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earthier's review against another edition
2.0
There was definitely foreshadowing in the third book of Will Henry's character shift in this book, so I wasn't surprised. I think even further back there was a foreshadowing of Will Henry's 'final form' it just wasn't transparent until this point. I almost didn't want to read it due the ending og the thrid book and the reviews I read beforehand. That being said, I did read it, and I found it a struggle as the 'descent' it is more of a slow and disorienting spiral than a dramatic fall. In contrast to the previous books this one lacks a linear plot, it jumps around and at points is hard to comprehend. By no means was the monstrumologist series ever a happy tale, but this lacked even the poignance the other books had. Will was clearly a traumatized product of his environment and or circumstance, dark, deadly, murderous, monstrous-psychopathic/sociopathic but this ending was poorly orchestrated.
I do still think this reminds me oddly of the series of unfortunate events.
I do still think this reminds me oddly of the series of unfortunate events.
potatochips_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
noirverse's review against another edition
My feelings towards this book are complex to say the least, from Will Henry's drastic change in attitude to the broken relationship between Will and Pellinore.
To start with Will Henry, the story gives us a sixteen-year-old Will Henry who's deeply jaded and already filled with resentment towards Pellinore. That Will is a far cry to the Will of the third book, who indeed did kill people, but ends the book uplifted by the message of hope that was the baby being rescued. There are certainly seeds planted hinting to Will becoming more unhappy with Pellinore, but he looks at Pellinore's choice to not fall into despair over his failed goal with admiration and clear affection. His final decision to kill John Kearns is a pivotal turning point in him becoming more jaded, but it's only the start of his descent.
In the earliest of chapters with a sixteen-year-old Will Henry, we see a version of him that murders without restraint and with nothing left of the affection he once felt for Pellinore remaining. The difference is jarring even though I could see the hints that point to Will Henry going down a darker path. There is a strong sense of having skipped a book, one that takes a closer look at Will Henry's changing feelings towards Pellinore and his outlook on murder. I spent my time reading curious to see the actual descent, but we never get it with the book skipping ahead several years.
The book's formatting also lets us see Will Henry as an adult, visiting Pellinore who's only a shadow of his former self. As the book jumps back and forth between a sixteen-year-old Will Henry and an adult Will Henry, we are given a look at a relationship that is fundamentally broken from the start. I became frustrated at how their relationship feels so drastically different from their past adventures with all signs that they care for each other, one of the things that I love most about their dynamic, almost completely gone.
Oddly enough, even with the book set up to wring emotional reactions from its readers from its series of tragic events, there's a sense of detachment. I don't quite recognize the characters as being who they are from the previous books. I find myself hoping that I will catch onto the line of events that leads Will Henry to developing into the teenager he is at sixteen but leave unsatisfied.
As we know in the previous books, Pellinore is dead by the time the journals are written. It's revealed that Will Henry mercifully kills him, the last action he takes as his master's apprentice. Even the pivotal scene of Pellinore being killed by Will Henry feels distant to me, as I'm the outsider looking into a relationship that I had once known but ends as it does due to events I'm shut out from being able to fully understand or care about.
When the moment of them giving up on each other comes, it's as impactful as a shrug of acceptance because they are so incredibly awful to each other in this book. Any reason for me to care about them staying together has been completely confined to the previous books, which are events that happened years ago for the characters. Why care about them going their separate ways when it seems like something that could have just as well happened at the very start of the action plot with little difference from both Will Henry or Pellinore?
I keep circling back to feeling that the characters were static, undergoing no notable change in how they felt about each other. Considering the central theme is of Will Henry and Pellinore's relationship being destroyed, an event that had every reason to be moving, that isn't a good impression to walk away with. The plot has things happen but the characters themselves, even with events such as Will Henry running away and Pellinore keeping him in the dark about his plan, never show enough emotion that isn't wholly negative to convince me that their relationship being torn apart is worth being upset over.
