The King of Crows
Libba Bray
This is the fourth and last book in the Diviners series. Following the deadly explosion at Marlowe’s big event, killing best friend Mabel, Evie is left devastated. With both Jericho and Sam both missing, a way to beat the ghosts and the man in the stovetop hat are looking bleak. Jericho returns with information about Marlowe’s plan, which requires of them to stabilize the Eye. Sam also returns with first-hand knowledge of how that awful machine works. Meanwhile, during an escape from the Shadow Men in the tunnels underneath the museum, Isaiah has a vision about Sarah Beth who says she knows how to stop the King of Crows, but the group needs to come to Bountiful, Nebraska.
Events quickly go from bad to worse as Marlowe calls out the Diviners and proclaims them un-American, and puts a bounty on their heads for anyone who can bring them back to him alive. The group barely escapes from New York City, but they are now split into three groups. Henry, Isaiah, Memphis, and Bill are hidden away by the porters on a train heading south. Sam, Evie, and Theta join Sam’s former circus train and travel west disguised as performers. And Jericho and Ling hitch a ride on a bus with Ling’s girlfriend, who is managing a female-colored group of musicians on a tour, with Jericho acting as protection.
The stories the separate groups have along their journeys was the most interesting to me out of all the books. Small town gossip and perception and Evie’s betrayal by her mother who thinks it is more important than Evie’s truth, the effects of one powerful man’s words on a society despite the truth, and Jeremiah’s poetry printed as the Voice of America describing his reaction to the treatment of African Americans in the south.
Henry and Ling’s dream walking abilities allow the group to communicate and regather out west where the ghosts have strengthened and destroyed complete towns. The Diviners realize the role their actions have contributed in this and must figure out how to work together to destroy the King of Crows once and for all before it’s too late.
This is another long one at 560 pages. Suitable for ages 16+. By the end, all the Diviners have a significant other (except young Isaiah.) There are so many side stories and the 1920’s atmosphere never loses its footing. The entire series is fully fleshed out. Quite an accomplishment for Bray, despite this not being my favorite work of hers.
Libba Bray
This is the fourth and last book in the Diviners series. Following the deadly explosion at Marlowe’s big event, killing best friend Mabel, Evie is left devastated. With both Jericho and Sam both missing, a way to beat the ghosts and the man in the stovetop hat are looking bleak. Jericho returns with information about Marlowe’s plan, which requires of them to stabilize the Eye. Sam also returns with first-hand knowledge of how that awful machine works. Meanwhile, during an escape from the Shadow Men in the tunnels underneath the museum, Isaiah has a vision about Sarah Beth who says she knows how to stop the King of Crows, but the group needs to come to Bountiful, Nebraska.
Events quickly go from bad to worse as Marlowe calls out the Diviners and proclaims them un-American, and puts a bounty on their heads for anyone who can bring them back to him alive. The group barely escapes from New York City, but they are now split into three groups. Henry, Isaiah, Memphis, and Bill are hidden away by the porters on a train heading south. Sam, Evie, and Theta join Sam’s former circus train and travel west disguised as performers. And Jericho and Ling hitch a ride on a bus with Ling’s girlfriend, who is managing a female-colored group of musicians on a tour, with Jericho acting as protection.
The stories the separate groups have along their journeys was the most interesting to me out of all the books. Small town gossip and perception and Evie’s betrayal by her mother who thinks it is more important than Evie’s truth, the effects of one powerful man’s words on a society despite the truth, and Jeremiah’s poetry printed as the Voice of America describing his reaction to the treatment of African Americans in the south.
Henry and Ling’s dream walking abilities allow the group to communicate and regather out west where the ghosts have strengthened and destroyed complete towns. The Diviners realize the role their actions have contributed in this and must figure out how to work together to destroy the King of Crows once and for all before it’s too late.
This is another long one at 560 pages. Suitable for ages 16+. By the end, all the Diviners have a significant other (except young Isaiah.) There are so many side stories and the 1920’s atmosphere never loses its footing. The entire series is fully fleshed out. Quite an accomplishment for Bray, despite this not being my favorite work of hers.
