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101st out of 194 books
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270 voters
The Fire Chronicle (The Books of Beginning #2)
After the tumultuous events of last winter, Kate, Michael, and Emma long to continue the hunt for their missing parents. But they themselves are now in great danger, and so the wizard Stanislaus Pym hides the children at the Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans. There, he says, they will be safe.How wrong he is.
The children are soon discovered by the...more
The children are soon discovered by the...more
Hardcover, 437 pages
Published
October 9th 2012
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one. Probably because, of the siblings, my favorite is Michael and this is his story. I was about to give this 5 stars ... until I read the ending. Yes, I know it's not a bad ending but knowing the third book won't come out until next year (please let it be next year!) was kind of a downer. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!! lol.
When I said on my Emerald Atlas review that Emma was the least I liked ... I take it back lol. She really grew on me a...more
When I said on my Emerald Atlas review that Emma was the least I liked ... I take it back lol. She really grew on me a...more
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It is hard to avoid comparisons with Harry Potter when your story stars parentless children, a hidden magical world, and a wise old wizard, not to mention an evil sorcerer rising to regain power. Add in the conventions of an epic fantasy and you may be thinking that The Fire Chronicle is not a book for you. I, however, would urge you to look beyond the cover and read at least a few pages. You will soon discover that Stephens has not written a quick and hasty fill-in-the-blanks story. Instead Th...more
I wasn't overly impressed by the Emerald Atlas but i thought i give it a try for the second book. And I didn't regret it!
The siblings was torn apart when Kate dove into the past to save her brother and sister from screechers. She ended up in London in the turn of the century, 1 day before the separation (of magic world) happened.
There she met Rafe, a boy who obviously have seen her before and help her navigates this new world. But he obviously keeping secret which she needs to found out. In th...more
The siblings was torn apart when Kate dove into the past to save her brother and sister from screechers. She ended up in London in the turn of the century, 1 day before the separation (of magic world) happened.
There she met Rafe, a boy who obviously have seen her before and help her navigates this new world. But he obviously keeping secret which she needs to found out. In th...more
*** CONTAINS SPOILERS ***
okay so, first book I found a little slow on the the get go but overall an enjoyable read. This book, picked up alot quicker and got Kate out of the equasion pretty quickly too leaving Micheal to be the main and Kate to have her own story mixed in. The story itself was pretty enjoyable, a few plot twists here, a couple of touching moments there - great stuff. Then you get to about chapter 20, its all coming to a peak, you know your at the point in the book where its the...more
okay so, first book I found a little slow on the the get go but overall an enjoyable read. This book, picked up alot quicker and got Kate out of the equasion pretty quickly too leaving Micheal to be the main and Kate to have her own story mixed in. The story itself was pretty enjoyable, a few plot twists here, a couple of touching moments there - great stuff. Then you get to about chapter 20, its all coming to a peak, you know your at the point in the book where its the...more
Together with her sibings Emma and Michael and back at another horrid orphanage, Kate's dreams prepare her for the coming of Rourke and the Screechers, the henchmen for the Dire Magnus. Although she has not heard from Dr. Prym, she seeks his aid in letters she leaves in a tree. The Screechers arrive before she's heard from Prym and Kate, fearing the worst, instructs Michael to care for Emma should Kate disappear. And that is what happens.
As Kate led in the first book, Michael must lead in this...more
As Kate led in the first book, Michael must lead in this...more
During my intense YA fantasy reading phase I happened to read the first book in the series of The Books of Beginning by John Stephens. The first book Emerald Atlas had a very engaging plot and extremely likable, believable characters therefore when given a chance to read and review The Fire Chronicle, I took it. Turns out I still have loads of YA fantasy love left in me!
This book takes us back to the siblings Kate, Micheal and Emma who after the events of Emerald Atlas have been deposited in Edg...more
This book takes us back to the siblings Kate, Micheal and Emma who after the events of Emerald Atlas have been deposited in Edg...more
I've had this audiobook for a while and just hadn't got to it because I got distracted by the Night Huntress series and had to listen to all of those. It took me an hour or so to get back into the feel of this series but once I did, I was not going anywhere. I like the way that Stephens builds a story and tells it. He takes the time to develop his characters and let them grow. He shows them dealing with the consequences of their prior actions. He's also inventive with his words and funny . But i...more
Since I gave the first book in this series four stars, I feel I simply must give this one five, as the series merits at least four and this second book in the trilogy may, in fact, and most unusually, be even better than the first. It really deserves much more buzz than has come my way, and many more readers. I'm going to have to find more ways to highlight and recommend the series while we wait for the final installment.
