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Lockwood & Co. #5
袩褍褋褌邪褟 屑芯谐懈谢邪
欧宝娱乐 Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2017)校蟹薪邪胁, 褔褌芯 袦邪褉懈褋褋邪 肖懈褌褌懈褋, 芯褋薪芯胁邪褌械谢褜薪懈褑邪 泻褉褍锌薪械泄褕械谐芯 胁 袥芯薪写芯薪械 邪谐械薪褌褋褌胁邪 锌芯 斜芯褉褜斜械 褋 锌褉懈蟹褉邪泻邪屑懈, 胁芯胁褋械 薪械 褍屑械褉谢邪 屑薪芯谐芯 谢械褌 薪邪蟹邪写, 屑褘 褉械褕懈谢懈 锌褉芯斜褉邪褌褜褋褟 胁 械械 褍褋褘锌邪谢褜薪懈褑褍 懈 胁褋泻褉褘褌褜 谐褉芯斜. 袛械泄褋褌胁懈褌械谢褜薪芯, 胁屑械褋褌芯 锌芯泻芯泄薪懈褑褘 胁 谐褉芯斜褍 谢械卸邪谢邪 胁芯褋泻芯胁邪褟 泻褍泻谢邪. 袧芯 泻褌芯 卸械 褌芯谐写邪 褉褍泻芯胁芯写懈褌 邪谐械薪褌褋褌胁芯屑? 袠 泻邪泻 袦邪褉懈褋褋械 褍写邪谢芯褋褜 锌褉芯卸懈褌褜 褌邪泻 写芯谢谐芯 懈 胁褘谐谢褟写械褌褜 褋褌芯谢褜 屑芯谢芯写芯? 袧芯 锌芯褏芯卸械, 锌芯谢褍褔懈褌褜 芯褌胁械褌褘 薪邪 褝褌懈 胁芯锌褉芯褋褘 薪邪屑 薪械 褋褍卸写械薪芯, 锌芯褌芯屑褍 褔褌芯 屑褘 褋褌邪谢懈 锌芯谢褍褔邪褌褜 褍谐褉芯蟹褘, 邪 蟹邪褌械屑 邪谐械薪褌褋褌胁芯 肖懈褌褌懈褋 懈 胁芯胁褋械 锌褉懈褋谢邪谢芯 泻 薪邪褕械屑褍 写芯屑褍 谐芯谢芯胁芯褉械蟹芯胁. 效褌芯斜褘 褋锌邪褋褌懈褋褜 芯褌 胁械褉薪芯泄 褋屑械褉褌懈, 屑薪械 懈 屑芯懈屑 写褉褍蟹褜褟屑 薪褍卸薪芯 锌褉芯泄褌懈 锌芯 袛褉褍谐芯泄 小褌芯褉芯薪械, 屑懈褉褍 锌褉懈蟹褉邪泻芯胁. 袨褌胁邪卸懈胁褕懈褋褜 薪邪 褌邪泻芯械 芯锌邪褋薪芯械 锌褉械写锌褉懈褟褌懈械, 屑褘 褋懈谢褜薪芯 褉懈褋泻褍械屑, 薪芯 褔褌芯, 械褋谢懈 薪邪屑 胁褋械-褌邪泻懈 褍写邪褋褌褋褟 褉邪蟹谐邪写邪褌褜 褌邪泄薪褍 袦邪褉懈褋褋褘? 袙械写褜 泻邪泻 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪芯, 械械 邪谐械薪褌褋褌胁芯 褍卸械 屑薪芯谐懈械 谐芯写褘 胁械写械褌 褝泻褋锌械褉懈屑械薪褌褘, 锌褍褌械褕械褋褌胁褍褟 薪邪 袛褉褍谐褍褞 小褌芯褉芯薪褍.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2017
730 people are currently reading
14.2k people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Stroud
63听books10.8k听followersJonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.
Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.
In May 1999, Stroud published his first children's novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children's books.
Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.
Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children's books.
Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.
In May 1999, Stroud published his first children's novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children's books.
Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.
Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,596 reviews
June 29, 2019
鈥漈his is what the Problem means,鈥� he went on. 鈥淭his is the effect it has. Lives lost, loved ones taken before their time. And then we hide our dead behind iron walls and leave them to the thorns and ivy. We lose them twice over, Lucy. Death鈥檚 not the worst of it. We turn our faces away.鈥�
I鈥檓 so sad this series is over and that I finished the last book. I really would have loved to read a sixth or seventh installment and if you ask me Stroud definitely should have written more books. XD I would have read them all and I鈥檓 convinced that the quality and the plot would have been amazing until the end. Well, as a matter of fact 鈥淟ockwood and Co.鈥� actually was amazing until the end. T_T
I just loved this series and the way Stroud wrote it. He managed to create a unique world and characters that will stay with me forever and for that I鈥檓 very thankful. =) Of course this book was once again a little darker than its predecessor but as I already pointed out in my review of 鈥淭he Creeping Shadow鈥� this is only to be expected because the characters grow and the plot thickens. Still, despite all that, Stroud somehow managed to stay true to his writing style and the book was at least as funny as it was serious.
鈥漎ou鈥檝e heard of racism. You鈥檝e heard of sexism. Well, this is skullism, pure and simple. You鈥檙e judging me by my outward appearance. You doubt my word solely because I鈥檓 a skull lurking in a jar of slime-green plasm. Admit it!鈥�
Can we acknowledge how awesome the skull was? I鈥檒l miss him and his antics so badly! I always knew that deep down within him he had a soft heart and I wasn鈥檛 disappointed when I reached the ending of the book. XD And if we鈥檙e already talking about the characters I want to point out that Lockwood and Lucy grew on me. They fit together so perfectly and even though their romance is just hinted at, I still loved that it turned out that way. I mean when you read YA books (like I do) there is always some big romance involved. In Stroud鈥檚 books it takes a backseat and lets the plot shine. You might say the light romance is used to emphasize certain situations, but it鈥檚 never in the spotlight and I can鈥檛 say how much I appreciated this approach. It鈥檚 refreshing and with Stroud it works so well! XD
鈥漇o my heart sang and my heart despaired, which was pretty much the usual combination for me whenever Lockwood was around.鈥�
He brushed hair from his eyes. 鈥淭hat makes two of us, then. What鈥檚 your daft plan?鈥�
鈥淭he usual. I was hoping to talk to it and calm it down. Yours?鈥�
鈥淭hought I鈥檇 slow it up by cutting off its legs.鈥�
I grinned at him. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so similar.鈥�
And because this wouldn鈥檛 be one of my 鈥淟ockwood & Co鈥� reviews if I wouldn鈥檛 gush about George I have to mention how much I love that boy! The way he rebuked Sir Rupert Gale?! Just amazing!! I was like 鈥淕o, George! You got this!!鈥� and I was so very proud of him. Aside from the skull he鈥檚 still my favourite character of this series and I loved how contradictory he was. *lol* On the one hand he鈥檚 so shy and buries himself in books and on the other hand he has no problem to stand up for others and to put Sir Rupert in his place. Of all the characters in 鈥淟ockwood & Co.鈥� he was certainly the most intriguing and I wish I could have seen more of him.
鈥漁h, and I know the DEPRAC rules as well as you, and if you pick fights with accredited agents off about their appointed tasks, Barnes will have your tweedy backside hauled over hot cobblestones to Scotland Yard. So why not go off and hassle someone else?鈥� He held his glasses up towards the sun and tilted them, checking that any conceivable smudge had been removed. 鈥淕ood. Sometimes I see so clearly, it almost frightens me.鈥� He put them back on and ben to his bag. 鈥淟ead on, Holly. Stratford, here we come.鈥�
As for the plot: I really liked the case of 鈥淟a Belle Dame Sans Merci鈥� and I was happy how the main plot with 鈥淭he Problem鈥� was solved. Our heroes had quite a tough time in 鈥淭he Empty Grave鈥� and I was really glad that everything dissolved in pleasure in the end. I mean, hell, even Kipps grew on me and the sticky situations they got themselves in made me fear for all of them. >_< Oh and can I mention how surprised I was about Holly!!! OMG!!! This was such an amazing little plot twist so kudos to Stroud for adding even more depth to his characters and books!
鈥漌e鈥檙e there to help each other. If we do that, we鈥檒l get through.鈥�
And with this my review eventually ends! I really wish there would have been more books! I still have so many questions and there were so many things I would have loved to read about. XD I guess Stroud decided that if it can鈥檛 get any better, he should stop and no matter how heartbroken I am, I can still understand this sentiment.
All told, Stroud wrote an amazing and unique series and after finishing it, it will be more than just hard to find a worthy successor! <3
_________________________________
I don鈥檛 want this series to end but I鈥檓 already at the fifth book and I know this ending is going to hurt! I don鈥檛 even know why, but I have a feeling that I鈥檓 probably going to cry an ocean while I read this.
I DON鈥橳 WANT MY BABIES TO LEAVE ME!!! *sniff*
But my library won鈥檛 extend my loan period so I have no other choice. >_<
It鈥檚 time to stop procrastinating and to face my inner 鈥済丑辞蝉迟蝉鈥�! (See what I did there? ;-P)
Wish me luck, guys!
I鈥檒l need it for that, no doubt, grande finale! *lol*
One last case with my crew! T_T
I鈥檓 so sad this series is over and that I finished the last book. I really would have loved to read a sixth or seventh installment and if you ask me Stroud definitely should have written more books. XD I would have read them all and I鈥檓 convinced that the quality and the plot would have been amazing until the end. Well, as a matter of fact 鈥淟ockwood and Co.鈥� actually was amazing until the end. T_T
I just loved this series and the way Stroud wrote it. He managed to create a unique world and characters that will stay with me forever and for that I鈥檓 very thankful. =) Of course this book was once again a little darker than its predecessor but as I already pointed out in my review of 鈥淭he Creeping Shadow鈥� this is only to be expected because the characters grow and the plot thickens. Still, despite all that, Stroud somehow managed to stay true to his writing style and the book was at least as funny as it was serious.
鈥漎ou鈥檝e heard of racism. You鈥檝e heard of sexism. Well, this is skullism, pure and simple. You鈥檙e judging me by my outward appearance. You doubt my word solely because I鈥檓 a skull lurking in a jar of slime-green plasm. Admit it!鈥�
Can we acknowledge how awesome the skull was? I鈥檒l miss him and his antics so badly! I always knew that deep down within him he had a soft heart and I wasn鈥檛 disappointed when I reached the ending of the book. XD And if we鈥檙e already talking about the characters I want to point out that Lockwood and Lucy grew on me. They fit together so perfectly and even though their romance is just hinted at, I still loved that it turned out that way. I mean when you read YA books (like I do) there is always some big romance involved. In Stroud鈥檚 books it takes a backseat and lets the plot shine. You might say the light romance is used to emphasize certain situations, but it鈥檚 never in the spotlight and I can鈥檛 say how much I appreciated this approach. It鈥檚 refreshing and with Stroud it works so well! XD
鈥漇o my heart sang and my heart despaired, which was pretty much the usual combination for me whenever Lockwood was around.鈥�
He brushed hair from his eyes. 鈥淭hat makes two of us, then. What鈥檚 your daft plan?鈥�
鈥淭he usual. I was hoping to talk to it and calm it down. Yours?鈥�
鈥淭hought I鈥檇 slow it up by cutting off its legs.鈥�
I grinned at him. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so similar.鈥�
And because this wouldn鈥檛 be one of my 鈥淟ockwood & Co鈥� reviews if I wouldn鈥檛 gush about George I have to mention how much I love that boy! The way he rebuked Sir Rupert Gale?! Just amazing!! I was like 鈥淕o, George! You got this!!鈥� and I was so very proud of him. Aside from the skull he鈥檚 still my favourite character of this series and I loved how contradictory he was. *lol* On the one hand he鈥檚 so shy and buries himself in books and on the other hand he has no problem to stand up for others and to put Sir Rupert in his place. Of all the characters in 鈥淟ockwood & Co.鈥� he was certainly the most intriguing and I wish I could have seen more of him.
鈥漁h, and I know the DEPRAC rules as well as you, and if you pick fights with accredited agents off about their appointed tasks, Barnes will have your tweedy backside hauled over hot cobblestones to Scotland Yard. So why not go off and hassle someone else?鈥� He held his glasses up towards the sun and tilted them, checking that any conceivable smudge had been removed. 鈥淕ood. Sometimes I see so clearly, it almost frightens me.鈥� He put them back on and ben to his bag. 鈥淟ead on, Holly. Stratford, here we come.鈥�
As for the plot: I really liked the case of 鈥淟a Belle Dame Sans Merci鈥� and I was happy how the main plot with 鈥淭he Problem鈥� was solved. Our heroes had quite a tough time in 鈥淭he Empty Grave鈥� and I was really glad that everything dissolved in pleasure in the end. I mean, hell, even Kipps grew on me and the sticky situations they got themselves in made me fear for all of them. >_< Oh and can I mention how surprised I was about Holly!!! OMG!!! This was such an amazing little plot twist so kudos to Stroud for adding even more depth to his characters and books!
鈥漌e鈥檙e there to help each other. If we do that, we鈥檒l get through.鈥�
And with this my review eventually ends! I really wish there would have been more books! I still have so many questions and there were so many things I would have loved to read about. XD I guess Stroud decided that if it can鈥檛 get any better, he should stop and no matter how heartbroken I am, I can still understand this sentiment.
All told, Stroud wrote an amazing and unique series and after finishing it, it will be more than just hard to find a worthy successor! <3
_________________________________
I don鈥檛 want this series to end but I鈥檓 already at the fifth book and I know this ending is going to hurt! I don鈥檛 even know why, but I have a feeling that I鈥檓 probably going to cry an ocean while I read this.
I DON鈥橳 WANT MY BABIES TO LEAVE ME!!! *sniff*
But my library won鈥檛 extend my loan period so I have no other choice. >_<
It鈥檚 time to stop procrastinating and to face my inner 鈥済丑辞蝉迟蝉鈥�! (See what I did there? ;-P)
Wish me luck, guys!
I鈥檒l need it for that, no doubt, grande finale! *lol*
One last case with my crew! T_T
October 22, 2017
BITCH IMSO SENSITIVE AND EMOTIONAL THAT I MIGHT FALL APART IF U TOUCH ME
Oh my God I'm fucking deceased, dead. I don't know what life is, how do ppl breathe??? what I don't want this no no no I don't want to exist.
I don't like this pain nope nope nope nope, bye.
no review bitch, I can't even breathe right now and I'm trying not to cRy I'm literally so sad and depressed and that ending tore my heart out, I'm bye!!!!!
---
who gave Stroud permission to end this series?? but if there's lucyxlockwood scene I may be willing to forgive.
Buddy read with my fellow clash royale trash fan
5/25/17
*sees cover*
*screams*
--
*takes a deep breath*
UM WHAT THE FUCK THIS HAS A TITLE AND A BLURB. WHERE IS THE COVER?
GIVE ME THIS RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT
FUCKING
NOW
Oh my God I'm fucking deceased, dead. I don't know what life is, how do ppl breathe??? what I don't want this no no no I don't want to exist.
I don't like this pain nope nope nope nope, bye.
no review bitch, I can't even breathe right now and I'm trying not to cRy I'm literally so sad and depressed and that ending tore my heart out, I'm bye!!!!!
---
who gave Stroud permission to end this series?? but if there's lucyxlockwood scene I may be willing to forgive.
Buddy read with my fellow clash royale trash fan
5/25/17
*sees cover*
*screams*
--
*takes a deep breath*
UM WHAT THE FUCK THIS HAS A TITLE AND A BLURB. WHERE IS THE COVER?
GIVE ME THIS RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT
FUCKING
NOW
May 6, 2018
Oh my goodness, that was a roller coaster ride from start to finish.
I'm rather emotional right now, so I'll keep this (relatively) short.
It's been fun, Lockwood & Co.
From sardonic ghosts in jars to old-enemies-turned-friends, this entire series has been one massive journey that I'm overjoyed to have been a part of.
The Lockwood & Co. finale was full of action, fighting (against ghosts and people alike), fanTASTIC foreshadowing, adorable moments between our beloved characters, squad goals (they are, honestly), and tiny little chefs chopping onions. Not literally. But my eyes did sweat a little, and that's what made this book so great.
Spoilers! Don't click unless you've read the book!
In conclusion, this series was amazing, and the beautiful ending did it justice. This book was my favorite of the five, and I honestly couldn't have wished for it to be any better.
Thanks for all the memories, Lockwood & Co. This series is one that I will never forget.
--
It's finally September 12th... which means...
--
*looks at publication date*
*takes a deep breath*
*turns and looks into the camera*
This is it.
This is the book where we see what huge plot has been building throughout the last four books, right under our noses the entire time.
We get to see what the deal is with our favorite skull.
We get to see if Lucewood is ever going to be a thing.
We get to see what is going on with the Fittes Agency.
We get to see the true reason behind the ghosts.
Everything is going to end in this book, one way or another.
But at the same time...
I'm rather emotional right now, so I'll keep this (relatively) short.
It's been fun, Lockwood & Co.
From sardonic ghosts in jars to old-enemies-turned-friends, this entire series has been one massive journey that I'm overjoyed to have been a part of.
The Lockwood & Co. finale was full of action, fighting (against ghosts and people alike), fanTASTIC foreshadowing, adorable moments between our beloved characters, squad goals (they are, honestly), and tiny little chefs chopping onions. Not literally. But my eyes did sweat a little, and that's what made this book so great.