Before the Devil Breaks You
Libba Bray
All the diviners are involved in this book. They learn there is more going on than they thought as ghosts begin to warn them about what or who is coming. Throughout, they receive the message to find the eye and close the breach. They have no idea what that means.
Brothers Memphis and Isaiah (who Sister Walker had secretly worked with to improve his psychic abilities) gather with Ling, Henry, Evie, and Sam to work with Sister Walker and Will at the Museum to see if their individual gifts might be stronger together. Theta is still unsure of how to handle her power of creating fire and keeps it a secret, and Jericho as a man-made machine sees himself without any abilities.
Evie, who was previously the sweetheart of the radio is quickly losing her popularity to Sarah Snow, the religious zealot causing listeners to question the intentions of the diviners, especially after the group visits the asylum on Ward’s Island to fight ghosts there and where they meet the King of Crows, and Theta unintentionally burns the place down. Her secret is now out.
Jake Marlowe, who used to be friends with Will and Sister Walker and involved in Project Buffalo, is now engaged to Sarah Snow and planning a huge event to showcase the bright future of America. He also is fanning the flames about the diviners and their unpatriotic, un-American dealings. After all, he is working on a eugenics project where he both tests unsuspecting crowds for special powers, and spreads his ideas of a pure race. The public love him and are buying into his lies without question.
Jericho, who Jake Marlowe saved as a child with his powerful serum, has blackmailed him to return to his mansion and be the main exhibit in his New America event. Jericho agrees, using the opportunity to search for a card reader for computer cards found by Sam and Evie that might contain more secrets about Project Buffalo. And he learns what the eye is and the awful way diviners are being used to operate it.
Evie’s friend Mabel, meanwhile, has joined the Secret Six, a group of agitators working for the rights of workers. The group works in a different manner from Mabel’s parents who profess non violent means of rebellion. The Secret Six has become known for using violence, which tests Mabel’s conscience.
All the diviners are older teens except for Isaiah, and the reason they are all around the same age is learned by readers as Project Buffalo becomes unraveled. Evie is no longer drinking in this book, but is conflicted in her feelings about Sam and Jericho, two boys she has fallen fall for different reasons. Sex plays a bigger role in this book as a few characters consummate their relationship, and Ling realizes she prefers girls. Henry, too, meets a new love after his terrible loss of Louis is the last book.
The book is full of 1920s New York jazz, booze, running numbers, immigrants, mixed relationships, eugenics, the treatment of mentally ill patients, and secret government agents. I also found many parallels throughout the story to our current “Make America Great Again” mentality and how newspapers/social media and affect popular opinion. Although I found the middle of the book slow, it is chock full of background details that pull the story together. The ending is non-stop mayhem with a cliffhanger that will leave readers shocked. Another long read for serious paranormal fans.
Libba Bray
All the diviners are involved in this book. They learn there is more going on than they thought as ghosts begin to warn them about what or who is coming. Throughout, they receive the message to find the eye and close the breach. They have no idea what that means.
Brothers Memphis and Isaiah (who Sister Walker had secretly worked with to improve his psychic abilities) gather with Ling, Henry, Evie, and Sam to work with Sister Walker and Will at the Museum to see if their individual gifts might be stronger together. Theta is still unsure of how to handle her power of creating fire and keeps it a secret, and Jericho as a man-made machine sees himself without any abilities.
Evie, who was previously the sweetheart of the radio is quickly losing her popularity to Sarah Snow, the religious zealot causing listeners to question the intentions of the diviners, especially after the group visits the asylum on Ward’s Island to fight ghosts there and where they meet the King of Crows, and Theta unintentionally burns the place down. Her secret is now out.
Jake Marlowe, who used to be friends with Will and Sister Walker and involved in Project Buffalo, is now engaged to Sarah Snow and planning a huge event to showcase the bright future of America. He also is fanning the flames about the diviners and their unpatriotic, un-American dealings. After all, he is working on a eugenics project where he both tests unsuspecting crowds for special powers, and spreads his ideas of a pure race. The public love him and are buying into his lies without question.
