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halthemonarch's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this series; I enjoyed the protagonists and all the side characters, I enjoyed the various explanations of magic we got while we and the children explored the world, and I enjoyed the overall themes explored in the ending. The Black Reckoning is like what I expected The Amber Spyglass to be, but it met a lot of my expectations. It’s sad that things ended in such a bittersweet way, that Jake and Beetles were old wizards and everyone the kids saved at Cambridge Falls the first time are grown, Pym, Raife, and Gabriel are dead and the Wibberlys’ will always be welcomed back into magical territory, but it’s time for life to go on. I wish at least Gabriel got to live or we got more closure with Claire and Richard before saying goodbye. I was shocked about how Will killed Walter, but the dwarves feel so unserious that it wore off after long.
The final chapter almost coaxed a tear out of me. Each of them grows in the course of the series but also loses so much. Michael, Wilhelmina— Kate, Raife— and Emma, Gabriel. The central theme keeps coming back to love and that old saying “it’s better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all” There was a lot of joy to be found in this book despite all the traumas these fourteen, thirteen, and twelve year olds face, without being too full of itself and its message. It’s sad, but its enough to know that their loved one’s love for others will save their souls in the next world. I do wish that the last chapter was maybe ten pages longer and included a mirror of the scene we started with, with the family together although not about to be torn apart by Dr. Pym.
The final chapter almost coaxed a tear out of me. Each of them grows in the course of the series but also loses so much. Michael, Wilhelmina— Kate, Raife— and Emma, Gabriel. The central theme keeps coming back to love and that old saying “it’s better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all” There was a lot of joy to be found in this book despite all the traumas these fourteen, thirteen, and twelve year olds face, without being too full of itself and its message. It’s sad, but its enough to know that their loved one’s love for others will save their souls in the next world. I do wish that the last chapter was maybe ten pages longer and included a mirror of the scene we started with, with the family together although not about to be torn apart by Dr. Pym.
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
4.0
This has been an awesome fantasy series. It definitely reminded me of Lord of the Rings with a sprinkling of Harry Potter. An absolute must read for fans of both those series!
This will be my go-to series to recommend to primary aged kids who love to read fantasy. These books have everything! Magic, Dragons, Epic Battles, Dwarves, Elves, Giants, Time Travel, Witches, Wizards, and so much more!
And with a plethora of characters that you will absolutely love, what are you waiting for? I'd say it's for kids aged 10 and up. There is a little bit of violence, and a couple of significant deaths but overall I think a fun read that younger kids will really enjoy.
This will be my go-to series to recommend to primary aged kids who love to read fantasy. These books have everything! Magic, Dragons, Epic Battles, Dwarves, Elves, Giants, Time Travel, Witches, Wizards, and so much more!
And with a plethora of characters that you will absolutely love, what are you waiting for? I'd say it's for kids aged 10 and up. There is a little bit of violence, and a couple of significant deaths but overall I think a fun read that younger kids will really enjoy.
leafblade's review against another edition
4.0
Me pareció el libro más flojo de los tres, pero la verdad que le estoy poniendo las cuatro estrellas por la nostalgia y porque voy a extrañar mucho a Kate, Michael y Emma. De haberlo leído en otro momento, supongo que me habría gustado más.
Entiendo las razones de Kate para ser tan molesta como lo fue en este libro, pero la verdad que muchas veces me pareció detestable y caprichosa.
Michael ya había tenido su buen crecimiento en el libro pasado, y en este su relación con Wilamena me re confundió. Como por 3/4 del libro pensé que no la quería y que la tipa estaba siendo molesta, pero después dijo que eran novios y ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿??????????? no sé, capaz que la imbécil soy yo.
Emma creció muchísimo muchísimo muchísimo. El mundo de los muertos la cambió y le pegó fuerte, viendo a Pym y a Gabriel muertos y sabiendo que no los puede traer de vuelta.
Y hablando del mundo de los muertos, al principio, con todo monótono y la gente que no tenía recuerdos, me parecía que era algo horrible para hacer que lo lea un chico (o yo misma, a ver). Pero cuando nos dieron a entender que esto no era lo normal, que algunos muertos sí tenían que conservar sus recuerdos... mucho mejor
Me parece que el tema de los papás de los chicos fue sacado un poco de la manga, y todavía no entiendo cómo se murió Gabriel. Pero me hace bien saber que los nenes van a estar bien ahora, no sé.
Devolverle su humanidad a Rafe fue increíble, y me pareció terrible que Kate haya estado durmiendo y que cuando se despertó estaba muerto al lado de ella y ya está. Oscurísimo para un middle grade, pero aprecio mucho que se haya querido morir al lado de ella. Me hubiera dolido muchísimo que se haya muerto como villano, después de verlo en NY en el segundo libro.
En fin, que los voy a extrañar mucho mucho mucho a todos, pero que estoy feliz que lleven una buena vida.
Entiendo las razones de Kate para ser tan molesta como lo fue en este libro, pero la verdad que muchas veces me pareció detestable y caprichosa.
