Young Adults – DaneCobain.com

Paul Durham – The Luck Uglies: The Last Reckoning | Review

Title: The Luck Uglies: The Last Reckoning

Author: Paul Durham

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 432

Rating: 4*/5

Paul Durham – The Luck Uglies: The Last Reckoning

This book has an interesting story behind it, at least in terms of how I came to read it. I was sent the first two books in this trilogy by the publisher, but I found this third book in a charity shop and just knew that I had to have it. Of course, it’s also difficult to go into the plot without revealing spoilers, purely because of its position in the trilogy. Still, I’ll do my best.

The Last Reckoning follows the triumphant culmination in a conflict that’s been growing since the first book in the series, and we get to see each of the characters – and Rye especially – as they mature from being kids to being young adults. Along the way, they learn a lot about themselves, and while there are no new books coming out as far as I’m aware, they do end in such a way that you can tell yourself your own stories, and the way is paved for the author to revisit it, if he feels like it.

Durham’s world-building is fantastic, as always, but even if you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you’re not going to struggle to tell what’s happening. In fact, Durham’s writing reminds me a little bit of Terry Pratchett – he has his own fantasy world that reflects our own, and each of his characters is easy to relate to. It holds a mirror up to our own lives, especially in this book, while seamlessly mixing in fantasy and young adult tropes in a way that breathes some life into them. It doesn’t feel cliche – it feels exciting.

The Last Reckoning is actually my least favourite book in the series, but it was still a decent book with plenty to recommend it for. Of course, you’d want to read the series in order where possible, but if you get a chance to buy this then you ought to – and then you should go out and buy the first two books to complete your collection. Durham’s writing is suitable for kids of all ages – I’m 27 and I enjoyed it – and it would make a cracking bedtime read. It also has the benefit of having a badass female protagonist, so if you know a young girl who wants to take on the world then you couldn’t do much better if you’re looking for a book to give them. It’s a great story – and worth reading.

Paul Durham – The Luck Uglies

Click here to buy The Luck Uglies: The Last Reckoning.

Philip Pullman – The Amber Spyglass | Review

Title: The Amber Spyglass

Author: Philip Pullman

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 550

Rating: 10/10

Philip Pullman – The Amber Spyglass

The Amber Spyglass is the third book in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, and whilst I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as the other two, I still thought it was amazing. It’s also the only book that’s ever made me cry – the ending left me distraught, but it was beautiful. Of course, you should read each of the books in the series for maximum enjoyment, as you can only really fully appreciate the end of the series if you’ve been there since the start.

I don’t want to talk directly about the plot here, because it follows on from the other two books and so if you haven’t read those yet, there’ll be spoilers. What I can say, though, is that in this book, all of the little story lines are wrapped up, and you’re in from a gripping tale from start to finish, which crosses the boundaries of multiple worlds. Along the way, you’ll meet some new characters and some old ones, and you’ll see some of those same characters get ruthlessly murdered by Pullman like he’s impersonating George R. R. Martin. But it works.

We also learn a lot more about the nature of Dust, thanks to Mary Malone, an underrated character who turns out to be surprisingly important. Couple that with a huge, all-out war between Lord Asriel and the Authority, as well as a quick visit to the world of the dead, and you can see how you might be in for a treat. And this despite it being the weaker of the three books in the trilogy, in my opinion – Northern Lights was easily my favourite, in case you’re wondering.

Philip Pullman

This book, and the other books in the series, are examples of those rare books that blow your mind – I almost find it hard to believe that a mere mortal could’ve created a book something as powerful as this. For me, Pullman’s world-building is more vivid and evocative than that of almost any other writer, with the possible exception of Sir Terry Pratchett – Tolkien and C. S. Lewis don’t even stand a chance. But then, without them, the His Dark Materials trilogy might not have existed – there are certainly parallels, such as the ability to pass from one world to another, but Pullman makes them his own.

The characterisation is also exceptional, and it’s interesting to watch the subtle changes in Lyra and Will as they grow from children to young adults, and how those changes influence their decisions and, ultimately, the story line. Their daemons change as well, which is interesting – in fact, I’ve always been fascinated by the way that Pullman managed to make humans and their daemons both similar and different. It helps to make them believable, and it also adds an extra level to the story because a human and their daemon might not always agree on things.

Overall, this book comes highly recommended from me, but so do the other two books in the series. Make sure that you read all three, and that you read them in order – these are books that will stand up to the test of time. Let me know your thoughts!