Spoilers! Don't click unless you've read the book!
In conclusion, this series was amazing, and the beautiful ending did it justice. This book was my favorite of the five, and I honestly couldn't have wished for it to be any better.
Thanks for all the memories, Lockwood & Co. This series is one that I will never forget.
--
It's finally September 12th... which means...
--
*looks at publication date*
*takes a deep breath*
*turns and looks into the camera*
This is it.
This is the book where we see what huge plot has been building throughout the last four books, right under our noses the entire time.
We get to see what the deal is with our favorite skull.
We get to see if Lucewood is ever going to be a thing.
We get to see what is going on with the Fittes Agency.
We get to see the true reason behind the ghosts.
Everything is going to end in this book, one way or another.
But at the same time...
October 24, 2017
Full review posted
Me calling the police on Stroud:
I鈥檓 dead inside and everything hurts. :) :) :)
Let鈥檚 just list bc I have no energy for anything else:
- ITS OVER ITS OVER ITS OVER
- OH MY GOD WHY IS IT OVER MY BABIES I WONT SEE ANYMORE OF THEM THIS IS SO SAD
- Ahem
- Let鈥檚 just talk about how Anthony Lockwood and Lucy and Holly and George and Kipps and the Skull are totally arguing over tea and cookies right now
- Bc any other scenario will leave me drowning in my own tears
- THIS. BOOK. CRUSHED. EVERYTHING. I. AM.
- I was crying in beginning, middle, and end
- Just
- Sobbing silently while my hopes and dreams and aspirations leached out of me and into these little children
- I love them so much oh my god someone hold me
- THE SKULL
- THE SKULL OH MY HEART
- The banter you guys, it鈥檚 perfect, it鈥檚 beautiful, it revived me during my deepest and darkest time
- THE SKULL TEASING LUCY ABOUT LOCKWOOD I WANT A FULL SIZED BOOK ABOUT THAT
- And holly and lucy鈥檚 friendship oh my goodness
- The character development you guys
- Everyone had such epic development, except lockwood, he鈥檚 perfect from the beginning
- The only way to get over this series is to full fledge throw yourself into fanfiction and fan art and headcanons bc that鈥檚 what I did (you can ask sana, she had to deal with my spamming)
- Stoud has no heart and he proved it with the trash he pulled in this book
- You鈥檙e an evil man *whispers* when is book 6 being released again ;) ;) ;) I wont tell anyone :) :) promise :)
-
i love them sm
5 stars!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buddy read with lockwood trash fan
this is THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES IM GONNA CRYYYYYYYYYY ITS ALMOST OVER I MISS THE BABIES ALREADY ;-;
Me calling the police on Stroud:
I鈥檓 dead inside and everything hurts. :) :) :)
Let鈥檚 just list bc I have no energy for anything else:
- ITS OVER ITS OVER ITS OVER
- OH MY GOD WHY IS IT OVER MY BABIES I WONT SEE ANYMORE OF THEM THIS IS SO SAD
- Ahem
- Let鈥檚 just talk about how Anthony Lockwood and Lucy and Holly and George and Kipps and the Skull are totally arguing over tea and cookies right now
- Bc any other scenario will leave me drowning in my own tears
- THIS. BOOK. CRUSHED. EVERYTHING. I. AM.
- I was crying in beginning, middle, and end
- Just
- Sobbing silently while my hopes and dreams and aspirations leached out of me and into these little children
- I love them so much oh my god someone hold me
- THE SKULL
- THE SKULL OH MY HEART
- The banter you guys, it鈥檚 perfect, it鈥檚 beautiful, it revived me during my deepest and darkest time
- THE SKULL TEASING LUCY ABOUT LOCKWOOD I WANT A FULL SIZED BOOK ABOUT THAT
- And holly and lucy鈥檚 friendship oh my goodness
- The character development you guys
- Everyone had such epic development, except lockwood, he鈥檚 perfect from the beginning
- The only way to get over this series is to full fledge throw yourself into fanfiction and fan art and headcanons bc that鈥檚 what I did (you can ask sana, she had to deal with my spamming)
- Stoud has no heart and he proved it with the trash he pulled in this book
- You鈥檙e an evil man *whispers* when is book 6 being released again ;) ;) ;) I wont tell anyone :) :) promise :)
-
i love them sm
5 stars!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buddy read with lockwood trash fan
this is THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES IM GONNA CRYYYYYYYYYY ITS ALMOST OVER I MISS THE BABIES ALREADY ;-;
September 1, 2021
What a great ending to a wonderful series!
Lockwood & Co has been an ongoing series for me for years.
Each book has excellent writing, lovable and funny characters, along with great atmosphere.
The series is written for a younger audience, but I enjoyed it!
I typically don鈥檛 go for YA books, but this series doesn't have ridiculous love triangles or teenagers in the book that I want to kick in the face.
It has teenagers in the series, but they have too much to worry about then selfies, cliques or whether the hot kid at school is into them.
Teenagers in the Lockwood & Co series are battling ghosts and trying to keep London from falling apart.
A little background about the series:
The series is about a paranormal plague of hauntings and the teens that try and keep it in check.
Adults can鈥檛 see paranormal activity, so the hauntings or also called the "Problem" falls on the weary shoulders of teenagers. With their rapiers, magnesium bombs, silver chains and whatnot, they are tackling easy hauntings to straight up poltergeists.
I really loved all the paranormal information in this series. It鈥檚 lots of fun and the spooky moments in the books are well done!
In The Empty Grave, Lockwood, George, Lucy, Holly, and their new associate Kipps are trying to figure out a mystery from a cliffhanger in the 4th book, The Creeping Shadow.
This mystery is a whopper too!
It has to do with how the Problem came about and the secrets behind the most famous paranormal agency in the city.
I felt like The Empty Grave & The Creeping Shadow are far more darker then other books in the series. There's a heavier feel to both books along with a shadow of death that's following the crew.
I loved where Jonathan Stroud took this series and the conclusion of the epidemic hauntings. Well done!
Obviously, don鈥檛 read this book unless you鈥檙e read the first four books. This is not a standalone.
Definitely check out this series if you enjoy paranormal books and all things that go bump in the night!
I don't think you'll regret giving it a try!
Lockwood & Co has been an ongoing series for me for years.
Each book has excellent writing, lovable and funny characters, along with great atmosphere.
The series is written for a younger audience, but I enjoyed it!
I typically don鈥檛 go for YA books, but this series doesn't have ridiculous love triangles or teenagers in the book that I want to kick in the face.
It has teenagers in the series, but they have too much to worry about then selfies, cliques or whether the hot kid at school is into them.
Teenagers in the Lockwood & Co series are battling ghosts and trying to keep London from falling apart.
A little background about the series:
The series is about a paranormal plague of hauntings and the teens that try and keep it in check.
Adults can鈥檛 see paranormal activity, so the hauntings or also called the "Problem" falls on the weary shoulders of teenagers. With their rapiers, magnesium bombs, silver chains and whatnot, they are tackling easy hauntings to straight up poltergeists.
I really loved all the paranormal information in this series. It鈥檚 lots of fun and the spooky moments in the books are well done!
In The Empty Grave, Lockwood, George, Lucy, Holly, and their new associate Kipps are trying to figure out a mystery from a cliffhanger in the 4th book, The Creeping Shadow.
This mystery is a whopper too!
It has to do with how the Problem came about and the secrets behind the most famous paranormal agency in the city.
I felt like The Empty Grave & The Creeping Shadow are far more darker then other books in the series. There's a heavier feel to both books along with a shadow of death that's following the crew.
I loved where Jonathan Stroud took this series and the conclusion of the epidemic hauntings. Well done!
Obviously, don鈥檛 read this book unless you鈥檙e read the first four books. This is not a standalone.
Definitely check out this series if you enjoy paranormal books and all things that go bump in the night!
I don't think you'll regret giving it a try!
January 16, 2020
I am really sad to see this series end. I started it on a lark, and I have truly enjoyed reading about Lockwood and Co's adventures. The characters have developed and evolved beautifully over the course of the series, while maintaining what makes them lovable. Lockwood starts as an enigmatic leader with an irresistible allure to him. As the series progresses, Lucy comes to love him for who he is and she comes to realize that Lockwood truly needs Lucy to stay balanced and grounded. Their relationship has plenty of ups and downs through the books, but I am extremely happy with how things culminate. I was really afraid how things would end overall. I ended being satisfied with the conclusion, other than the fact that things have to end. I know many people hate series that go on indefinitely. I don't mind ongoing series as long as they stay good. But I realize that this series had to end at some point, based on the fact that ghost hunters have a strict use by date because they stop being able to sense the ghosts.
Having said that, I wouldn't mind at all if Stroud was about to roll this series over into a spinoff. At all.
This series snuck up on me and now it's one of my all time favorites. I think it would make a great tv show. There's plenty of suspense and creep factor as Lucy, Lockwood, George, Holly and friends encounter the uncanny, and Stroud is excellent at developing the growing tension and sense of danger. There are some really heinous entities in this books, both otherworldly and otherwise, so that may be a trigger for readers that these kids are deliberately placed in dangerous situations due to the work that they do.
I highly recommend the Lockwood & Co Series.
Having said that, I wouldn't mind at all if Stroud was about to roll this series over into a spinoff. At all.
This series snuck up on me and now it's one of my all time favorites. I think it would make a great tv show. There's plenty of suspense and creep factor as Lucy, Lockwood, George, Holly and friends encounter the uncanny, and Stroud is excellent at developing the growing tension and sense of danger. There are some really heinous entities in this books, both otherworldly and otherwise, so that may be a trigger for readers that these kids are deliberately placed in dangerous situations due to the work that they do.
I highly recommend the Lockwood & Co Series.
May 8, 2024
Third read: One of THE best series I have ever read. Save Lockwood series by signing this petition
Second read, seven years later: I wish Stroud ditch his scarlett whatever series and writes more in this universe. I am so happy the Netflix series was well received. If you have yet to watch it, you should!
First read:
Finishing a series that you love is like saying goodbye to a great friend who move abroad. Yes, you can see them again, but it won't be the same since there is a sense of finiteness to it.
Overall, Lockwood and Co is another amazing fantasy entry by Jonathan Stroud, who I think is very underrated compared to authors like Rick Riordan with his mediocre, corny, yet popular series. Stroud has a way with creating memorable, well-rounded characters that are engaging to read. When they feel sad, angry, or elated I guarantee you will feel the same. He is also good with plots, worldbuilding, and most of all, that cheeky British humour.
This is a solid last entry to a series that has entertained during the last five years. Lucy can be annoying at times, but the rest is fantastic, even Kipps. And Flo! And George! He is my favorite character from the series, who deserve all praises for his persistence and quirkiness. And of course the Skull. What an entertaining fellow.
Speaking of ghosts, the scary factor is still there. I feel chilly when dusk settles. Eerie and foreboding. Even those illustrations in every chapter beginning creep me out, I tried not to look at them.
I do have some criticism and therefore this is not a five star read. The climax and ending are lacking the dramatic effect (as intended), slightly over-lengthy, and somewhat predictable. It is rather corny, but not too much. It is almost heartbreaking, but not quite. For those who read Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy, you know that the series has an amazing ending. My preferred ending would be: Maybe it is hard to defeat the awesome ending of .
Last but not least, you know an author really knows and appreciate his fans when he uses lots of your country's references for ghosts and shamanism. I am sure many of his Indonesian fans will be amused (I know I am). Thank you, Sir, we certainly are looking forward for your next series (Bartimaeus, is it?) AND your long awaited visit here.
Second read, seven years later: I wish Stroud ditch his scarlett whatever series and writes more in this universe. I am so happy the Netflix series was well received. If you have yet to watch it, you should!
First read:
Finishing a series that you love is like saying goodbye to a great friend who move abroad. Yes, you can see them again, but it won't be the same since there is a sense of finiteness to it.
Overall, Lockwood and Co is another amazing fantasy entry by Jonathan Stroud, who I think is very underrated compared to authors like Rick Riordan with his mediocre, corny, yet popular series. Stroud has a way with creating memorable, well-rounded characters that are engaging to read. When they feel sad, angry, or elated I guarantee you will feel the same. He is also good with plots, worldbuilding, and most of all, that cheeky British humour.
This is a solid last entry to a series that has entertained during the last five years. Lucy can be annoying at times, but the rest is fantastic, even Kipps. And Flo! And George! He is my favorite character from the series, who deserve all praises for his persistence and quirkiness. And of course the Skull. What an entertaining fellow.
Speaking of ghosts, the scary factor is still there. I feel chilly when dusk settles. Eerie and foreboding. Even those illustrations in every chapter beginning creep me out, I tried not to look at them.
I do have some criticism and therefore this is not a five star read. The climax and ending are lacking the dramatic effect (as intended), slightly over-lengthy, and somewhat predictable. It is rather corny, but not too much. It is almost heartbreaking, but not quite. For those who read Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy, you know that the series has an amazing ending. My preferred ending would be: Maybe it is hard to defeat the awesome ending of .
Last but not least, you know an author really knows and appreciate his fans when he uses lots of your country's references for ghosts and shamanism. I am sure many of his Indonesian fans will be amused (I know I am). Thank you, Sir, we certainly are looking forward for your next series (Bartimaeus, is it?) AND your long awaited visit here.
September 3, 2022
I've read this book since it came out last year so why am I only reviewing it now?
But moving on, my experience of reading this book (meaning reading it when I was supposed to be sleeping because I came from a night shift and will have a day shift the day after and I finished reading it at 3:00 AM and I was supposed to have my duty at 7:00 AM) is all worth it.
Reading this book was a helluva ride. It was so mind-blowing and I was at the edge of my seat every time. I will miss all the characters of the universe, and yes, I will miss Kipps, too. He kinda grew on me, especially on this last book.
I love the dynamic of the characters. Especially the original trio, Lockwood, Lucy and George. And how can I forget Skull?
This book series is the best that I've read after a long time and I'm still hoping that J. Stroud will make follow-up series. Well, here's to hoping.
Update September 2, 2022 (3rd time reading the series):
I NEED MORE LOCKLYLE IN MY LIFE. I LOVE THEM.
But moving on, my experience of reading this book (meaning reading it when I was supposed to be sleeping because I came from a night shift and will have a day shift the day after and I finished reading it at 3:00 AM and I was supposed to have my duty at 7:00 AM) is all worth it.
Reading this book was a helluva ride. It was so mind-blowing and I was at the edge of my seat every time. I will miss all the characters of the universe, and yes, I will miss Kipps, too. He kinda grew on me, especially on this last book.
I love the dynamic of the characters. Especially the original trio, Lockwood, Lucy and George. And how can I forget Skull?
This book series is the best that I've read after a long time and I'm still hoping that J. Stroud will make follow-up series. Well, here's to hoping.
Update September 2, 2022 (3rd time reading the series):
I NEED MORE LOCKLYLE IN MY LIFE. I LOVE THEM.
April 25, 2018
When I sat down to write this review, I initially wanted to give the book four stars, but ended up settling on three instead. I stand by that rating, but be aware going into this that I was leaning really, really close to four stars. This is, overall, a perfectly serviceable and satisfying conclusion to the Lockwood & Co series - plot lines are resolved, questions are answered, characters are given suitable endings, and everything is wrapped up in a nice little bow. But there were plenty of things that irritated me - just irritated, nothing worse than that - so I can't give this the full four stars.
For one thing, I think the Marissa/Penelope twist was introduced way too late in the series, so we never really got to settle in with her as an antagonist. I wish Stroud had established her as the Big Bad right from the beginning (while still saving the big bombshell about her identity for a later book) so we could enjoy the characters grappling with her throughout the series instead of wasting time on lesser villains (Stroud half-heartedly tries to keep the Winkmans relevant as villains in at least three books, and I would forget who they were every single time) Ultimately, the Marissa storyline felt very rushed, with everything getting crammed into the last book before we could adjust to the new information.
Especially frustrating was Marissa's...ghost advisor? I think? Anyway, Ezekiel felt like a wasted opportunity, because he gets destroyed like ten pages after he's introduced, and ultimately his presence in the story created more questions than it answered. Was he supposed to be some kind of angel? Why was Marissa able to see and speak to him, even though it's been established that adults can't do that with ghosts? What, exactly, was going on with the ectoplasm? (also the second the characters discovered that Marissa used a ghost named Ezekiel for research when she was starting out, I thought, "oh, that's the skull's forgotten identity" and was honestly so disappointed when it turned out I was wrong)
And Stroud, for what I cannot believe is the third goddamn time in this series, appears to kill off a character and then loses his nerve at the last minute. Seriously, there was no reason Quill Kipps should have miraculously survived. He's not one of the core group, so even though his death would carry emotional weight it wouldn't totally upset the dynamic of Lockwood & Co, and it would have been nice, in a series where the characters are constantly battling ghosts, to see Lucy and the others dealing with the death of someone they actually knew and cared about. I really don't know why Stroud didn't just pull the trigger and finally, finally let one of his main characters actually face mortal consequences. He's like the anti George RR Martin.
One of the most satisfying aspects of this book, even though it's a little thing, was that we finally got some answers about Holly Munro and what her Whole Deal is, in this little scene with her and Lucy:
"She pushed her hair back from her face. 'I'm sure I was an utter pain as well. Anyway, it must have been odd, having me show up.'
'It was a bit, but-'
'But you needn't have worried.' She smiled at me. 'Funnily enough, Lockwood isn't actually my type. ...Don't look so shocked, Lucy,' she said. 'I know how you feel about him. But, if anything, I had my eye on someone else.'
