atomicwizard's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
taniplea's review
5.0
I loved this book. I enjoyed all the other ones but something was always missing to make me say I loved them. This thing was the POV of Ax. Compared to the other books not too much happened in ways of a battle but I learnt so much about the Andalites. And Tobias has a bigger role than in the other books in this one!
thistlechaser's review
5.0
Spoilers for the series thus far, if you haven't read it yet!
In previous reviews, I mentioned a new character. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill ("Ax"), an alien. A member of the race that gave the kids the powers to morph into animals.
In the last couple books he was in, I didn't like the character much, but he was the POV character in this one, and that completely changed my opinion of him. (It helped that we got so so so much background info in this book, all about the war, the mindslug enemies, everything.)
As with all the books thus far, there were some plot holes. The aliens, on their spaceship and not yet arriving on Earth, give commands in "earth minutes" -- they use that exact phrase. And somehow, even though there are four or five alien races on Earth at this point in the series, all of them can breathe the air, eat the food, drink our water... They're even impacted by poisons the same way that humans are. (#YAbookIssues)
As short as these books are, it's hard to tweese out the book's plot from the whole series. These first eight books are approaching a normal book in length/plot-ness, and this one book was just a sliver. The human kids + Ax are fighting the evil brain slugs from space. The only difference in this book from the previous seven is that the kids stopped trusting Ax (rightfully so), and they resolved that in this sliver of the overall story.
All in all, I'm enjoying this series a lot. Totally worth reading, assuming you are not buying the books one by one. Like all YA books from K. A. Applegate and her husband Michael Grant, they seem to write one story, break it into TINY parts, and sell them for the price of other YA books. Seriously, these are short. They're 1-2 hours of reading, when a YA book usually takes me about 4 hours.
In previous reviews, I mentioned a new character. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill ("Ax"), an alien. A member of the race that gave the kids the powers to morph into animals.
In the last couple books he was in, I didn't like the character much, but he was the POV character in this one, and that completely changed my opinion of him. (It helped that we got so so so much background info in this book, all about the war, the mindslug enemies, everything.)
As with all the books thus far, there were some plot holes. The aliens, on their spaceship and not yet arriving on Earth, give commands in "earth minutes" -- they use that exact phrase. And somehow, even though there are four or five alien races on Earth at this point in the series, all of them can breathe the air, eat the food, drink our water... They're even impacted by poisons the same way that humans are. (#YAbookIssues)
As short as these books are, it's hard to tweese out the book's plot from the whole series. These first eight books are approaching a normal book in length/plot-ness, and this one book was just a sliver. The human kids + Ax are fighting the evil brain slugs from space. The only difference in this book from the previous seven is that the kids stopped trusting Ax (rightfully so), and they resolved that in this sliver of the overall story.
All in all, I'm enjoying this series a lot. Totally worth reading, assuming you are not buying the books one by one. Like all YA books from K. A. Applegate and her husband Michael Grant, they seem to write one story, break it into TINY parts, and sell them for the price of other YA books. Seriously, these are short. They're 1-2 hours of reading, when a YA book usually takes me about 4 hours.
grapie_deltaco's review
5.0
I was not prepared to be this emotional and start tearing up over ANIMORPHS.
And yet…here we are.
In the most interesting installment of the series yet, we get an entire book from Ax’s perspective with immense background on Andalite culture as well as memories/a deeper understand of his brother, Elfangor.
In a really lovely and fascinating display, we gain more insight when it comes to the Andalites’ morals and values by witnessing a handful of cultural practices and historical moments, like in Ax’s daily warrior ritual.
”From the water that gave birth to us,
From the grass that feeds us,
For the freedom that unites us.
We rise to the stars.
Freedom is my only cause. Duty to the people, my only guide. Obedience to my prince, my only glory.
The destruction of my enemies, my most solemn vow.
I, Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, Andalite warrior-cadet, offer my life.”
Despite Ax no longer being around authority figures to force him to make this daily oath, he begins at sunrise every single morning and thinks of his deceased brother. He thinks about how much of his life was dedicated to looking up to Elfangor. He thinks about living up that name and title.
In this better understanding of Andalite values, history, and rituals, I think there’s something to be said about the really interesting blend of morals that make up Andalite society.
As they dedicate so much of their time and resources to protecting other forms of life in the galaxy, they strictly forbid handing out technology or knowledge in order to allow other life forms to advance onto their level. Although there is a reason for this, Andalites reach this very particular juxtaposition in designating themselves to being the galaxy’s peacemakers and protectors while simultaneously preaching and instilling the importance of vengeance, glory to the crown, and the complete destruction of all their enemies.
