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fox_noises 's review for:
The Dark Secret
by Tui T. Sutherland
All hail Queen Glory!
Book four was simply a masterpiece. Every minor issue I could nitpick is addressed. Every one of the main characters has an important role to play. The world and characters are richly developed and the story as a whole takes such a hairpin turn that I have no idea what will happen next in this series.
For the intended juvenile audience, this is an action-packed adventure full of cool things like dragons, magic, volcanoes, and intense battles. Warning for parents, this book has frequent depictions of death and violence at a level we haven't seen since book two. Also, the Nightwing kingdom is a horrible, dismal place and they have taken many other dragons prisoner, and treat them terribly.
For the older readers, there are interesting themes within this story. Themes of how damaging times of war can be, how important it is to realize the humanity (dragonity?) of enemy nations. That, even in the worst of places, the average citizen is not responsible for what's going on and may be suffering greatly due to their leadership.
There is a theme of forgiveness and finding a peaceful option, and the sheer respect that showing mercy and being the better dragon can bring. There is closure, with Starflight finding the bravery to tell Sunny that he loves her. There is revelation, where the prophecy is fake and the mind reading powers may have been made up too (I love how the author never confirms or denies this ability).
Although this is Starflight's story, everyone has a place in it. Tsunami, beating up Nightwing soldiers, preventing Sunny from being kidnapped, and being her usual self. Sunny, learning that Starflight is in love with her. Clay, who saves Starflight's life at the end of the book. And Glory, genius strategist who staged an invasion and rescued her kin without any violence, willing to forgive her worst enemies, queen of two entire tribes.
Where the story will go now, I cannot say. Queen Glory has two tribes to rule and, based on the epilogue, a major battle coming her way. Starflight was badly injured and possibly blinded. No doubt Sunny would want to stay in the rainforest to care for him. The prophecy is fake. Anything can happen from here, and I am looking forward to it.
Book four was simply a masterpiece. Every minor issue I could nitpick is addressed. Every one of the main characters has an important role to play. The world and characters are richly developed and the story as a whole takes such a hairpin turn that I have no idea what will happen next in this series.
For the intended juvenile audience, this is an action-packed adventure full of cool things like dragons, magic, volcanoes, and intense battles. Warning for parents, this book has frequent depictions of death and violence at a level we haven't seen since book two. Also, the Nightwing kingdom is a horrible, dismal place and they have taken many other dragons prisoner, and treat them terribly.
For the older readers, there are interesting themes within this story. Themes of how damaging times of war can be, how important it is to realize the humanity (dragonity?) of enemy nations. That, even in the worst of places, the average citizen is not responsible for what's going on and may be suffering greatly due to their leadership.
There is a theme of forgiveness and finding a peaceful option, and the sheer respect that showing mercy and being the better dragon can bring. There is closure, with Starflight finding the bravery to tell Sunny that he loves her. There is revelation, where the prophecy is fake and the mind reading powers may have been made up too (I love how the author never confirms or denies this ability).
Although this is Starflight's story, everyone has a place in it. Tsunami, beating up Nightwing soldiers, preventing Sunny from being kidnapped, and being her usual self. Sunny, learning that Starflight is in love with her. Clay, who saves Starflight's life at the end of the book. And Glory, genius strategist who staged an invasion and rescued her kin without any violence, willing to forgive her worst enemies, queen of two entire tribes.
Where the story will go now, I cannot say. Queen Glory has two tribes to rule and, based on the epilogue, a major battle coming her way. Starflight was badly injured and possibly blinded. No doubt Sunny would want to stay in the rainforest to care for him. The prophecy is fake. Anything can happen from here, and I am looking forward to it.