'Good god, you don't mean George?'
Holly laughed again; her eyes sparkled as she glanced at me sidelong. 'You must know there are other possibilities in this world.'"
On the one hand, this delights me, because at least now I know that Stroud intended for us to interpret Holly as gay, and wasn't just doing it by accident. But this is where Stroud's confusingly unspecified time period comes back to bite him, because I don't know if there are in-world consequences for the reveal of Holly's sexuality. We have seen exactly zero other gay characters in the series, and at the end of the book Lockwood mentions that Holly has a female "roommate," and seems completely unaware that she's gay. So my question is, what is life like for gay people in this alternate-universe London? Is there a reason Holly's been keeping her sexuality vague? Is it dangerous for her to come out to the rest of the team? Again, if we had seen literally any other gay characters in this book, it might have given me a better idea of how this society views homosexuality, but Holly is where that representation begins and ends.
It's a moot point anyway, since Lucy remains totally oblivious to the fact that Holly is flirting with her. So no, we never get ghost-hunting Odd Couple girlfriends, and we don't even get much for the Lucy/Lockwood shippers. Spoiler alert, nobody gets to make out with anybody in this entire goddamn series. Which I get - the target audience for this series is, like, sixth graders, and when I was that age, the last thing I wanted was for my adventure stories to get slowed down by dumb kissing.
But these are all nitpicks. Overall, this is such a fun, scary series, and I loved getting to read new Jonathan Stroud stories and find that he's just as good as I remember him. The characters are great, the plotting is quick and tightly constructed, and he keeps you invested with twists and revelations. Also, Stroud continues to absolutely kill it with the big climactic setpieces - the best sequence in this book is an extended journey into the world of the dead, and it's filled with such creepy, nightmare-logic images and sequences that I almost wish we could have had more of it.
All in all, a fun and exciting series that, despite it's minor flaws, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
For one thing, I think the Marissa/Penelope twist was introduced way too late in the series, so we never really got to settle in with her as an antagonist. I wish Stroud had established her as the Big Bad right from the beginning (while still saving the big bombshell about her identity for a later book) so we could enjoy the characters grappling with her throughout the series instead of wasting time on lesser villains (Stroud half-heartedly tries to keep the Winkmans relevant as villains in at least three books, and I would forget who they were every single time) Ultimately, the Marissa storyline felt very rushed, with everything getting crammed into the last book before we could adjust to the new information.
Especially frustrating was Marissa's...ghost advisor? I think? Anyway, Ezekiel felt like a wasted opportunity, because he gets destroyed like ten pages after he's introduced, and ultimately his presence in the story created more questions than it answered. Was he supposed to be some kind of angel? Why was Marissa able to see and speak to him, even though it's been established that adults can't do that with ghosts? What, exactly, was going on with the ectoplasm? (also the second the characters discovered that Marissa used a ghost named Ezekiel for research when she was starting out, I thought, "oh, that's the skull's forgotten identity" and was honestly so disappointed when it turned out I was wrong)
And Stroud, for what I cannot believe is the third goddamn time in this series, appears to kill off a character and then loses his nerve at the last minute. Seriously, there was no reason Quill Kipps should have miraculously survived. He's not one of the core group, so even though his death would carry emotional weight it wouldn't totally upset the dynamic of Lockwood & Co, and it would have been nice, in a series where the characters are constantly battling ghosts, to see Lucy and the others dealing with the death of someone they actually knew and cared about. I really don't know why Stroud didn't just pull the trigger and finally, finally let one of his main characters actually face mortal consequences. He's like the anti George RR Martin.
One of the most satisfying aspects of this book, even though it's a little thing, was that we finally got some answers about Holly Munro and what her Whole Deal is, in this little scene with her and Lucy:
"She pushed her hair back from her face. 'I'm sure I was an utter pain as well. Anyway, it must have been odd, having me show up.'
'It was a bit, but-'
'But you needn't have worried.' She smiled at me. 'Funnily enough, Lockwood isn't actually my type. ...Don't look so shocked, Lucy,' she said. 'I know how you feel about him. But, if anything, I had my eye on someone else.'
'Good god, you don't mean George?'
Holly laughed again; her eyes sparkled as she glanced at me sidelong. 'You must know there are other possibilities in this world.'"
On the one hand, this delights me, because at least now I know that Stroud intended for us to interpret Holly as gay, and wasn't just doing it by accident. But this is where Stroud's confusingly unspecified time period comes back to bite him, because I don't know if there are in-world consequences for the reveal of Holly's sexuality. We have seen exactly zero other gay characters in the series, and at the end of the book Lockwood mentions that Holly has a female "roommate," and seems completely unaware that she's gay. So my question is, what is life like for gay people in this alternate-universe London? Is there a reason Holly's been keeping her sexuality vague? Is it dangerous for her to come out to the rest of the team? Again, if we had seen literally any other gay characters in this book, it might have given me a better idea of how this society views homosexuality, but Holly is where that representation begins and ends.
It's a moot point anyway, since Lucy remains totally oblivious to the fact that Holly is flirting with her. So no, we never get ghost-hunting Odd Couple girlfriends, and we don't even get much for the Lucy/Lockwood shippers. Spoiler alert, nobody gets to make out with anybody in this entire goddamn series. Which I get - the target audience for this series is, like, sixth graders, and when I was that age, the last thing I wanted was for my adventure stories to get slowed down by dumb kissing.
But these are all nitpicks. Overall, this is such a fun, scary series, and I loved getting to read new Jonathan Stroud stories and find that he's just as good as I remember him. The characters are great, the plotting is quick and tightly constructed, and he keeps you invested with twists and revelations. Also, Stroud continues to absolutely kill it with the big climactic setpieces - the best sequence in this book is an extended journey into the world of the dead, and it's filled with such creepy, nightmare-logic images and sequences that I almost wish we could have had more of it.
All in all, a fun and exciting series that, despite it's minor flaws, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2017
5 stars
I am currently entrenched in the mystical land of Major Feels.
Lockwood, Lucy, George, and yes...even Holly...all have my heart. You know when you go through a series, the characters become dear friends that stay close to your thoughts and heart no matter what is going on in your world or theirs? This is what these characters are to me. I am so happy to have gone through this journey with them, with all the ups and downs and everything that went along with it. Thanks for it all, kids <3
--------
ITS HERE ITS HERE ITS HEREEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the major Lucewood shipping begin!!
馃榿馃榿馃榿馃榿馃榿馃榿
I am currently entrenched in the mystical land of Major Feels.
Lockwood, Lucy, George, and yes...even Holly...all have my heart. You know when you go through a series, the characters become dear friends that stay close to your thoughts and heart no matter what is going on in your world or theirs? This is what these characters are to me. I am so happy to have gone through this journey with them, with all the ups and downs and everything that went along with it. Thanks for it all, kids <3
--------
ITS HERE ITS HERE ITS HEREEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the major Lucewood shipping begin!!
馃榿馃榿馃榿馃榿馃榿馃榿
February 24, 2019
5 STARS, but i only rated it that because it wouldn't let me rate it more. IT DESERVES 1000000 STARS. IT DESERVES ALL THE STARS.
oh. my. goodness. what an EPIC, FANTASTIC conclusion. it's been almost a week since i finished this book and i'm still trying to get my thoughts in order about it...i hope everyone enjoys ranting and gifs and ALL CAPS, because you're about to get a lot of them. i can't believe the series is over....i've now made it my mission in life to get everyone in the known universe to read the lockwood & co series. this series is everything and more.
what i liked: (besides everything)
1. this was the culmination of the whole series, and the plot showed it. the story was, as always, fast paced and full of hilarity, tears, adventures, friendship...it made me feel so many things. questions are answered, secrets are revealed, friendships change, and characters grow. this book has EVERYTHING.
2. the characters. MY GOD, THE CHARACTERS. i haven't felt this way about a group of friends since harry potter.
george is my library-hunting, information-finding, donut-eating dude. i'm glad he got more of a plot-line in this book. he is like a boy hermione who eats more donuts. he gets ALL THE HUGS.
lucy is badass and she knows it, but is also filled with worry and fear and is all around relatable af. she's the best narrator. when she grows up she would totally be molly weasley. i just love her and i feel like we're friends. we're totally friends.
lockwood is...everything. and this book made him so much more dimensional, if that was even possible. he was already SO complex of a character, but this was a whole 'nother level. i could write a book about how much i love lockwood. his energy, his love for his friends, even his love for danger and his semi-death wish. if you gave a young sherlock 100x more heart and love and people skills, that's lockwood.
and hey! even quill kipps! i liked quill freakin' kipps at the end of this book! who knew it was even possible??
and then lets talk about holly. namely the fact that i LIKE HER NOW. *gasp*. i know, i know. i hated holly with a PASSION when she was first introduced. HATED. with. a. passion. i absolutely could not stand her. lucy hated her so i did too, because that's what friends are for.
BUT NOW??? I LOVE HER. if that doesn't show you the genius of jonathan stroud's amazing ability to write and create and build characters, i don't know what will.
3. i honestly liked everything. every part of this book. every word, every sentence. i can't go into detail because i'm not about that spoiler-life, but i. loved. every. single. thing. and the ending. i haven't been so 1000% happy with an ending to a series in a long time. it was the absolute perfect ending. I HAVE NO QUALMS WHATSOEVER. my emotions were at an all time high, and when i read the last word i just sat there in silence, thinking about the end of an era.
I'M NOT EVEN PUTTING IN A SECTION ABOUT WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE, I REFUSE.
RECAP: GHOSTS. FRIENDS THAT ARE LIKE FAMILY. FAST PACED ACTION. TEARS. HILARITY. SCARINESS. EDGE OF YOUR SEAT EXCITEMENT. THE BEST CHARACTERS YOU'LL EVER MEET. A SIEGE. LOTS AND LOTS OF GHOSTS AND GHOSTHUNTING. EMOTIONS. THE END OF AN ERA. JUST READ IT IT'S AMAZING.
oh. my. goodness. what an EPIC, FANTASTIC conclusion. it's been almost a week since i finished this book and i'm still trying to get my thoughts in order about it...i hope everyone enjoys ranting and gifs and ALL CAPS, because you're about to get a lot of them. i can't believe the series is over....i've now made it my mission in life to get everyone in the known universe to read the lockwood & co series. this series is everything and more.
what i liked: (besides everything)
1. this was the culmination of the whole series, and the plot showed it. the story was, as always, fast paced and full of hilarity, tears, adventures, friendship...it made me feel so many things. questions are answered, secrets are revealed, friendships change, and characters grow. this book has EVERYTHING.
2. the characters. MY GOD, THE CHARACTERS. i haven't felt this way about a group of friends since harry potter.
george is my library-hunting, information-finding, donut-eating dude. i'm glad he got more of a plot-line in this book. he is like a boy hermione who eats more donuts. he gets ALL THE HUGS.
lucy is badass and she knows it, but is also filled with worry and fear and is all around relatable af. she's the best narrator. when she grows up she would totally be molly weasley. i just love her and i feel like we're friends. we're totally friends.
lockwood is...everything. and this book made him so much more dimensional, if that was even possible. he was already SO complex of a character, but this was a whole 'nother level. i could write a book about how much i love lockwood. his energy, his love for his friends, even his love for danger and his semi-death wish. if you gave a young sherlock 100x more heart and love and people skills, that's lockwood.
and hey! even quill kipps! i liked quill freakin' kipps at the end of this book! who knew it was even possible??
and then lets talk about holly. namely the fact that i LIKE HER NOW. *gasp*. i know, i know. i hated holly with a PASSION when she was first introduced. HATED. with. a. passion. i absolutely could not stand her. lucy hated her so i did too, because that's what friends are for.
BUT NOW??? I LOVE HER. if that doesn't show you the genius of jonathan stroud's amazing ability to write and create and build characters, i don't know what will.
3. i honestly liked everything. every part of this book. every word, every sentence. i can't go into detail because i'm not about that spoiler-life, but i. loved. every. single. thing. and the ending. i haven't been so 1000% happy with an ending to a series in a long time. it was the absolute perfect ending. I HAVE NO QUALMS WHATSOEVER. my emotions were at an all time high, and when i read the last word i just sat there in silence, thinking about the end of an era.
I'M NOT EVEN PUTTING IN A SECTION ABOUT WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE, I REFUSE.
RECAP: GHOSTS. FRIENDS THAT ARE LIKE FAMILY. FAST PACED ACTION. TEARS. HILARITY. SCARINESS. EDGE OF YOUR SEAT EXCITEMENT. THE BEST CHARACTERS YOU'LL EVER MEET. A SIEGE. LOTS AND LOTS OF GHOSTS AND GHOSTHUNTING. EMOTIONS. THE END OF AN ERA. JUST READ IT IT'S AMAZING.
June 9, 2023
效褍写芯胁械 蟹邪胁械褉褕械薪薪褟 褔褍写芯胁芯褩 褋械褉褨褩. 袘芯褟谢邪褋褟 褋褍屑薪褨褕芯谐芯 褎褨薪邪谢褍, 邪谢械 褑械 褟薪谐械写邪谢褌, 邪 薪械 褋褍褔褍泻褉谢褨褌)
February 16, 2021
This just might be my favourite middle grade series... ever!
It beats out Harry Potter for me. It even beats books from my own childhood like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Jonathan Stroud has taken a scary, creepy setting of a major ghost problem and made it just scary enough that kids will get a bit of a shiver (I certainly did at times) but still able to sleep at night. Everything about this series is just wonderful! I cannot wait for my niece to be 9-10 years old so I can get her this series! She just turned 8 and is a great reader but is currently into unicorns, fairies and such. So I don't want to jade her just yet into more gothic things. But I absolutely plan to do so in the coming years! (lol)
It's hard to write reviews for books in series without spoilers; but here's a few tidbits for those who know the series:
- We do find out the 'official' reason for the Problem
- We do find out more about the Skull
- We sort of get some resolution to some of the romantic tension present
- Many questions about Fittes and other major players are explained.
The Empty Grave picks up only months after the end of book 4; so it's perfect to just keep on going if you are so inclined. And if, like me, you wait a bit to read the 5th book there is a really well done set of reminders to get you quickly back into the game.
All of our characters are present (of course) and many of them have moments of revelation during this last book. If you've enjoyed the series to date then I guarantee you will love this final piece of the puzzle.
As for the ending...
Not my favourite ending but totally appropriate for a middle grade kids book and definitely will make a beautiful movie/tv series. This whole series (if done right with good effects and acting) will be absolutely stunning. I cannot wait for us to see it on screen! Of course something is always left in the books to discover and so I hope many people will see the (forthcoming) show and proceed to grab the novels as well.
One of my favourite pieces of this series is that it doesn't go on forever and ever. Five books feels perfect in this instance. Stroud does such a great job of leaving the reader feeling satisfied at the end of the series; but still also loving it and wanting to revisit it again.
I will definitely be making this series my top gifted one to kiddos in the right age group. And I know I'll be rereading them in the future. The print books have a proud place in my personal library.
It beats out Harry Potter for me. It even beats books from my own childhood like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Jonathan Stroud has taken a scary, creepy setting of a major ghost problem and made it just scary enough that kids will get a bit of a shiver (I certainly did at times) but still able to sleep at night. Everything about this series is just wonderful! I cannot wait for my niece to be 9-10 years old so I can get her this series! She just turned 8 and is a great reader but is currently into unicorns, fairies and such. So I don't want to jade her just yet into more gothic things. But I absolutely plan to do so in the coming years! (lol)
It's hard to write reviews for books in series without spoilers; but here's a few tidbits for those who know the series:
- We do find out the 'official' reason for the Problem
- We do find out more about the Skull
- We sort of get some resolution to some of the romantic tension present
- Many questions about Fittes and other major players are explained.
The Empty Grave picks up only months after the end of book 4; so it's perfect to just keep on going if you are so inclined. And if, like me, you wait a bit to read the 5th book there is a really well done set of reminders to get you quickly back into the game.
All of our characters are present (of course) and many of them have moments of revelation during this last book. If you've enjoyed the series to date then I guarantee you will love this final piece of the puzzle.
As for the ending...
Not my favourite ending but totally appropriate for a middle grade kids book and definitely will make a beautiful movie/tv series. This whole series (if done right with good effects and acting) will be absolutely stunning. I cannot wait for us to see it on screen! Of course something is always left in the books to discover and so I hope many people will see the (forthcoming) show and proceed to grab the novels as well.
One of my favourite pieces of this series is that it doesn't go on forever and ever. Five books feels perfect in this instance. Stroud does such a great job of leaving the reader feeling satisfied at the end of the series; but still also loving it and wanting to revisit it again.
I will definitely be making this series my top gifted one to kiddos in the right age group. And I know I'll be rereading them in the future. The print books have a proud place in my personal library.
November 20, 2023
袛芯锌懈谢邪 芯褋褌邪薪薪褦 谐芯褉薪褟褌泻芯 褔邪褞 褨蟹 蟹邪褌懈褕薪芯褞 邪谐械薪褑褨褦褞 "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯" 蟹邪 褉芯蟹谐邪写褍胁邪薪薪褟屑 芯褋褌邪褌芯褔薪懈褏 褌邪褦屑薪懈褑褜 胁褋械褋胁褨褌褍 馃ス鈽曪笍馃懟馃.
