softbooknerd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
ziwxbhld's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing end to a fantastic trilogy; Robin Jarvis has really outdone himself here. Readers of his earlier books will be used to the often heart-breaking twists of betrayal and sudden shifts in perspective, but some of the stuff in Fighting Pax is just breathtaking. Excellent epilogue, too; just the right kind of ending to finish it all off neatly without any need to drag the whole thing on into an unnecessary series. Brilliant.
jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Wie der Titel schon sagt, ist dies der abschliessende Band von Robin Jarvis’ „Dancing Jax“-Trilogie. Wie bei jeder Trilogie empfiehlt es sich, die Vorgänger gelesen zu haben. Da Jarvis aber auf vorhergegangene Ereignisse eingeht, könnte man diesen Teil theoretisch auch einzeln lesen, ob das aber wirklich sinnvoll ist, kann ich nicht sagen.
„Finale“ setzt einige Monate nach „Zwischenspiel“ ein und man erfährt, wie es den Helden aus Band zwei ergangen ist. Die Kinder und Martin Baxter haben in Nordkorea Zuflucht gefunden, das sich als einziges Land noch gegen „Dancing Jax“ bewahren kann.Doch fleissige Leser der Trilogie wissen natürlich, dass jemand wie der Ismus keine halben Sachen macht und bald schon realisieren die Kinder, dass das grosse Finale kurz bevor steht.
Der abschliessende Band hat mich zwar nicht ganz so von den Socken gehauen wie Band zwei, aber unerwarteterweise hat mir das Buch sehr gut gefallen. Obwohl es ein Jugendbuch ist, schreibt Robin Jarvis hier eine wirklich gute Horrorgeschichte, die mich noch immer überzeugt, obwohl ich mich grösstenteils aus dem YA-Genre zurückgezogen habe.
Blutig und brutal geht es auch in „Finale“ wieder zu und her, man muss sich auch hier von vielen lieb gewonnenen Charakteren verabschieden. Die letzten Seiten haben etwas von „Die Tribute von Panem“ an sich, ohne jedoch wie ein Abklatsch zu wirken. Man könnte dieses Finale auch als blutige Version eines typischen Fernsehabends betrachten. Was es auf diese Art und Weise ja auch ist.
Jarvis hat einen spannenden und gut funktionierenden Plot geschaffen, bei dem auch der Leser manchmal an der Nase herumgeführt wird. Die Figuren sind allesamt Unikate und sehr liebevoll gezeichnet. Umso schmerzhafter ist es deshalb, wenn sie dem Ismus zum Opfer fallen.
„Dancing Jax: Finale“ ist ein gelungener Abschlussband einer grossartigen Reihe. Erwachsene Horrorleser können sich ruhig auch an diese Bücher wagen, wenn sie akzeptieren, dass „Dancing Jax“ in erster Linie für Jugendliche geschrieben ist. Was den Gruseleffekt und die blutigen Szenen anbelangt, nimmt es diese Trilogie aber auch mit den Horrortiteln für Erwachsene auf.
Leichter Spoiler: Ich persönlich hätte mir allenfalls ein etwas versöhnlicheres Ende gewünscht. Aber wir kennen das ja von den Horrorfilmen - die enden auch alle so. Vielleicht hat sich Jarvis aber auch ein Hintertürchen für einen vierten Band offen gehalten?
„Finale“ setzt einige Monate nach „Zwischenspiel“ ein und man erfährt, wie es den Helden aus Band zwei ergangen ist. Die Kinder und Martin Baxter haben in Nordkorea Zuflucht gefunden, das sich als einziges Land noch gegen „Dancing Jax“ bewahren kann.Doch fleissige Leser der Trilogie wissen natürlich, dass jemand wie der Ismus keine halben Sachen macht und bald schon realisieren die Kinder, dass das grosse Finale kurz bevor steht.
Der abschliessende Band hat mich zwar nicht ganz so von den Socken gehauen wie Band zwei, aber unerwarteterweise hat mir das Buch sehr gut gefallen. Obwohl es ein Jugendbuch ist, schreibt Robin Jarvis hier eine wirklich gute Horrorgeschichte, die mich noch immer überzeugt, obwohl ich mich grösstenteils aus dem YA-Genre zurückgezogen habe.
