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anipekarova123's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
leonajasmin's review against another edition
4.0
Progress has been made! The characters seemed to be much more themselves and having development in this book, and the change of scenery definitely made things more interesting
rebel_fairy's review against another edition
5.0
This book was sofar the best in the series. Storm has grown as a character and her journey as a lone dog has taught her a few things. Finally, the bad dog was revealed and happy to say it was one of my top 3 suspects. The last chapter waa so full of drama, that I cannot wait to read the Finak Battle :)
cassidylynnereads's review against another edition
4.0
I’d been starting to give up hope for this series, but the writers have pulled it off again. They’ve gone back to writing compelling characters and storylines that don’t feel like they’re the same repetitive plot being drawn out for four books. Finally the bad dog is revealed. I won’t spoil who it is, but I’ll say I’ve known it since two books back. I am satisfied with the reveal and honestly shocked at how well the author did at writing a psychopathic character... because really, that’s what the bad dog is. They’re much more manipulative and secretive than say Terror or Blade, who were just downright insane and not nearly as interesting as villains. Aside from that, there’s new characters introduced who are immediate favorites of mine. There are old characters, good and bad alike, who we get to see again and learn the fates of. Storm finally finds a place in the world, even though she struggles with so much internally. The only thing I hated about this book was the way Storm was treated by everyone she once considered friends, but that’s something that’s been building up since the first book of the second arc. Storm is a precious cinnamon roll who doesn’t deserve any of the crap she’s been given or the inner turmoil it’s caused her. And the fact that she always does what’s right even when others hate her for it makes me love her even more. I don’t know what changed in this book, but the way Storm’s inner monologues were written were so much better than in any of the previous Survivors books, even when it was Lucky who was narrating. Overall, this book is a major improvement than the previous four, and even though I’m not terribly satisfied with the way it ended, I’m super excited to see how this arc wraps up (since I’m assuming anything published under the Erin name has to have a six book arc, otherwise it’s just not an Erin Hunter series). I want to go into a little bit more detail on my thoughts, so only read ahead if you don’t care about spoilers or if you’ve already read the book.
Misgivings about the next book aside, I love so many of the characters who are introduced in this book. Thoughtful and Peaceful are my new favorites, even though I’m probably biased because wolves have always been among my favorite animals. The Erin Hunter team has branched out to so many different animals, I really hope that the wolf pack gets its own arc, or at least a spinoff standalone or novella. The way the wolf pack works is so well thought out, but the few glimpses Storm gets into their lives barely touch the surface of what could be explored. I want to know so much more about the wolves, and I’m not going to lie, I kind of wished Storm could have found a place with the wolf pack, or maybe Peaceful and Thoughtful could end up leaving and joining Storm’s new pack. I know it’d be hard with all of the different customs, but the half-wolf Alpha was born somehow, so surely another wolf-dog alliance could be possible? And to build up the wolves so much, it seems like they won’t just be gone after this one book. I hope they play some role in the next one. As much as I love Ace Storm (love that representation because I’m Ace myself), I kind of want her to have cute little mixed breed puppies with Thoughtful. They’d be such a cute couple I just can’t.
Speaking of adorable puppies, Nip and Scramble are precious and must be protected. I feel like their interactions with Tufty have more substance than the adult dogs give them credit for. If Martha’s spirit can come and guide Storm after her death, why can’t Tufty’s spirit come and play with her brothers? I feel like the pups really can see something the adult dogs can’t. And I love the idea that we may see wolf and dog spirits interacting in the afterlife.
But dang it if I have to hear about or see the Golden Deer one more time without it finally being caught I’m going to scream. It makes an appearance on the cover so you think it’d be more significant in this book, but I’m equal parts relieved and annoyed that it isn’t.