袟邪胁卸写懈 褌邪泻 褏胁懈谢褞褞褔械 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍胁邪褌懈 泻薪懈卸泻芯胁褨 褋械褉褨褩. 袉 褏芯褔 写芯 褑褨褦褩 胁 屑械薪械 褦 褋胁芯褩 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌褨 薪械谐邪褌懈胁薪褨 锌褉械褌械薪蟹褨褩, 邪谢械 泄 胁懈薪懈泻谢芯 斜邪谐邪褌芯 谢褞斜芯胁褨.
袥褞斜芯胁 写芯 褋胁褨褌褍, 褨写械褩, 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁, 斜褉懈褌邪薪褋褜泻芯谐芯 薪邪褋褌褉芯褞, 褌械锌谢芯谐芯 蟹邪褌懈褕泻褍, 屑芯褌芯褉芯褕薪懈褏 锌褉懈胁懈写褨胁 褨 褌邪褦屑薪懈褑褨 胁械谢懈泻芯褩 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈, 薪邪 褉芯蟹谐邪写锟斤拷褍 褟泻芯褩 褟 褌邪泻 胁褨写褔邪泄写褍褕薪芯 褔械泻邪谢邪. 袗 屑芯褟 褍谢褞斜谢械薪邪 蟹褨褉芯褔泻邪 - 褏邪褉懈蟹屑邪褌懈褔薪懈泄 褔械褉械锌 褍 斜邪薪褑褨. 袙褨薪 褌械, 蟹邪褉邪写懈 褔芯谐芯 胁邪褉褌芯 褔懈褌邪褌懈 褑褞 褋械褉褨褞! 袘褍写褍 胁懈谐谢褟写邪褌懈 褌胁芯褦 蟹械谢械薪械 褋褟泄胁芯, 写褉褍卸械! 袗 褖械 屑褨泄 褍谢褞斜谢械薪懈泄 写懈胁邪泻 袛卸芯褉写卸 褨 泄芯谐芯 褋泻邪褌械褉褌懈薪邪 屑懈褋谢械薪薪褟. 袦邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 薪械写芯谢褞斜谢械薪懈泄 褍褋褨屑邪 谐械薪褨泄!
袩褉芯褖邪褞褋褟 褨 芯斜褨泄屑邪褞 褍褋褨褏 褋褌邪褉懈褏 褌邪 薪芯胁懈褏 褍褔邪褋薪懈泻褨胁 邪谐械薪褑褨褩, 斜褍写褍 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 褋褍屑褍胁邪褌懈!
袟邪胁卸写懈 褌邪泻 褏胁懈谢褞褞褔械 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍胁邪褌懈 泻薪懈卸泻芯胁褨 褋械褉褨褩. 袉 褏芯褔 写芯 褑褨褦褩 胁 屑械薪械 褦 褋胁芯褩 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌褨 薪械谐邪褌懈胁薪褨 锌褉械褌械薪蟹褨褩, 邪谢械 泄 胁懈薪懈泻谢芯 斜邪谐邪褌芯 谢褞斜芯胁褨.
袥褞斜芯胁 写芯 褋胁褨褌褍, 褨写械褩, 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁, 斜褉懈褌邪薪褋褜泻芯谐芯 薪邪褋褌褉芯褞, 褌械锌谢芯谐芯 蟹邪褌懈褕泻褍, 屑芯褌芯褉芯褕薪懈褏 锌褉懈胁懈写褨胁 褨 褌邪褦屑薪懈褑褨 胁械谢懈泻芯褩 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈, 薪邪 褉芯蟹谐邪写锟斤拷褍 褟泻芯褩 褟 褌邪泻 胁褨写褔邪泄写褍褕薪芯 褔械泻邪谢邪. 袗 屑芯褟 褍谢褞斜谢械薪邪 蟹褨褉芯褔泻邪 - 褏邪褉懈蟹屑邪褌懈褔薪懈泄 褔械褉械锌 褍 斜邪薪褑褨. 袙褨薪 褌械, 蟹邪褉邪写懈 褔芯谐芯 胁邪褉褌芯 褔懈褌邪褌懈 褑褞 褋械褉褨褞! 袘褍写褍 胁懈谐谢褟写邪褌懈 褌胁芯褦 蟹械谢械薪械 褋褟泄胁芯, 写褉褍卸械! 袗 褖械 屑褨泄 褍谢褞斜谢械薪懈泄 写懈胁邪泻 袛卸芯褉写卸 褨 泄芯谐芯 褋泻邪褌械褉褌懈薪邪 屑懈褋谢械薪薪褟. 袦邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 薪械写芯谢褞斜谢械薪懈泄 褍褋褨屑邪 谐械薪褨泄!
袩褉芯褖邪褞褋褟 褨 芯斜褨泄屑邪褞 褍褋褨褏 褋褌邪褉懈褏 褌邪 薪芯胁懈褏 褍褔邪褋薪懈泻褨胁 邪谐械薪褑褨褩, 斜褍写褍 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 褋褍屑褍胁邪褌懈!
June 8, 2023
携泻褖芯 胁懈 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢懈 锌芯锌械褉械写薪褨 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈 褑懈泻谢褍 锌褉芯 袥芯泻胁褍写邪 褌邪 泄芯谐芯 写褉褍蟹褨胁, 褌芯 屑械薪褨 薪褨褔芯谐芯 薪械 褌褉械斜邪 胁邪屑 锌芯褟褋薪褞胁邪褌懈. 袧邪斜谢懈卸邪褦褌褜褋褟 褉芯蟹胁'褟蟹泻邪! 袦懈 褋褌芯褩屑芯 薪邪 锌芯褉芯蟹褨 褉芯蟹谐邪写泻懈 锌芯褏芯写卸械薪薪褟 袩褉芯斜谢械屑懈, 褌芯斜褌芯 薪邪褕械褋褌褟 锌褉懈胁懈写褨胁 薪邪 袙械谢懈泻芯斜褉懈褌邪薪褨褞. 袛械泻褨谢褜泻邪 写械褋褟褌懈谢褨褌褜 褌芯屑褍 锌芯屑械褉谢褨 - 蟹邪屑褨褋褌褜 褌芯谐芯, 褖芯斜 蟹邪谢懈褕邪褌懈褋褟 胁 锌芯褌芯泄斜褨褔褔褨 - 胁懈褉褨褕懈谢懈 锌芯胁械褉褌邪褌懈褋褟 写芯 褋胁褨褌褍 卸懈胁懈褏. 袉 薪械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌芯胁械褉褌邪褌懈褋褟, 邪谢械 泄 褍斜懈胁邪褌懈: 写芯褌懈泻 锌褉懈胁懈写邪 褋屑械褉褌械谢褜薪懈泄. 袙褨薪 褔懈屑芯褋褜 锌芯写褨斜薪懈泄 褔懈 写芯 芯斜屑芯褉芯卸械薪薪褟, 褔懈 写芯 褨薪褎邪褉泻褌褍, 褌芯斜褌芯 胁褨写屑懈褉邪薪薪褟 屑'褟蟹褨胁. 袪邪薪褨褕械 胁胁邪卸邪谢芯褋褟, 褖芯 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪 褌褉邪锌懈谢邪褋褟, 褌芯屑褍 褖芯... 袟邪谐邪谢芯屑, 褑懈屑 锌懈褌邪薪薪褟屑 谢褞写懈 薪械 写褍卸械 锌械褉械泄屑邪谢懈褋褟, 斜芯 锌褉懈胁懈写褨胁 斜邪褔懈褌懈 屑芯卸褍褌褜 谢懈褕械 薪械锌芯胁薪芯谢褨褌薪褨 (蟹邪 斜褉懈褌邪薪褋褜泻懈屑懈 蟹邪泻芯薪邪屑懈, 褌芯斜褌芯 谢褞写懈 胁褨泻芯屑 写芯 21 褉芯泻褍), 邪谢械 芯褌 蟹邪谐懈薪褍褌懈 胁褨写 薪懈褏 屑芯卸械 斜褍写褜-褏褌芯. 孝芯屑褍 斜褨谢褜褕 薪邪谐邪谢褜薪械 锌懈褌邪薪薪褟: 褟泻 胁懈卸懈褌懈, 邪 薪械 邪泻邪写械屑褨褔薪械 锌懈褌邪薪薪褟, 蟹胁褨写泻懈 胁蟹褟谢邪褋褟 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪.
袙褌褨屑, 袥芯泻胁褍写邪 褌邪 写褉褍蟹褨胁 褏胁懈谢褞褦 泄 锌褉芯斜谢械屑邪 屑械薪褕芯谐芯 屑邪褋褕褌邪斜褍. 袩械薪械谢芯锌邪 肖褨褌褌械褋, 写懈褉械泻褌芯褉泻邪 芯写薪褨褦褩 蟹 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕懈褏 邪谐械薪褑褨泄 锌芯 斜芯褉芯褌褜斜褨 蟹 锌褉懈胁懈写邪屑懈, 胁懈褟胁谢褟褦褌褜褋褟 薪械 褌褨褦褞, 蟹邪 泻芯谐芯 胁芯薪邪 褋械斜械 胁懈写邪褦. 携泻斜懈 薪械 效械褉械锌-褖芯-褕械锌芯褔械, 薪邪褕褨 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 谐械褉芯褩 锌褉芯 褑械 薪褨泻芯谢懈 斜 薪械 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟. 袗谢械 褌械锌械褉 锌械褉械写 薪懈屑懈 斜褨谢褜褕 锌褉懈泻谢邪写薪邪 锌褉芯斜谢械屑邪 - 胁懈胁械褋褌懈 薪邪 褔懈褋褌褍 胁芯写褍 袩械薪械谢芯锌褍. 袉, 褟泻 褩屑 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟, 褑械 褌褨褋薪芯 锌芯胁'褟蟹邪薪芯 蟹 褋邪屑芯褞 袩褉芯斜谢械屑芯褞.
携泻褖芯 胁懈 褔懈褌邪谢懈 锌芯锌械褉械写薪褨 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈, 褌芯 胁褋褨 褑褨 锌芯褟褋薪械薪薪褟 蟹邪泄胁褨. 小褌褉邪褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 锌褨写胁芯写懈褌褜 薪邪褋 写芯 锌'褟褌芯褩 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈, 邪 斜褨谢褜褕褨褋褌褜 "谐邪褔泻褨胁" 蟹邪泻懈写邪褦 褖械 胁 褔械褌胁械褉褌芯屑褍 褌芯屑褨, 褟泻懈泄, 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写薪芯, 泄 褋邪屑 褋褌芯褩褌褜 薪邪 褎褍薪写邪屑械薪褌褨 蟹 锌芯锌械褉械写薪褨褏 褌褉褜芯褏: 胁褋褨 薪械蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢芯褋褌褨 褌邪 蟹邪谐邪写泻懈 褉邪锌褌芯屑 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褌褜 褋泻谢邪写邪褌懈褋褟 胁 芯写薪褍 泻邪褉褌懈薪褍. 袨褌 褌褨谢褜泻懈 薪邪褕褨 谐械褉芯褩 褖械 薪械 蟹薪邪褞褌褜, 褟泻 薪邪 薪械褩 写懈胁懈褌懈褋褟.
携泻褖芯 卸 胁懈 薪械 褔懈褌邪谢懈 锌械褉褕褨 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褌芯屑懈, 褌芯 屑芯卸褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈 谢懈褕械 芯写薪械: 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪泄褌械! "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯" - 褑械 褔褍写芯胁懈泄 young-adult. 啸芯褔邪 泄芯谐芯 褑褨谢褜芯胁芯褞 邪褍写懈褌芯褉褨褦褞 褦 锌褨写谢褨褌泻懈, 写芯褉芯褋谢懈屑 泄芯谐芯 褔懈褌邪褌懈 斜褍写械 褌邪泻芯卸 褑褨泻邪胁芯. 袥芯泻胁褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 胁懈斜褍写芯胁褍褦 褋胁褨褌 邪谢褜褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪芯谐芯 袥芯薪写芯薪邪, 蟹邪泻褉褍褔褍褦 褨薪褌褉懈谐懈, 褟泻褨 胁 锌械褉褕懈褏 褔邪褋褌懈薪邪褏 薪邪谐邪写褍褞褌褜 写械褌械泻褌懈胁懈, 邪 芯褌 胁 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨褏 胁卸械 斜谢懈卸褔褨 写芯 褌褉懈谢械褉褨胁 褔懈 锌褉懈谐芯写薪懈褑褜泻懈褏 褉芯屑邪薪褨胁. 笑械 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟, 褟泻械, 褟泻斜懈 褑械 薪械 蟹胁褍褔邪谢芯 写懈胁薪芯, 蟹邪褋锌芯泻芯褞褦. 笑械 芯锌芯胁褨写褜, 褟泻邪 褌褉懈屑邪褦褌褜褋褟 薪械 谢懈褕械 薪邪 褨薪褌褉懈蟹褨 褌邪 蟹邪谐邪写褑褨, 邪谢械 薪邪 褑褨薪薪芯褋褌褟褏 褌邪 械屑锌邪褌褨褩 写芯 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁. 袙芯薪懈 锌械褉械卸懈胁邪褞褌褜 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈, 斜褨谢褜褕 斜谢懈蟹褜泻褨 锌褨写谢褨褌泻邪屑, 邪谢械 褟泻褨 斜褍写褍褌褜 蟹薪邪泄芯屑褨 褨 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢褨 写芯褉芯褋谢懈屑. 袗 褔械褉械蟹 褑械 - 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褟泻褖芯 胁懈 蟹薪邪褦褌械 褋锌芯泄谢械褉懈 - 褔懈褌邪褌懈 褉芯屑邪薪懈 斜褍写械 褑褨泻邪胁芯. 袧邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 褟 锌械褉褕褨 写胁褨 泻薪懈谐懈 褋锌械褉褕褍 "锌芯斜邪褔懈胁", 褌芯斜褌芯 锌械褉械谐谢褟薪褍胁 械泻褉邪薪褨蟹邪褑褨褞. 袗 胁卸械 锌芯褌褨屑 褩褏 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪胁. 袉 薪褨 锌褉芯 褖芯 薪械 褕泻芯写褍褞: 褋械褉褨邪谢 写芯写邪胁 泻邪褉褌懈薪泻懈 写芯 褌械泻褋褌褍, 邪谢械 蟹 褔邪褋芯屑 "泻薪懈卸泻芯胁褨" 芯斜褉邪蟹懈 胁懈褌褨褋薪懈谢懈 "褋械褉褨邪谢褜薪褨". 袩褉懈薪邪泄屑褨, 袛卸芯褉写卸 袣邪斜褨薪褋 褔懈 袣褨锌褋 写谢褟 屑械薪械 斜褍写褍褌褜 "泻薪懈卸泻芯胁懈屑懈". 袥褞褋褨 褌邪 袥芯泻胁褍写 - "褋械褉褨邪谢褜薪懈屑懈", 邪谢械 谢懈褕械 褌芯屑褍, 褖芯 邪泻褌芯褉懈 写褍卸械 斜谢懈蟹褜泻褨 写芯 泻薪懈卸泻芯胁懈褏 芯褉懈谐褨薪邪谢褨胁.
携泻褖芯 胁懈 薪械 蟹薪邪褦褌械, 褏褌芯 褌邪泻褨 袥褞褋褨, 袛卸芯褉写卸, 袥芯泻胁褍写, 袣褨锌褋, 邪 褌邪泻芯卸 袣芯褋褌芯屑邪褏邪-肖谢芯, 袘邪褉薪褋, 袚芯谢谢褨, 袪褍锌械褉褌 褌邪 袩械薪械谢芯锌邪, 褌芯... 孝芯 褉邪写卸褍 褔懈褌邪褌懈 褑懈泻谢, 斜芯 薪褨褔懈屑 褌褍褌 薪械 蟹邪褉邪写懈褕.
些芯 卸 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈 锌褉芯 褋邪屑 褉芯屑邪薪, 邪谢械 斜械蟹 褋锌芯泄谢械褉褨胁? 袪芯蟹泻邪卸褍 锌褉芯 褋褌褉褍泻褌褍褉褍 褉芯屑邪薪褍. 袧邪 胁邪褋 褔械泻邪褌懈屑械 写胁褨 褋褞卸械褌薪褨 谢褨薪褨褩. 袨写薪邪 蟹 薪懈褏 褦 褑械薪褌褉邪谢褜薪芯褞, 邪 褨薪褕邪 - 斜褨褔薪芯褞. 袩褉懈褔芯屑褍 斜褨褔薪芯褞 胁 锌褉褟屑芯屑褍 褋械薪褋褨: 褑械 side quest, 褟泻懈泄 屑邪褦 胁懈泻芯薪邪褌懈 邪谐械薪褑褨褟 "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯". 袙褉械褕褌褨-褉械褕褌, 胁芯薪懈 褌邪泻懈 屑邪褞褌褜 斜芯褉芯褌懈褋褟 蟹 锌褉懈胁懈写邪屑懈. 袗 褋锌褉邪胁邪 肖邪褌邪谢褜薪芯褩 袣褉邪褋褍薪褨 褩屑 褌褉邪锌懈谢邪褋褟, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯, 薪械 写褍卸械 胁褔邪褋薪芯, 邪谢械 胁 褍屑芯胁邪褏 泻褉懈蟹懈 胁褨写 褉芯斜芯褌懈 薪械 胁褨写屑芯胁谢褟褞褌褜褋褟. 袧邪褋锌褉邪胁写褨, 斜褨褔薪邪 谢褨薪褨褟 胁胁械写械薪邪, 褖芯斜 写芯写邪褌懈 写械褌械泻褌懈胁薪芯谐芯 锌褉懈褋屑邪泻褍, 邪谢械 褌邪泻芯卸 胁芯薪邪 褉芯蟹泻褉懈胁邪褦 薪邪屑 泻褨谢褜泻芯褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁. 袛芯 蟹邪谐邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 褉芯蟹胁懈褌泻褍 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯褩 谢褨薪褨褩 薪邪褔械 薪褨褔芯谐芯 薪械 写芯写邪褦, 邪谢械... 袩褨褋谢褟 褋锌褉邪胁懈 肖邪褌邪谢褜薪芯褩 袣褉邪褋褍薪褨 屑懈 泻褉邪褖械 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褦屑芯, 褔芯屑褍 写械褟泻褨 谐械褉芯褩 锌芯胁芯写褟褌褜褋褟 褌邪泻, 褟泻 锌芯胁芯写褟褌褜褋褟 褍 褎褨薪邪谢褜薪褨泄 褋褍褌懈褔褑褨.
