Publication date of first novel: February 8th, 2005
Pages: 370 (1st), 400 (2nd), 417 (3rd)
Genre: Middle-Grade, Fantasy
It has the ever important map for fantasy novels. Plus lots of fun illustrations.
Note: At this point, any review I chose to do is of my own accord and my own views. No one asked me to do these reviews.
My friend lent me this series, and told me it's one of her favourite series. I can see why. It's a little simpler than I typically read, thus I read it pretty quick.
Summary blurb from Goodreads of the first novel:
"Fourteen-year-old Quint Verginix is the only remaining son of famous sky-pirate Wind Jackal. He and his father have journeyed to the city of Sanctaphrax – a great floating rock, bound to the ground below by a chain, its inhabitants living with their heads literally in the clouds.
But the city hides a dangerous secret: deep inside the great rock, something horrible lurks. With his father away, Quint may be the only one who can save Sanctaphrax from the dreaded curse of the gloamglozer . . .
The Curse of the Gloamglozer is the first book of the Quint Saga – first trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose."
This book is actual a prequel to the other books. I'm reading it first though, as my friend told me to start in chronicle order, not publication order. I enjoyed it and Quint was a likeable enough protagonist. The world building was interesting. I'm not sure what it is, but I can't think of much that is necessary to bring up in regards to the books. I felt like there wasn't a lot to them. For that age group its probably perfect, but compared to other YA/MG books I've read as an adult (The Last Unicorn, The Golden Compass) I felt like I can think of a lot more to them. This one I'm just like I liked the Sky Pirates and the illustrations. The third one was cool, in that we got to experience what it's really like to be a Sky Pirate. The ships are pretty cool.
Things I liked about the trilogy:
Maris and Quint are resourceful, intelligent and strong protagonists. I enjoyed their friendship and the adventures they got up to. Well when Maris was in it. She was my favourite part of Book 1.
I loved how this isn't your usual fantasy, in that there is no D and D/LOTR races. The species felt new and fresh.
The writing was simple (as I think its Middle Grade) but much like a good kids novel, the writing itself is still good.
I've said before. I have a thing for nautical novels and pirates in fantasy novels and this had sky pirates. Which is super cool.
The illustrations were humorous and added another layer to the story.
The world building is very well done. It is definitely the highlight of the trilogy and I'm excited to delve further into the other books in the series.
Fast moving. Easy to read.
Things I didn't like:
I wasn't a huge fan of the 2nd one. It was an important book for Quint's character and to expand upon the world, but I found myself getting a little board. And because it was fairly simple I found my mind wondering. This is a me, not you book moment.
The lack of female characters. Maris was hardly there in the 2nd and I really liked her in the first one.
I also felt like since they were so short, that aside from Quint, there's little development, including of the villains. For me strong characters are crucial to a novel.
The slave storyline of book 2 bothered me and lack of growth.
Maybe I should just say I didn't really like book 2.
Overall thoughts:
These books are fun, light reads, that are fast moving. Good world building for a middle grade book, but the lack of character growth/development bothers me. I probably wouldn't have liked it when I would've read it at 11, as there is next to no female characters. I would've been annoyed by that, as I was always looking for strong female characters in novels. I'll probably continue reading the trilogies as my friend lends them to me, and would recommend them to people in that age group. But there's not really enough to it to keep most adults entertained. I mean if I'm struggling to think of parts to talk about to analyze with a review, that's a little sad. The books somewhat felt like they were made just to provide a back story and develop the series more to allow for a greater understanding of what was already published. Still enjoyable, but I'm more interested in seeing where this goes.
2.5 glasses of wine out of 5.
Cheers,
Jen.