Jericho, who Jake Marlowe saved as a child with his powerful serum, has blackmailed him to return to his mansion and be the main exhibit in his New America event. Jericho agrees, using the opportunity to search for a card reader for computer cards found by Sam and Evie that might contain more secrets about Project Buffalo. And he learns what the eye is and the awful way diviners are being used to operate it.
Evie’s friend Mabel, meanwhile, has joined the Secret Six, a group of agitators working for the rights of workers. The group works in a different manner from Mabel’s parents who profess non violent means of rebellion. The Secret Six has become known for using violence, which tests Mabel’s conscience.
All the diviners are older teens except for Isaiah, and the reason they are all around the same age is learned by readers as Project Buffalo becomes unraveled. Evie is no longer drinking in this book, but is conflicted in her feelings about Sam and Jericho, two boys she has fallen fall for different reasons. Sex plays a bigger role in this book as a few characters consummate their relationship, and Ling realizes she prefers girls. Henry, too, meets a new love after his terrible loss of Louis is the last book.
The book is full of 1920s New York jazz, booze, running numbers, immigrants, mixed relationships, eugenics, the treatment of mentally ill patients, and secret government agents. I also found many parallels throughout the story to our current “Make America Great Again” mentality and how newspapers/social media and affect popular opinion. Although I found the middle of the book slow, it is chock full of background details that pull the story together. The ending is non-stop mayhem with a cliffhanger that will leave readers shocked. Another long read for serious paranormal fans.
Impossible Knife of Memory
Laurie Halse Anderson
For the first five years of her life, Haley lived a worry-free life with her grandmother, while her father was deployed. But after her grandmother’s death, she and her father Andy moved in with his girlfriend Trish in another state. For seven years despite an often-violent household, they lived like a family. Then Trish left. That’s when Haley and her father began traveling in his big rig as he crisscrossed the country trying to outrun the trauma from his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, in her senior year, the pair has returned to his hometown to live in her grandmother’s house, and for Haley to have traditional schooling.
Haley is unhappy with this decision and spends most of her time caring and worrying about her now alcoholic and drug addicted father. He provides for her as best he can on his disability income, but the memories are tearing him apart. Haley barely remembers life here, but her next-door neighbor Gracie remembers Haley and reminds her of all the good memories.
After a series of incidents, Trish learns of Andy’s worsening condition and turns up at their house to help. Haley is infuriated, stuck in her belief that Trish alienated her as a child, since she loved her like her mother.
Haley’s first semester in school is spent struggling with classes, especially math, detention due to constantly correcting her history teacher, and avoiding the guidance counselor. She doesn’t take her SATs and often misses school altogether. She’s assigned a math tutor in the way of cute boy Finn. who is a good influence on her, despite his own family drama. He dreams of attending a particular college but knows it can’t happen if his family continues down the path they are following, unless he can get a major swimming scholarship. And that won’t likely happen since he quit the swimming team. It doesn’t take much for Haley and Finn to progress from anti-date status to constantly texting each other and making out every chance they get. Haley’s math scores don’t improve.
As Haley adjusts to her new lifestyle, Andy’s condition becomes such a problem that Trish rushes him to the hospital after an accident. He begins medication for his issues, and Trish changes her work schedule to spend time with him during the days. It seemed things were improving until Christmas, when Haley and Finn discover something so nerve-rattling that I guarantee you won’t be able to stop until you know the outcome. Highly recommended for teen readers who enjoy realistic fiction. Themes include PTSD, being the new kid at school, and alcoholism. The love story between Haley and Finn is sweet and there is no sex involved other than kissing. I listened to this one on audio and the narrator did a good job voicing Haley and Finn. Another voice actor played her father.
Laurie Halse Anderson
For the first five years of her life, Haley lived a worry-free life with her grandmother, while her father was deployed. But after her grandmother’s death, she and her father Andy moved in with his girlfriend Trish in another state. For seven years despite an often-violent household, they lived like a family. Then Trish left. That’s when Haley and her father began traveling in his big rig as he crisscrossed the country trying to outrun the trauma from his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, in her senior year, the pair has returned to his hometown to live in her grandmother’s house, and for Haley to have traditional schooling.