Blutig und brutal geht es auch in „Finale“ wieder zu und her, man muss sich auch hier von vielen lieb gewonnenen Charakteren verabschieden. Die letzten Seiten haben etwas von „Die Tribute von Panem“ an sich, ohne jedoch wie ein Abklatsch zu wirken. Man könnte dieses Finale auch als blutige Version eines typischen Fernsehabends betrachten. Was es auf diese Art und Weise ja auch ist.
Jarvis hat einen spannenden und gut funktionierenden Plot geschaffen, bei dem auch der Leser manchmal an der Nase herumgeführt wird. Die Figuren sind allesamt Unikate und sehr liebevoll gezeichnet. Umso schmerzhafter ist es deshalb, wenn sie dem Ismus zum Opfer fallen.
„Dancing Jax: Finale“ ist ein gelungener Abschlussband einer grossartigen Reihe. Erwachsene Horrorleser können sich ruhig auch an diese Bücher wagen, wenn sie akzeptieren, dass „Dancing Jax“ in erster Linie für Jugendliche geschrieben ist. Was den Gruseleffekt und die blutigen Szenen anbelangt, nimmt es diese Trilogie aber auch mit den Horrortiteln für Erwachsene auf.
Leichter Spoiler: Ich persönlich hätte mir allenfalls ein etwas versöhnlicheres Ende gewünscht. Aber wir kennen das ja von den Horrorfilmen - die enden auch alle so. Vielleicht hat sich Jarvis aber auch ein Hintertürchen für einen vierten Band offen gehalten?
gemma351's review against another edition
4.0
I have loved Robin Jarvis’ books for many years and I certainly gave my favourites. This trilogy is much more grown up than his others.
I love the premise of a book that, once read, becomes a kind of real life for the readers who involuntarily adopt a character as a persona. The horror elements are typical Jarvis and well done. The end... the broad end is beautiful. The actual last couple of pages are a new kind of terrifying and foreshadowed at several points. Don’t expect anything to be neat.
I really enjoyed that a lot of the main characters are atypical (Charm, who is introduced as a chav, likes are make up and spray tan -could have been a terrible caricature but is so important in so many ways).
Fantastically good all round.
I love the premise of a book that, once read, becomes a kind of real life for the readers who involuntarily adopt a character as a persona. The horror elements are typical Jarvis and well done. The end... the broad end is beautiful. The actual last couple of pages are a new kind of terrifying and foreshadowed at several points. Don’t expect anything to be neat.
I really enjoyed that a lot of the main characters are atypical (Charm, who is introduced as a chav, likes are make up and spray tan -could have been a terrible caricature but is so important in so many ways).
Fantastically good all round.
huehnchen's review against another edition
2.0
It took me more than three years to finish this book. I suppose that's all I need to say.
kommatator's review against another edition
dark
emotional
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Religious bigotry
readingisadoingword's review
3.0
A grim and gruesome end to the trilogy. Tinted with hope but in the end the struggle continues.
jaironside's review
4.0
4.5 stars - I'm reticent in handing out 5 because something just didn't sit right for me at the end - can't put my finger on it though.
This is probably Robin Jarvis' most accomplished trilogy to date. Ultimately tales from the wyrd museum come in as favorites but this trilogy had a depth and horror that I've rarely seen elsewhere. Essentially Mr Jarvis casts a bright and non-flattering light on today's 'hollow culture' of instant gratification, accumulation of goods, entitlement, undeserved fame and online media relations. All of this is skillfully woven into a story that swings between a dark fantasy realm and a dystopian now - or for portions of the books , a false utopian now.
There is some of his trade mark gross out horror but the really freaky stuff is what is implied or suggested and left for the reader to make up their own mind about. Suffice to say that while this left me in a state of existential angst, I now no longer worry about what goes on in my head - thanks Mr Jarvis!
The characters are all beautifully delineated - better so than many of his other books - but don't get too attached to anyone. The author will make you care but he racks up a character body count to rival Shakespeare or George R R Martin ! The only thing I will say about his characters is that his ultimate bad guys are just bad - not really one dimensional, but also aware of what they are doing as wicked and happy with that. There's not always enough motive. However when your main goal is to treat with demons and your hobbies include mind control, forming cults and sadism then how sane are you likely to be really?
The story was multi-layered and fortunately had a very strong narrator voice or it would be easy to get hopelessly lost. The trilogy moves in an almost portmanteau fashion - get to know one set of characters and then in the next book another set come to the fore. Ultimately all ends are tied off neatly enough and you do find out what happens to everyone.
