Reviews

The Fearsome Firebird by Lauren Oliver, H.C. Chester

natcommon's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book and this series but I wish there was one more book to better tie up loose ends.

simobae's review

adventurous funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

thechristined's review against another edition

3.0

I feel rather torn about this book. It was a good read, but left much to be desired - particularly the ending. It was over too quickly, with lots of loose ends and unanswered questions left about this story, never mind the series as a whole. Additionally, the last scene came across as if this is the final book in the series when, again, there are unanswered questions and loose ends particularly regarding Rattigan and, to an extent, Mr. Dumfrey. My hope is that this is not the final book as I would find it a very unsatisfactory conclusion.

Edit: Unfortunately, I have learned that this is in fact the final book thanks to Lauren Oliver's tumblr. Very disappointing :(

the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition

5.0

In this third book, The Fearsome Firebird, the orphans Sam, Philippa, Thomas and Max are back at solving mysteries, this time outside Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders.

The kids inadvertently stop a bank robbery, one in a series that has the city's bankers cowering under their desks in fear and trepidation.

When they get back to the museum, it's been invaded by a bug exterminator and fumigator --Ernie Erskine's Professional Extermination -- who's out to kill General Farnum's flea circus.

And an amazing talking bird, an Exotic Black-Billed Ethiopian Firebird, is given to Mr. Dumfrey by an intrepid explorer, Sir Roger Barrensworth, who claims he can't care for the bird any longer.

Meanwhile, police are still searching for the kids' nemesis and creator, Nicholas Rattigan, and the local press turns against the museum and the kids. Emily the Tatooed Wonder shows up and helps the museum compete against a new, rival freak show, The Coney Island Curiosity Show, but what are her real motivations?

General Farnum is arrested for Erskine's murder, and the kids have to prove he didn't do it -- and uncover Rattigan's latest nefarious plot.

The plot is quite intricate and well-executed, as all the threads come together at the very end for a satisfying climax. I won't spoil the ending!

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schadenfreudes's review

4.0

The story didn't surprise me that much. The characters have good development and problems. The final book is good, not that great though, but maybe it's going to be a blast if it's adapted to the screen because the action(s) were very interesting.

whimsicallymeghan's review against another edition

3.0

Sam, Pip, Thomas and Max have just escaped from the clutches of evil Nicholas Rattigan, when General Farnum, the ringmaster to the museum’s popular flea circus is wrongfully accused of murder. The children are now on the case to search for the real killer, but they suspect Rattigan is behind this. It’s time for them to catch Rattigan once and for all before they fall into his disastrous hands. This was the concluding novel in the Curiosity House trilogy and it really ended this series quite well. There was one last murder mystery for our characters to solve and this also weaved really well into the overarching plot of the trilogy, the man who made them who they are, trying to capture them for his own gain once and for all. It was such an engaging story and the reader found the pacing to be really fast because so much was going on. The reader never knew what was going to happen next, which kept them on their toes and wanting to read on to find out more. Not only did we get these fast-paced and entertaining plots, but the development and growth we got from the characters was well done too. We learned a little bit more about these characters, who they were and who they wanted to become. The way this ended left plots wrapped up, but it also felt reflective of these kids who realized they won’t always be kids forever; they don’t know what the future holds but as long as they have each other, they’ll be ok. There was something so charming about that, that really left this ending on such a beautiful note. After a rough start to this trilogy, in the end it pulled through and became a really fun and exciting read full of oddities, freaks and strange things.  

leetriestowrite's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense

5.0

iraboklover's review

4.0

Cerita yang masih terkesan gloomy bagi saya tapi cukup seru walaupun saya masih lebih suka buku keduanya.

Jadi di buku kedua ini ada beberapa penghuni baru di museum. Diantaranya ada kutu-kutu yang bisa beratraksi dan juga burung api yang doyan berkata-kata kasar.

Mereka bisa dibilang mengakibatkan masalah atau malah mengakibatkan keberuntungan karena ternyata mengarahkan anak-anak ke sebuah misteri yang lebih besar.

IMO, kasusnya tidak terlalu bikin penasaran sehingga saya masih sempat mencatat kutipan-kutipan bijaknya. Cukup banyak ternyata. Bisa jadi poin plus untuk buku ketiga ini.

Sayang saya sedikit kurang puas dengan endingnya. Tapi tak apa, saya tetap suka. Sedikit sedih juga karena harus berpisah dengan anak-anak dan penghuni museum lain.

So, saya beri 4 dari 5 bintang. I really liked it.