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limabean74's review against another edition
4.0
This review may contain spoilers.
Really wanted to cry when I realized this was the last book in the series. I love this series and I love these kids. Balance Keepers keep the world above, well, balanced. We three realms to protect, Alberts team is on the top of the list. They have saved the world twice so far but things get a little out of head when someone is trying to destroy the last realm...the realm that pretty much hold the other two realms together. If this realm falls the earth will fall with it.
Albert, Birdie and Leroy are back to help save the world but time is seriously running out. I can't even explain how much I loved this book, how much I am going to miss these characters and this world. I think after 3 books these 3 really did a lot of growing, even Hoyt the bully did a lot of growing and you he might not be such a bad guy. I would have loved to see more of Hoyts team members only because in the last book it seemed Birdie was starting to "like" one of them and I was hoping it might have expanded on that just a little. I really enjoyed how this book ended and I do feel like it had a pretty complete ending. I was very happy with it. I would love for this to become a movie because just the story makes it something I would love to watch after seeing how much I loved reading it. This book is full of action and it starts right off at the beginning, I really loved the twist as to whom the Traitor was. I didn't see that coming. At times I panicked for the characters because Lindsay really can keep you on your toes when things start taking an unexpected turn.
I can't recommend this series or book enough. I love everything about it and highly recommend this to all ages. This is such a fantastic read and it has that great world build and friendship that Harry Potter has.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my review.
Have a great day and Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
ktothelau's review against another edition
5.0
After reading this book and "The Death Code" (The final book of Lindsay Cummings's YA series), I've come to the conclusion that this author is exceptionally good at writing... well... conclusions.
Whereas the first two books of this trilogy follow the same formula as it develops the characters, plot, and world, this final installment throws that formula out the window. Instead what we get is a story that isn't afraid to put these characters in edge-of-your-seat situations, with lots of fast-paced action spread throughout and twists that made it impossible to put the book down.
What really makes this work is the fact that this is a satisfying conclusion to the series. We see how far the characters have matured in the one year the books cover. They learn to accept their mistakes and the faults of others. Add a villain that was surprisingly good and you've got "The Balance Keepers" series.
So for those looking for a book series for middle-grade readers, you can't choose wrong here. It's very age-appropriate (the violence isn't over the top, no foul language or sexual content at all) and approachable to readers young and old.
The reason why this is knocked down half a star is because the first 50 pages were a little rough to begin with and a few lines of narrative here and there felt like they could have either been trimmed or cut out, but everything else this book has to offer really outshines its problems and deserves recognition.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
His mom doesn't stop him -- turns out, she buys his ticket to visit his dad, as she's known their secret all along.
This time, however, Albert and his team, Birdie and Leroy, are aware of the traitor in the Core. The traitor is sabotaging the rebuild of the Pit and workers are disappearing, so there's no training this time. They have to go in cold.
There's an election, pitting Team Hydra against Team Argon again. Only this time, just Albert's nemesis, Hoyt, gets added to the mission.
The creatures are fantastic, the world building unique, as we've come to expect. And of course, you learn who is the mastermind of all the disturbances in the various Realms, but I won't spoil the read. It's there, subtly hinted at in the last book.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade and young adult book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
islandgeekgirl's review against another edition
4.0
The first two books were tense but they seemed like practice for what was at stake in this one. Belltroll was the realm that held everything together and if Albert, Leroy, and Birdie couldn't fix the imbalance, it would be the end. I loved seeing the characters grow through the whole series and how important their friendship was. It was so key to them being successful.
The action didn't stop at any point in this finale. There was never a time when it felt like they were overreacting when they said it would be the end if they failed. I loved all the twists as they fought to figure out and fix the imbalance, and as they faced off over their theories over who was the traitor. Lindsay did a great job in not making it obvious and making me believe it could have been several people.
Overall, a great way to wrap up the series.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
godacre98's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Lindsay Cummings for writing this AMAZING middle grade, fantasy/sci-fi trilogy!
I HIGHLY recommend this series to anyone who loves middle grade fantasy like Percy Jackson and The Olympians and/or The Magisterium. If you like those, definitely check this one out!❤️
vicerry's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing job Lindsay!
booksandbosox's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.