The two worlds work well and by and large compliment each other. The only clunky bit for me was when things in moon caster started to disintegrate before they did in out world - it didn't quite balance.
Oddly, I quite liked the Ismus in this book. He really played it large and flamboyant as a hokey TV show host and was horrible and funny at the same time.
One of the most powerful scenes is Lee vs the bad Shepard. Another is En Mui remembering everything. I thought both showed a really pithy and clear insight into the best and worst of human nature.
Was not happy about what happened to Maggie or Gerald. That's all I'll say. And also bold decision on a hideaway at the start Mr Jarvis, very bold!
So final verdict? This is possibly the most terrifying series of YA books I've read - not for the violence, the horror, the trauma of the characters or the demonic rising. It was terrifying because the observations made about our society as a whole, often made casually in passing, are probably true. This does hold up a 'seeming glass' to us all and the reflection is not flattering. But these are absolutely blindingly good books - you do need to read them in order really - and if you're looking for fantasy where you really don't know if everything will be alright in the end, that keep you hopping, then these are for you.
Will need to reread and fully digest - I'm sure I missed things.
Finally yes the ending was satisfying in so far as it went. However it didn't leave you with a note of closure. I suppose the point is to make up your own mind but there's a big question mark at then end. And for anyone who glibly points out that 'good intentions' suggests that all will be well, I'd like to remind them of the adage stating what the road to hell is paved with...
This is probably Robin Jarvis' most accomplished trilogy to date. Ultimately tales from the wyrd museum come in as favorites but this trilogy had a depth and horror that I've rarely seen elsewhere. Essentially Mr Jarvis casts a bright and non-flattering light on today's 'hollow culture' of instant gratification, accumulation of goods, entitlement, undeserved fame and online media relations. All of this is skillfully woven into a story that swings between a dark fantasy realm and a dystopian now - or for portions of the books , a false utopian now.
There is some of his trade mark gross out horror but the really freaky stuff is what is implied or suggested and left for the reader to make up their own mind about. Suffice to say that while this left me in a state of existential angst, I now no longer worry about what goes on in my head - thanks Mr Jarvis!
The characters are all beautifully delineated - better so than many of his other books - but don't get too attached to anyone. The author will make you care but he racks up a character body count to rival Shakespeare or George R R Martin ! The only thing I will say about his characters is that his ultimate bad guys are just bad - not really one dimensional, but also aware of what they are doing as wicked and happy with that. There's not always enough motive. However when your main goal is to treat with demons and your hobbies include mind control, forming cults and sadism then how sane are you likely to be really?
The story was multi-layered and fortunately had a very strong narrator voice or it would be easy to get hopelessly lost. The trilogy moves in an almost portmanteau fashion - get to know one set of characters and then in the next book another set come to the fore. Ultimately all ends are tied off neatly enough and you do find out what happens to everyone.
The two worlds work well and by and large compliment each other. The only clunky bit for me was when things in moon caster started to disintegrate before they did in out world - it didn't quite balance.
Oddly, I quite liked the Ismus in this book. He really played it large and flamboyant as a hokey TV show host and was horrible and funny at the same time.
One of the most powerful scenes is Lee vs the bad Shepard. Another is En Mui remembering everything. I thought both showed a really pithy and clear insight into the best and worst of human nature.
Was not happy about what happened to Maggie or Gerald. That's all I'll say. And also bold decision on a hideaway at the start Mr Jarvis, very bold!
So final verdict? This is possibly the most terrifying series of YA books I've read - not for the violence, the horror, the trauma of the characters or the demonic rising. It was terrifying because the observations made about our society as a whole, often made casually in passing, are probably true. This does hold up a 'seeming glass' to us all and the reflection is not flattering. But these are absolutely blindingly good books - you do need to read them in order really - and if you're looking for fantasy where you really don't know if everything will be alright in the end, that keep you hopping, then these are for you.
Will need to reread and fully digest - I'm sure I missed things.
Finally yes the ending was satisfying in so far as it went. However it didn't leave you with a note of closure. I suppose the point is to make up your own mind but there's a big question mark at then end. And for anyone who glibly points out that 'good intentions' suggests that all will be well, I'd like to remind them of the adage stating what the road to hell is paved with...
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