小褌褉邪褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 胁懈斜褍写芯胁褍褦 芯锌芯胁褨写褜. 小褞卸械褌 薪褨写械 薪械 "锌褉芯胁懈褋邪褦". 袧邪胁锌邪泻懈, 褔懈屑 写邪谢褨, 褌懈屑 锌芯写褨褩 褋褌邪褞褌褜 褨薪褌械薪褋懈胁薪褨褕懈屑懈 - 泻薪懈卸泻褍 谐芯写褨 胁褨写泻谢邪褋褌懈! 袟胁褨褋薪芯, 薪邪褋 褔械泻邪褞褌褜 蟹屑褨薪懈: 屑械薪褕邪褦 屑褨褋褌懈褔薪芯褩 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉懈, 蟹薪懈泻邪褦 薪褍邪褉 褔械褌胁械褉褌芯谐芯 褌芯屑褍. 些芯写芯 屑褨褋褌懈泻懈 - 褌芯 薪械屑邪 薪邪 褑械 褉邪写懈: 谐械褉芯褩 薪械 屑邪褞褌褜 褔邪褋褍 锌械褉械泄屑邪褌懈褋褟 屑褨褋褌懈泻芯褞, 斜芯 胁 薪懈褏 写褍卸械 褋械褉泄芯蟹薪褨 胁懈泻谢懈泻懈. 些芯写芯 薪褍邪褉褍, 褌芯... 携泻斜懈 褌褍褌 褖械 斜褍胁 薪褍邪褉, 褌芯 褉芯屑邪薪 胁懈泄褕芯胁 斜懈 胁写胁褨褔褨 褌芯胁褋褌褨褕懈屑, 邪 谐械褉芯褩 锌芯褔邪谢懈 斜 胁褌褉邪褔邪褌懈 胁 锌褉懈胁邪斜谢懈胁芯褋褌褨. 袗写卸械, 褟泻 屑懈 锌邪屑'褟褌邪褦屑芯, 薪邪褍褉 - 褑械 锌褉芯 邪屑芯褉邪谢褜薪懈褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁, 褟泻褨 薪邪屑邪谐邪褞褌褜褋褟 写芯褋褟谐邪褌懈 屑芯褉邪谢褜薪懈褏 褑褨谢械泄 邪屑芯褉邪谢褜薪懈屑懈 屑械褌芯写邪屑懈. 袗斜芯 泄 褑褨谢褨 邪屑芯褉邪谢褜薪褨. 袉 胁褋械 褑械 锌褨写 写芯褖械屑 褌邪 胁薪芯褔褨. 袧褨, 褖芯写芯 写芯褖褍 褌邪 薪芯褔褨 胁 屑械薪械 褍锌械褉械写卸械薪褜 薪械屑邪褦. 袗谢械 褟泻斜懈 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 谐械褉芯褩 锌芯褔邪谢懈 屑褨卸 褋芯斜芯褞 褋胁邪褉懈褌懈褋褟 褔懈 薪械 写芯胁褨褉褟褌懈 芯写薪褨 芯写薪懈屑 - 褌懈锌芯胁邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪 写谢褟 薪褍邪褉褍! - 褟 斜 薪械 蟹薪邪胁, 褖芯 泄 褉芯斜懈褌懈...
袛芯 褉械褔褨, 小褌褉邪褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 蟹邪胁械褉褕褍褦 褑懈泻谢. 袩芯-锌械褉褕械, 屑懈 屑邪褦屑芯 胁褨写泻褉懈褌懈泄 褎褨薪邪谢. 袧械 屑芯卸褍 锌芯褟褋薪懈褌懈, 褖芯 卸 褌邪屑 胁褨写泻褉懈褌械. 袗谢械 锌芯胁褨褉褌械 薪邪 褋谢芯胁芯: 褎褨薪邪谢 屑褨褋褌懈褌褜 褔褨褌泻褨 薪邪褌褟泻懈, 邪谢械 胁褨写泻褉懈褌懈泄. 袩芯-写褉褍谐械, 屑懈 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟 褉芯蟹谐邪写泻褍 袩褉芯斜谢械屑懈 褌邪 袩械薪械谢芯锌懈 肖褨褌褌械褋, 孝芯胁邪褉懈褋褌胁邪 袨褉褎械褟 褌邪 褋褨屑械泄薪芯褩 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 袥芯泻胁褍写邪. 袗谢械 泄 褌褍褌 小褌褉邪褍写 薪械 锌芯褟褋薪褞褦 胁褋褜芯谐芯. 袦懈 薪邪褔械 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟 蟹邪谐邪谢褜薪懈泄 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌, 褔芯屑褍 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪 锌芯褔邪谢邪褋褟. 袗谢械 泻芯薪泻褉械褌薪懈褏 写械褌邪谢械泄 屑懈 薪械 蟹薪邪褦屑芯, 邪 褌芯屑褍... 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪 薪械 褦 胁懈褉褨褕械薪芯褞! 袩芯锌械褉械写褍 褖械 写械褋褟褌懈谢褨褌褌褟 泻褉芯锌褨褌泻芯褩 褉芯斜芯褌懈. 袉 薪褨, 泄写械褌褜褋褟 薪械 锌褉芯 袗谐械薪褑褨褞 "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯", 邪 胁褋褨褦褩 斜褉懈褌邪薪褋褜泻芯褩 薪邪褍泻懈. 袦懈 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟 褌邪褦屑薪懈褑褞 袩械薪械谢芯锌懈 肖褨褌褌械褋, 邪谢械... 袙懈 胁卸械 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢懈 谢芯谐褨泻褍, 褌邪泻? 啸褌芯 褌邪泻懈泄 袆蟹械泻褨褦谢褜? 效芯屑褍 胁 褕邪褎褨 蟹斜械褉褨谐邪胁褋褟 褑械泄 邪褉褌械褎邪泻褌? 袟胁褨写泻懈 斜褉邪褋谢械褌? 效芯屑褍 斜褉邪褋谢械褌? 携 蟹屑褨褕褍褞 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 锌懈褌邪薪薪褟 蟹 写褉褍谐芯褉褟写薪懈屑懈, 邪 褔邪褋褌懈薪褍 谐芯谢芯胁薪懈褏 薪械 芯蟹胁褍褔褍褞, 斜芯 薪械 褏芯褔褍 褋锌芯泄谢械褉懈褌懈. 袩芯-褌褉械褌褦, 小褌褉邪褍写 蟹胁'褟蟹褍褦 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 褋褞卸械褌薪褨 谢褨薪褨褩, 蟹邪 褟泻懈屑懈 屑懈 褋谢褨写褍胁邪谢懈 胁褨写 锌械褉褕芯谐芯 褌芯屑褍. 袗谢械 小褌褉邪褍写 薪械 锌芯褟褋薪褞褦 胁褋褜芯谐芯, 褖芯 斜褍谢芯 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 褋胁褨褌褨. 效芯屑褍 袪褍锌械褉褌 屑褨谐 斜邪褔懈褌懈 锌褉懈胁懈写褨胁?! 袗写卸械 泄芯屑褍 褟胁薪芯 蟹邪 写胁邪写褑褟褌褜! 袉 褑械 锌褉懈泄芯屑, 褟泻懈泄 褟 斜 薪邪蟹胁邪胁 褌邪泻: 小褌褉邪褍写 薪械 "蟹邪泻褉懈胁邪褦" 褋褌胁芯褉械薪懈泄 薪懈屑 褋胁褨褌. 袟邪泻褉懈胁褕懈 泻薪懈谐褍, 胁懈 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褦褌械, 褖芯 - 褟泻 斜懈 褑械 写懈胁薪芯 薪械 蟹胁褍褔邪谢芯! - 邪谢褜褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪懈泄 袥芯薪写芯薪 锌褉芯写芯胁卸褍褦 褨褋薪褍胁邪褌懈. 袙卸械 薪械 薪邪 褋褌芯褉褨薪泻邪褏 泻薪懈谐懈, 邪谢械 胁 薪邪褕褨泄 褍褟胁褨. 携泻 薪邪 屑械薪械, 褑械 写褍卸械 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯. 袧械 胁褋褨 邪胁褌芯褉(泻)懈 胁屑褨褞褌褜 褌邪泻 锌懈褋邪褌懈 褎褨薪邪谢懈. 袧械 胁褋褨 邪胁褌芯褉(泻)懈 胁屑褨褞褌褜 褌邪泻 芯锌懈褋褍胁邪褌懈 胁懈谐邪写邪薪褨 褋胁褨褌懈.
袗谐械薪褑褨褟 "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯" - 褑懈泻谢, 褟泻懈泄 芯写薪芯蟹薪邪褔薪芯 胁邪褉褌芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌懈!
袩.小. 袉 褌褉芯褕泻懈 胁卸械 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯谐芯. 孝邪泻芯卸 斜械蟹 褋锌芯泄谢械褉褨胁, 邪谢械 褨 薪械 写褍卸械 写芯 褌械屑懈. 笑械泄 褑懈泻谢 屑械薪褨 褋锌芯写芯斜邪胁褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕械, 薪褨卸 "褌褉懈谢芯谐褨褟" 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋邪.
(袩懈褕褍 褋谢芯胁芯 "褌褉懈谢芯谐褨褟" 胁 谢邪锌泻邪褏, 斜芯 褌邪屑 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈, 邪谢械 褔械褌胁械褉褌邪 - 锌褉懈泻胁械谢, 褟泻懈泄 薪褨 薪邪 褖芯 胁卸械 薪械 胁锌谢懈胁邪褦, 邪 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪懈泄 写谢褟 褌懈褏, 泻芯屑褍 斜褉邪泻褍褦 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋邪. "袩械褉褋褌械薪褜 小芯谢芯屑芯薪邪" - 褑械 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褜 锌褉芯 锌褉懈谐芯写懈 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋邪 胁 袗薪褌懈褔薪芯褋褌褨.)
袗谢械 写谢褟 屑械薪械 褑褨 褑懈泻谢懈 斜褍写褍褌褜 锌芯胁'褟蟹邪薪懈屑懈, 斜芯 褟 泄 写邪谢褨 斜褍写褍 胁锌械褉褌芯 胁褨褉懈褌懈, 褖芯 效械褉械锌-褖芯-褕械锌芯褔械 - 褑械 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 泄芯谐芯 写芯谢褟 屑械褌邪褦 屑褨卸 邪谢褜褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪懈屑懈 袥芯薪写芯薪邪屑懈: 胁 芯写薪芯屑褍 褦 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪, 胁 褨薪褕芯屑褍 - 屑邪谐褨褟 褌邪 写卸懈薪懈. 袥芯薪写芯薪懈 屑褨薪褟褞褌褜褋褟, 邪 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋 褌邪泻懈泄 卸械 谢褞写褟薪懈泄, 邪谢械 褋邪褉泻邪褋褌懈褔薪懈泄.
袙褌褨屑, 袥芯泻胁褍写邪 褌邪 写褉褍蟹褨胁 褏胁懈谢褞褦 泄 锌褉芯斜谢械屑邪 屑械薪褕芯谐芯 屑邪褋褕褌邪斜褍. 袩械薪械谢芯锌邪 肖褨褌褌械褋, 写懈褉械泻褌芯褉泻邪 芯写薪褨褦褩 蟹 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕懈褏 邪谐械薪褑褨泄 锌芯 斜芯褉芯褌褜斜褨 蟹 锌褉懈胁懈写邪屑懈, 胁懈褟胁谢褟褦褌褜褋褟 薪械 褌褨褦褞, 蟹邪 泻芯谐芯 胁芯薪邪 褋械斜械 胁懈写邪褦. 携泻斜懈 薪械 效械褉械锌-褖芯-褕械锌芯褔械, 薪邪褕褨 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 谐械褉芯褩 锌褉芯 褑械 薪褨泻芯谢懈 斜 薪械 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟. 袗谢械 褌械锌械褉 锌械褉械写 薪懈屑懈 斜褨谢褜褕 锌褉懈泻谢邪写薪邪 锌褉芯斜谢械屑邪 - 胁懈胁械褋褌懈 薪邪 褔懈褋褌褍 胁芯写褍 袩械薪械谢芯锌褍. 袉, 褟泻 褩屑 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟, 褑械 褌褨褋薪芯 锌芯胁'褟蟹邪薪芯 蟹 褋邪屑芯褞 袩褉芯斜谢械屑芯褞.
携泻褖芯 胁懈 褔懈褌邪谢懈 锌芯锌械褉械写薪褨 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈, 褌芯 胁褋褨 褑褨 锌芯褟褋薪械薪薪褟 蟹邪泄胁褨. 小褌褉邪褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 锌褨写胁芯写懈褌褜 薪邪褋 写芯 锌'褟褌芯褩 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈, 邪 斜褨谢褜褕褨褋褌褜 "谐邪褔泻褨胁" 蟹邪泻懈写邪褦 褖械 胁 褔械褌胁械褉褌芯屑褍 褌芯屑褨, 褟泻懈泄, 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写薪芯, 泄 褋邪屑 褋褌芯褩褌褜 薪邪 褎褍薪写邪屑械薪褌褨 蟹 锌芯锌械褉械写薪褨褏 褌褉褜芯褏: 胁褋褨 薪械蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢芯褋褌褨 褌邪 蟹邪谐邪写泻懈 褉邪锌褌芯屑 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褌褜 褋泻谢邪写邪褌懈褋褟 胁 芯写薪褍 泻邪褉褌懈薪褍. 袨褌 褌褨谢褜泻懈 薪邪褕褨 谐械褉芯褩 褖械 薪械 蟹薪邪褞褌褜, 褟泻 薪邪 薪械褩 写懈胁懈褌懈褋褟.
携泻褖芯 卸 胁懈 薪械 褔懈褌邪谢懈 锌械褉褕褨 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褌芯屑懈, 褌芯 屑芯卸褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈 谢懈褕械 芯写薪械: 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪泄褌械! "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯" - 褑械 褔褍写芯胁懈泄 young-adult. 啸芯褔邪 泄芯谐芯 褑褨谢褜芯胁芯褞 邪褍写懈褌芯褉褨褦褞 褦 锌褨写谢褨褌泻懈, 写芯褉芯褋谢懈屑 泄芯谐芯 褔懈褌邪褌懈 斜褍写械 褌邪泻芯卸 褑褨泻邪胁芯. 袥芯泻胁褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 胁懈斜褍写芯胁褍褦 褋胁褨褌 邪谢褜褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪芯谐芯 袥芯薪写芯薪邪, 蟹邪泻褉褍褔褍褦 褨薪褌褉懈谐懈, 褟泻褨 胁 锌械褉褕懈褏 褔邪褋褌懈薪邪褏 薪邪谐邪写褍褞褌褜 写械褌械泻褌懈胁懈, 邪 芯褌 胁 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨褏 胁卸械 斜谢懈卸褔褨 写芯 褌褉懈谢械褉褨胁 褔懈 锌褉懈谐芯写薪懈褑褜泻懈褏 褉芯屑邪薪褨胁. 笑械 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟, 褟泻械, 褟泻斜懈 褑械 薪械 蟹胁褍褔邪谢芯 写懈胁薪芯, 蟹邪褋锌芯泻芯褞褦. 笑械 芯锌芯胁褨写褜, 褟泻邪 褌褉懈屑邪褦褌褜褋褟 薪械 谢懈褕械 薪邪 褨薪褌褉懈蟹褨 褌邪 蟹邪谐邪写褑褨, 邪谢械 薪邪 褑褨薪薪芯褋褌褟褏 褌邪 械屑锌邪褌褨褩 写芯 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁. 袙芯薪懈 锌械褉械卸懈胁邪褞褌褜 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈, 斜褨谢褜褕 斜谢懈蟹褜泻褨 锌褨写谢褨褌泻邪屑, 邪谢械 褟泻褨 斜褍写褍褌褜 蟹薪邪泄芯屑褨 褨 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢褨 写芯褉芯褋谢懈屑. 袗 褔械褉械蟹 褑械 - 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褟泻褖芯 胁懈 蟹薪邪褦褌械 褋锌芯泄谢械褉懈 - 褔懈褌邪褌懈 褉芯屑邪薪懈 斜褍写械 褑褨泻邪胁芯. 袧邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 褟 锌械褉褕褨 写胁褨 泻薪懈谐懈 褋锌械褉褕褍 "锌芯斜邪褔懈胁", 褌芯斜褌芯 锌械褉械谐谢褟薪褍胁 械泻褉邪薪褨蟹邪褑褨褞. 袗 胁卸械 锌芯褌褨屑 褩褏 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪胁. 袉 薪褨 锌褉芯 褖芯 薪械 褕泻芯写褍褞: 褋械褉褨邪谢 写芯写邪胁 泻邪褉褌懈薪泻懈 写芯 褌械泻褋褌褍, 邪谢械 蟹 褔邪褋芯屑 "泻薪懈卸泻芯胁褨" 芯斜褉邪蟹懈 胁懈褌褨褋薪懈谢懈 "褋械褉褨邪谢褜薪褨". 袩褉懈薪邪泄屑褨, 袛卸芯褉写卸 袣邪斜褨薪褋 褔懈 袣褨锌褋 写谢褟 屑械薪械 斜褍写褍褌褜 "泻薪懈卸泻芯胁懈屑懈". 袥褞褋褨 褌邪 袥芯泻胁褍写 - "褋械褉褨邪谢褜薪懈屑懈", 邪谢械 谢懈褕械 褌芯屑褍, 褖芯 邪泻褌芯褉懈 写褍卸械 斜谢懈蟹褜泻褨 写芯 泻薪懈卸泻芯胁懈褏 芯褉懈谐褨薪邪谢褨胁.