Early on, this book gives a nice little summary of the first one (though th...more
Early on, this book gives a nice little summary of the first one (though th...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Kate, Michael and Emma don't get a chance to rest on their laurels after their success with the Emerald Atlas, the Book of Time. Sent back to the worst of the orphanages they were in before, they wait months for news, but when it comes, it's in the form of an attack--because they are children of prophecy, and someone wants them. Kate saves her brother and sister by dragging her attacker back in time, using the atlas, but then gets stuck there--in NYC in 1899, just before the Separation of the ma...more
JF Ste
After the tumultuous events of last winter, Kate, Michael, and Emma long to continue the hunt for their missing parents. But they themselves are now in great danger, and so the wizard Stanislaus Pym hides the children at the Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans. There, he says, they will be safe. How wrong he is.
The children are soon discovered by their enemies, and a frantic chase sends Kate a hundred years into the past, to a perilous, enchanted New York City. Sear...more
After the tumultuous events of last winter, Kate, Michael, and Emma long to continue the hunt for their missing parents. But they themselves are now in great danger, and so the wizard Stanislaus Pym hides the children at the Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans. There, he says, they will be safe. How wrong he is.
The children are soon discovered by their enemies, and a frantic chase sends Kate a hundred years into the past, to a perilous, enchanted New York City. Sear...more
Kate, Michael, and Emma continue their adventures from The Emerald Atlas as they search for their missing parents and the Books of Beginning. When their enemies find them, Kate attempts to save her siblings by leading their enemies into the past. Instead, she gets caught one hundred years in the past, just as the magical world is about to separate from the human world. In a turn-of-the-century New York, Kate meets a boy whose life is bound to her own in strange and even dangerous ways.
In the mea...more
In the mea...more
This was hard to read after the fun I had reading The Vengekeep Prophecies and Deadweather and Sunrise. I needed another edit with more concentration on the plot and less meandering. I skipped along the surface like a rock on water. Of course I have a stack of 30 books to plow through right now, so I might be a wee distracted. Not to mention a humongous order, a two hour speech to prepare for, and lessons for next week. This book reminded me of Michael Scott's series that involve a brother and s...more
The Fire Chronicles, book 2 of The Books of Beginnings, written by John Stephens, is now in stores!
The Story- We take up where The Emerald Atlas left off. We find that the wizard Pym has hidden the children at an orphanage, hoping they’ll be safe, while he sets off on a mysterious journey. Unfortunately, they aren’t safe for long, and during a battle, Kate is sent spinning back 100 years into the past. Michael and Emma are saved at the last minute by Pym, and continue on with him to find the sec...more
The Story- We take up where The Emerald Atlas left off. We find that the wizard Pym has hidden the children at an orphanage, hoping they’ll be safe, while he sets off on a mysterious journey. Unfortunately, they aren’t safe for long, and during a battle, Kate is sent spinning back 100 years into the past. Michael and Emma are saved at the last minute by Pym, and continue on with him to find the sec...more
Kate, Michael and Emma have been hidden away by Stanislaus Pym, their guardian. They are not safe and he hopes that he'll be able to discover more about the danger and the reasons with time. Time, though, is not on their side and Michael and Emma find themselves on a breathless quest to find the second Book of Beginning, The Fire Chronicle, while Kate is transported by the power of the Emerald Atlas through time.
Michael and Kate race from the Screechers and other who work for the Dire Magnus....more
Michael and Kate race from the Screechers and other who work for the Dire Magnus....more
Nachdem es den drei Geschwistern Kate, Michael und Emma erfolgreich gelungen ist, das erste der »Bücher vom Anbeginn« aus den Händen des finsteren Magnus zu retten, sind sie nun bereit für den zweiten Teil ihres Abenteuers. Dieses wird sie an der Seite ihres großväterlichen Freundes Dr. Pym erneut vor gewaltige Herausforderungen stellen, in ferne Welten und Zeiten führen und sie zwingen zu entscheiden, was ihnen wirklich wichtig ist im Leben. Und so kommen die tapfere Kate, der kluge Michael und...more
This was a great book. It was not as good as Atlas, but still amazing. (By the way, I suck at writing reviews, but... why not?)
