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62nd out of 270 books
—
741 voters
The Fiend and the Forge (The Tapestry #3)
by
Henry H. Neff (Goodreads Author)
The Tapestry series continues to weave threads of fantasy, mythology, science fiction, and mystery into a wholly original adventure that appeals to fans of everything from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to The X-Men. Genre-blending and fully illustrated, The Tapestry novels have caught the attention of middle-grade and young adult readers alike—and the series is only ge...more
Hardcover, 560 pages
Published
November 23rd 2010
by Random House Books for Young Readers
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The Good:
The world Neff has created is all well and good- It probably took a lot of research into Irish mythology if he didn't know them well already, and I respect him for the probable Doing Homework.
I also like the somewhat gray morality- Take a look at Brom in the earlier books. He's painted as a hero, that unreachable standard of pure golden good, the Guy Who Can Do No Wrong. Yet in the latter books Astaroth reveals that he's got a shady side- the stuff with the apprentice and summoning, wh...more
The world Neff has created is all well and good- It probably took a lot of research into Irish mythology if he didn't know them well already, and I respect him for the probable Doing Homework.
I also like the somewhat gray morality- Take a look at Brom in the earlier books. He's painted as a hero, that unreachable standard of pure golden good, the Guy Who Can Do No Wrong. Yet in the latter books Astaroth reveals that he's got a shady side- the stuff with the apprentice and summoning, wh...more
Far be it from me to blaspheme but sometimes I like this series better than Harry Potter. I think this book is one of those examples. Granted, the plot sometimes moves too fast and other times too slow. I won't say that there aren't little things that I would change. But the story itself is just great. I loved the end of the second one with Rowan completely losing the war and I thought that this book was a great change from every other fantasy and fantasy school book. What happens in a world whe...more
Having read the other two books in this series and greatly enjoyed them, my husband and I both tore through this book in a few days each. It's exciting, intriguing, and at times, at least in this one, a little creepy! I wasn't expecting that but found myself being into the darker parts of the book as well. It's also quite a divergence from the normal setting and cadence of the rest of the stories, which made it seem fresh for a third book in a series. It also truly had my pulse racing in more th...more
The book The Fiend and the Forge by Henry H.Neff has 420 pages. The story is about a boy named Max McDaniels who is the hero of a school of magic. In the book Max's father is killed by a demon and Max leaves Rowan seeking revenge. On his way to the demon he encounters withces, strange creatures that live in wells and fighting in an Arena as a gladiator for the demons so he can save the many Humans at Rowan. All in all this is a great book I recommend it to people wbo love action and adventure.
1 like · like · see review
Loved, loved, loved this one!
I figured I would since the first two were great, but you never know. I was afraid that since I read the last one awhile ago, that I would forget what was going on and not feel connected to the story anymore, but that wasn't the case. It was easy to jump back into Max's world and I couldn't put the book down. So much action and drama, parts that made me cry, it was great. My only complaint is that I have to wait so long for the next one, I'm not sure I can wait!
I figured I would since the first two were great, but you never know. I was afraid that since I read the last one awhile ago, that I would forget what was going on and not feel connected to the story anymore, but that wasn't the case. It was easy to jump back into Max's world and I couldn't put the book down. So much action and drama, parts that made me cry, it was great. My only complaint is that I have to wait so long for the next one, I'm not sure I can wait!
Die Welt ist im Wandel seit Astaroth die Weltherrschaft an sich gerissen hat. Die Rowan-Akademie ist gerade dabei ihr kleines Reich wieder aufzubauen als Dämonen nach Rowan kommen, um ihnen Astaroths Bedingungen für ein friedliches und ungestörtes Leben zu überbringen. Niemand scheint sich ihnen zu widersetzen, aber Max und David geben nicht so schnell auf. Jeder bekämpft die Dämonen auf seine Art und Weise und Max muss eine schwierige und gefährliche Reise antreten, auf der die Grenze zwischen...more
This is the third in the series The Tapestry. I had not read book 1 or book 2 and still liked this book a lot and had no problem figuring out what was going on. In fact, it just made me want to read books 1 and 2.