携泻褖芯 胁懈 薪械 蟹薪邪褦褌械, 褏褌芯 褌邪泻褨 袥褞褋褨, 袛卸芯褉写卸, 袥芯泻胁褍写, 袣褨锌褋, 邪 褌邪泻芯卸 袣芯褋褌芯屑邪褏邪-肖谢芯, 袘邪褉薪褋, 袚芯谢谢褨, 袪褍锌械褉褌 褌邪 袩械薪械谢芯锌邪, 褌芯... 孝芯 褉邪写卸褍 褔懈褌邪褌懈 褑懈泻谢, 斜芯 薪褨褔懈屑 褌褍褌 薪械 蟹邪褉邪写懈褕.
些芯 卸 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈 锌褉芯 褋邪屑 褉芯屑邪薪, 邪谢械 斜械蟹 褋锌芯泄谢械褉褨胁? 袪芯蟹泻邪卸褍 锌褉芯 褋褌褉褍泻褌褍褉褍 褉芯屑邪薪褍. 袧邪 胁邪褋 褔械泻邪褌懈屑械 写胁褨 褋褞卸械褌薪褨 谢褨薪褨褩. 袨写薪邪 蟹 薪懈褏 褦 褑械薪褌褉邪谢褜薪芯褞, 邪 褨薪褕邪 - 斜褨褔薪芯褞. 袩褉懈褔芯屑褍 斜褨褔薪芯褞 胁 锌褉褟屑芯屑褍 褋械薪褋褨: 褑械 side quest, 褟泻懈泄 屑邪褦 胁懈泻芯薪邪褌懈 邪谐械薪褑褨褟 "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯". 袙褉械褕褌褨-褉械褕褌, 胁芯薪懈 褌邪泻懈 屑邪褞褌褜 斜芯褉芯褌懈褋褟 蟹 锌褉懈胁懈写邪屑懈. 袗 褋锌褉邪胁邪 肖邪褌邪谢褜薪芯褩 袣褉邪褋褍薪褨 褩屑 褌褉邪锌懈谢邪褋褟, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯, 薪械 写褍卸械 胁褔邪褋薪芯, 邪谢械 胁 褍屑芯胁邪褏 泻褉懈蟹懈 胁褨写 褉芯斜芯褌懈 薪械 胁褨写屑芯胁谢褟褞褌褜褋褟. 袧邪褋锌褉邪胁写褨, 斜褨褔薪邪 谢褨薪褨褟 胁胁械写械薪邪, 褖芯斜 写芯写邪褌懈 写械褌械泻褌懈胁薪芯谐芯 锌褉懈褋屑邪泻褍, 邪谢械 褌邪泻芯卸 胁芯薪邪 褉芯蟹泻褉懈胁邪褦 薪邪屑 泻褨谢褜泻芯褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁. 袛芯 蟹邪谐邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 褉芯蟹胁懈褌泻褍 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯褩 谢褨薪褨褩 薪邪褔械 薪褨褔芯谐芯 薪械 写芯写邪褦, 邪谢械... 袩褨褋谢褟 褋锌褉邪胁懈 肖邪褌邪谢褜薪芯褩 袣褉邪褋褍薪褨 屑懈 泻褉邪褖械 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褦屑芯, 褔芯屑褍 写械褟泻褨 谐械褉芯褩 锌芯胁芯写褟褌褜褋褟 褌邪泻, 褟泻 锌芯胁芯写褟褌褜褋褟 褍 褎褨薪邪谢褜薪褨泄 褋褍褌懈褔褑褨.
小褌褉邪褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 胁懈斜褍写芯胁褍褦 芯锌芯胁褨写褜. 小褞卸械褌 薪褨写械 薪械 "锌褉芯胁懈褋邪褦". 袧邪胁锌邪泻懈, 褔懈屑 写邪谢褨, 褌懈屑 锌芯写褨褩 褋褌邪褞褌褜 褨薪褌械薪褋懈胁薪褨褕懈屑懈 - 泻薪懈卸泻褍 谐芯写褨 胁褨写泻谢邪褋褌懈! 袟胁褨褋薪芯, 薪邪褋 褔械泻邪褞褌褜 蟹屑褨薪懈: 屑械薪褕邪褦 屑褨褋褌懈褔薪芯褩 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉懈, 蟹薪懈泻邪褦 薪褍邪褉 褔械褌胁械褉褌芯谐芯 褌芯屑褍. 些芯写芯 屑褨褋褌懈泻懈 - 褌芯 薪械屑邪 薪邪 褑械 褉邪写懈: 谐械褉芯褩 薪械 屑邪褞褌褜 褔邪褋褍 锌械褉械泄屑邪褌懈褋褟 屑褨褋褌懈泻芯褞, 斜芯 胁 薪懈褏 写褍卸械 褋械褉泄芯蟹薪褨 胁懈泻谢懈泻懈. 些芯写芯 薪褍邪褉褍, 褌芯... 携泻斜懈 褌褍褌 褖械 斜褍胁 薪褍邪褉, 褌芯 褉芯屑邪薪 胁懈泄褕芯胁 斜懈 胁写胁褨褔褨 褌芯胁褋褌褨褕懈屑, 邪 谐械褉芯褩 锌芯褔邪谢懈 斜 胁褌褉邪褔邪褌懈 胁 锌褉懈胁邪斜谢懈胁芯褋褌褨. 袗写卸械, 褟泻 屑懈 锌邪屑'褟褌邪褦屑芯, 薪邪褍褉 - 褑械 锌褉芯 邪屑芯褉邪谢褜薪懈褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁, 褟泻褨 薪邪屑邪谐邪褞褌褜褋褟 写芯褋褟谐邪褌懈 屑芯褉邪谢褜薪懈褏 褑褨谢械泄 邪屑芯褉邪谢褜薪懈屑懈 屑械褌芯写邪屑懈. 袗斜芯 泄 褑褨谢褨 邪屑芯褉邪谢褜薪褨. 袉 胁褋械 褑械 锌褨写 写芯褖械屑 褌邪 胁薪芯褔褨. 袧褨, 褖芯写芯 写芯褖褍 褌邪 薪芯褔褨 胁 屑械薪械 褍锌械褉械写卸械薪褜 薪械屑邪褦. 袗谢械 褟泻斜懈 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 谐械褉芯褩 锌芯褔邪谢懈 屑褨卸 褋芯斜芯褞 褋胁邪褉懈褌懈褋褟 褔懈 薪械 写芯胁褨褉褟褌懈 芯写薪褨 芯写薪懈屑 - 褌懈锌芯胁邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪邪 写谢褟 薪褍邪褉褍! - 褟 斜 薪械 蟹薪邪胁, 褖芯 泄 褉芯斜懈褌懈...
袛芯 褉械褔褨, 小褌褉邪褍写 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 蟹邪胁械褉褕褍褦 褑懈泻谢. 袩芯-锌械褉褕械, 屑懈 屑邪褦屑芯 胁褨写泻褉懈褌懈泄 褎褨薪邪谢. 袧械 屑芯卸褍 锌芯褟褋薪懈褌懈, 褖芯 卸 褌邪屑 胁褨写泻褉懈褌械. 袗谢械 锌芯胁褨褉褌械 薪邪 褋谢芯胁芯: 褎褨薪邪谢 屑褨褋褌懈褌褜 褔褨褌泻褨 薪邪褌褟泻懈, 邪谢械 胁褨写泻褉懈褌懈泄. 袩芯-写褉褍谐械, 屑懈 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟 褉芯蟹谐邪写泻褍 袩褉芯斜谢械屑懈 褌邪 袩械薪械谢芯锌懈 肖褨褌褌械褋, 孝芯胁邪褉懈褋褌胁邪 袨褉褎械褟 褌邪 褋褨屑械泄薪芯褩 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 袥芯泻胁褍写邪. 袗谢械 泄 褌褍褌 小褌褉邪褍写 薪械 锌芯褟褋薪褞褦 胁褋褜芯谐芯. 袦懈 薪邪褔械 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟 蟹邪谐邪谢褜薪懈泄 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌, 褔芯屑褍 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪 锌芯褔邪谢邪褋褟. 袗谢械 泻芯薪泻褉械褌薪懈褏 写械褌邪谢械泄 屑懈 薪械 蟹薪邪褦屑芯, 邪 褌芯屑褍... 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪 薪械 褦 胁懈褉褨褕械薪芯褞! 袩芯锌械褉械写褍 褖械 写械褋褟褌懈谢褨褌褌褟 泻褉芯锌褨褌泻芯褩 褉芯斜芯褌懈. 袉 薪褨, 泄写械褌褜褋褟 薪械 锌褉芯 袗谐械薪褑褨褞 "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯", 邪 胁褋褨褦褩 斜褉懈褌邪薪褋褜泻芯褩 薪邪褍泻懈. 袦懈 写褨蟹薪邪谢懈褋褟 褌邪褦屑薪懈褑褞 袩械薪械谢芯锌懈 肖褨褌褌械褋, 邪谢械... 袙懈 胁卸械 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢懈 谢芯谐褨泻褍, 褌邪泻? 啸褌芯 褌邪泻懈泄 袆蟹械泻褨褦谢褜? 效芯屑褍 胁 褕邪褎褨 蟹斜械褉褨谐邪胁褋褟 褑械泄 邪褉褌械褎邪泻褌? 袟胁褨写泻懈 斜褉邪褋谢械褌? 效芯屑褍 斜褉邪褋谢械褌? 携 蟹屑褨褕褍褞 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 锌懈褌邪薪薪褟 蟹 写褉褍谐芯褉褟写薪懈屑懈, 邪 褔邪褋褌懈薪褍 谐芯谢芯胁薪懈褏 薪械 芯蟹胁褍褔褍褞, 斜芯 薪械 褏芯褔褍 褋锌芯泄谢械褉懈褌懈. 袩芯-褌褉械褌褦, 小褌褉邪褍写 蟹胁'褟蟹褍褦 谐芯谢芯胁薪褨 褋褞卸械褌薪褨 谢褨薪褨褩, 蟹邪 褟泻懈屑懈 屑懈 褋谢褨写褍胁邪谢懈 胁褨写 锌械褉褕芯谐芯 褌芯屑褍. 袗谢械 小褌褉邪褍写 薪械 锌芯褟褋薪褞褦 胁褋褜芯谐芯, 褖芯 斜褍谢芯 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 褋胁褨褌褨. 效芯屑褍 袪褍锌械褉褌 屑褨谐 斜邪褔懈褌懈 锌褉懈胁懈写褨胁?! 袗写卸械 泄芯屑褍 褟胁薪芯 蟹邪 写胁邪写褑褟褌褜! 袉 褑械 锌褉懈泄芯屑, 褟泻懈泄 褟 斜 薪邪蟹胁邪胁 褌邪泻: 小褌褉邪褍写 薪械 "蟹邪泻褉懈胁邪褦" 褋褌胁芯褉械薪懈泄 薪懈屑 褋胁褨褌. 袟邪泻褉懈胁褕懈 泻薪懈谐褍, 胁懈 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褦褌械, 褖芯 - 褟泻 斜懈 褑械 写懈胁薪芯 薪械 蟹胁褍褔邪谢芯! - 邪谢褜褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪懈泄 袥芯薪写芯薪 锌褉芯写芯胁卸褍褦 褨褋薪褍胁邪褌懈. 袙卸械 薪械 薪邪 褋褌芯褉褨薪泻邪褏 泻薪懈谐懈, 邪谢械 胁 薪邪褕褨泄 褍褟胁褨. 携泻 薪邪 屑械薪械, 褑械 写褍卸械 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯. 袧械 胁褋褨 邪胁褌芯褉(泻)懈 胁屑褨褞褌褜 褌邪泻 锌懈褋邪褌懈 褎褨薪邪谢懈. 袧械 胁褋褨 邪胁褌芯褉(泻)懈 胁屑褨褞褌褜 褌邪泻 芯锌懈褋褍胁邪褌懈 胁懈谐邪写邪薪褨 褋胁褨褌懈.
袗谐械薪褑褨褟 "袥芯泻胁褍写 褨 袣芯" - 褑懈泻谢, 褟泻懈泄 芯写薪芯蟹薪邪褔薪芯 胁邪褉褌芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌懈!
袩.小. 袉 褌褉芯褕泻懈 胁卸械 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯谐芯. 孝邪泻芯卸 斜械蟹 褋锌芯泄谢械褉褨胁, 邪谢械 褨 薪械 写褍卸械 写芯 褌械屑懈. 笑械泄 褑懈泻谢 屑械薪褨 褋锌芯写芯斜邪胁褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕械, 薪褨卸 "褌褉懈谢芯谐褨褟" 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋邪.
(袩懈褕褍 褋谢芯胁芯 "褌褉懈谢芯谐褨褟" 胁 谢邪锌泻邪褏, 斜芯 褌邪屑 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈, 邪谢械 褔械褌胁械褉褌邪 - 锌褉懈泻胁械谢, 褟泻懈泄 薪褨 薪邪 褖芯 胁卸械 薪械 胁锌谢懈胁邪褦, 邪 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪懈泄 写谢褟 褌懈褏, 泻芯屑褍 斜褉邪泻褍褦 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋邪. "袩械褉褋褌械薪褜 小芯谢芯屑芯薪邪" - 褑械 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褜 锌褉芯 锌褉懈谐芯写懈 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋邪 胁 袗薪褌懈褔薪芯褋褌褨.)
袗谢械 写谢褟 屑械薪械 褑褨 褑懈泻谢懈 斜褍写褍褌褜 锌芯胁'褟蟹邪薪懈屑懈, 斜芯 褟 泄 写邪谢褨 斜褍写褍 胁锌械褉褌芯 胁褨褉懈褌懈, 褖芯 效械褉械锌-褖芯-褕械锌芯褔械 - 褑械 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 泄芯谐芯 写芯谢褟 屑械褌邪褦 屑褨卸 邪谢褜褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪懈屑懈 袥芯薪写芯薪邪屑懈: 胁 芯写薪芯屑褍 褦 袩褉芯斜谢械屑邪, 胁 褨薪褕芯屑褍 - 屑邪谐褨褟 褌邪 写卸懈薪懈. 袥芯薪写芯薪懈 屑褨薪褟褞褌褜褋褟, 邪 袘邪褉褌褨屑械褍褋 褌邪泻懈泄 卸械 谢褞写褟薪懈泄, 邪谢械 褋邪褉泻邪褋褌懈褔薪懈泄.
March 12, 2021
4 out of 5 Stars.
When I wanted to start with Lockwood & co. I lowkey challenged to myself to finish this book within a month. And the most unbelievable thing happened to me, I was being able to finish the entire series in only one weekend (alright maybe it took me an entire weekend plus a couple of more days before that). But I never imagined to be able to do that. It's been too many years since I read a whole series in only a few days.
I grew so much attached to these characters in only a short period of time. I'm kind of sad that the series ends with this book, because I don't mind reading about these characters again and them going on to new adventures and hunting ghosts. I'll miss them so much, I actually miss them already and it only has been less than a week since I finished this series.
How can I describe 'Lockwood & co. in few words: charismatic, charming, enjoyable, funny, heartfelt, mysterious, chilling and loveable.
When I wanted to start with Lockwood & co. I lowkey challenged to myself to finish this book within a month. And the most unbelievable thing happened to me, I was being able to finish the entire series in only one weekend (alright maybe it took me an entire weekend plus a couple of more days before that). But I never imagined to be able to do that. It's been too many years since I read a whole series in only a few days.
I grew so much attached to these characters in only a short period of time. I'm kind of sad that the series ends with this book, because I don't mind reading about these characters again and them going on to new adventures and hunting ghosts. I'll miss them so much, I actually miss them already and it only has been less than a week since I finished this series.
How can I describe 'Lockwood & co. in few words: charismatic, charming, enjoyable, funny, heartfelt, mysterious, chilling and loveable.
March 22, 2020
I don't know how I am going to continue with my life now that this is over.
October 16, 2021
2.5 Stars
For some reason i can't totally fathom right now, i've always thought of this series as YA and not middle grade. Boy was i proved wrong with this one. While i'm glad to have finally come to the end of this series, i really think this was one of the weakest books in the series.