Haley is unhappy with this decision and spends most of her time caring and worrying about her now alcoholic and drug addicted father. He provides for her as best he can on his disability income, but the memories are tearing him apart. Haley barely remembers life here, but her next-door neighbor Gracie remembers Haley and reminds her of all the good memories.
After a series of incidents, Trish learns of Andy’s worsening condition and turns up at their house to help. Haley is infuriated, stuck in her belief that Trish alienated her as a child, since she loved her like her mother.
Haley’s first semester in school is spent struggling with classes, especially math, detention due to constantly correcting her history teacher, and avoiding the guidance counselor. She doesn’t take her SATs and often misses school altogether. She’s assigned a math tutor in the way of cute boy Finn. who is a good influence on her, despite his own family drama. He dreams of attending a particular college but knows it can’t happen if his family continues down the path they are following, unless he can get a major swimming scholarship. And that won’t likely happen since he quit the swimming team. It doesn’t take much for Haley and Finn to progress from anti-date status to constantly texting each other and making out every chance they get. Haley’s math scores don’t improve.
As Haley adjusts to her new lifestyle, Andy’s condition becomes such a problem that Trish rushes him to the hospital after an accident. He begins medication for his issues, and Trish changes her work schedule to spend time with him during the days. It seemed things were improving until Christmas, when Haley and Finn discover something so nerve-rattling that I guarantee you won’t be able to stop until you know the outcome. Highly recommended for teen readers who enjoy realistic fiction. Themes include PTSD, being the new kid at school, and alcoholism. The love story between Haley and Finn is sweet and there is no sex involved other than kissing. I listened to this one on audio and the narrator did a good job voicing Haley and Finn. Another voice actor played her father.
Lair of Dreams
Libba Bray
This is the second book in the Diviners Series. Evie has become elevated to the Sweetheart Seer on radio who reads the objects of audience members. She’s the new hot thing everyone adores and her presence is demanded at all the hot parties and events. For publicity, the radio wants her to have a romance and Sam becomes the unsuspecting fiancé. He agrees to the scheme, but only if Evie will help him find his mother, who he is convinced is not dead and somehow involved with a secret government mission to identify diviners called Project Buffalo.
Meanwhile, readers are introduced to Ling Chan, a girl requiring leg braces following infantile paralysis. Her gift is that she can talk to dead people in dreams, so people come to her for messages from dead relatives, and in dreams she can move about freely. She accidentally runs into dream walker Henry, who by day plays piano for the Follies and by night is searching for his lost love Louis from New Orleans. The pair begin to meet every night at the fancy train station in their dreams where Ling meets with a new friend, Wai Mae, coming over on a boat from China to marry a rich merchant. This girl is able to create dreams that are more colorful and more real than Henry and Ling. But there are unsettling things happening in the dreamworld.
Currently there is a sleeping sickness, started in Chinatown, where people fall into deep dream states and are unable to wake up until eventually getting blisters and dying, which happens to Ling’s best friend George. Eventually, the mystery of the disease and the connection to the man in the stovepipe hat are connected. The Diviners, including Evie, Sam, Henry, and Ling, along with Theta (who readers are beginning to realize might have powers of her own,) and Memphis (who has begun healing people again,) and Jericho and Mabel (from book 1) must work together to find a way to cure the sleeping sickness.
This is another long book and recommended for readers who enjoy the supernatural in a real setting. History about the original subway built in New York City is included and an interesting part of the story. There is also history about the Chinese immigrant situation at this time. There are additional storylines evolving involving Memphis and Isiah, which I assume will play out in the next book in the series. Evie is heavily drinking at this point as there are a lot of parties to attend, so readers should be aware of that. The characters are mostly older teens and even early twenties making this of interest to older teens and even adults.
Libba Bray
This is the second book in the Diviners Series. Evie has become elevated to the Sweetheart Seer on radio who reads the objects of audience members. She’s the new hot thing everyone adores and her presence is demanded at all the hot parties and events. For publicity, the radio wants her to have a romance and Sam becomes the unsuspecting fiancé. He agrees to the scheme, but only if Evie will help him find his mother, who he is convinced is not dead and somehow involved with a secret government mission to identify diviners called Project Buffalo.