Twelve-year-old Max McDaniels is a student of mystical and magical combat at the Rowan Academy. In this third adventure Rowan has risen from ruin after a mighty war in book 2 that left Rowan mostly rubble and Max the reluctant warrior hero who was only able to save the people he cares a...more
Twelve-year-old Max McDaniels is a student of mystical and magical combat at the Rowan Academy. In this third adventure Rowan has risen from ruin after a mighty war in book 2 that left Rowan mostly rubble and Max the reluctant warrior hero who was only able to save the people he cares a...more
3 stars * full review and more on my blog - http://thereviewsofmar.blogspot.com/
the book: The demon Astaroth has taken over the whole world. Humans are not important anymore, they are used as food, mostly. The only safe place is Rowan academy, the academy for young 'wizards'. Max McDaniels, the wolfhound of Rowan, wants to free the world of demons. Also there is his roommate and best friend, David Menlo, who is acting strange. What on earth is he doing?
my review:
As far as I remember I liked the...more
the book: The demon Astaroth has taken over the whole world. Humans are not important anymore, they are used as food, mostly. The only safe place is Rowan academy, the academy for young 'wizards'. Max McDaniels, the wolfhound of Rowan, wants to free the world of demons. Also there is his roommate and best friend, David Menlo, who is acting strange. What on earth is he doing?
my review:
As far as I remember I liked the...more
From the back cover:
The Tapestry series continues to weave threads of fantasy, mythology, science fiction, and mystery into a wholly original adventure that appeals to fans of everything from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to The X-Men. Genre-blending and fully illustrated, The Tapestry novels have caught the attention of middle-grade and young adult readers alike—and the series is only getting bigger.
Book One, The Hound of Rowan, was a boarding-school fantasy that School Library Journal call...more
The Tapestry series continues to weave threads of fantasy, mythology, science fiction, and mystery into a wholly original adventure that appeals to fans of everything from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to The X-Men. Genre-blending and fully illustrated, The Tapestry novels have caught the attention of middle-grade and young adult readers alike—and the series is only getting bigger.
Book One, The Hound of Rowan, was a boarding-school fantasy that School Library Journal call...more
If you read The Tapestry series in succession you will likely find the opening of The Fiend and the Forge to be rather lacklustre compared to the ending of The Second Siege. For what happened everything seems disturbingly peaceful. This drags on for a little while but then satisfyingly changes when the book establishes that despite its apparent peace, things are not well in their world. These events are what drive the main character Max McDaniels to leave the safety of the academy and venture ou...more
This is the third book in the Tapestry Series by Neff. I thought it was meant to be a trilogy and was looking forward to how the author was going to wrap things up. However, it is not the end and I am glad. This series took a definite turn from the run of the mill "Boy is magic, Boy goes to school, Boy saves the World" fantasy novels that have popped up in the thousands hoping for Harry Potter status. I don't want to give any spoilers here so I can't state exactly what turn Neff makes but I can...more
GoodReads Synopsis: The Fiend and the Forge, is an unforgettable dystopian adventure across a landscape overrun with goblins and trolls. The world has changed almost beyond recognition, for with the Book of Origins firmly in his possession, the villainous Astaroth now has the power to reshape history at will. Plucking pivotal discoveries from mankind’s past, he has reduced the world to a preindustrial nightmare.
But while most humans toil as slaves within four demonic kingdoms, Astaroth allows th...more
But while most humans toil as slaves within four demonic kingdoms, Astaroth allows th...more
I wrote a review of this, went to post it, and Goodreads swallowed it whole. But I'll try to resurrect its memory.
Henry Neff says in his acknowledgements that his editors helped him whittle this one down from a 250,000 word manuscript. They must have been exhausted after that, but I think they could have gone further. The beginning of the book drags and the plot isn't really focused. It doesn't really pick up until around page 300. I'm really hoping that the whole Shrope family saga has some bea...more
Henry Neff says in his acknowledgements that his editors helped him whittle this one down from a 250,000 word manuscript. They must have been exhausted after that, but I think they could have gone further. The beginning of the book drags and the plot isn't really focused. It doesn't really pick up until around page 300. I'm really hoping that the whole Shrope family saga has some bea...more
... just one thing up front - in case you actually haven't read the previous two titles, don't read this one, you'll end up with as much headache as Max trying to understand philosopher's logic ;).
With "The Fiend and the Forge", Henry H. Neff takes the "Tapestry" series even further than he did with book 2.
I still remember not liking the fact that the first book in the series, The Hound of Rowan, was being compared to the Harry Potter series, but I guess that's now the problem of all books wher...more
With "The Fiend and the Forge", Henry H. Neff takes the "Tapestry" series even further than he did with book 2.
I still remember not liking the fact that the first book in the series, The Hound of Rowan, was being compared to the Harry Potter series, but I guess that's now the problem of all books wher...more
After two books of hit or misses, Neff really steps up to the plate with The Fiend and the Forge. At the end of the second book, I had made the comment that it was a shame so many people were comparing this to a knock-off of Harry Potter because Neff had talent but couldn't live up to the Harry Potter fame. Let me just say The Fiend and the Forge takes all the comparisons to Harry Potter and puts them to shame.