In typical Lockwood and Co. fashion, for the first half of the book, you are treated to a pointless ghost job the gang undertakes that has no bearing on the main story because God forbid Stroud actually concentrates on the main story from the start of the book to the end. Then, time and time again, Lucy reminds us of how suave Lockwood is, how put together he is, oh that smile, oh that fearlessness, oh the bravery, the way the wind always seemed to tousle his hair, unflappable demeanour. Wait, am i repeating myself? That's exactly what that Lucy character did every freaking time.
I really think Stroud did a GREAT disservice to her character. When you're first introduced to her, she seems capable, good head on her shoulders, basically a good female lead that's sure to kick ass. Fast forward 2 books later and suddenly she's losing her shit over a boy and acting like a total bitch over a boy????? She suddenly can't function properly as an agent? Like for real, can i get a female lead that can fall in love - even though it really wasn't needed in this series as far as i'm concerned- and still be freaking capable. I mean WTF!!! Her every waking thought was Lockwood did this, Lockwood did that.
It was so nauseating馃ぎ馃ぎ.
I don't know if this is like a thing when writing about characters set in Britain, but holy shit smokes, these guys were unbelievably polite. There were just some instances that i was like "How is this the proper response/reaction to something of this magnitude?" There's a certain part where the gang decides to steal something that could help them solve the mystery of the empty grave only deciding to do so after so obviously you know the baddies weren't fucking around and then Lockwood goes
"We needn't be embarrassed doing this..."
Me: TF???
or when Lucy finally meets the main baddie and gets the whole gist of the story and she goes
"This is an atrocious thing. A wicked crime"
Me: ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
Minor Peeve: Every time the gang had to take tea and open a digestive. Like i get that tea and biscuits is a big part of the British culture, but i have a hard time wrapping my head around teenagers that want to pop the kettle on every freaking time to have tea and digestives. Not once did anyone take soda. Not once!!!
Finally, apparently Holly is black girl???!! *GASP* but her hair swishes like gossamer???
Not like your hair can't swish like gossamer if you're a black girl but what are the odds of that happening really?
While i absolutely love , and by Stroud, the Lockwood series definitely isn't a strong fave of mine from the author (some books in the series were definitely stronger than others)
I leave you with some of my favourite fawning of Lucy over Lockwood:
鈾ワ笍A gentle wind swept his hair back, set the ends of his coat flapping.
鈾ワ笍His hand rested on his rapier hilt. He looked pensive, as if he was gazing into the future & finding something sad. It made my heart hurt to see him.
鈾ワ笍He came to stand beside me. The sunlight was still on him. Right then, he was close to the idea i'd always had of him; the picture i saw in my mind's eye when drawing near to sleep
馃搶The first 3 paragraphs of chapter 26
馃搶That time she went all moony in chapter 4
Dammit Lucy!!!
All in all, not a bad series as a whole but really disappointed with the direction the book went with in the end. Upset with the way Lucy's character was basically trashed and i really don't even get how these kids even survived. I mean the baddies had freaking guns and they had swords. UGH!!! But meh, it's fiction and the heroes win in the end so why not?
January 8, 2024
This remains one of my early YA fantasy series!! this series is so well written and a little bit creepy haha that I probably would be back and reread it some time in future.
October 20, 2017
All 5 books of the series 3.5*'s.
An enjoyable UF series about teen ghost hunters set in London. This series is very kid friendly and has enough cheeky humor and entertaining plot lines to keep adults entertained as well. I did this series on audio and the narration was also very good.
This book wrapped up all of the series long plot lines in a good fashion. As a middle school series should be the everything is very straightforward and a good introduction to fantasy for those who are new to it. Although action packed there isn't anything too scary for younger readers or listeners.
I'd highly recommend this series as a read or listen with the kids. Audio to breakup a long car ride vs listening to are we there yet.
An enjoyable UF series about teen ghost hunters set in London. This series is very kid friendly and has enough cheeky humor and entertaining plot lines to keep adults entertained as well. I did this series on audio and the narration was also very good.
This book wrapped up all of the series long plot lines in a good fashion. As a middle school series should be the everything is very straightforward and a good introduction to fantasy for those who are new to it. Although action packed there isn't anything too scary for younger readers or listeners.
I'd highly recommend this series as a read or listen with the kids. Audio to breakup a long car ride vs listening to are we there yet.
October 3, 2017
I wish I'd realized sooner how perfect this series is for insomnia reading.
Oh well, hopefully there will be more.
But if not, that's ok, too; this ended pretty cleanly.
Oh well, hopefully there will be more.
But if not, that's ok, too; this ended pretty cleanly.
October 6, 2017
鈥淚t was a time of beginnings, and a time of endings.鈥�
After the events of The Creeping Shadow, the group set off to prove the Skull鈥檚 story right: that Marissa Fitts hasn鈥檛 actually been laid to rest and she鈥檚 been posing as her granddaughter Penelope for years. As the title implies, they do indeed find an empty grave. How Marissa could possibly remain alive and looking as young as she does remains a mystery. The mystery of the empty grave isn鈥檛 the only thing occupying their time though. They鈥檙e battling the Fitts agency to remain in business when Marissa announces that all small agencies will be absorbed into one and they must also deal with a fairground haunted by La Belle Dame Sans Merci (The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy) who psychically enchain her victims after alluring them with her beauty. Never a dull moment with Lockwood & Co.
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked wonders to get here, and we won鈥檛 panic now. If we鈥檙e right, there won鈥檛 be anything to worry about. If we鈥檙e wrong, we deal with it, as we always do. [鈥 But we won鈥檛 be wrong. We鈥檙e on the verge of something big here. It鈥檚 going to be good!鈥�
Kipps adjusted his goggles dolefully. 鈥淪ince when has anything good happened in a crypt? It鈥檚 going to be bad by definition.鈥�
It seems rare that a series possesses such a fantastic story in addition to a brilliant cast of characters. It always makes me cringe when books are constantly being compared to Harry Potter, but the friendship dynamic in Lockwood & Co. is certainly comparable. Of course, it also has that Ghostbusters/X-Files angle that sets it apart. Lockwood himself is quite the complex character with a growing death wish that comes to a peak in this final story. His dark backstory gets dealt out in small servings involving a sister that was ghost-touched at a young age and parents that both died under mysterious circumstances. We see all this through the eyes of Lucy and while the two have been developing an almost reluctant romance since the start of the series, it deserves mention that it never overwhelms the story itself or any of the supporting characters. I originally picked this series up because of my love for a good ghost story and while I鈥檓 not often scared by them these days, Stroud still manages to include lines that鈥檒l leave tingles down your spine.
鈥淗er jagged mouth opened in welcome; she was like a deep-sea fish swallowing her prey. As she hugged him close, blue veins of ice ran swiftly down his skin. [Name omitted] limbs jerked and thrashed; he tried to speak, but could only make a gargling sound as he was drawn back into the dark.鈥�
Being that this is the series finale, there鈥檚 always the issue with wrapping up all loose ends. What happened to Lockwood鈥檚 parents? What caused the rampant increase in hauntings in recent years? How has Marissa Fitts managed to retain her youth for so long? Who is the skull in the jar and what will become of him? And of course, what will become of Lockwood & Co.? I鈥檓 notoriously displeased with the majority of series endings but I鈥檓 so relieved that this wasn鈥檛 the case with The Empty Grave since I鈥檝e been a diehard fan from the very beginning. It retained the perfect balance of creepy and humor (with help in that department from Skull) and resolved unanswered questions without giving it that 鈥渁nd they all lived happily ever after鈥� type of ending that I so dislike. I started Ominous October back in 2014 and The Screaming Staircase was one of the first books I posted about. It鈥檚 always heartbreaking to see an amazing story come to an end but I was so pleased to see these fantastic characters get the story they deserve. Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and even Kipps鈥� but I鈥檒l still miss Skull the most.
鈥淭hese spirits are a bit showy,鈥� the skull said. 鈥淎ll that hooting and cackling. You don鈥檛 see me doing that. I ask you, where鈥檚 the class?鈥�
After the events of The Creeping Shadow, the group set off to prove the Skull鈥檚 story right: that Marissa Fitts hasn鈥檛 actually been laid to rest and she鈥檚 been posing as her granddaughter Penelope for years. As the title implies, they do indeed find an empty grave. How Marissa could possibly remain alive and looking as young as she does remains a mystery. The mystery of the empty grave isn鈥檛 the only thing occupying their time though. They鈥檙e battling the Fitts agency to remain in business when Marissa announces that all small agencies will be absorbed into one and they must also deal with a fairground haunted by La Belle Dame Sans Merci (The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy) who psychically enchain her victims after alluring them with her beauty. Never a dull moment with Lockwood & Co.
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked wonders to get here, and we won鈥檛 panic now. If we鈥檙e right, there won鈥檛 be anything to worry about. If we鈥檙e wrong, we deal with it, as we always do. [鈥 But we won鈥檛 be wrong. We鈥檙e on the verge of something big here. It鈥檚 going to be good!鈥�
Kipps adjusted his goggles dolefully. 鈥淪ince when has anything good happened in a crypt? It鈥檚 going to be bad by definition.鈥�
It seems rare that a series possesses such a fantastic story in addition to a brilliant cast of characters. It always makes me cringe when books are constantly being compared to Harry Potter, but the friendship dynamic in Lockwood & Co. is certainly comparable. Of course, it also has that Ghostbusters/X-Files angle that sets it apart. Lockwood himself is quite the complex character with a growing death wish that comes to a peak in this final story. His dark backstory gets dealt out in small servings involving a sister that was ghost-touched at a young age and parents that both died under mysterious circumstances. We see all this through the eyes of Lucy and while the two have been developing an almost reluctant romance since the start of the series, it deserves mention that it never overwhelms the story itself or any of the supporting characters. I originally picked this series up because of my love for a good ghost story and while I鈥檓 not often scared by them these days, Stroud still manages to include lines that鈥檒l leave tingles down your spine.
鈥淗er jagged mouth opened in welcome; she was like a deep-sea fish swallowing her prey. As she hugged him close, blue veins of ice ran swiftly down his skin. [Name omitted] limbs jerked and thrashed; he tried to speak, but could only make a gargling sound as he was drawn back into the dark.鈥�
Being that this is the series finale, there鈥檚 always the issue with wrapping up all loose ends. What happened to Lockwood鈥檚 parents? What caused the rampant increase in hauntings in recent years? How has Marissa Fitts managed to retain her youth for so long? Who is the skull in the jar and what will become of him? And of course, what will become of Lockwood & Co.? I鈥檓 notoriously displeased with the majority of series endings but I鈥檓 so relieved that this wasn鈥檛 the case with The Empty Grave since I鈥檝e been a diehard fan from the very beginning. It retained the perfect balance of creepy and humor (with help in that department from Skull) and resolved unanswered questions without giving it that 鈥渁nd they all lived happily ever after鈥� type of ending that I so dislike. I started Ominous October back in 2014 and The Screaming Staircase was one of the first books I posted about. It鈥檚 always heartbreaking to see an amazing story come to an end but I was so pleased to see these fantastic characters get the story they deserve. Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and even Kipps鈥� but I鈥檒l still miss Skull the most.
鈥淭hese spirits are a bit showy,鈥� the skull said. 鈥淎ll that hooting and cackling. You don鈥檛 see me doing that. I ask you, where鈥檚 the class?鈥�
September 28, 2019
Y'ALL.*
THIS. BOOK.
No wait... scratch that ...
THIS. SERIES.
This entire series made me FEEL so many things. I had no idea when I started these books that I'd be this attached by the end. How am I going to be able to move on after this? *spoiler*: I probably won't. 馃槶
Even though I had become accustomed to the format of the previous books, I was pleased that this installment offered a slight deviation from the "norm". There was instead a greater focus on the Problem itself with all of the various plots finally converging toward an ultimate resolution.
As far as spooky scenes, this book was more on par with as there were a few, but nothing quite as terrifying as what I experienced from the other three books. (Of course, there was at least one staircase involved. 馃槺) Even without all of the typical scary cases, there was still plenty of action throughout as well as moments where I held my breath because I was afraid of how things might end for these characters.
Speaking of the characters鈥� Stroud did an incredible job at creating such memorable and likable characters. As much as I will forever adore the original trio, I ended up loving all of the members of "team Lockwood" before too long. Each one was unique and had something they could contribute to the group. They were completely loyal to each other and fought hard against anyone who was trying to take them down.
While I absolutely adore both Lockwood and Lucy independently, they were at their best when they were together. They made a great team and I loved seeing their relationship evolve over the course of this series. They are so precious and I can't believe I have been fangirling THIS HARD over a couple of fictional characters. 鉂�
The humor also remained a high point with the Skull delivering some of the BEST lines out of anyone. He may seem harsh and insensitive at times - especially with his constant jabs at Lucy or his frequently expressed desire for more violence along with the deaths of everyone he meets - but he became one of the most enjoyable parts of the entire series.
Overall, I am quite satisfied with how this ended even though I'm devastated that it's now over. This was such a fantastic series filled with action, excitement, horror, friendship, and humor. I truly can't recommend it enough.
*I feel like I need to make a disclaimer that I don't use or say "y'all" in real life, but I'm just so destroyed by this that I'm not even myself anymore.
THIS. BOOK.
No wait... scratch that ...
THIS. SERIES.
This entire series made me FEEL so many things. I had no idea when I started these books that I'd be this attached by the end. How am I going to be able to move on after this? *spoiler*: I probably won't. 馃槶
Even though I had become accustomed to the format of the previous books, I was pleased that this installment offered a slight deviation from the "norm". There was instead a greater focus on the Problem itself with all of the various plots finally converging toward an ultimate resolution.
As far as spooky scenes, this book was more on par with as there were a few, but nothing quite as terrifying as what I experienced from the other three books. (Of course, there was at least one staircase involved. 馃槺) Even without all of the typical scary cases, there was still plenty of action throughout as well as moments where I held my breath because I was afraid of how things might end for these characters.
Speaking of the characters鈥� Stroud did an incredible job at creating such memorable and likable characters. As much as I will forever adore the original trio, I ended up loving all of the members of "team Lockwood" before too long. Each one was unique and had something they could contribute to the group. They were completely loyal to each other and fought hard against anyone who was trying to take them down.
While I absolutely adore both Lockwood and Lucy independently, they were at their best when they were together. They made a great team and I loved seeing their relationship evolve over the course of this series. They are so precious and I can't believe I have been fangirling THIS HARD over a couple of fictional characters. 鉂�
The humor also remained a high point with the Skull delivering some of the BEST lines out of anyone. He may seem harsh and insensitive at times - especially with his constant jabs at Lucy or his frequently expressed desire for more violence along with the deaths of everyone he meets - but he became one of the most enjoyable parts of the entire series.
Overall, I am quite satisfied with how this ended even though I'm devastated that it's now over. This was such a fantastic series filled with action, excitement, horror, friendship, and humor. I truly can't recommend it enough.
*I feel like I need to make a disclaimer that I don't use or say "y'all" in real life, but I'm just so destroyed by this that I'm not even myself anymore.
November 1, 2022
This is one of my all-time favourite series. One that I keep coming back to, especially at this time of the year.
Stroud has crafted one hell of a brilliant setting, complex, believable, and utterly fascinating with its Problem: a world infected by supernatural beings that reduces humans to seek refuge at night in fear for their lives. Since adults cannot 鈥榮ee鈥� these ghostly apparitions, children and teenagers are roped in to become operatives, fighting these nefarious manifestations, often to their deaths.
As compelling as this is, the real strength of these novels resides in the cast. Our original trio shines! Lockwood with his charm and 鈥榙eath-wish鈥�; courageous, pastry-lover George, the ultimate researcher; and our narrator, Lucy, dedicated, loyal, and powerful in her skill. Not only this, but the author is not afraid to shake things by adding new members, first Holly, then Quill, each changing the fabric of the team but ultimately strengthening it. The Skull is a firm favourite of course, hilarious in his sarcastic self. Each personality grows slowly throughout the series, the author uncovering aspects of them, little by little. You鈥檇 think the secondary characters would pale in comparison, but they don鈥檛, each an intrinsic piece of the whole puzzle.
This last instalment doesn鈥檛 disappoint either. Stroud brings all the strands from the previous books together and shape them into one great finale. Once more we have a thrilling adventure - a huge mystery to solve - with danger and horror at each corner, interspersed with witty dialogue and humour.
Stroud has crafted one hell of a brilliant setting, complex, believable, and utterly fascinating with its Problem: a world infected by supernatural beings that reduces humans to seek refuge at night in fear for their lives. Since adults cannot 鈥榮ee鈥� these ghostly apparitions, children and teenagers are roped in to become operatives, fighting these nefarious manifestations, often to their deaths.
As compelling as this is, the real strength of these novels resides in the cast. Our original trio shines! Lockwood with his charm and 鈥榙eath-wish鈥�; courageous, pastry-lover George, the ultimate researcher; and our narrator, Lucy, dedicated, loyal, and powerful in her skill. Not only this, but the author is not afraid to shake things by adding new members, first Holly, then Quill, each changing the fabric of the team but ultimately strengthening it. The Skull is a firm favourite of course, hilarious in his sarcastic self. Each personality grows slowly throughout the series, the author uncovering aspects of them, little by little. You鈥檇 think the secondary characters would pale in comparison, but they don鈥檛, each an intrinsic piece of the whole puzzle.
This last instalment doesn鈥檛 disappoint either. Stroud brings all the strands from the previous books together and shape them into one great finale. Once more we have a thrilling adventure - a huge mystery to solve - with danger and horror at each corner, interspersed with witty dialogue and humour.
September 27, 2019
What an epic discovery from the Lockwood and Co'.
