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barnesm31's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tizianav's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition
4.0
They've been shot down, set up, double-crossed and ripped off. They've stolen priceless treasures, destroyed a ten-thousand-year-old Azryx city and sort-of-accidentally blew up the son of the Archduke. Now they've gone and started a civil war. This time, they're really in trouble.
This is the last book in the Tales of the Ketty Jay series. Overall this book pretty much lived up to my expectations, although I do feel like some characters didn't live up to their potential. Jez in particular became less likable to me and I can't say that I really liked the way her story ended, although I was not surprised. I just feel like there was wasted potential there. Frey annoyed me a bit with his obsession over Trinica, although I understood the root of it and what it meant to him personally to win her back. I did like his story arch overall (the man who sets out to redeem himself after being a huge jerk and a womanizer). He learned some things and that was good, but I don't feel like he learned enough. Did he ever feel badly about the way he treated anyone else? I'm not sure, but he ended up better than he was before and that was good.
Mostly I enjoyed reading about these characters and their adventures. They were all flawed, but for the most part they were engaging. There was some humor that I appreciated as well, especially in book three. I recommend this series if you are looking for some light fantasy adventure with a steampunk flare to it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
This is the last book in the Tales of the Ketty Jay series. Overall this book pretty much lived up to my expectations, although I do feel like some characters didn't live up to their potential. Jez in particular became less likable to me and I can't say that I really liked the way her story ended, although I was not surprised. I just feel like there was wasted potential there. Frey annoyed me a bit with his obsession over Trinica, although I understood the root of it and what it meant to him personally to win her back. I did like his story arch overall (the man who sets out to redeem himself after being a huge jerk and a womanizer). He learned some things and that was good, but I don't feel like he learned enough. Did he ever feel badly about the way he treated anyone else? I'm not sure, but he ended up better than he was before and that was good.
Mostly I enjoyed reading about these characters and their adventures. They were all flawed, but for the most part they were engaging. There was some humor that I appreciated as well, especially in book three. I recommend this series if you are looking for some light fantasy adventure with a steampunk flare to it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
mbs1236's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
5.0
An outstanding and an extremely satisfying conclusion to this quartet. The best of the 4 and Wooding managed to land this quartet beautifully. The character conclusions were great as well as how the world has been left.
I will extreme miss both the characters especially the crew as well as the world as they had become comfort things for me.
SPOILERS BELOW:
On the characters, Silo’s whole journey was beautiful and his speech before the charge made me want to join him myself. The couple of Crake and Samandra Bree was also great and I always found the two of them to be perfect for each other. Jez’s storyline also made sense as she finally decided to embrace her Mane side and her calling the Mane’s was such a cool, exhilarating moment. The medal ceremony at the end was also great. Finally, the conclusion of Frey and Trinica’s romance was also great and heart-warming.
I will extreme miss both the characters especially the crew as well as the world as they had become comfort things for me.
SPOILERS BELOW:
On the characters, Silo’s whole journey was beautiful and his speech before the charge made me want to join him myself. The couple of Crake and Samandra Bree was also great and I always found the two of them to be perfect for each other. Jez’s storyline also made sense as she finally decided to embrace her Mane side and her calling the Mane’s was such a cool, exhilarating moment. The medal ceremony at the end was also great. Finally, the conclusion of Frey and Trinica’s romance was also great and heart-warming.
topdragon's review against another edition
5.0
“Frey pitied his friend. There was something wide-eyed and hurt about him, the shock of a slapped child. He still wanted to believe in order and authority and the powers that be. He thought of the world as an upright, sensible place, where righteousness would prevail if only everyone tried hard enough. Frey knew otherwise.”
The final novel in this 4-book set featuring the lives of Captain Darian Frey and his ragtag crew of misfits on board the Ketty Jay does a wonderful job of being a complete and fulfilling novel in its own right as well as being a satisfying culmination of that has been building over the first three books. It was a great finish to a wonderful series. Given the nature of the first three books, it’s hard to believe but the stakes this time are even higher than before, not only the involvement with the brewing civil war (that our endearing crew essentially created), but also on a personal level for all of the characters. Chris Wooding delivers an extremely satisfying ending and is filled with the expected humor, action scenes and emotional moments.
