Breath (Riders of the Apocalypse, #4) by Jackie Morse Kessler

May 15, 2013 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm forgoing my usual summary because this is the fourth book in the series and I really think you should read them all in order to understand the amazing world building that has gone into this series. I'm a huge fan of character and setting. If you draw me into one of the two of them, I'm going to finish the book, even if the plot sucks (which this plot does not).

The first three books talk about the stories of each horseman, where this one focuses on Death. Death is an intricate character in ea...more

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May 07, 2013 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, my-library, mythology, paranormal-read, series, young-adult-read

Throughout history, Death has been there. Watching. Waiting. He created the Horsemen and fought with them to keep the world in balance. But lately something has changed, and Death doesn't see any reason to go on any longer. It is time for the end of Death - the end of life as we know it.

Xander is an average kid with everything going for him. So why does the fate of the world rest with him of all people? Why is it his job to keep Death from ending the world? Because Xander has a secret - one that...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed the Riders of the Apocalypse story more with each book. Jackie Morse Kessler has brought her series to a fitting, stirring conclusion, albeit one that won't make sense to readers who haven't read the three previous books in the series. BREATH is not only the story of Death, but also the end of the stories of each of the Horsemen.

Death is not like the other Horsemen and never has been. He is older and more powerful and never human. But that doesn't mean he can't become suicidal. An...more I have enjoyed the Riders of the Apocalypse story more with each book. Jackie Morse Kessler has brought her series to a fitting, stirring conclusion, albeit one that won't make sense to readers who haven't read the three previous books in the series. BREATH is not only the story of Death, but also the end of the stories of each of the Horsemen.

Death is not like the other Horsemen and never has been. He is older and more powerful and never human. But that doesn't mean he can't become suicidal. And if Death commits suicide, then the world dies with him. The world's only chance is Xander Atwood. Death owes him a boon and can't end the world until he repays it. Xander, who can barely face his own issues, is thrust into the position of confidant and therapist.

I loved how the stories of Tammy, Missy, and Billy weaved into the stories of Death and Xander. BREATH could have easily felt overstuffed, but I thought all of the elements worked together. And I was especially happy to get more of Tammy's story, considering I mentioned long ago in my 2010 review of HUNGER, "Tammy's story has no resolution." Turns out I was wrong. Kessler also addresses the issues I had with Missy and Death's relationship, and briefly touches again on her sister. Billy's connection to his predecessors continues to be important to the story, just as he continues to be my favorite Horseman. Leaving threads hanging can make stories seem more realistic, but I'm happy that Kessler finished her tapestry neatly.

I have been fascinated by the figure of Death through HUNGER, RAGE, and LOSS. I wondered how Kessler could ever reveal more about him without ruining everything, but I think she managed. Death's tale contains love, betrayal, creation, despair, the whole of our universe. It's an intriguing origin and makes him no less interesting.

I enjoyed Xander's story too. I felt it was a bit easy to figure out what happened to him, but I'm not sure it was supposed to be a huge mystery. Kessler certainly wasn't leery of giving clues. But I loved his personality, very giving and compassionate. He was the right character at the right time, albeit one with a life punctuated by inopportune moments.

I highly recommend the Riders of the Apocalypse series as a whole. They're a unique blend of urban fantasy and issue novels and each piece comes together so wonderfully. Kessler's afterword tells how much of the story was unplanned, which is amazing given how wonderfully constructed the series is. (less)

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Apr 14, 2013 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: boy, fantasy, magical, multiple-voices, odd, romance, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. An amazing end to the Riders of the Apocalypse series where Death is finally center stage. In Hunger it was Famine, Rage it was War, and Loss it was Pestilence, now Xander Atwood has met Death and is trying to convince him that he does not want to end it all as everyone and thing would end too. There were instances in Xander's life when he met Death (who looks eerily like Kurt Cobain, plays the guitar and enjoys his sweaters) and Xander offered him chocolate. Now, Death is perched on the balcony...more An amazing end to the Riders of the Apocalypse series where Death is finally center stage. In Hunger it was Famine, Rage it was War, and Loss it was Pestilence, now Xander Atwood has met Death and is trying to convince him that he does not want to end it all as everyone and thing would end too. There were instances in Xander's life when he met Death (who looks eerily like Kurt Cobain, plays the guitar and enjoys his sweaters) and Xander offered him chocolate. Now, Death is perched on the balcony at Xander's apartment and their conversation takes them full circle-- or in this case-- Mobius strip-- as it's discovered that Xander's reality is one of his own creation.