First of all Michael developed so much. Since Kate and Emma were the main focus of the first book, although he was major there were a minimal amount of passages in his point of view. In this book, since he was the primary focus, we learned a lot more about his opinions and whats important to him. Theres more I could say on this, but I don't want to ruin anything.
Secondly...more
First of all Michael developed so much. Since Kate and Emma were the main focus of the first book, although he was major there were a minimal amount of passages in his point of view. In this book, since he was the primary focus, we learned a lot more about his opinions and whats important to him. Theres more I could say on this, but I don't want to ruin anything.
Secondly...more
After the huge success of Harry Potter, there has been a veritable explosion of fantasy novels aimed at the youth market. But like Harry Potter, some of these books have crossover appeal to teens and even adults.
A case in point is John Stephens enjoyable series "The Books of Beginning", which had its start in April 2011 with the publication of the first book in the series "The Emerald Atlas". In Stephens capable hands, this fantasy comes alive and shines. If you have not had a chance to read it,...more
A case in point is John Stephens enjoyable series "The Books of Beginning", which had its start in April 2011 with the publication of the first book in the series "The Emerald Atlas". In Stephens capable hands, this fantasy comes alive and shines. If you have not had a chance to read it,...more
I swear I could not put this book down.
When I started it, I was also reading 4 other books. We'll just say they all took a back seat when The Fire Chronicle came along.
Kate, Micheal, and Emma are the best characters ever. Kate is such an elder sibling, protective, doing everything she can to make her brother and sister's life the best it can be. When she's separated from them, she almost has to find someone else to take care of, and Rafe, Beetles, and Jake take that position. Rafe is brave and f...more
When I started it, I was also reading 4 other books. We'll just say they all took a back seat when The Fire Chronicle came along.
Kate, Micheal, and Emma are the best characters ever. Kate is such an elder sibling, protective, doing everything she can to make her brother and sister's life the best it can be. When she's separated from them, she almost has to find someone else to take care of, and Rafe, Beetles, and Jake take that position. Rafe is brave and f...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The Fire Chronicles
By
John Stephens
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Kate, Michael and Emma are on the run again! Because of the green book...Kate is able to go almost anywhere in time. Because of Mr. Pym...so can her younger brother and sister. They are always in danger. Always. From the Dire Magnus...just that name should strike terror in all of our hearts.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Oh me oh my...I love the nonstop action and amazing adventures that go on within the pages of this book....more
By
John Stephens
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Kate, Michael and Emma are on the run again! Because of the green book...Kate is able to go almost anywhere in time. Because of Mr. Pym...so can her younger brother and sister. They are always in danger. Always. From the Dire Magnus...just that name should strike terror in all of our hearts.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Oh me oh my...I love the nonstop action and amazing adventures that go on within the pages of this book....more
The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens continues the adventure started in The Emerald Atlas. This is the middle chapter of a 3 book trilogy. It picks up about where The Emerald Atlas left off. Readers new to the series may find it confusing to start with this volume. It does explain a little bit what had happened in the first book, but I recommend starting with book one before reading this book.
