondering it this is the last book. I hope not. Have fun reading this book.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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:
No
adventurous
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
Am I going to write a cohesive review? Absolutely not. I will write bullet points and maybe separate them by good and bad. I'm also not going to hide spoilers, because, come on... how long ago was this published? So read at your own risk!
- Alyss She is always written as an ideal Diplomat; tall, graceful, intelligent, cool and collected. Able to talk men off their high-horses and establish peace between nations. Why oh why do we need to do her dirty and make her turn into a child when it comes to her relationship with Will/jealousy of Evanlyn? At this point in the series, our wardmates should be in their early 20s, and Alyss and Will's relationship had assumedly been a thing for several years. Alyss also knows exactly what Will and Evanlyn went through together, there's no way she isn't smart enough to know that saving someone's life/having your life saved will form a life-long bond.
- Evanlyn As with Alyss, Evanlyn is almost always written as a strong young woman. While she is shown to be a bit more head strong, she is also dependable and intelligent, besting Selethen in conversation. Why ruin her character by making her catty with Alyss?
We had only two prominent female characters in the series, and they were both strong and capable. Why did Flanagan have to reduce them to squabbling teens when they were together. Why?? This series didn't need the drama! It honestly served no purpose. For crying out loud, they killed a man-eating tiger together! They are badass!
- The Hasanu A mythical race of hairy giants that live across the lake. Yet also a formidable, loyal force to be reckoned with. They were built up so well and I couldn't wait the meet them. Yet what was the journey for? As soon as the Hasanu showed up... nothing. They didn't even fight. I'll cut Flanagan some slack; maybe their presence gave the enemy troops enough pause to allow Shigeru's truce flag. But still. I felt like there was a lot of build up for nothing.
- Our main baddie, Arisaka He is built up as this formidable foe. He is able to convince Yamada, who is loyal to Shigeru, that Shigeru has been replaced by an imposter. Yet when he finally comes into play, he just comes across as a mad tyrant. He is cruel to his troops, very quickly exposes his owns lies to Yamada, and acts out like a toddler throwing a tantrum to the point of murdering one of his most loyal supporters in front of everyone. And this guy has led a rebellion for almost a year?
-Selethen Now, I like Selethen. But why was he there? He just decided to join along on a whim. He is the leader of his people. What leader can decide to just up and leave his people to go on a long journey to a foreign nation?
-The nicknames Horace getting the nickname Kurokuma was cute, and made sense. Just as with the Skandians calling him General, it was used as a term of endearment. Horace had built a repour with these men. To an extent, Will and Selethen getting nicknames could make sense as well. (although I still don't think Chocho fits Will). But throwing in nicknames for Alyss and Evanlyn pretty much as an afterthought felt out of place.
- Tug Not enough Tug. Need more Tug. ;)
It felt almost as though Flanagan got bored with this book/series. He cut down characters he had built up so well previously. He dangled interesting things in front of us, only to not deliver. He made choices that made no sense. However, I guess I will also point of things I enjoyed!
-Shigeru I loved his character. You never once got a feel of "This man is an Emperor". He just always felt like a genuine good guy. And that was the point: Shigeru may have been raised a Senshi and Emperor, but he didn't act it. He had a good heart and soul. He was genuinely likeable.
-Will's half-proposal I thought this was cute. Obviously, he and Alyss are enamored with each other. And I feel as though his "we should do the same..." instead of an outright proposal really suits his personality. After all, this is the same Will that everyone knew he was in love with Alyssa except for himself (and Alyss). He is fierce and quick in battle, but put his emotions into it and he's like a sputtering fish of a man. I find it endearing.
- Alyss She is always written as an ideal Diplomat; tall, graceful, intelligent, cool and collected. Able to talk men off their high-horses and establish peace between nations. Why oh why do we need to do her dirty and make her turn into a child when it comes to her relationship with Will/jealousy of Evanlyn? At this point in the series, our wardmates should be in their early 20s, and Alyss and Will's relationship had assumedly been a thing for several years. Alyss also knows exactly what Will and Evanlyn went through together, there's no way she isn't smart enough to know that saving someone's life/having your life saved will form a life-long bond.
- Evanlyn As with Alyss, Evanlyn is almost always written as a strong young woman. While she is shown to be a bit more head strong, she is also dependable and intelligent, besting Selethen in conversation. Why ruin her character by making her catty with Alyss?
We had only two prominent female characters in the series, and they were both strong and capable. Why did Flanagan have to reduce them to squabbling teens when they were together. Why?? This series didn't need the drama! It honestly served no purpose. For crying out loud, they killed a man-eating tiger together! They are badass!
- The Hasanu A mythical race of hairy giants that live across the lake. Yet also a formidable, loyal force to be reckoned with. They were built up so well and I couldn't wait the meet them. Yet what was the journey for? As soon as the Hasanu showed up... nothing. They didn't even fight. I'll cut Flanagan some slack; maybe their presence gave the enemy troops enough pause to allow Shigeru's truce flag. But still. I felt like there was a lot of build up for nothing.
- Our main baddie, Arisaka He is built up as this formidable foe. He is able to convince Yamada, who is loyal to Shigeru, that Shigeru has been replaced by an imposter. Yet when he finally comes into play, he just comes across as a mad tyrant. He is cruel to his troops, very quickly exposes his owns lies to Yamada, and acts out like a toddler throwing a tantrum to the point of murdering one of his most loyal supporters in front of everyone. And this guy has led a rebellion for almost a year?
-Selethen Now, I like Selethen. But why was he there? He just decided to join along on a whim. He is the leader of his people. What leader can decide to just up and leave his people to go on a long journey to a foreign nation?
-The nicknames Horace getting the nickname Kurokuma was cute, and made sense. Just as with the Skandians calling him General, it was used as a term of endearment. Horace had built a repour with these men. To an extent, Will and Selethen getting nicknames could make sense as well. (although I still don't think Chocho fits Will). But throwing in nicknames for Alyss and Evanlyn pretty much as an afterthought felt out of place.
- Tug Not enough Tug. Need more Tug. ;)
It felt almost as though Flanagan got bored with this book/series. He cut down characters he had built up so well previously. He dangled interesting things in front of us, only to not deliver. He made choices that made no sense. However, I guess I will also point of things I enjoyed!
-Shigeru I loved his character. You never once got a feel of "This man is an Emperor". He just always felt like a genuine good guy. And that was the point: Shigeru may have been raised a Senshi and Emperor, but he didn't act it. He had a good heart and soul. He was genuinely likeable.
-Will's half-proposal I thought this was cute. Obviously, he and Alyss are enamored with each other. And I feel as though his "we should do the same..." instead of an outright proposal really suits his personality. After all, this is the same Will that everyone knew he was in love with Alyssa except for himself (and Alyss). He is fierce and quick in battle, but put his emotions into it and he's like a sputtering fish of a man. I find it endearing.
Although I love the characters in this book and the fun adventures this series is ready to come to a close. I love how he wraps up the known relationship loose ends and gives everyone 1 last adventure together.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No