In short, Xander had been in love with a girl from a distance, he rejected his first-choice college in the hopes of getting in to college closer to her (but actually doesn't get in to it) and was waiting for the right time to approach her, and apparently fall madly in love. Instead, as is uncovered only at the very end, he discovers his best friend making out with her and the girl basically tells him that he doesn't exist to her. He leaves the party in a rage and wants to kill himself only to swerve at the last minute and end up in the hospital, discussing with Death, whether he truly wants to live or not.

As all this is discovered (living what he creates as his life versus what is really his life), there is a the secondary story of bringing the other three horsemen around and what they're choosing in their own lives, Melissa/Missy and whether she'll cut the biggest vein and die, Lisabeth and whether she wants to starve herself to death, or Bill and whether his depression after his grandfather's passing would be enough to kill him.

There's the second to last chapter and the last chapter. The second to last chapter is the choice and a pulsating CLIFFHANGER. The last chapter is not a cliffhanger as Alexander/Xander chooses to open his eyes. Now, this is in line with the other character's choices, BUT I would have liked that cliffhanger for the sake of everyone who reads is to debate the subject on what he actually chose. Regardless, it doesn't inhibit my love for the series-- both creative, imaginative, with a great sense of humor, ironically, and morbidity and full of choices. (less)

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Apr 08, 2013 Bayla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting, but somewhat confusing. I assume much of the confusion comes from not reading the previous books in the series, but I think part of it was just the structure of the novel - shifting viewpoints, flashbacks, missing information...
It's interesting to compare this character of Death with other portrayals of Death - likeTerry Pratchett's Death or Death inThe Book Thief. One thing about all of them: they all seem to be influenced by/fascinated with humanity. I wonder if that's part of our...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Poppy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have read all three of the previous books of this series and have liked them to various degrees. Some more than others but in general I’ve enjoyed the series. This book tops all the rest. BREATH is Death’s book but it is more than that. It is also a teenage boy named Xander Atwood’s book and the book also visits the perspectives of the other three Horsemen of the Apocalypse and tells the origin of Death and the Horsemen which I found very imaginative and liked very much.

BREATH is a well told s...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. Thanks to Amazon and Graphia for the chance to review this book. This is the fourth, and final, book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series. I really enjoyed it, especially since it features my favorite rider of the four, Death. This is the book where we learn how the Riders came to be and it is structured quite a bit differently than the previous books in this series.

Before Pestilence, Famine, and War there was Death. Thi...more I received an ARC of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. Thanks to Amazon and Graphia for the chance to review this book. This is the fourth, and final, book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series. I really enjoyed it, especially since it features my favorite rider of the four, Death. This is the book where we learn how the Riders came to be and it is structured quite a bit differently than the previous books in this series.

Before Pestilence, Famine, and War there was Death. This is Death’s story. What happens when Death sucumbs to depression and gives up all hope? Without Death can there be life? Xander has a secret...and a bit of a drinking problem. When he finds Death on his balcony it is up to this troubled teen to talk Death down from abandoning humanity and destroying the world.

Previous books in this series have featured troubled teens who are basically given a choice between dying or taking on the mantel of one of the Riders of the Apocalypse. This book was different that those. This book switches POV between Xander, who drinks a lot and is beginning to have lapses in his memory, and Death.

For some reason unknown to the reader Death owes Xander a boon. The boon Xander asks for is Death’s story...the story of how he came to be on Earth and why he created the Riders.

This, as you can imagine, is a fascinating story. Death has always been my favorite character in this series. Death has a sardonic sense of humor but can still be very touching at times. To hear Death’s story was fantastic.