Spoiler
I called it. I called it two books ago, if you look at my review I even mention it, but I guessed the bad dog was Breeze and I was actually right. I was also concerned that the killer would end up being the Fear Dog itself, but I am so glad it isn’t and that we actually get to see such a twisted character like Breeze. I don’t like seeing characters hurt, but I love a well-written villain, and that’s exactly what Breeze is. I noticed before that the things she said to the Pack suggested that Storm was the bad dog, and now Storm herself realizes it. Breeze is definitely crazy, but it’s not so in-your-face. She’s cunning, manipulative, and secretive. She subtly puts thoughts into dogs minds and acts like she’s completely innocent, even a friend to Storm, plus she’s crazy enough to hurt herself to make it look like she’s been attacked by the bad dog too. The only thing I don’t like about the reveal is that apparently Breeze has talked bad about Storm before to other dogs, but none of them call her out on it when it’s revealed she may not be telling the truth and she acts as if she’s always been Storm’s best friend. I find it hard to believe that no one noticed how odd it is that she can act so friendly to someone she’s called a murderer. Also I hate Chase. She doesn’t deserve Mickey at all, and even though she hasn’t physically hurt anyone yet, she’s diabolical in her own right and I can’t wait until Storm can laugh in her face when she’s proven wrong. I’m a little confused about how the next book is going to pan out, since I can’t imagine Storm will spend the whole book as a prisoner and Breeze only gets revealed at the end. I hope the authors don’t make the next book’s plot unbearably dragged out after this one finally pulled away from that.Misgivings about the next book aside, I love so many of the characters who are introduced in this book. Thoughtful and Peaceful are my new favorites, even though I’m probably biased because wolves have always been among my favorite animals. The Erin Hunter team has branched out to so many different animals, I really hope that the wolf pack gets its own arc, or at least a spinoff standalone or novella. The way the wolf pack works is so well thought out, but the few glimpses Storm gets into their lives barely touch the surface of what could be explored. I want to know so much more about the wolves, and I’m not going to lie, I kind of wished Storm could have found a place with the wolf pack, or maybe Peaceful and Thoughtful could end up leaving and joining Storm’s new pack. I know it’d be hard with all of the different customs, but the half-wolf Alpha was born somehow, so surely another wolf-dog alliance could be possible? And to build up the wolves so much, it seems like they won’t just be gone after this one book. I hope they play some role in the next one. As much as I love Ace Storm (love that representation because I’m Ace myself), I kind of want her to have cute little mixed breed puppies with Thoughtful. They’d be such a cute couple I just can’t.
Speaking of adorable puppies, Nip and Scramble are precious and must be protected. I feel like their interactions with Tufty have more substance than the adult dogs give them credit for. If Martha’s spirit can come and guide Storm after her death, why can’t Tufty’s spirit come and play with her brothers? I feel like the pups really can see something the adult dogs can’t. And I love the idea that we may see wolf and dog spirits interacting in the afterlife.
But dang it if I have to hear about or see the Golden Deer one more time without it finally being caught I’m going to scream. It makes an appearance on the cover so you think it’d be more significant in this book, but I’m equal parts relieved and annoyed that it isn’t.
_michelle_'s review against another edition
1.0
Damn it all to hell! I thought I'd be giving this installment a solid two stars but damn it, that mother-ducking ending INFURIATED me. Damn, damn, damn!!!! Storm may have had blood spatter on her face, but Breeze must have had it in her teeth, damn it!!! How can anyone with two brain cells to rub together be so mother-ducking stupid?! Damn!
FYI (Sept. 28, 2018): I'm sorry if swearing in a review for a middle-grade book offends, but GR is for users 13-years and up, so I didn't feel it was too inappropriate; and I deliberately edited the worst swearing from the get-go (just in case you thought mother-ducking was a real swear word).
FYI (Sept. 28, 2018): I'm sorry if swearing in a review for a middle-grade book offends, but GR is for users 13-years and up, so I didn't feel it was too inappropriate; and I deliberately edited the worst swearing from the get-go (just in case you thought mother-ducking was a real swear word).
skylacine's review against another edition
4.0
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/03/book-review-survivors-arc-2-gathering.html
theravenflight's review against another edition
3.0
In sum, nothing really happened in this book. I zoomed through it because all that really happened was just Storm traveling. A little happened here and there, and the blurb made it sound like the wolves would have a huge part in this book. They did not...
And I know this is aimed at kids but...the identity of the Bad Dog is revealed finally, and I guessed it ever since the first book of this arc. It was a little too obvious. I'll just leave it at that.
It had its moments, though. It really shows what it feels like to have an identity that comes with labels that you get judged for. It explains how Storm feels when she is oppressed because of her species, and the book does a good job of showing just how lonely Storm is. I just wish the book didnt go by so quick...so quick to the point where I feel like this book was just filler.
And I know this is aimed at kids but...the identity of the Bad Dog is revealed finally, and I guessed it ever since the first book of this arc. It was a little too obvious. I'll just leave it at that.
It had its moments, though. It really shows what it feels like to have an identity that comes with labels that you get judged for. It explains how Storm feels when she is oppressed because of her species, and the book does a good job of showing just how lonely Storm is. I just wish the book didnt go by so quick...so quick to the point where I feel like this book was just filler.
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