bldinmt's review
2.0
About halfway through the book I actually had to double-check that it was really part of the Ember cycle. There had been no overlap. No connecting plot or characters. I thought maybe I'd gotten my wires crossed, but....it is a Book of Ember. The tie-in just doesn't happen until the very, very, very end. This book felt much more like a YA book than the first two. I am now super curious about how book four is going to play out.
mildhonestbonsai's review against another edition
2.0
Was definitely not the strongest of the three books in the Ember series. It's understandable where she was trying to take the storyline the whole time but it seemed like she told a lot but didn't give the details that we wanted to know that would lead up to the City of Ember storyline until in the very last section of the book. It was an okay read but I mostly skimmed a good number of pages in some chapters since I was kind of getting bored at some points.
everthereader's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the last two books of the series, but this one confused me at first. There were different characters and plot. Then I realized it was a prequel to the last two books, before The City of Ember was even made. Many people did not enjoy this book. I found it to be interesting but it still didn't really show how Ember came to be. This was not one of her greatest books but it was okay overall.
annakelly's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
ethib77's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book but not as much as I liked City of Ember and The People of Sparks. I am looking forward to The Diamond of Darkhold.
efabri123's review against another edition
2.0
I can't believe I got through this book so fast. It's a little strange that it's the third book of Ember yet it's actually a prequel. It revolves around the childhood of one of the elders who volunteered to help found the City of Ember. It's strange to me to stick it in the middle of the series rather than at the end. At this point I have no idea what to expect from the 4th installment.
It wasn't an overly eventful story but Jeanne DuPrau did do a good job of showing people's ignorance, I think. The character of Mrs. Beason is a stereotypical religious idiot who convinces the townspeople of Yonwood to do a bunch of silly things because "God wills it."
Overall, it really stands on it's own and you don't have to read the first two books to understand whats going on in this one.
It wasn't an overly eventful story but Jeanne DuPrau did do a good job of showing people's ignorance, I think. The character of Mrs. Beason is a stereotypical religious idiot who convinces the townspeople of Yonwood to do a bunch of silly things because "God wills it."
Overall, it really stands on it's own and you don't have to read the first two books to understand whats going on in this one.
stefefanie18's review against another edition
5.0
The City of Ember is still my absolute favourite in the series, but this one kept me just as hooked! The same amount of suspense and tension kept throughout, and I loved how it connected to the rest of the series.
misstessamaye's review against another edition
3.0
The characters were intriguing and fun. I enjoyed the air of questions and mystery, and I liked pondering over the theme of doing what we KNOW is good rather than what others tell us is good, learning and processing as the characters learned.
I liked the book. That being said-- WHY IS IT BOOK THREE OF FOUR WHEN IT'S A PREQUEL?! I missed my old characters and wanted them back so bad; their story got interrupted! I wasn't as into this book because I was waiting for the connection to the rest of the series (which [spoiler?] ended up being in the EPILOGUE). Read this book, totally, it's a good one! But maybe read it after books 1, 2, and 4.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to run into the arms of Lina and Doon once again!
I liked the book. That being said-- WHY IS IT BOOK THREE OF FOUR WHEN IT'S A PREQUEL?! I missed my old characters and wanted them back so bad; their story got interrupted! I wasn't as into this book because I was waiting for the connection to the rest of the series (which [spoiler?] ended up being in the EPILOGUE). Read this book, totally, it's a good one! But maybe read it after books 1, 2, and 4.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to run into the arms of Lina and Doon once again!
orfhlaithxo's review against another edition
1.0
Personally, this book was not needed in the series. It provided no information about what happened to the world before Ember. I was hoping this story was going to be about the builders and what horrinle things happened but nope. I should have skipped this book and moved on to the next.