Xander was also an excellent character. He is struggling with some pretty big secrets and issues. Still when Death shows up on Xander’s balcony ready to end it all, Xander sets aside his own problems and asks insightful questions that make Death rethink the path he thinks is necessary.

This was a touching and compelling read. The story was very engaging; you constantly want to know Xander’s secret and what Death’s decision will be. It was very very hard to put down.

The book is wrapped up nicely and all of the Riders we have come to know and love in this series have their stories added to and enhanced some. I really enjoyed it.

Overall an excellent conclusion to this series. If you want to read a YA paranormal series that is really different you should check this out. Each book deals with social issues and part of sales is donated to a charitable organization. In this case donations go to an organization dealing with Depression. All of the books in this series are quick and interesting reads that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.(less)

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Apr 20, 2013 Chapter by Chapter rated it 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved reading the first three books in this series by Jackie Morse Kessler. All three blew me away, and every time I finished one book, I craved to read the next. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for Breath to come out! I was so excited to read the book that was Death’s story. And omg I was not disappointed at all!

While reading Hunger, Rage, and Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler, I always wanted to know more about Death who looked like Kurt Cobain, who was the front man for Nirvana....more I absolutely loved reading the first three books in this series by Jackie Morse Kessler. All three blew me away, and every time I finished one book, I craved to read the next. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for Breath to come out! I was so excited to read the book that was Death’s story. And omg I was not disappointed at all!

While reading Hunger, Rage, and Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler, I always wanted to know more about Death who looked like Kurt Cobain, who was the front man for Nirvana. And how excited was I when I saw the news that book 4 in this series was dedicated to Death himself.

In Breath, Death knows that something feels off, and he comes to the realization that his time is coming to an end. And so how does he go about trying to resolve his predicament? He decides that he’s going to commit suicide, where the belief is that when Death dies, the world dies.

Xander Atwood seems to have everything he’s wanted. Good grades, a great girl, and awesome friends. What he didn’t expect was to come face to face with Death himself, and comes to the realization that the fate of all mankind rests on his teenage shoulders. But will Xander be able to do what needs to be done, or will a secret that’s been hidden surface and change Xander’s life forever.

The twist! OMG you guys, the twist in this story was such a mind warp. The events played out easily in my mind, and I could see the different scenes so clearly. Author, Jackie Morse Kessler does such an amazing job of building the story up to such a climax. She truly is such an amazing writer. I’m so sad that it’s all over!

I really enjoyed reading about how Death came about, and what it took to get him where he is. It also talks about how he created his Horsemen of the Apocalypse. What was really interesting to me was how we were able to witness the various souls that Death came to collect! The different conversations that he has with this spirits as they prepare to say goodbye to the life that they no longer have.

And it was so great to be able to witness Death’s personality again. His dry and dark humor is one of the reasons that I loved his character, and the author does such a great job breathing life into him. Not only with Death though. With all the characters. We get to see all the horsemen interact with each other, as they try to figure out a way to stop Death from doing what he plans. We are also treated to hearing about a few of the past people who were chosen to be one of the horsemen.

There’s so much more that I could elaborate on, but in doing so, I would totally and completely ruin this amazing read for you. Fans of the first three books in this series will totally devour Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler. If you were curious about how Death and the horsemen of the Apocalypse came about, you definitely don’t want to miss out on this read.(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Death has always been my favorite character from the series and whose story I wanted the most. I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed.

As with the other books, Breath touches on a social issue (in this case suicide) while also pondering greater philosophical issues. I'm always surprised that this series isn't more popular both with readers and critics. It deals with tough topics without a heavy, preachy feel to it. It's even dare I say fun...if you could call rage, pestilence, famine and dea...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Danie P. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: y-a

First, I didn't know this book was a series, so I read the last one first. In any case it didn't ruin the story but definitely made a few story lines more difficult to follow.

Supposing Death was an entity that existed outside our understanding of reality (who was trapped here in our understanding of Earth, existence, being, by his own doing) we follow his story on why he is disenchanted with life and why he wants to end it all, including all human life.

