Customer Reviews

Edge Chronicles 5: The Last of the Sky Pirates (The Edge Chronicles)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I finished book 4, "The Curse of the Gloamglozer", I realized that the stage had been set for an incredible book 5. Thankfully, the books in this series come out much more quickly than the ones from J. K. Rowling , so I didn't have long to wait for "The Last of the Sky Pirates", the best in the series so far.

Set fifty years after "Midnight Over Sanctaphrax" (book 3), it doesn't continue from book 4, the first chronologically in the series, which sounds awfully confusing, but actually isn't. The Edge is a totally different place, with the mighty sky ships unable to fly, and New Sanctaphrax barely teetering on wooden supports after the dreaded stone sickness destroys the buoyant floating rocks. The Librarian Academics have been driven underground into the sewers, where they have constructed a vast library of scientific studies, and are forced to send worthy young scholars on covert and perilous missions for training, before they complete their life's quest by studying and documenting their chosen field of nature study.

In this book we follow the trail of young Rook Barkwater, a clever young under-librarian who is destined to become a Librarian Knight, doing research on the secret gatherings of banderbears, to whom he feels an unexplainable connection. His mission is dangerous and exciting, filled with wonderfully named, described and illustrated creatures that would otherwise defy the imagination.

During his thrilling adventures, he meets Captain Twig, who was thought to have perished with his crew in book 3, and begins a whole new adventure to rescue Twig's friend Cowlquape from the prisons of the Most High Guardian of Night, the villainous scoundrel of this episode.

Just as dark as the other books, but with a lot more action and adventure, I recommend this one heartily to fans of the series, but would advise newcomers to read at least books 1 to 3 first.


Amanda Richards, August 8, 2005

I have to disagree with the editorial review that "There's not a lot of substance here". While the edge chronicles are full of icky creatures and battles, there is a lot more going on. What I love about these books is how imaginative they are. I love how every culture has a different way of life. In fact, I would say the underlying theme of these books is exploring ways of living..and how those way change with things like environmental destruction.
I would say that these books have as much "substance" as most adult books that I read (I am 24 years old). In fact, my friends and I have been discussing the philosophy of The Edge Chronicles since we started reading them. I have truly enjoy these books and I will be sad when I finish reading them all.

just keep these coming. They are strong but good. Excellent drawings. The detail of writing and drawing inspires my son.

This series is amazing-- I love it! The author/illustrator collaboration is really special. I even ordered two books from the United Kingdom Amazon because they won't be published here for a few more months. :)

A caution: some of the Edge Chronicles are very dark/have imagery which may be too disturbing for young readers. (For example, an earlier book features a serial killer who chops off the toes of his victims and keeps them in a massive pile! Yikes! A chilling moment for readers.) This book is the first of 3 volumes which follow the story of Rook Barkwater, a young librarian knight. The Rook Barkwater books seemed less disturbing to me than some of the earlier books. They are really enjoyable, full of endearing characters and heroism. So... if your kids are old enough, you may really enjoy reading the Edge Chonicles together.

The Last of the Sky Pirates was a great fantasy/adventure story. I especialy liked the way Paul Stuart connected the first few books in the series to the latest few. I can't wiat for the next books in the series to come out!
Annomus Writer sining off!

First, this is catagorized wrong. I would put it for ages 9 and up, probably. The reading level is fairly easy, but the content is rather dark.

The world created is wonderful, excellently detailed and very believeable. The illustrations are great too! I would definitely recommend this book for any lover of fantasy novels.

The Edge Chronicles are the tales of another world with other creatures and species - some good, some evil - who are all trying to gain control of the country. For years, Sky Pirates have flown The Edge and the Deepwoods raiding from others. But in recent years the rocks that allow sky flight have ceased to work, evil has taken over the main city, and librarians and scholars have taken to underground caverns to survive and protect the years of learning and scholarship that have been accumulated.

Rook is a young under-librarian that sneaks off to read treatises that he is forbidden to read. He has a thirst for knowledge and adventure and hopes that one day he will be able to leave the confines of the underground for the vast excitement of the Deepwoods. When Rook is surprised by an appointment to travel far into the Deepwoods to continue his training, he is elated. Soon he is in the midst of an adventure more exciting and frightening than he ever dreamed. Rook must rely on his brains, skills, and trust in others in order to survive the trials before him and live to write a treatise that will one day be stored in the hallowed libraries in which he once thrived.

The Edge Chronicles is a fun and somewhat entertaining fantasy series. The Last of the Sky Pirates is the fifth book in the series. Not only are they becoming formulaic, but a significant period of time has elapsed between book four and five, book four was chronologically out of sequence from the rest of the series, and the "recap" portion that fills you in on the past books did not happen here until the last third of the book. I spent much of the book trying to remember what had happened in books one through four. Because I was confused and struggling to remember, much of this story was lost on me. At the same time however, there is a ton of imagination that is poured into this series. Kids that read the books back to back will undoubtedly enjoy the strange creatures, suspense, and sense of adventure.

In the fifth installment of the Edge Chronicles, The Last of the Sky Pirates, the story continues with Rook Barkwater, a librarian. Chosen for a quest by the librarian knights, he must travel across the land to reach his goal, along with two other companions. I found the sudden shift of characters both abrupt and irritating. I had been looking forward to Twig's future, but instead Stewart brought about Twig's downfall and started a new character. Though I found this sequel disappointing, the plot does seem to have the usual "dose" that Stewart injects into his books. There's plenty of action and adventure to keep the reader occupied.

This book needs to come out in paperback soon!!! and what i read was wicked and stop calling it a baby book no way is it a baby book some of the words in it i dont even understand and im nearly 13 you lot are very wrong an there wicked. !!!