What makes tragedy between characters effective to begin with is the clashing of emotions both positive and negative. There must be a reason for wanting them to not become estranged with each other that makes the reader cry and want for them to change their fate. There are zero reminders that they once had a better relationship or had the slightest feeling of affection for each other, a contrast bitterly needed in order to for there to be a proper emotional arc.
Moving on, the snake being the monster that would immortalize Pellinore's career is almost silly. In the previous books the monsters are impressive in their own right and even in the third book, the monster has a strong presence as something terrifying. The book is more focused on showing humans as the real monster through Will Henry which didn't work for reasons I outlined above. I found myself missing the adventure of Will Henry and Pellinore trying to find the monster, something that I didn't realize I missed until this story had them acquire the snake right away.
There are several formatting and story structure changes that rubs me the wrong way. The book is noticeably shorter than the others with only three hundred pages, an important factor in making the story feel compressed to a ridiculous degree. Not only that, but we get quite a bit of Will Henry repeating things several times which cut into the main action story even more, leaving a rushed impression of events happening one after another with no pause.
I grew annoyed at the messy format jerking the reader back and forth. The heavy philosophizing from Will Henry about the nature of man is overdone in sections to the point of making me feel bored, something I never felt while reading the previous three books. The reveal of Will Henry as a man who steals the real Will Henry's name comes across being put in for the sole purpose of shocking the readers, the equivalent of pulling "and it was all a dream" on its own narrative.
Even with my criticism, I can't say that I hate the book as I enjoyed the concepts it was trying to show. Had this book kept the general format of the previous books and made it as long as necessary to explore Will Henry's shifting feelings with himself and his mentor, taking care to touch on their positive moments, it could have been a masterpiece. A compelling final story that shows descending into darkness with a complex view of a troubled relationship. If anything, I'm the most disappointed that this book presents the vague outline of ideas that had the potential to be thought-provoking and emotional even if extremely dark but the finished product is hollow of any impact involving the themes it failed to portray.
Due to my mixed feelings, I'm abstaining from giving a proper star rating. I'm happy to say that I have far less complicated emotions towards the previous three books and will gladly return to them many times. Will Henry and Pellinore's adventures have been wonderful to read with all the ups and downs of their relationship. As for this book, I'm not sure if I will ever feel the urge to reread this one. The Final Descent is ultimately unfinished, a rough sketch at best of what could've been a moving tragic end for their adventures but was never properly fleshed out.
To start with Will Henry, the story gives us a sixteen-year-old Will Henry who's deeply jaded and already filled with resentment towards Pellinore. That Will is a far cry to the Will of the third book, who indeed did kill people, but ends the book uplifted by the message of hope that was the baby being rescued. There are certainly seeds planted hinting to Will becoming more unhappy with Pellinore, but he looks at Pellinore's choice to not fall into despair over his failed goal with admiration and clear affection. His final decision to kill John Kearns is a pivotal turning point in him becoming more jaded, but it's only the start of his descent.
In the earliest of chapters with a sixteen-year-old Will Henry, we see a version of him that murders without restraint and with nothing left of the affection he once felt for Pellinore remaining. The difference is jarring even though I could see the hints that point to Will Henry going down a darker path. There is a strong sense of having skipped a book, one that takes a closer look at Will Henry's changing feelings towards Pellinore and his outlook on murder. I spent my time reading curious to see the actual descent, but we never get it with the book skipping ahead several years.
The book's formatting also lets us see Will Henry as an adult, visiting Pellinore who's only a shadow of his former self. As the book jumps back and forth between a sixteen-year-old Will Henry and an adult Will Henry, we are given a look at a relationship that is fundamentally broken from the start. I became frustrated at how their relationship feels so drastically different from their past adventures with all signs that they care for each other, one of the things that I love most about their dynamic, almost completely gone.
Oddly enough, even with the book set up to wring emotional reactions from its readers from its series of tragic events, there's a sense of detachment. I don't quite recognize the characters as being who they are from the previous books. I find myself hoping that I will catch onto the line of events that leads Will Henry to developing into the teenager he is at sixteen but leave unsatisfied.