Lots and lots of philosophical topics to g...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Tori [Book Faery] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine, arc, read-in-2013, reviewed

This book... I have been following the series ever since book one. I've always been a fan of the series, and I feel that Kessler did an exceptional job with each one by exploring issues teenagers (and even adults) suffer with on a daily basis. BREATH is no different.

I've noticed a theme throughout each book: the idea of hope. Things can get better. Things will get better. Never give up. It's a strong message, and this is one series I wish I had when I was a teen. I think if my high school friend...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, series, ya, arc

I still feel emotionally drained and a little incoherent after finishing Breath, a book it seems I’ve been waiting years for. Since he first showed up looking an awful lot like Kurt Cobain in Lisa’s basement in Loss, I was fascinated by Death and couldn’t wait until Morse Kessler got to his book. Now that its release is here, I know I’ll miss the Riders of the Apocalypse quartet but his story was so exquisite that at least for now, I can’t be sad. That’s not to say the Kleenex weren’t piling up...more I still feel emotionally drained and a little incoherent after finishing Breath, a book it seems I’ve been waiting years for. Since he first showed up looking an awful lot like Kurt Cobain in Lisa’s basement in Loss, I was fascinated by Death and couldn’t wait until Morse Kessler got to his book. Now that its release is here, I know I’ll miss the Riders of the Apocalypse quartet but his story was so exquisite that at least for now, I can’t be sad. That’s not to say the Kleenex weren’t piling up next to my chair though.

Through the millennia of his existence, Death has always had reason to continue his own cycle of reincarnation after reincarnation. He created his Horsemen and their steeds, watched humanity evolve and when the burdens of his job became too much, found a place called The Slate that he could retreat to, to gain perspective, unwind, let his hair down. He’s been feeling depressed, so much that his own pale steed tells him he needs to take a break. When he heads to The Slate, what he sees (or doesn’t) robs him of all hope, sending him on one last trip to see a boy before he lets loose the Apocalypse with his own final death.

But then there’s Xander. Exactly as Morse Kessler has done in the other books in the series, she gives the power in the story to a teen that may or may not know they need it. This time, Xander seems like a completely normal kid, having a normal life. He’s an art geek, popular in a general sort of way and is asking out the girl of his dreams he’s had a crush on forever. Life seems good, if you don’t count the weird lapses in time he’s having, the blackouts, the feeling out of step with everyone and a sense that time is running out for everyone. When he walks out onto his 30th floor apartment’s balcony and sees Death sitting there, it’s almost anti-climactic, except for the part that really is afraid of heights (or as Death puts it, is afraid of falling and splattering on the ground).

I loved Death from the beginning of the series and I fell for Xander early in the story, so when these two came together, it looked like it was going to be a bittersweet moment. Death isn’t exactly known for bringing good news or choices to characters, but in this case, recognizing his depression and suicidal intentions, Xander asks him to tell his story.

Barely anything had been revealed about Death’s origins in the earlier books and he always seemed like such a larger-than-life (heh) personality that even considering where he came from or that he may not have wanted his job or the scope of it, wasn’t something I did. I started losing count of how many Kleenex I went through as Death’s story poured out – and it wasn’t just his story. There were interludes from the Horsemen and from Xander where the impending crisis was palpable. As the conversation with Death went on, as it did with the other books, there was a brilliant scene when the character understood that weight of responsibility was his now and he had the choice to accept or reject it. I’m giving away how much of a wimpy wimp I am, but those particular scenes are always so powerful to me, I’m always a soggy mess, but this time, I had some suspicions about what was happening behind Death’s own story and it was even worse.

I’m an utter disaster by this point in the story. I loved Death, his wise-ass comments, his funny pale steed who was always quick with a freakishly hipster comment and even accepted that he’d hijacked Kurt Cobain’s body (sorry, not a Nirvana fan). The concept that he could be depressed was a foreign thing – Death is supposed to be forever, right? What would the end of the world be like with no death, war, famine or pestilence, nothing in balance?

Even knowing that if I let myself get too close to the story and I’d end up gutted at the end, there was no way to keep myself distant from it. Sure enough, when things played out and Xander’s horrible story was revealed, Morse Kessler had me right in her hands, which are thankfully also always capable of putting me back together.

