Scan barcode
luisasm's review against another edition
5.0
A fitting conclusion to this series, which I read in three days. Telemakos proves himself again, through even more ordeals and incredible intelligence. But what really got me in this book was the characters. The entire series has really been about families. The plot lines amplify their personalities, but every single characters is so much more complex. Even the tiniest characters, rarely seen, contains considerable depth. It's refreshing. There is no black and white enemy. Even the most horrific of Telemakos' abusers is seen differently at the end. There are real issues here involving torture, morality, family loyalties, heirs, it's all so intricate but never incomprehensible. It's tragic while at the same time loving. If I had to complain, I might say that the ending was very sudden, though maybe it's just because I wanted to continue reading this book forever. Now that I think about it, it's also ambiguous. Things don't tie up nicely, there will still be problems. And there's something unfair about it all, but that's just the way politics work. It's oddly realistic. Who knows what Telemakos will do. Who knows what Athena's life will be like. We don't know what happened to a lot of the characters, but it's okay because we got such a full picture of them while they lasted. There's something very rich about this whole series, something very whole, and it's all so satisfying.
unicorn23's review against another edition
4.0
Telemakos is one tragic hero. I don't think I've read a book where the hero has gone through all kinds of trauma for someone as young as him. This was a fantastic read.
macklin's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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
jessalynn_librarian's review
5.0
This can be read as part of a larger series - The Winter Prince, A Coalition of Lions, The Sunbird, The Lion Hunter, and finally those one - but they can also be read out of order if you can't get your hands on the earlier ones. Do read The Lion Hunter and this one as a pair, because the tensions in this one won't make much sense without that background.
As with the earlier ones, the strengths are really an atmospheric sense of history and setting (rather than a slavish attention to accuracy) and complex, fascinating characters. You can never quite decide if some characters are good or bad, and then you realize they fall into that category of being completely human in their ability to be both generous and self-serving. Some plot elements are wrapped up at the end, but enough of the larger political issues are left hanging for further installations (please please please?) The story really focuses on Telemakos and Abreha, and we don't see much of old favorites like Medraut and Goewin, or even much of Athena (who really deserves some kind of award for most compelling and heartbreaking baby/toddler in fiction).
The whole series is recommended to kids (and adults) who enjoy compelling historical fiction with plenty of intrigue. They require some focus, but are worth the effort. I can see them appealing to kids interested in maps and ancient history, and the type who can read at a high school level but aren't ready for more mature books - although these can be pretty intense.
As with the earlier ones, the strengths are really an atmospheric sense of history and setting (rather than a slavish attention to accuracy) and complex, fascinating characters. You can never quite decide if some characters are good or bad, and then you realize they fall into that category of being completely human in their ability to be both generous and self-serving. Some plot elements are wrapped up at the end, but enough of the larger political issues are left hanging for further installations (please please please?) The story really focuses on Telemakos and Abreha, and we don't see much of old favorites like Medraut and Goewin, or even much of Athena (who really deserves some kind of award for most compelling and heartbreaking baby/toddler in fiction).
The whole series is recommended to kids (and adults) who enjoy compelling historical fiction with plenty of intrigue. They require some focus, but are worth the effort. I can see them appealing to kids interested in maps and ancient history, and the type who can read at a high school level but aren't ready for more mature books - although these can be pretty intense.
annika2304's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cosmogyral's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0