As we know in the previous books, Pellinore is dead by the time the journals are written. It's revealed that Will Henry mercifully kills him, the last action he takes as his master's apprentice. Even the pivotal scene of Pellinore being killed by Will Henry feels distant to me, as I'm the outsider looking into a relationship that I had once known but ends as it does due to events I'm shut out from being able to fully understand or care about.
When the moment of them giving up on each other comes, it's as impactful as a shrug of acceptance because they are so incredibly awful to each other in this book. Any reason for me to care about them staying together has been completely confined to the previous books, which are events that happened years ago for the characters. Why care about them going their separate ways when it seems like something that could have just as well happened at the very start of the action plot with little difference from both Will Henry or Pellinore?
I keep circling back to feeling that the characters were static, undergoing no notable change in how they felt about each other. Considering the central theme is of Will Henry and Pellinore's relationship being destroyed, an event that had every reason to be moving, that isn't a good impression to walk away with. The plot has things happen but the characters themselves, even with events such as Will Henry running away and Pellinore keeping him in the dark about his plan, never show enough emotion that isn't wholly negative to convince me that their relationship being torn apart is worth being upset over.
What makes tragedy between characters effective to begin with is the clashing of emotions both positive and negative. There must be a reason for wanting them to not become estranged with each other that makes the reader cry and want for them to change their fate. There are zero reminders that they once had a better relationship or had the slightest feeling of affection for each other, a contrast bitterly needed in order to for there to be a proper emotional arc.
Moving on, the snake being the monster that would immortalize Pellinore's career is almost silly. In the previous books the monsters are impressive in their own right and even in the third book, the monster has a strong presence as something terrifying. The book is more focused on showing humans as the real monster through Will Henry which didn't work for reasons I outlined above. I found myself missing the adventure of Will Henry and Pellinore trying to find the monster, something that I didn't realize I missed until this story had them acquire the snake right away.
There are several formatting and story structure changes that rubs me the wrong way. The book is noticeably shorter than the others with only three hundred pages, an important factor in making the story feel compressed to a ridiculous degree. Not only that, but we get quite a bit of Will Henry repeating things several times which cut into the main action story even more, leaving a rushed impression of events happening one after another with no pause.
I grew annoyed at the messy format jerking the reader back and forth. The heavy philosophizing from Will Henry about the nature of man is overdone in sections to the point of making me feel bored, something I never felt while reading the previous three books. The reveal of Will Henry as a man who steals the real Will Henry's name comes across being put in for the sole purpose of shocking the readers, the equivalent of pulling "and it was all a dream" on its own narrative.
Even with my criticism, I can't say that I hate the book as I enjoyed the concepts it was trying to show. Had this book kept the general format of the previous books and made it as long as necessary to explore Will Henry's shifting feelings with himself and his mentor, taking care to touch on their positive moments, it could have been a masterpiece. A compelling final story that shows descending into darkness with a complex view of a troubled relationship. If anything, I'm the most disappointed that this book presents the vague outline of ideas that had the potential to be thought-provoking and emotional even if extremely dark but the finished product is hollow of any impact involving the themes it failed to portray.
Due to my mixed feelings, I'm abstaining from giving a proper star rating. I'm happy to say that I have far less complicated emotions towards the previous three books and will gladly return to them many times. Will Henry and Pellinore's adventures have been wonderful to read with all the ups and downs of their relationship. As for this book, I'm not sure if I will ever feel the urge to reread this one. The Final Descent is ultimately unfinished, a rough sketch at best of what could've been a moving tragic end for their adventures but was never properly fleshed out.
stephen_arvidson's review
5.0
“Beginnings are endings
And all endings are the same.
Time is a line.