I can’t finish reviewing Breath without adding comments about the whole series because for me, they’re connected. Each book has had a teen confronting a devastating issue, yes, but in each book, I feel like in places, Morse Kessler is writing directly to me. She has the most incredible ability to weave these complex, painful stories and make them universally relatable. I’ve never been so touched or affected by a series of books and I can only thank Morse Kessler for that. Breath was a brilliant, perfect ending to everything.

My Rating: A+

A copy of this book was provided to me for review by the publisher(less)

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Mar 19, 2013 Roxy (r_a_black) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The fourth and final book in the Riders of the Apocalypse quartet focuses on none other than Death himself.

I have to admit that after reading Loss, I wasn't expecting a ton from this last book. I really enjoyed the first two books, just not the third. Surprisingly, the fourth has now become my favorite of all four. There are probably two reasons for this: 1) It's about Death. And 2) We get a lot of stuff we might've wondered about in the previous books finally explained to us.

This book, as you...more

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May 03, 2013 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, teen-fiction, website

Death...the final rider of the apocalypse. Breath is the story of Death, but also the story of life. Death has never been like the other riders. He isn't human even though he takes a human shape. He doesn't feel things like we do, but today he is feeling like the end is near. He is ready to say goodbye to the world and the world needs to get ready to say goodbye. The other riders are concerned of course. What happens when Death dies? He is the source of all life not just death so can the world c...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Bonnie at A Backwards Story added it

Shelves: fantasy, 2013, blog-tour

Check out my interview with Jackie Morse Kessler!

Today's review is hard because I'm talking about not only the final book in a series, but also the most complex. BREATH is on another plane of existence, both figuratively and literally, when compared to its predecessors. In HUNGER, RAGE, and LOSS, we watch the horsemen step into their new roles. In BREATH, we discover just how different the Pale Rider is from his companions. He created them; they wouldn't exist without him. They are him. Death is...more Check out my interview with Jackie Morse Kessler!

Today's review is hard because I'm talking about not only the final book in a series, but also the most complex. BREATH is on another plane of existence, both figuratively and literally, when compared to its predecessors. In HUNGER, RAGE, and LOSS, we watch the horsemen step into their new roles. In BREATH, we discover just how different the Pale Rider is from his companions. He created them; they wouldn't exist without him. They are him. Death is the one and only. His skin may change, but he is always himself, unlike the horsemen who come and go over the centuries. Death has always been the most fascinating character to me throughout this series, and in BREATH, I got answers beyond my wildest dreams revolving around the truth beyond, not only the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but so, so much more.

I can't really mention a summary with this review without giving a lot away. This is the enigmatic story of the Pale Rider, Death, yet his origins are different from the ones we've seen up until now. Needless to say, like the prior books in the series, BREATH deals with tough issues. One of the stand-outs about this series is the fact that it has a way to reach teens who aren't into contemporary novels, one who prefer fantasies. I wish every school library had a copy of these books and that health classes would use them when talking about eating disorders, self-mutilation, bullying, alcohol abuse, depression, suicide, etc. Any teen who's into fantasy would be much more interested in this series than they would something like GO ASK ALICE or SPEAK. I was never interested in those books, either, but I would have picked these up if they'd existed when I was still in high school. Readers of the series will be intrigued by the origins of Death and the Four Horsemen as the book ties up loose ends, especially as characters from previous novels come back into BREATH (Sometimes in new and unexpected ways!).

These books just get better and better. Each one has been my favorite in the series, and BREATH is no exception. It's so imaginative and unique! The mythology Jackie Morse Kessler has researched and given life to in creating Death is vast. Her creation story is admirable and complex, captivating me the same way I was with LOSS. What's amazing about this is the way so much of the book is a conversation, in some ways, a "tell" and not a "show," yet it feels so natural, not like a criticism at all. This is the way the story has to be told, and Kessler weaves it into other elements to create a story where pages can't be turned fast enough. I wouldn't read BREATH without reading the prior three books in the series. You can, but there are elements that won't really make sense if you do, and BREATH won't be as powerful. BREATH is our reward, and Death is better than ever--scarier, too. There is so much more to him than we ever knew, and he truly steals the show in his own book. It's the perfect way to end the series, and I can't wait to read more books from Kessler in the future.(less)

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May 11, 2013 Shiku rated it 4 of 5 stars

Die deutsche Rezension findet ihr hier.