Meanwhile, readers are introduced to Ling Chan, a girl requiring leg braces following infantile paralysis. Her gift is that she can talk to dead people in dreams, so people come to her for messages from dead relatives, and in dreams she can move about freely. She accidentally runs into dream walker Henry, who by day plays piano for the Follies and by night is searching for his lost love Louis from New Orleans. The pair begin to meet every night at the fancy train station in their dreams where Ling meets with a new friend, Wai Mae, coming over on a boat from China to marry a rich merchant. This girl is able to create dreams that are more colorful and more real than Henry and Ling. But there are unsettling things happening in the dreamworld.
Currently there is a sleeping sickness, started in Chinatown, where people fall into deep dream states and are unable to wake up until eventually getting blisters and dying, which happens to Ling’s best friend George. Eventually, the mystery of the disease and the connection to the man in the stovepipe hat are connected. The Diviners, including Evie, Sam, Henry, and Ling, along with Theta (who readers are beginning to realize might have powers of her own,) and Memphis (who has begun healing people again,) and Jericho and Mabel (from book 1) must work together to find a way to cure the sleeping sickness.
This is another long book and recommended for readers who enjoy the supernatural in a real setting. History about the original subway built in New York City is included and an interesting part of the story. There is also history about the Chinese immigrant situation at this time. There are additional storylines evolving involving Memphis and Isiah, which I assume will play out in the next book in the series. Evie is heavily drinking at this point as there are a lot of parties to attend, so readers should be aware of that. The characters are mostly older teens and even early twenties making this of interest to older teens and even adults.
The Diviners
Libba Bray
This is the first book in the Diviners Series. Set in Prohibition New York, our main character Evie has the unique ability to know things about a person by holding one of their personal objects. This ability has gotten her into trouble when she reveals something about the son of a powerful family in her Ohio hometown. Consequently, her family sends her to stay with her Uncle Will in New York City until the situation calms down. Seventeen-year-old Evie is thrilled to get away and to see her old friend Mabel who lives in the Bennington where her uncle lives. She imagines all the excitement and parties and clubs they will attend. Unfortunately, “Unc” works at the boring Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, where he teaches, and the place where she will spend her days, with his super boring sidekick Jericho. Mabel, however, thinks Jericho is the bee’s knees, and Evie has heard all about it in the letters the girls have sent each other over the years.
As soon as she arrives in NYC, Evie is swindled out of twenty dollars by Sam, a smooth-talking pickpocket. And for some reason, Uncle Will thinks it’s a good idea to let Sam live at the museum to act as guard. Turns out, Sam has a power of his own. He can make people not see him by simply suggesting it.
Meanwhile, Memphis is a Langston Hughes wannabee poet who hangs out in the cemetery to write, while running numbers during the day. He has the ability to heal people – at least he did until he needed to save his dying mother, and was unable to. He’s left with his Aunt Octavia while his father saves up money to bring Memphis and his young brother Isiah to Chicago. Isiah has been practicing an ability to read cards without looking at them from Miss Walker, who is supposed to be helping him with his arithmetic.
Evie becomes fast friends with Theta, who also lives in the Bennington, and is a Ziegfeld girl. What could be more exciting! After a chance meeting with Memphis, Theta learns that she and Memphis both have the same recurring dream. It must mean something, right? “Poet” and “Creole Princess” instantly have a connection.
After a girl is found murdered with a strange symbol and a body part missing, Uncle Will is brought into the investigation to help solve it. It doesn’t take long for him and his cast of three to realize there will be more murders unless they can solve this sinister mystery before an upcoming comet arrives. The race to prevent this evil spirit from achieving his long-sought after goal leads to great suspense.