But we are circles” (excerpt from The Final Descent)
The haunting and tragic conclusion to The Monstrumologist series opens with a broker seeking out Dr. Warthrop in order to sell him the greatest find in human generations, the keystone of all things monstrumological—T. cerrejonensis, a highly venomous reptilian creature thought to be extinct for over a century, the last of its kind—but Warthrop dismisses it is as a fraud without ever viewing the specimen. His apprentice Will Henry, now sixteen and becoming “the most aberrant of aberrant lifeforms without love without pity without hope”, takes it upon himself to acquire the priceless specimen via ruthless measures inspired by the late-John Kearns. With the unhatched monster egg now in his possession, Dr. Warthrop realizes it must be nurtured and safeguarded with the utmost precision—no matter what the costs, including but not limited to the destruction of his and Will Henry’s relationship.
Interestingly, the book’s literal monster, T. cerrejonensis, takes a backseat to the true monster: Will Henry. The maturing apprentice is now perpetually at odds with Warthrop, the man who made him what he is. Fans of the previous books will be appalled at seeing Will Henry surpass the callousness of his own master as he tussles in bloodthirsty fashion against an Italian mafia for not only possession of the rare creature but also in retribution for the murders of those near and dear to his heart. As for Dr. Warthrop, he will finally open his eyes to the monster that he has created—the most terrifying monster of all. While some readers will condemn Will Henry’s actions, others might even wonder if Rick Yancey himself has gone too far, as he unblinkingly—and with his usual expert prose—leads readers into humanity’s darkest of hearts.
Readers looking for a cheerful ending to this dark series may want to pass on this book, for they will be sorely disappointed. However, those willing to see through to the inescapably heartbreaking end will need to prepare themselves. Expect to weep for Will Henry, for Pellinore Warthrop, and for the end of Monstrumology as we’ve come to know it over the course of these four beautifully conceived tales. Probably no two characters in modern literature are as intricate and distinctive as Will and Warthrop, an unlikely pair from beginning to end—and this final installment brings their relationship to disturbing new levels, and not to mention, woeful.
The Final Descent is most unlike the preceding novels in how it swerves maddeningly between memories and time periods, while the story itself is less narrative and more meditative, with numerous short chapters devoted to poetry and philosophy. Yancey has woven a near-perfect tapestry that tugs mercilessly at the fabric of our souls and leaves his readers haunted by the phantom monsters lurking within ourselves. The Final Descent is a fitting end to a series that always sought to be much more than a tale of monsters and the feverous men who hunt them.
And all endings are the same.
Time is a line.
But we are circles” (excerpt from The Final Descent)
The haunting and tragic conclusion to The Monstrumologist series opens with a broker seeking out Dr. Warthrop in order to sell him the greatest find in human generations, the keystone of all things monstrumological—T. cerrejonensis, a highly venomous reptilian creature thought to be extinct for over a century, the last of its kind—but Warthrop dismisses it is as a fraud without ever viewing the specimen. His apprentice Will Henry, now sixteen and becoming “the most aberrant of aberrant lifeforms without love without pity without hope”, takes it upon himself to acquire the priceless specimen via ruthless measures inspired by the late-John Kearns. With the unhatched monster egg now in his possession, Dr. Warthrop realizes it must be nurtured and safeguarded with the utmost precision—no matter what the costs, including but not limited to the destruction of his and Will Henry’s relationship.
Interestingly, the book’s literal monster, T. cerrejonensis, takes a backseat to the true monster: Will Henry. The maturing apprentice is now perpetually at odds with Warthrop, the man who made him what he is. Fans of the previous books will be appalled at seeing Will Henry surpass the callousness of his own master as he tussles in bloodthirsty fashion against an Italian mafia for not only possession of the rare creature but also in retribution for the murders of those near and dear to his heart. As for Dr. Warthrop, he will finally open his eyes to the monster that he has created—the most terrifying monster of all. While some readers will condemn Will Henry’s actions, others might even wonder if Rick Yancey himself has gone too far, as he unblinkingly—and with his usual expert prose—leads readers into humanity’s darkest of hearts.
Readers looking for a cheerful ending to this dark series may want to pass on this book, for they will be sorely disappointed. However, those willing to see through to the inescapably heartbreaking end will need to prepare themselves. Expect to weep for Will Henry, for Pellinore Warthrop, and for the end of Monstrumology as we’ve come to know it over the course of these four beautifully conceived tales. Probably no two characters in modern literature are as intricate and distinctive as Will and Warthrop, an unlikely pair from beginning to end—and this final installment brings their relationship to disturbing new levels, and not to mention, woeful.
