Amulet #4: The Last Council [Paperback]

Kazu Kibuishi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2011 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Amulet (Book 4) | Lexile Measure: 400L (What's this?)

Kazu Kibuishi's thrilling, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series continues!

Emily and her friends think they'll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn't right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in crippling fear. Emily is escorted to the Academy where she's expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Council, the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, a terrible secret is slowly uncovered--a secret that, if left buried, means certain destruction of everything Emily fights for.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Amulet

"Five--no, three pages into Amulet and you'll be hooked." --Jeff Smith, creator of BONE

"[The] action-packed adventure sequences move at an exciting clip. . . . Part fantasy . . . and part manga, this volume has much to appeal to readers." --BOOKLIST

"A richly drawn graphic-fantasy series following in the footsteps of BONE and a must for all fantasy fans." --KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Stellar artwork, imaginative character design, moody color and consistent pacing." --PW COMICS WEEK

About the Author

Kazu Kibuishi is the founder and editor of the critically acclaimed Flight anthologies, as well as the creator of COPPER. He lives in Alhambra, California, with his wife and fellow comics artist, Amy Kim Kibuishi, and their son. Visit him online at www.boltcity.com.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: GRAPHIX; Original edition (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545208874
• ISBN-13: 978-0545208871
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Children's Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Comics & Graphic Novels
  • #84 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels

More About the Author

Kazu Kibuishi is the writer and artist of the New York Times Bestselling AMULET graphic novel series, published by Scholastic. He is also the editor/art director/cover artist of the EXPLORER and FLIGHT Comic Anthologies. His debut graphic novel, Daisy Kutter: The Last Train, won a YALSA Best Books for Young Adults Award.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Kazu moved to the U.S. with his mother and brother when he was a child. He graduated from Film Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara in 2000, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He currently works as a full-time graphic novelist. Kazu lives in Alhambra, California, with his wife, fellow author Amy Kim Kibuishi, and their children, Juni and Sophie.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Continues to build on its potential September 28, 2011

By sanoe.net VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really have no words that can convey how impressed I am with this fine series by Kazu Kibuishi.

"The Last Council" is like "The Empire Strikes Back" of the Amulet series in which Emily has to face the darker side of the hero's journey. New characters are introduced as older characters come back into the story.

What is impressive about "The Last Council" is that three different stories are presented in one volume and it shows the growth of Kazu and his team that these stories are balanced so well and work together so that when you arrive to the end, it feels organic.

A continued enjoyment of the series is Emily's mother who has a really great line while they are in Cielis which is both true in general but wrong in context to the situation. When you read the story, you'll know exactly what that means. But that line shows just how finely tuned this story has become.

The art, especially, is beautiful. And while the characters are round and "cartoon-y", the story itself does not shirk from showing just how risky the adventure has become.

I look forward to new volumes of this fantastic series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This series keeps getting better November 10, 2011

By J. Maxon VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

After having finished the first three novels, I anxiously awaited this next release. Each of the first three books pulled me in with great characters, colorful scenes, and suspenseful storylines. The fourth novel was no different, and well worth the wait.

Story overview:
Having finally arrived at the mysterious floating island known as Cielis, Emily becomes anything but relaxed. At first, the expected assembly with the Guardian Council was delayed, and then she's told that she must first pass a test.

Meanwhile, Miskit and Cogsley are rescued by a mysterious man who has ties to their old master. And back on Cielis, Leon and Enzo investigate the reason for the oddly empty streets.

Things go afoot when Emily learns that she must not only pass a test, but compete with other Stonekeepers. What should have been an open invitation turns into a big ordeal. As she works through the trials, that uneasy feeling from before only intensifies.

My thoughts:
Now I can't wait for the fifth volume to come out. One of the best graphic novel series out there. Be sure to check them out if you haven't already.

Things to consider:
No sexual situations, harsh language, gore, or extreme cases of violence. There are a few scenes that could be considered scary to younger children, but otherwise the tale is harmless. Good for preteens and older. Equally good for boys and girls.

James D. Maxon
Author of Traphis: A Wizard's Tale

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it - Another great book in the series August 30, 2011

By Marco V. Gutierrez

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book. As with previous Amulet books, the illustrations are wonderful and the story line continues to develop nicely. There are 3 things going on during this book that are brought together towards the end of the book. I continue to like how characters and the story is evolving. I wrote in a past review that time will tell, but so far I consider this to Bone-like in its breadth, depth, and overall quality. It also seems like the story will take at least 10 books to tell at its current pace. I think the author has suggested this much. My only 'disappointment' is that I waited 1 year for this book (pre-ordered in March) and finished it within an hour. That said, I know it takes a lot of effort to produce these books-- I follow the author's twitter and blog. I guess this is just a new experience for me. In the case of Bone, for example, I found out about them a few years ago so I was able to buy all of the books and read them back to back.