This is a young adult murder mystery will appeal to readers who enjoy superstition and the occult. It’s a pretty clean read, with minimal romance, but Evie is known to drink and Uncle Will smokes. There are also religious references made. The complex cast of characters are distinct and realistic, and there are many layers in the story. It’s a long book – nearly 500 pages - so definitely for those who enjoy getting immersed in a story. This title won several awards in young adult categories. The second book in the series is Lair of Dreams, and I will read that next to see what’s in store for this group of Diviners. There are a few other characters that will most likely appear again as well. I’d recommend this book for young adults ages 15 and up, and adults.
Libba Bray
This is the first book in the Diviners Series. Set in Prohibition New York, our main character Evie has the unique ability to know things about a person by holding one of their personal objects. This ability has gotten her into trouble when she reveals something about the son of a powerful family in her Ohio hometown. Consequently, her family sends her to stay with her Uncle Will in New York City until the situation calms down. Seventeen-year-old Evie is thrilled to get away and to see her old friend Mabel who lives in the Bennington where her uncle lives. She imagines all the excitement and parties and clubs they will attend. Unfortunately, “Unc” works at the boring Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, where he teaches, and the place where she will spend her days, with his super boring sidekick Jericho. Mabel, however, thinks Jericho is the bee’s knees, and Evie has heard all about it in the letters the girls have sent each other over the years.
As soon as she arrives in NYC, Evie is swindled out of twenty dollars by Sam, a smooth-talking pickpocket. And for some reason, Uncle Will thinks it’s a good idea to let Sam live at the museum to act as guard. Turns out, Sam has a power of his own. He can make people not see him by simply suggesting it.
Meanwhile, Memphis is a Langston Hughes wannabee poet who hangs out in the cemetery to write, while running numbers during the day. He has the ability to heal people – at least he did until he needed to save his dying mother, and was unable to. He’s left with his Aunt Octavia while his father saves up money to bring Memphis and his young brother Isiah to Chicago. Isiah has been practicing an ability to read cards without looking at them from Miss Walker, who is supposed to be helping him with his arithmetic.
Evie becomes fast friends with Theta, who also lives in the Bennington, and is a Ziegfeld girl. What could be more exciting! After a chance meeting with Memphis, Theta learns that she and Memphis both have the same recurring dream. It must mean something, right? “Poet” and “Creole Princess” instantly have a connection.
After a girl is found murdered with a strange symbol and a body part missing, Uncle Will is brought into the investigation to help solve it. It doesn’t take long for him and his cast of three to realize there will be more murders unless they can solve this sinister mystery before an upcoming comet arrives. The race to prevent this evil spirit from achieving his long-sought after goal leads to great suspense.
This is a young adult murder mystery will appeal to readers who enjoy superstition and the occult. It’s a pretty clean read, with minimal romance, but Evie is known to drink and Uncle Will smokes. There are also religious references made. The complex cast of characters are distinct and realistic, and there are many layers in the story. It’s a long book – nearly 500 pages - so definitely for those who enjoy getting immersed in a story. This title won several awards in young adult categories. The second book in the series is Lair of Dreams, and I will read that next to see what’s in store for this group of Diviners. There are a few other characters that will most likely appear again as well. I’d recommend this book for young adults ages 15 and up, and adults.
This is a fast-paced realistic science fiction, the first in the Chaos Walking series. Todd Hewitt is fast approaching his 13th birthday when he will become a “man” in Prentisstown, and he is counting the days. Suddenly, his surrogate fathers Ben and Cillian give him a backpack and help him scramble out of town with instructions to get to Haven to warn them. He’s given a book with a map inside written by his mother who died with all the other woman when he was a baby. They will explain everything, he’s told. He’s only got his dog Manchee to accompany him. First problem: Todd can barely read. Second, he has no idea why he is being forced out or why the town mayor and other men from town are chasing him. Third, what should he do about this girl, Viola, whose spaceship has crashed in the forest? He’s never even seen a girl before and he can’t hear her noise. Where he’s from, everyone can hear everyone else’s noise – their thoughts, their dreams, their feelings – ever since they arrived on New World and were infected by the Spackle. That’s when all the women died. They can even hear the thoughts of animals. In the days following his escape, Todd learns that he hasn’t been told the entire truth about anything. For one, Prentisstown isn’t the last remaining colony on the newly inhabited planet. Todd, Viola, and Manchee arrive in Farbranch, where they are able to recover after an attack by the Prentisstown men chasing them, and meet sympathetic locals. Soon the men catch up and light the town on fire and kill the residents. The group is on the run again. They are chased to Haven and have many close calls. Todd realizes the truth about why he is being chased just before he reaches Haven, and the book ends with a cliff-hanger. There is foul language from this cranky protagonist, but the dog Manchee is hilarious. This will appeal to readers ages 12 and up. The audio recording is excellent.