4.5
___________________________

Xander Atwood is a teenager like any other else, the usual worries and wishes included: is my crush going to go on a date with me? Will I even dare to ask her? What will I do when I finish school? Add to that a newborn brother and you can imagine that Xander has enough on his mind. Nonetheless, it’s Death himself who is one day suddenly on Xander’s balcony – ready to jump. Without death there won’t be any life, but what can Xan...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alamw13, death, family, friendship, high-school, memories, paranormal, reviewed, young-adult

Contrary to popular belief, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse aren't just harbingers of doom, they actually keep life in balance. But that happens when their leader and creator, Death, becomes suicidal? Before the first living thing drew breath, he was there. He has watched humanity for millennia. And he has finally decided that humanity is not worth the price he has paid time and time again. When Death himself gives up on life, a teenager named Xander is the world's only hope. But Xander bear...more Contrary to popular belief, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse aren't just harbingers of doom, they actually keep life in balance. But that happens when their leader and creator, Death, becomes suicidal? Before the first living thing drew breath, he was there. He has watched humanity for millennia. And he has finally decided that humanity is not worth the price he has paid time and time again. When Death himself gives up on life, a teenager named Xander is the world's only hope. But Xander bears a secret, one that may being about the end of everything.

Breath is an honest and intriguing look at life, death, love, and choices. When someone makes the decision to die, what happens? What if that person's death would being about the end of everything?

Throughout the series, Death has always been there, sometimes in the foreground, sometimes in the background, always with some kind of agenda or plan. But now he's smack in the middle of everything. He's the fearless leader that gets tired of life, tired of dealing with the living and the dead. Tired of everything. What will be the factor that keeps him going, if such a thing truly exists?

But there's also Xander, curious curious Xander, whose life flickers and beeps around him as he tries to talk Death off a balcony. What does Xander want out of life? And why is he so important? Why will he be the one who decides the fate of the world? There is a connection, certainly, between Xander and Death, and it left me still wondering about some things long after the book was over.

The exploration of the origin of the Four Horsemen was something I'd been looking forward to. They'd always been mysterious voices shrouded in pain and purpose, and this book served to answer some questions. The return to characters in previous books was also welcome.

What if the future you hope for isn't the one that ends up in front of you? Life is filled with possibilities, and hope exists in many forms. What we make of life, what we choose to do with the time we're given, is up to us, but sometimes we can't just stand around and wait. Sometimes we have to make the choice that will keep things moving forward.

As important as life and death are to this book, love is also important. Support, affection, care. Evidence that we are not alone, that someone is right there standing beside us, behind us, taking that next breath with us.

This book is the last in one of the most honest and heartfelt series about life, death, pain, and love that I've had the pleasure of reading. These books have had a way of making me remember all the pain and heartache of high school, but also the potential and the support. With this series, I realize that at no point during those dark teenage years was I ever alone.(less)

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Apr 08, 2013 Chibineko rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It took me a long time to really get through this book. I hate to start off my review with that sentence, but it's the truth. This book was very slow to start off and didn't really start picking up until about halfway through. The book isn't all bad, though. I knew that it was likely to be slightly anti-climactic in places because let's face it- this is the culmination of the entire series and the one that we've all been waiting for. It's normal to start having mammoth and unrealistic expectatio...more It took me a long time to really get through this book. I hate to start off my review with that sentence, but it's the truth. This book was very slow to start off and didn't really start picking up until about halfway through. The book isn't all bad, though. I knew that it was likely to be slightly anti-climactic in places because let's face it- this is the culmination of the entire series and the one that we've all been waiting for. It's normal to start having mammoth and unrealistic expectations for the final book of a series, especially one that you've particularly loved. Considering that Death is such a particularly complicated character, I figured that it'd be likely that whatever I read would run the risk of not living up to my expectations.