The Final Descent is most unlike the preceding novels in how it swerves maddeningly between memories and time periods, while the story itself is less narrative and more meditative, with numerous short chapters devoted to poetry and philosophy. Yancey has woven a near-perfect tapestry that tugs mercilessly at the fabric of our souls and leaves his readers haunted by the phantom monsters lurking within ourselves. The Final Descent is a fitting end to a series that always sought to be much more than a tale of monsters and the feverous men who hunt them.
dana004's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
rkking's review against another edition
4.0
A powerful ending to a great series.
This entire book series has had a few ups and downs in regards to the pacing and plotting. Book 1 took some time to understand the world. Book 2 was split into almost 2 separate stories. Book 3 had a confusing explanation of what the monster was. And this, Book 4, doesn't end.
Not quite. At least not the sort of ending most readers would be expecting. Major questions are left unanswered. This would have angered me, until I realized it wasn't the point. there is a bigger point to the books.
There is a bleakness that worms its way through the entire series. It began in book 1 with the origins of Will Henry, and it continues right until the end of this final book. He is a tragic character. He is a broken character. And he is a monstrous character.
That's one of the best elements of this particular entry; the title. The Final Descent refers to a couple of different things, the most important, I think, being the journey of our protagonist.
I hope there are no plans to continue this series. Leave the end mystery as it is. It's infuriating, but it's also deep and existential in its bleakness.
This whole series seems to have gone under the radar, compared to a lot of other YA series. Even the author's own other series, The 5th Wave books, got a lot of attention. But not this series so much. Shame, because this series blows all those others out of the water.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
This entire book series has had a few ups and downs in regards to the pacing and plotting. Book 1 took some time to understand the world. Book 2 was split into almost 2 separate stories. Book 3 had a confusing explanation of what the monster was. And this, Book 4, doesn't end.
Not quite. At least not the sort of ending most readers would be expecting. Major questions are left unanswered. This would have angered me, until I realized it wasn't the point. there is a bigger point to the books.
There is a bleakness that worms its way through the entire series. It began in book 1 with the origins of Will Henry, and it continues right until the end of this final book. He is a tragic character. He is a broken character. And he is a monstrous character.
That's one of the best elements of this particular entry; the title. The Final Descent refers to a couple of different things, the most important, I think, being the journey of our protagonist.
I hope there are no plans to continue this series. Leave the end mystery as it is. It's infuriating, but it's also deep and existential in its bleakness.
This whole series seems to have gone under the radar, compared to a lot of other YA series. Even the author's own other series, The 5th Wave books, got a lot of attention. But not this series so much. Shame, because this series blows all those others out of the water.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
aliciaf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rsmalls25's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
dormilona's review against another edition
3.0
I was weirdly reluctant to finish this. I just already knew the ending wasn't going to satisfy me. I love a happy ending and from the beginning of this book, really probs from the beginning of the second book, I knew I wasn't gonna get that. And that's fine, but still I was pretty bummed, hope springs eternal and whatnot.
Nonetheless, I think Yancy pretty masterfully pulls off what he is trying to do, which is unsettle me lots and get me into a pondering-the-human-condition mood. Also! this book was the least scary, but the most funny to me. 16 yr old Will Henry is a hilarious asshole. Also, Lilly Bates is at her best. Warthrop is the 2nd least interesting character while our Jörmungandr-look-alike was pretty meh as monsters go.
Nonetheless, I think Yancy pretty masterfully pulls off what he is trying to do, which is unsettle me lots and get me into a pondering-the-human-condition mood. Also! this book was the least scary, but the most funny to me. 16 yr old Will Henry is a hilarious asshole. Also, Lilly Bates is at her best. Warthrop is the 2nd least interesting character while our Jörmungandr-look-alike was pretty meh as monsters go.
leviathan_the_crow's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0