Book 2 picks up where Book 1 left off, but Mayor Prentiss’ (now President Prentiss) tone has changed to one of peace. The previous Mayor of Haven surrendered his town in the hopes of avoiding death and destruction, as happened in Farbranch. Viola, who was in horribly injured at the end of the last book is missing, and Todd is “interrogated” by President Prentiss and his henchmen. Listening to the audiobook, his change from screaming and yelling for Todd to his new calm and controlled style is jolting. His actions were evident to me as a technique of abuse and gaining power and trust, but younger readers might not recognize it for what it is at first, but as the story progresses, there will be no doubt. The reader eventually learns that Viola has survived and is staying with Mistress Coyle, where she is learning a bit about healing, among other things. Todd is kept in a tower with the former Mayer of Haven, but is eventually brought out to work alongside the President’s son Davy. The boys despise each other. They perform jobs to help transform Haven into the new Prentisstown, and Todd performs horrible actions, all with the promise of seeing Viola again. The townspeople are beginning to return to a new normal, but things come to a head when Mistress Coyle and the (mostly women) escape to form the Answer in an attempt to overthrow this new regime. There is a lot going on in this book and complex issues are introduced. Todd and Viola are separated for most of it, being shaped by their individual leaders, and their loyalty to each other is questioned. In the end, I wondered, who are we really rooting for here? With Viola’s spaceships on a timetable to arrive within weeks, and the war between the Ask and the Answer, and possibly the Spackle again too, the cliff-hanger ending will have the reader gasping for breath for the outcome. It continues to be fast-paced, and a bit exhausting for me at the end. This second book is full of torture, foul language, genocide, and death and violence (including bombs) that readers should be aware of. For readers 16+. It would make a good book for discussion.
Book 3 picks up where the last left off. It is the last in the Chaos Walking series. As the Spackle army attacks Prentisstown on one side and the Answer attacks on the other, Todd Hewitt makes the decision to free President Prentiss, believing this is the only way to save the town. With the arrival of the scout ship, there is eagerness by both President Prentiss and Mistress Coyle to gain access to the missile onboard.
This book introduces the point of view of the Spackle, mainly through 1017, the Spackle Todd branded and then set free after all the other Spackle are killed. The reader learns that they communicate as a group through a sort of telepathy. This story is filled with the brilliance behind the actions of President Prentiss all while wondering how he has this ability.
So much occurs from all sides during their battles…the Spackle blocking the river that provides water to town, the Ask and the Answer coming to a sort of truce to trade water and food, and the eventually attempts at peace. The pace is frantic and non-stop, which has been my complaint throughout the series. There is no chance to breathe, but I’m sure the adrenaline junkies will love that aspect of the series. I also quickly grew tired of the repetitious dialogue… “Todd,” “Viola!” and “Shut up!” although I understand why it is done.
The ending is unexpected and provides hope.
This book introduces the point of view of the Spackle, mainly through 1017, the Spackle Todd branded and then set free after all the other Spackle are killed. The reader learns that they communicate as a group through a sort of telepathy. This story is filled with the brilliance behind the actions of President Prentiss all while wondering how he has this ability.
So much occurs from all sides during their battles…the Spackle blocking the river that provides water to town, the Ask and the Answer coming to a sort of truce to trade water and food, and the eventually attempts at peace. The pace is frantic and non-stop, which has been my complaint throughout the series. There is no chance to breathe, but I’m sure the adrenaline junkies will love that aspect of the series. I also quickly grew tired of the repetitious dialogue… “Todd,” “Viola!” and “Shut up!” although I understand why it is done.
The ending is unexpected and provides hope.