Will miss the adventures with the Lockwood team since the solved the ghost problem.
A great conclusion for the whole series.
Will miss the adventures with the Lockwood team since the solved the ghost problem.
A great conclusion for the whole series.
March 10, 2025
袧邪泄泻褉邪褖邪 泻薪懈谐邪 褋械褉褨褩. 笑械 胁卸械 泻褨薪械褑褜, 邪谢械 褖械 褌邪泻 斜邪谐邪褌芯 蟹邪锌懈褌邪薪褜. 啸芯褔械褌褜褋褟 写邪谢褨 褔懈褌邪褌懈 锌褉芯 锌褉懈谐芯写懈 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖芯褩 泻芯屑邪薪写懈. 携 写褍卸械 褏芯褔褍 锌褉芯写芯胁卸械薪薪褟. 袗 褖械 褏芯褔械褌褜褋褟 锌芯褔邪褌懈 褋锌芯褔邪褌泻褍. 笑械 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉锟斤拷邪 褋械褉褨褟. 袨斜芯胁鈥櫻徯沸盒拘残� 褩褩 锌械褉械褔懈褌邪褞.
January 23, 2024
And he sticks the landing! Jonathan Stroud, this is a fine series. It's obvious that I loved it because I read the last two books over the last two days and have no regrets over the laundry that didn't get done and the scones that weren't made because I was reading compulsively.
It's clear by now that this was a carefully planned series, with hints dropped early how things were going to go. The Empty Grave brings all the seemingly disparate threads together: Penelope Fittes' long game, Lockwood's past, the mysterious harp symbol on Kipps' stolen goggles, and even a few of the whispering skull's secrets.
The stakes are higher than ever for Lockwood & Co., independent ghostbusting agency that has now incurred the wrath of not one, but both of the major agencies. Impressive! And of course, Lockwood, George, and Lucy can't help but stoke the fires of their ire...by opening Marissa Fittes鈥檚 tomb and finding it, unsurprisingly, empty (ish). But with the Fittes Agency swallowing up smaller agencies and infiltrating the highest ranks of DEPRAC, Lockwood & Co is under acute threat - no longer so much by the dead (still challenging, though), but by the living.
I love how carefully the rules of this world are crafted: our young heroes can sense the dead, but they are not all powerful and have no magical abilities to defend themselves with. Ghost touch remains a threat everytime they face a Visitor. Yet even when the action is breathless and the horrors are imminent, there's an irreverent and blackly effervescent sense of humor. The skull remains sardonic and homicidal, a combination that I adore. Lucy, Lockwood, and George all do some fast growing up, some of it painful, and some of it - like their friendship and trust in each other while continuing to squabble - joyous.
The ending is, to my mind, perfect. It's hard to hit just the right note in an ending of a series, easy to make tidy happily ever afters. This is not tidy: there's some resolution but also an open door, hope for a desired outcome but no promises. Absolutely splendid stuff.
It's clear by now that this was a carefully planned series, with hints dropped early how things were going to go. The Empty Grave brings all the seemingly disparate threads together: Penelope Fittes' long game, Lockwood's past, the mysterious harp symbol on Kipps' stolen goggles, and even a few of the whispering skull's secrets.
The stakes are higher than ever for Lockwood & Co., independent ghostbusting agency that has now incurred the wrath of not one, but both of the major agencies. Impressive! And of course, Lockwood, George, and Lucy can't help but stoke the fires of their ire...by opening Marissa Fittes鈥檚 tomb and finding it, unsurprisingly, empty (ish). But with the Fittes Agency swallowing up smaller agencies and infiltrating the highest ranks of DEPRAC, Lockwood & Co is under acute threat - no longer so much by the dead (still challenging, though), but by the living.
I love how carefully the rules of this world are crafted: our young heroes can sense the dead, but they are not all powerful and have no magical abilities to defend themselves with. Ghost touch remains a threat everytime they face a Visitor. Yet even when the action is breathless and the horrors are imminent, there's an irreverent and blackly effervescent sense of humor. The skull remains sardonic and homicidal, a combination that I adore. Lucy, Lockwood, and George all do some fast growing up, some of it painful, and some of it - like their friendship and trust in each other while continuing to squabble - joyous.
The ending is, to my mind, perfect. It's hard to hit just the right note in an ending of a series, easy to make tidy happily ever afters. This is not tidy: there's some resolution but also an open door, hope for a desired outcome but no promises. Absolutely splendid stuff.
September 24, 2019
Hallo meine Lieben,
diese Rezension ist voller frischer Emotionen, da ich das Buch gerade erst beendet habe. Nat眉rlich ohne Spoiler.
Der 5. Und letzte Band der Lockwood & Co. Reihe bekommt von mir 4 von 5 Sterne. Ich bin sehr begeistert von diesem furiosen und gelungenen Ende.
Ich blicke aber dennoch auch mit einem weinenden Auge zur眉ck.. Zum einen, weil mir eine einzige Frage noch brennend auf dem Herzen liegt und weil die Geschichte nun tats盲chlich schlicht und ergreifend vorbei ist.
Abschied von all den unglaublich vielschichtigen und liebenswerten Charakteren zu nehmen, ist wirklich schwer. Diese Reihe wird auf jeden Fall nach einiger Zeit noch einmal gelesen und bleibt ein wunderbarer Schatz in meinem B眉cherregal!
Hervorragend, hoffentlich schreibt Jonathan Stroud noch mehr solch fantastischer B眉cher wie Lockwood & Co. Und Bartim盲us.
(Der Sch盲del hat mich st盲ndig an Bartim盲us erinnert.. Herrlich 馃構)
diese Rezension ist voller frischer Emotionen, da ich das Buch gerade erst beendet habe. Nat眉rlich ohne Spoiler.
Der 5. Und letzte Band der Lockwood & Co. Reihe bekommt von mir 4 von 5 Sterne. Ich bin sehr begeistert von diesem furiosen und gelungenen Ende.
Ich blicke aber dennoch auch mit einem weinenden Auge zur眉ck.. Zum einen, weil mir eine einzige Frage noch brennend auf dem Herzen liegt und weil die Geschichte nun tats盲chlich schlicht und ergreifend vorbei ist.
Abschied von all den unglaublich vielschichtigen und liebenswerten Charakteren zu nehmen, ist wirklich schwer. Diese Reihe wird auf jeden Fall nach einiger Zeit noch einmal gelesen und bleibt ein wunderbarer Schatz in meinem B眉cherregal!
Hervorragend, hoffentlich schreibt Jonathan Stroud noch mehr solch fantastischer B眉cher wie Lockwood & Co. Und Bartim盲us.
(Der Sch盲del hat mich st盲ndig an Bartim盲us erinnert.. Herrlich 馃構)
February 5, 2019
Am Anfang h盲tte ich nie gedacht, wie sehr ich diese Reihe lieben w眉rde. Das Ende war perfekt und es bricht mir das Herz, dass ich die Charaktere nicht mehr weiter in ihren Abenteuern begleiten kann. Es ist eins der B眉cher, die man am Ende einfach nur umarmt und gleichzeitig heulen m枚chte.
May 23, 2024
4.5 STARS because oh my freaking god!
Is it weird that while I didn't WANT anyone to die I'm also calling this book a copout for the fact that no one in the main crew died? Probably.
Argh! I enjoyed this series so damn much! I'm going to keep this review short and sweet because I feel like I can't properly articulate everything I love about this series. I just love EVERYTHING about it!
The world is so well-built, the situation with the ghosts and how the Problem has twisted the world. And then the concept of the agencies and the kid agents who have the job of fighting these ghosts it's just freaking cool and amazing!
Stroud honestly has such a refreshing style in that sometimes he doesn't deliver what you expect. And even he doesn't deliver exactly what I want how I want, what he does do ends up blowing me out of the water anyway. The unpredictable nature of his books was just delicious. So many things surprised me and caught me off guard, there were things I didn't even catch or notice until discussing them with someone else and then having a massive moment of realisation.
His writing is just spectacular, beautifully unique and also just superb. I've noticed amongst the Australian authors I have read, they always seem to have a unique style that just sticks out and there's a difference in their writing compared to the sea of other books I read, and I swear I am not just saying that out of pride I truly feel that way. With this series - Lockwood and Co, the Ranger's Apprentice series and A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G Drews being the specific books I have in mind, these Aussie books just have their own unique style, and I freaking love it.
Stroud's characters are just so endearing! I felt so immersed in Lucy's perspective without the feeling that I was the person in the story, which can frequently happen to me when I read first person perspective books. But Lucy felt so real, she was her own presence. And I loved her.
George is freaking adorable and sassy and precious and I just want to hug his grumpy ass and give him all the cake he wants.
I actually loved how Holly came to have such spunk as time went on but also the joke of her healthy eating all the time was pretty hilarious, I say that because I would do the joking, because I don't eat healthy, at all. Not sorry. But the moments Lucy had with Holly in this one were really nice, and then there were some other very interesting little things hinted to about Holly... ooh...
Then there's Kipps. Can we talk about how freaking awesome Kipps became later in the series?! And this book was the pinnacle of it. Kipps dry humour was just a pleasure and seeing him and George go at it was just priceless. But I also live for Kipps' soft side. Kipps is just amazing.
And then... Lockwood. The enigma wrapped up in all his charm and coolness and mystery. I. Am freaking. In love. Lockwood is just the most endearing in the crew, especially when a lot of his feelings and his story finally come to light in this book. How he grieves his parents and his sister and he's all alone in the world and he hides his pain and buries his emotions under humour and charm and a fierce drive to fight against the Problem, hardly even caring about where he ends up. That graveyard scene with Lucy was to die for - see what I did there? And when he got ensnared by the ghost and Lucy had to save him! Oh my heart! But then when he could finally find meaning in his family's deaths because he found out the truth, that they were killed because of what they knew, and the change that just comes over him, ah! I freaking love him. I love him and Lucy. The way he's just so smooth but also so damn dorky and awkward at the same time with her is just food for my soul. When he leaves her the necklace at the end and is like 'remember to look through the papers, don't forget to look through the papers' and Lucy is SO freaking oblivious and it's just priceless. I want to wrap them up and hug them and keep them safe from the world. And then that final fight in the climax when he comes to help her is just the best. And when he holds her as the bomb explodes. Again, MY HEART! I honestly think Lockwood has cemented his place as one of my favourites. Just as this series has.
Can we just talk about something? OMG I almost freaking DIED when I thought Kipps was dead. I legit thought he was dead and I was FREAKING as I read it I was just like 'It's him, he's the one who was going to die he's the one who's not going to make it!' Because the blurb of the book hinted that 'not everyone will come out of it alive', but then the book seemed to be foreshadowing so hard that LOCKWOOD was going to die with his empty grave waiting for him and everything, then it slowly built up with Kipps being so strong on the Other Side and then the realisation slowly creeps in that he's freaking DYING and it hit me from left field like a ton of bricks. I completely thought he was gone honestly so it was a complete surprise to me when he survived.
And then the SKULL! CAN WE FREAKING TALK ABOUT THE SKULL????????!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy. Freaking. Shit! How he just effortlessly blows the other ghost into oblivion. He's the ghost of a teenage boy yet he was more powerful then whatever that creepy Ezekiel was. But how he was so damn smug with Lucy afterward and was like 'yeah I totally didn't mean to do that I just wanted to exert my energy it wasn't to help you' or 'hehe I could kill Lockwood' and Lucy just doesn't give a damn because she knows he won't. The whole thing about Lucy destroying his jar was really something. And then when he SACRIFICED himself for Lucy and Lockwood because they wouldn't leave each other before the bomb went off so he protects them. HOLY ACTUAL SHIT! Best. thing. ever! I actually fully thought his source got incinerated so he was gone but then Stroud gave us that little tease in the end and gah! I don't know what to think! The only thing I'm a little sad about is I really wished we could have known the skull's name, I don't believe he's just 'forgotten it'. But oh well. He will always be Skully to me.
I really hope Stroud makes some sort of return to this series in the future. I will be there for it.
This book was a freaking rollercoaster! And I LIVED for it!
I haven't had so much fun with a series like this in forever. This series has been a highlight of my reading year this year. And I will gladly relieve it again and again in the future.
Thank you Lara for introducing me to this series ;)
I nearly want to reread this series now. And that to me, is a very good sign of my favour. I'd say a reread is due very soon. And gladly.
Is it weird that while I didn't WANT anyone to die I'm also calling this book a copout for the fact that no one in the main crew died? Probably.
Argh! I enjoyed this series so damn much! I'm going to keep this review short and sweet because I feel like I can't properly articulate everything I love about this series. I just love EVERYTHING about it!
The world is so well-built, the situation with the ghosts and how the Problem has twisted the world. And then the concept of the agencies and the kid agents who have the job of fighting these ghosts it's just freaking cool and amazing!
Stroud honestly has such a refreshing style in that sometimes he doesn't deliver what you expect. And even he doesn't deliver exactly what I want how I want, what he does do ends up blowing me out of the water anyway. The unpredictable nature of his books was just delicious. So many things surprised me and caught me off guard, there were things I didn't even catch or notice until discussing them with someone else and then having a massive moment of realisation.
His writing is just spectacular, beautifully unique and also just superb. I've noticed amongst the Australian authors I have read, they always seem to have a unique style that just sticks out and there's a difference in their writing compared to the sea of other books I read, and I swear I am not just saying that out of pride I truly feel that way. With this series - Lockwood and Co, the Ranger's Apprentice series and A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G Drews being the specific books I have in mind, these Aussie books just have their own unique style, and I freaking love it.
Stroud's characters are just so endearing! I felt so immersed in Lucy's perspective without the feeling that I was the person in the story, which can frequently happen to me when I read first person perspective books. But Lucy felt so real, she was her own presence. And I loved her.
George is freaking adorable and sassy and precious and I just want to hug his grumpy ass and give him all the cake he wants.
I actually loved how Holly came to have such spunk as time went on but also the joke of her healthy eating all the time was pretty hilarious, I say that because I would do the joking, because I don't eat healthy, at all. Not sorry. But the moments Lucy had with Holly in this one were really nice, and then there were some other very interesting little things hinted to about Holly... ooh...
Then there's Kipps. Can we talk about how freaking awesome Kipps became later in the series?! And this book was the pinnacle of it. Kipps dry humour was just a pleasure and seeing him and George go at it was just priceless. But I also live for Kipps' soft side. Kipps is just amazing.
And then... Lockwood. The enigma wrapped up in all his charm and coolness and mystery. I. Am freaking. In love. Lockwood is just the most endearing in the crew, especially when a lot of his feelings and his story finally come to light in this book. How he grieves his parents and his sister and he's all alone in the world and he hides his pain and buries his emotions under humour and charm and a fierce drive to fight against the Problem, hardly even caring about where he ends up. That graveyard scene with Lucy was to die for - see what I did there? And when he got ensnared by the ghost and Lucy had to save him! Oh my heart! But then when he could finally find meaning in his family's deaths because he found out the truth, that they were killed because of what they knew, and the change that just comes over him, ah! I freaking love him. I love him and Lucy. The way he's just so smooth but also so damn dorky and awkward at the same time with her is just food for my soul. When he leaves her the necklace at the end and is like 'remember to look through the papers, don't forget to look through the papers' and Lucy is SO freaking oblivious and it's just priceless. I want to wrap them up and hug them and keep them safe from the world. And then that final fight in the climax when he comes to help her is just the best. And when he holds her as the bomb explodes. Again, MY HEART! I honestly think Lockwood has cemented his place as one of my favourites. Just as this series has.
Can we just talk about something? OMG I almost freaking DIED when I thought Kipps was dead. I legit thought he was dead and I was FREAKING as I read it I was just like 'It's him, he's the one who was going to die he's the one who's not going to make it!' Because the blurb of the book hinted that 'not everyone will come out of it alive', but then the book seemed to be foreshadowing so hard that LOCKWOOD was going to die with his empty grave waiting for him and everything, then it slowly built up with Kipps being so strong on the Other Side and then the realisation slowly creeps in that he's freaking DYING and it hit me from left field like a ton of bricks. I completely thought he was gone honestly so it was a complete surprise to me when he survived.
And then the SKULL! CAN WE FREAKING TALK ABOUT THE SKULL????????!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy. Freaking. Shit! How he just effortlessly blows the other ghost into oblivion. He's the ghost of a teenage boy yet he was more powerful then whatever that creepy Ezekiel was. But how he was so damn smug with Lucy afterward and was like 'yeah I totally didn't mean to do that I just wanted to exert my energy it wasn't to help you' or 'hehe I could kill Lockwood' and Lucy just doesn't give a damn because she knows he won't. The whole thing about Lucy destroying his jar was really something. And then when he SACRIFICED himself for Lucy and Lockwood because they wouldn't leave each other before the bomb went off so he protects them. HOLY ACTUAL SHIT! Best. thing. ever! I actually fully thought his source got incinerated so he was gone but then Stroud gave us that little tease in the end and gah! I don't know what to think! The only thing I'm a little sad about is I really wished we could have known the skull's name, I don't believe he's just 'forgotten it'. But oh well. He will always be Skully to me.
I really hope Stroud makes some sort of return to this series in the future. I will be there for it.
This book was a freaking rollercoaster! And I LIVED for it!
I haven't had so much fun with a series like this in forever. This series has been a highlight of my reading year this year. And I will gladly relieve it again and again in the future.
Thank you Lara for introducing me to this series ;)
I nearly want to reread this series now. And that to me, is a very good sign of my favour. I'd say a reread is due very soon. And gladly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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