Once the novel starts picking up is when we start learning more about Death's past and the reactions of the other Riders when they realize that something is direly amiss with their fellow Rider. Xander is an OK character, but at times I just didn't connect with him like I did the other characters. Perhaps it's because he's not written to be the next person who takes up Death's role? That will probably be a bit of a spoiler, but it's one I sort of want to voice because I know that there will likely be those who go into this expecting Xander to be the next Rider and get irritated when it doesn't happen. He plays an important role, but not exactly the one we're all expecting it to be.

The best parts, however, come when we have our emotional and revealing scenes at the end. The one thing about Morse Kessler is that she really knows how to write a fantastic emotional scene and a wonderful ending to her books. It was enough to make me temporarily forget some of the tedium that had come earlier in the novel and enough to push my rating from three stars to four.

There will likely be some that will be slightly more disappointed by this book than I am, but I'm predicting that overall the fanbase for these novels will gobble this final entry up. (less)

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Apr 15, 2013 the golden witch. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, arc-galley, hit-me-right-in-the-feels, gods-and-monsters, magical-reality, own-print-arc, teenage-shennanigans, best-of-13, for-review, reviewed, sexy-tiems

4.5/5 stars!

While a little slow to start, "Breath" is a fantastic end to one of my favorite YA quartet/series in the last five years - utterly original and unforgettable. I think I can honestly say that this book is my favorite in the quartet - everything has been building to this book, and boy, was the wait worth it. If you've started your journey with "Hunger", you simply must end it with "Breath".

While a little slow to start with Xander's story grounding us as to how he's important as more t...more 4.5/5 stars!

While a little slow to start, "Breath" is a fantastic end to one of my favorite YA quartet/series in the last five years - utterly original and unforgettable. I think I can honestly say that this book is my favorite in the quartet - everything has been building to this book, and boy, was the wait worth it. If you've started your journey with "Hunger", you simply must end it with "Breath".

While a little slow to start with Xander's story grounding us as to how he's important as more than just listening to Death's life story (no pun intended), once Death starts speaking (once again wearing the guise of Kurt Cobain) - it's off to the races and it's a non-stop rocket ride until the very final page, where you'll find yourself breathless. The best part? This series feels FINISHED by the last page. Like you have closure, and though there are still a few lingering questions, Kessler lets the audience have a little imagination room, which is always appreciated.

Death's origin story brings in the many-worlds theory into effect - and mixes it with the paranormal. Where did Death come from? Is he an angel? Is he god? All of these questions are presented as possibilities as to where Death came from, and what he is. While Kessler (and Death) coyly don't really answer this one important question, it's still presented really well, and we get hints of other universes aligned with ours, where other beings like us just might be a little (okay, a lot) more advanced. We also get the origin story of how life here on earth began (and the implication of how without Death being there before, the idea of "death" or apoptosis might never have existed), along with that of the Horsemen, and how various important pieces of human history have influenced by the Death and his Horsemen. I have to hand it to Kessler - she really rewove all of what we as humans already know into something dazzlingly original. I was kind of starstruck during these origin story pieces of the book.

We also get to see all of our previous Horsemen - Missy (War), Billy (Pestilence), and Tammy (current Famine) with a cameo appearance with the original Famine we were introduced to, Lisabeth. We also get a good fix in terms of time since we last left these characters taking up their offices as Horsemen. It's been 4-5 years since we last left them, and we get to see how their lives, both as Horsemen and as semi-humans have developed, and I was so, so gratified to see that they were included. Since this is Death's book, we don't get a huge infodump on the rest of the Horsemen - just enough to go on, and how they're handling things 4-5 years into their jobs as Horsemen. We also get glimpses of the original Horsemen, and how the office as Horseman works (inheriting the knowledge of one's predecessors, etc), which I thought was pretty great. We see how they're healing, and how in some areas, they're a bit stuck - and how Death's suicidal actions bring them together long enough for them to stop bickering. The scenes involving the Horsemen and Death all together are some of my favorite of the book, if just to see everyone together again.