The entire series gets my highest recommendation.
The final novel in this 4-book set featuring the lives of Captain Darian Frey and his ragtag crew of misfits on board the Ketty Jay does a wonderful job of being a complete and fulfilling novel in its own right as well as being a satisfying culmination of that has been building over the first three books. It was a great finish to a wonderful series. Given the nature of the first three books, it’s hard to believe but the stakes this time are even higher than before, not only the involvement with the brewing civil war (that our endearing crew essentially created), but also on a personal level for all of the characters. Chris Wooding delivers an extremely satisfying ending and is filled with the expected humor, action scenes and emotional moments.
The entire series gets my highest recommendation.
glamorise's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
galidar's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic ending to a great series. I'm going to miss these characters until I read them all again.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is the fourth and final book in the Ketty Jay fantasy series. It brings the adventures of the crew of the Ketty Jay to a dramatic conclusion. Once again, the perspective shifts between the crew, concentrating on their captain, Darian Frey, a rogue who finds himself embroiled in epic events. I anticipated various turns in the plot, but wasn't annoyed by doing so. I note that Slag the cat was a favorite of mine, and his small part in the plot emotionally engaged me more than the fate of the humans. Likewise, I liked Bess the golem. While I'm not the ideal reader for these adventures -- preferring more conspicuously ethical characters -- I enjoyed this.
Three and a half out of five conclusive stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Three and a half out of five conclusive stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
omnificer's review
4.0
Protagonist Breakdown: Ensemble Anti-heroes
As an endcap to the series I'm quite pleased with this book.
What we have is a character driven series with a pulp action narrative. At the beginning of the series, the characters are at their worst. They are driven by their flaws and are frankly unlikable. But each book has had the characters develop, deal with the demons of their past, and overcome their flaws. At least partially (except Pinn).
Basically you start with a group of assholes who can't really stand each other and you end with friends and family, who despite going their own way at the finish are closer than ever before. On its own it is perhaps a bit saccharine how the characters are driving themselves forward for lofty ideals of love, freedom, and friendship. However, I was invested in the character arcs where I was cheering them on as they complete their metamorphosis from selfish pirates into Big Damn Heroes.
I also appreciate the action scenes of the series. They're dynamic. Have explosions. Cool set pieces. Basically everything you want from a kind of diesel-punk sky-pirate series. In this final book it even comes to a head with a massive battle in the sky.
Overall the books tend to run a little long for their subject matter but I'm convinced that helps the camaraderie and victories at the end of each book feel well earned. It's hard to see that halfway through the first book but I think it's well worth it by the end of the first and just gets better each book after.
As an endcap to the series I'm quite pleased with this book.
What we have is a character driven series with a pulp action narrative. At the beginning of the series, the characters are at their worst. They are driven by their flaws and are frankly unlikable. But each book has had the characters develop, deal with the demons of their past, and overcome their flaws. At least partially (except Pinn).
Basically you start with a group of assholes who can't really stand each other and you end with friends and family, who despite going their own way at the finish are closer than ever before. On its own it is perhaps a bit saccharine how the characters are driving themselves forward for lofty ideals of love, freedom, and friendship. However, I was invested in the character arcs where I was cheering them on as they complete their metamorphosis from selfish pirates into Big Damn Heroes.
I also appreciate the action scenes of the series. They're dynamic. Have explosions. Cool set pieces. Basically everything you want from a kind of diesel-punk sky-pirate series. In this final book it even comes to a head with a massive battle in the sky.
Overall the books tend to run a little long for their subject matter but I'm convinced that helps the camaraderie and victories at the end of each book feel well earned. It's hard to see that halfway through the first book but I think it's well worth it by the end of the first and just gets better each book after.