In Ax’s morning ritual- a ritual practiced by all Andalite warriors- we are met with extremely violent language coexisting without question alongside a message of love and unity.
On top of all that, we got a solid kick to the chest in seeing how Ax navigates feelings of grief and the desire to bend the rules in order to save his human friends immediately followed up by a brutal confrontation with the Andalite Visser Three has been controlling.
So much happening. So many feelings.
CW: war, slavery, suicidal ideation, violence, murder, death, grief, mentions of genocide
And yet…here we are.
In the most interesting installment of the series yet, we get an entire book from Ax’s perspective with immense background on Andalite culture as well as memories/a deeper understand of his brother, Elfangor.
In a really lovely and fascinating display, we gain more insight when it comes to the Andalites’ morals and values by witnessing a handful of cultural practices and historical moments, like in Ax’s daily warrior ritual.
”From the water that gave birth to us,
From the grass that feeds us,
For the freedom that unites us.
We rise to the stars.
Freedom is my only cause. Duty to the people, my only guide. Obedience to my prince, my only glory.
The destruction of my enemies, my most solemn vow.
I, Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, Andalite warrior-cadet, offer my life.”
Despite Ax no longer being around authority figures to force him to make this daily oath, he begins at sunrise every single morning and thinks of his deceased brother. He thinks about how much of his life was dedicated to looking up to Elfangor. He thinks about living up that name and title.
In this better understanding of Andalite values, history, and rituals, I think there’s something to be said about the really interesting blend of morals that make up Andalite society.
As they dedicate so much of their time and resources to protecting other forms of life in the galaxy, they strictly forbid handing out technology or knowledge in order to allow other life forms to advance onto their level. Although there is a reason for this, Andalites reach this very particular juxtaposition in designating themselves to being the galaxy’s peacemakers and protectors while simultaneously preaching and instilling the importance of vengeance, glory to the crown, and the complete destruction of all their enemies.
In Ax’s morning ritual- a ritual practiced by all Andalite warriors- we are met with extremely violent language coexisting without question alongside a message of love and unity.
On top of all that, we got a solid kick to the chest in seeing how Ax navigates feelings of grief and the desire to bend the rules in order to save his human friends immediately followed up by a brutal confrontation with the Andalite Visser Three has been controlling.
So much happening. So many feelings.
CW: war, slavery, suicidal ideation, violence, murder, death, grief, mentions of genocide
novelinsights's review
5.0
This is the first Animorphs book entirely from Ax's perspective. I remember it being one of my favorites from childhood, and I have to say that the sentiment still stands. Applegate does a good job of writing from a humorous alien perspective, not taking for granted the things that we humans innately understand about each other. It's a perspective I really enjoy, and I'd love to read more fiction that takes an outsider look at humankind. At the same time, the book maintains the Animorph tradition of touching on surprisingly serious and adult emotions, which I appreciate seeing from a middle grade book.
wanderlustlover's review
3.0
Animorphs Read 2020 (March);
I really like that this series finally gave Ax his own book. I do find it a little unbelievable there are only like five or six words that are vastly different we get introduced to from the alien point-of-view, and I have issues with "I" point of view managing to hide anything of importance from the reader until it's being revealed to other characters. As that's not how either of those work. But it is a children's book, and it gets a small bit of a write off for that.
I loved the 'kindness' story/history, and I was sure it would be something like that. Where benevolence was answered with crude grasping power. It definitely makes me feel for the whole of their culture, and the prince's both vying with what to do with their world, who to believe, why and what risks they must take now to help and hope to stem the tide of even more worlds falling into slavery.
I really like that this series finally gave Ax his own book. I do find it a little unbelievable there are only like five or six words that are vastly different we get introduced to from the alien point-of-view, and I have issues with "I" point of view managing to hide anything of importance from the reader until it's being revealed to other characters. As that's not how either of those work. But it is a children's book, and it gets a small bit of a write off for that.
I loved the 'kindness' story/history, and I was sure it would be something like that. Where benevolence was answered with crude grasping power. It definitely makes me feel for the whole of their culture, and the prince's both vying with what to do with their world, who to believe, why and what risks they must take now to help and hope to stem the tide of even more worlds falling into slavery.
sydneyesch's review
adventurous
tense
slow-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
1.75