Michael ya había tenido su buen crecimiento en el libro pasado, y en este su relación con Wilamena me re confundió. Como por 3/4 del libro pensé que no la quería y que la tipa estaba siendo molesta, pero después dijo que eran novios y ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿??????????? no sé, capaz que la imbécil soy yo.
Emma creció muchísimo muchísimo muchísimo. El mundo de los muertos la cambió y le pegó fuerte, viendo a Pym y a Gabriel muertos y sabiendo que no los puede traer de vuelta.
Y hablando del mundo de los muertos, al principio, con todo monótono y la gente que no tenía recuerdos, me parecía que era algo horrible para hacer que lo lea un chico (o yo misma, a ver). Pero cuando nos dieron a entender que esto no era lo normal, que algunos muertos sí tenían que conservar sus recuerdos... mucho mejor
Me parece que el tema de los papás de los chicos fue sacado un poco de la manga, y todavía no entiendo cómo se murió Gabriel. Pero me hace bien saber que los nenes van a estar bien ahora, no sé.
Devolverle su humanidad a Rafe fue increíble, y me pareció terrible que Kate haya estado durmiendo y que cuando se despertó estaba muerto al lado de ella y ya está. Oscurísimo para un middle grade, pero aprecio mucho que se haya querido morir al lado de ella. Me hubiera dolido muchísimo que se haya muerto como villano, después de verlo en NY en el segundo libro.
En fin, que los voy a extrañar mucho mucho mucho a todos, pero que estoy feliz que lleven una buena vida.
misspippireads's review against another edition
5.0
The Books of Beginning trilogy has come to close with The Black Reckoning. I have been waiting on the edge of my seat for this title since The Fire Chronicle came out in 2012. If you are unfamiliar with The Books of Beginning series by John Stephens, please do not jump into book three without listening (or reading) The Emerald Atlas and The Fire Chronicle. Each book picks up the story after the other ends. Characters from previous books also return (or continue) their appearance(s) in book three.
It's such a fantastic story! It's a book that I don't want to describe; I just want other people to read it. Stephens takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster - sweet surprises, bitter ends, hilarious circumstances, and terrifying traps. One character described the adventures as a great swelling of the heart following by heartbreak and I can only agree. Their statement wrapped up the storyline so well. I laughed, I cried, I lived another life and visited a new place. Okay, a lot of new places. There is a quite a bit of traveling in each of these books. I would recommend The Black Reckoning to middlers, teens, and adults. It's so good! Well done storytelling, Mr. Stephens!
Jim Dale narrates The Black Reckoning as well as the previous titles. He is one of the top rated audiobook narrators. He's very consistent with his voices in this book as well as in the series. Dale shares believable emotions as well as male and female characters. Well done storytelling, Mr. Dale!
Reviewed from a library copy.
It's such a fantastic story! It's a book that I don't want to describe; I just want other people to read it. Stephens takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster - sweet surprises, bitter ends, hilarious circumstances, and terrifying traps. One character described the adventures as a great swelling of the heart following by heartbreak and I can only agree. Their statement wrapped up the storyline so well. I laughed, I cried, I lived another life and visited a new place. Okay, a lot of new places. There is a quite a bit of traveling in each of these books. I would recommend The Black Reckoning to middlers, teens, and adults. It's so good! Well done storytelling, Mr. Stephens!
Jim Dale narrates The Black Reckoning as well as the previous titles. He is one of the top rated audiobook narrators. He's very consistent with his voices in this book as well as in the series. Dale shares believable emotions as well as male and female characters. Well done storytelling, Mr. Dale!
Reviewed from a library copy.
aeshypen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
“when you were alive, did you ever love someone?”
I couldn’t put this book down over the last 150 pages. Stephen’s writing improved so much over the course of the series, and I couldn’t have imagined a better ending, even if I got emotionally wrecked on the way. Nothing prepared me forEmma meeting Gabriel in the world of the dead. , the word ‘sobbing’ doesn’t even begin to cover the sheer amount of crying I was doing. Also, rated a 4.75 out of sheer pettiness that Gabriel wasn’t the final keeper . I was manifesting that so hard, but I’m also partly glad it never happened as I think that seeing the three children have to be faced with the reality of killing Gabriel really would’ve set me off . An amazing ending to an amazing series. Bravo
I couldn’t put this book down over the last 150 pages. Stephen’s writing improved so much over the course of the series, and I couldn’t have imagined a better ending, even if I got emotionally wrecked on the way. Nothing prepared me for
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder, Confinement, and Genocide
whosevita's review against another edition
5.0
Ugh I love this book so dearly. I read it when I was very young and have re-read it countless times since. It made me cry. It has some really cool elements in the book, and it was not predictable at all. So recommended!
aliceboule's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not usually a fan of the way children's books end as they tend to be too happy, too perfect. I thought that Stephens was able to successfully negotiate what children would want to read with the experience of their parents/adults. I would love to read more from Stephens and I regret that I have no more books about Emma, Michael and Kate to read.
dortina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes