heidimrogers's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this series, particularly this last book. I loved the development of the main character and the unique setting.
compass_rose's review
3.0
My least favorite of the trilogy. Still, I'd definitely read another if she writes one. A little too bogged down in the inner workings of the magic.
aamccartan's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the series for the story, setting, and characters. But it really felt like she could have figured out how to work in Native Americans.
itabar's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars actually. The plot, what there is of one, plods. We get a lot of details which don't add to the story.
The characters are mildly interesting and pleasant, but not particularly striking or endearing. I was not emotionally invested in any of the three books.
I'm not sorry I read them, but at the end I was left with a "is that all there is?" feeling.
The characters are mildly interesting and pleasant, but not particularly striking or endearing. I was not emotionally invested in any of the three books.
I'm not sorry I read them, but at the end I was left with a "is that all there is?" feeling.
gcullman's review against another edition
3.0
I liked Eff's no-nonsense character, but the ending of this book really bothered me.
**SPOILER ALERT**
Why in the world did she marry Eff off to William if she wasn't going to actually get you to care about them as a couple at all??
Yeah, instead of this being the best book of the series, it was definitely the worst and really let me down. Is it necessary to marry off a female main character?? WTF.
Also, they went into new uncharted territory and it wasn't that exciting. I kept waiting for them to learn more about the Cathay adept and he was never a real character, not like Wash or Professor Toregen.
**SPOILER ALERT**
Why in the world did she marry Eff off to William if she wasn't going to actually get you to care about them as a couple at all??
Yeah, instead of this being the best book of the series, it was definitely the worst and really let me down. Is it necessary to marry off a female main character?? WTF.
Also, they went into new uncharted territory and it wasn't that exciting. I kept waiting for them to learn more about the Cathay adept and he was never a real character, not like Wash or Professor Toregen.
carleneslibrary's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
myth's review against another edition
3.0
Still no native americans. Did settlers succeed in wiping them out in this universe and nobody talks about it because everyone involved is terrible or what?
lisalark's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. That goes for the whole series - meh. I'm pretty sure Wrede had a clever idea and pitched it her to her agent/publisher and contracted for a three book YA series of x words each and this is what came out. There's good world-building but we're never fully immersed in it; good character voice but I never cared about the main character that much; good secondary characters, but their backstories are never fully developed; etc. Honestly I think following around one of the secondary characters like Miss Ochiba or William would have been interesting.
I also got really sick of Eff's "Aw shucks, I'm just a downhome Ohio girl with nothing special about me," attitude super annoying after awhile. It was tolerable and interesting in The Thirteenth Child given her being a teenager and the weird way she'd been treated and prejudices and such, but by the third book it was just obnoxious.
All in all I wish she had exploded someone at some point. Would have made things much more interesting if she were fleeing sheriffs into the far west. Actually, I do want to read that book . . .
Ultimately the world Wrede invented is fascinating and way more interesting than the characters. Reading this book or the earlier two won't make you dumber, but I'm not sure it will make you much smarter either.
I also got really sick of Eff's "Aw shucks, I'm just a downhome Ohio girl with nothing special about me," attitude super annoying after awhile. It was tolerable and interesting in The Thirteenth Child given her being a teenager and the weird way she'd been treated and prejudices and such, but by the third book it was just obnoxious.
All in all I wish she had exploded someone at some point. Would have made things much more interesting if she were fleeing sheriffs into the far west. Actually, I do want to read that book . . .
Ultimately the world Wrede invented is fascinating and way more interesting than the characters. Reading this book or the earlier two won't make you dumber, but I'm not sure it will make you much smarter either.
snazel's review against another edition
4.0
This are totally in the spirit of Little House books, if Laura was magically dyslexic, and and interested in natural history. And there were mammoths and steam dragons and medusa lizards.