Just as Death's origin story further expands the world that Kessler has built over the past three books, we also get yet another new piece of this world - the Slate. I won't spoil things, but it's a place I would love to visit, even if it might be slightly depressing at times. It sounds like an incredible place, and I can see why Death would want to take refuge there - why, if anything, it's the ONLY place he can take refuge when he needs to lick his wounds. While I wanted more on the Slate and its description, what I got was enough to go on.

Finally, there is the mystery of Xander, which once again brings up the many-worlds theory/parallel timelines/universes theory (M-Theory). His secret, at the end, is a very small one, but very important. It's thrown off everything within his own life (though I won't say how), and it's helped Death get onto suicide watch in its own way. The way this was teased and teased throughout the book was great, as was the increasing tension that came with each tease of what this secret might be. With it, we also see Death's endgame - and the question - has Xander (and Death) been a reliable narrator throughout this book? If you've been reading the blog, you'll know that the unreliable narrator trope is one of my favorites, and to bring it in right at the climax is a move that authors, I find, almost never use. And it was brilliant. Furthermore - it worked in everyone's favor.

Final verdict? Definitely the best in the quartet and one of my favorites of 2013 so far, "Breath" is a great ending to a wonderful series. So let's say a fond bittersweet farewell to the "Horsemen Quartet" with "Breath", which drops tomorrow, April 16, 2013 in stores from HMH in North America. Definitely worth the read and highly recommended. Man, am I going to miss this series.

(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Jackie Kessler added it

Shelves: i-wrote-it

This book was very bittersweet for me to write - the last of a series can be like that. :) This is Death's book, and all the big questions from the Riders of the Apocalypse series are answered in it. BREATH hits the shelves on April 16, 2013! As with RAGE, a portion of proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit organization To Write Love On Her Arms.

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Apr 05, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: junior-library-guild-reads

My favorite of this series since "Hunger." I liked seeing all four horsemen get together, and thought the end was a very interesting and unexpected twist.

There are a few things that are generally tedious about Kessler's writing (overuse of parentheses) but they are (sentence frags) pretty easy to overlook and go with the flow of the story.

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Aug 22, 2012 Monica&spikey marked it as to-read

Ooh... I want this book, but I must say, I don't like the cover. the covers for the first three books were all nice and silvery and pretty, and this one is just like, color, BAM! and it doesn't work.

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May 06, 2013 Darcy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ya

This book was a little different, mostly because as much as the book was about Xander, it was about Death too. I really liked how Xander seemed to be counseling Death and even got him to see things differently. It was too bad that he couldn't listen to his own advice. I was sort of stunned with what was happening with Xander, I knew something was up, but didn't expect that. I was glad that Death was able to turn what Xander said to him, back on Xander. I think that the ending is one that gives e...more

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May 17, 2013 Christy Walsh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love all the books but this one was by far the best.

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Apr 20, 2013 Attila Cthulhuson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I feel this one was less about teen issues than the others, focusing more on the supernatural history of the horsemen. The split perspectives were different as well. It didn't feel the same as the others in the series, which related an issue to an individual who then became a horseman. That being said, I churned through it readily and enjoyed it.

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Apr 10, 2013 Joseph rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: death, urban-fantasy, read-in-2013-04-april, books-that-made-me-cry, young-adult

I know this will sound corny considering the title of this book, but this read will take your breath away. An amazing finale to a great, thought-provoking set of books.

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Apr 27, 2013 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

A 'lil disappointed with the ending, but a great book in a series of great books.

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May 20, 2013 Kirsty rated it 4 of 5 stars

great end to the series, makes me want to go back and read them all in one go.

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Aug 14, 2012 Abstract Witch marked it as to-read

Shelves: books-from-2013

OMG, this cover... IT'S PURE EPICNESS! I CAN BARELY WAIT FOR THIS BOOK! *-*

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Apr 28, 2013 LinseyM rated it 5 of 5 stars

Pivotal book for the series - loved how it all ended. Surprised me!

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Breath (Riders of the Apocalypse #4)

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