prairiewolf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
the_coriolis_effect's review against another edition
I've finished another series I started in my childhood!!! Fun, cute little series. I definitely have outgrown it, but I'm glad to have gone back and finished a series I started as a kid!
rouver's review against another edition
2.0
Well this was a disappointing ending to what started out as a fun YA series. The writing in the last book was starting to go downhill & definitely got worse in this one. We know it's all going to turn out for the best (this is a story for children in the USA, after all), but the adventures on the way there just weren't all that engaging. SHOW me, don't TELL me. It seemed like the writing style became simpler, with the main character having to recap all their adventures for each new (to him) person...nearly all had been main/secondary characters in the other books. There was no discovery for the READER, who knew all the information from having read the other books. Sure, Daystar doesn't know who he is, what he needs to do, or the significance of the sword he is carrying...but WE do. And when revelations do occur, they aren't explained; he automatically realizes the man before him is his father, even though his mother had never spoken of him, ever. The characters all seem terribly one dimensional as well.
Perhaps this was a book the author didn't want to write & she just phoned it in. Just have your kids read books 1 & 2 so they won't have to slog through 3 & 4.
Edit: I've now found out that this book was written first, the other three created as prequels. It helps explain why the author seems to be a less experienced writer even though it's the 'last' book in the series.
Perhaps this was a book the author didn't want to write & she just phoned it in. Just have your kids read books 1 & 2 so they won't have to slog through 3 & 4.
Edit: I've now found out that this book was written first, the other three created as prequels. It helps explain why the author seems to be a less experienced writer even though it's the 'last' book in the series.
honeycomb_system's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
barryhaworth's review against another edition
4.0
The first written and the last set in the story chronology, this book establishes the Enchanted Forest and how it works, and introduces many of the characters who we also meet in the other later written but earlier set books of the series. As such the setting is not so well realised as in the other books, but still worth a visit.
raygina's review against another edition
3.0
This was the slowest and my least favorite of the four.
mahoupunk's review against another edition
4.0
Quality reread. The full cast audiobooks for this series are fantastic.
raciethereader's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook as a re-read with my children and really enjoyed the audio version. This is a great ending to the series.