Kate, Michael, and Emma are three children that have been shooed around from orphanage to orphanage. They...more
Kate, Michael, and Emma are three children that have been shooed around from orphanage to orphanage. They...more
"If you had the power to restore life, would you use it? Kate and her siblings, Michael and Emma, begin their search for second of the magical Books of Beginning, the Fire Chronicle. After Kate is trapped in the past, it is up to Michael and Emma to continue the quest, which takes them on an adventure to a hidden world where they encounter sinister magicians, evil imps, giant trolls, and friendly elves. Is Michael the true keeper of the Fire Chronicle and can he unleash its power as the Book of...more
Putting aside Harry Potter, the landscape of children's fantasy is...strange. You have your classics (Redwall, various magical series from Lloyd Alexander, Fablehaven, etc), plenty of modern attempts to replicate Harry Potter or Tolkien (Eragon, anyone?). The modern stuff in particular repeatedly leaves me cold, though. Especially when you're looking for fantasy books with appeal to all genders, since most of the middle grade fiction that's not about sports or various wimpy/nerdy children is gea...more
There’s a gap of time of a couple of weeks in between where book one ended and from where book two begins. After finding the Emerald atlas, the siblings, Kate, Michael and Emma are back at Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans. Kate has been having unusual dreams and has been trying to get in touch with Dr.Pym. Her gut feeling that something bad is about to happen comes true when the orphanage is attacked by screechers. Dr.Pym arrives just in time to rescue Michael & Emm...more
In his follow up to series pilot The Emerald Atlas, John Stephens focuses on Michael, middle child and lone male in the trio of siblings. When the Atlas pulls Kate into the past, Michael absorbs responsibility for Emma, the quest for the Books of Beginning, and decisions about their long lost parents that no child should have have to make. Michael's struggles warm the heart and capture the tension children feel as they transition into adolescence and simultaneously long for adulthood and childho...more
Only for an advanced 5/6 grade reader. Lots of info to keep track of. > Kate has been taken back to 1898 NY, days before the magical separation is to begin.Michael and Emma have been in search for the "chronicle", something inside Michael is guiding him to it. They have been in Spain and now have flown to the Horn Mtns. In South America. After being entranced by singing elves, a "monster" comes and snatches Emma.>2bcont..>Michael goes after the dragon that is guarding the book. He trick...more
**OKAY YEP THERE'S SPOILERS SO I WARNED YOU! OKAY? OKAY.***********
Okay, I loved this book a lot. The emerald atlas was okay, but this book was way better. it actually totally made me cry and I do NOT cry a lot with books. The characters were all pretty awesome, but my favorite would have to be Kate because we are alike in every single way including age and appearance. I feel like this series was made a whole lot better by the addition of Rafe and Wilamena, my 2nd and fourth favorite characters...more
Okay, I loved this book a lot. The emerald atlas was okay, but this book was way better. it actually totally made me cry and I do NOT cry a lot with books. The characters were all pretty awesome, but my favorite would have to be Kate because we are alike in every single way including age and appearance. I feel like this series was made a whole lot better by the addition of Rafe and Wilamena, my 2nd and fourth favorite characters...more
Book 2 in the Books of Beginning series. Right away, the action begins in this one. The minions of the Dire Magnus invade the orphanage and the children are separated. Kate escapes into the past, where she is separated from the Emerald Atlas, leaving her trapped. Michael and Emma set off on one hair-raising adventure after another with Dr. Pym and Gabriel as they try to find the second book--the Chronicle of Life. Here, Michael gets the chance, not only to really repent for his past actions, but...more
This is the second book in the Books of Beginning series by Stephens. It was an excellent continuation of the story started in the Emerald Atlas. Lots of action, battles, and time travel.
Kate, Michael, and Emma are at a new horrible orphanage. That is until the evil finds them there; then they are thrown into turmoil. Kate is thrust back in time by herself. Michael and Emma end up accompanying Pym on a quest to find the 2nd book of Beginning, The Fire Chronicle.
As with the first book this is a s...more
Kate, Michael, and Emma are at a new horrible orphanage. That is until the evil finds them there; then they are thrown into turmoil. Kate is thrust back in time by herself. Michael and Emma end up accompanying Pym on a quest to find the 2nd book of Beginning, The Fire Chronicle.
As with the first book this is a s...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Three | 3 | 9 | Jun 09, 2013 02:21pm | |
| The Fire Chronicle (Spoilers) | 11 | 19 | May 07, 2013 03:49pm | |
| Book Three Title Speculation | 13 | 28 | Apr 07, 2013 07:33pm |
John Stephens spent ten years working in television and was executive producer of Gossip Girl and a writer for Gilmore Girls and The O.C. He holds an MFA from the University of Virginia. John and his wife have a dog named Bug and live in Los Angeles. His debut book 'The Emerald Atlas' is the first in a series of books.
More about John Stephens...
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“The point of life isn't to avoid pain. The point of life is to be alive! To feel things. That means the good and the bad. There'll be pain. But also joy, and friendship and love. And it's worth it, believe me.”
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12 people liked it
“Dragons are notable for their lust for gold, not a bad quality taken in moderation. Dragons are immune to fire, obviously. All dragons are terrifically vain, indeed as to who is more vain, a dragon or an elf, I would not want to be the one to decide. Hint: an elf. A dragon should never be engaged in conversation as they are inveterate liars and tricksters, though if you're actually talking to a dragon, you're pretty much toast anyway. Never, ever call a dragon a worm, no matter how much they're asking for it.”
—
5 people liked it
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