Neff really upps the ante in this book and takes the whole series in a new direction....more
Neff really upps the ante in this book and takes the whole series in a new direction....more
3/7/13 ** Well, I'm not done reading this yet, but I'm thoroughly intrigued with the world. I appreciate the way that Neff shows Max's growth, both in a physical sense (he's shaving now) and emotionally. He's realizing that having people under one's care and for whom one is responsible might change how one approaches a problem. It seems that he's showing some empathy for the decisions of the Rowan leaders that he once criticized.
A note about my own reading...I was so "into" the world, that I did...more
A note about my own reading...I was so "into" the world, that I did...more
"You'll find that being a teacher has many rewards, but an enviable social life is not one of them." (p38)
"'We're in the Red Branch,' said Max proudly. 'We shouldn't be afraid of anything.'
Cooper frowned at this and walked to the other end of the room.
'We are in the Red Branch,' he acknowledged. 'And that means we sometimes have to go places others cannot. Most times those places are dark and the things in them can be scary. Pretending otherwise doesn't make one brave, Max. It makes one a fool.'...more
"'We're in the Red Branch,' said Max proudly. 'We shouldn't be afraid of anything.'
Cooper frowned at this and walked to the other end of the room.
'We are in the Red Branch,' he acknowledged. 'And that means we sometimes have to go places others cannot. Most times those places are dark and the things in them can be scary. Pretending otherwise doesn't make one brave, Max. It makes one a fool.'...more
I waited what seemed like FOREVER to read this book, and while I enjoyed it, I came perilously close to not finishing the book because it.really.really.really.drags from about page 80 to page 350. I was seriously reminded of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings #2 (_The Two Towers_); when you start and end a book (or movie) in the same place, it gets tedious, and a bunch of plotlines that go pretty much nowhere doesn't help, either.
The pages after page 350 are what I remember loving from the previous boo...more
The pages after page 350 are what I remember loving from the previous boo...more
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if we hadn't poluted and built everything in our modern society? This book gives us a glimps of what the world would be if it was all gone. The one caviat is that it was done by a Demon and run by demons.
This is not a Dystopian novel. The old world just vanished. There is no rubble no burned out cities. The world is beautiful and vibrant, its just run by the most foul and hideous beings ever known to man.
This book is awesome! Following the adv...more
This is not a Dystopian novel. The old world just vanished. There is no rubble no burned out cities. The world is beautiful and vibrant, its just run by the most foul and hideous beings ever known to man.
This book is awesome! Following the adv...more
It's too bad. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, thought the second one was pretty good, but I could barely be bothered to finish this one. I'm not sure the quality is actually declining, it may just be that my interest declines the further it gets from the original premise (which was basically Harry Potter with Irish and other mythology thrown in). Max is really not a very attractive character any longer, or a very interesting one--exotic origins aren't enough to make a basically bo...more
awesome. certainly not a read by itself book, but in the context of the series the book was outstanding. i pride myself on guessing story lines and events pretty quickly. this book was full of tricks, some parts were predictable, but most was surprising. shocking even.
this is such a good book that i'm annoyed i have to wait a year for the next one. hopefully the author keeps the momentum up. if oprah or barnes and noble or someone pushed this series, it would do very well with the mix of good c...more
this is such a good book that i'm annoyed i have to wait a year for the next one. hopefully the author keeps the momentum up. if oprah or barnes and noble or someone pushed this series, it would do very well with the mix of good c...more
This is a fantastic series. I read it on the train recently, and it vaulted straight to the top of my favorites list. There are three books so far, and I may die before book 4 is released.
The world-building in this series is incredible, as are the utterly lovable and complex characters. It has a Harry Potter flavor at times, but in a good way. The plot thickens with each book, to the point that you can't stop thinking about it. The end of book three caught me so unprepared that I actually said O...more
The world-building in this series is incredible, as are the utterly lovable and complex characters. It has a Harry Potter flavor at times, but in a good way. The plot thickens with each book, to the point that you can't stop thinking about it. The end of book three caught me so unprepared that I actually said O...more
May 23, 2013
Michael Amanfu
added it
i personally did not fall over this book but it is better than the usual book that i read i don tcall this book spectacular because the first half of this book is practically going no where with the occasional interesting point so you are really reading nothing for a while but eventually it gets interesting and is pretty good if the author were to put more interesting stuff into the first part of each book it would definitely be a best-seller book, but then again this is my personal review.
It's actually funny to me that I ended up rating this book a five, because although I love The Tapestry Series this book was hugely depressing. That being said, the last chapter was so unexpected and so fun that I could read from read from start to finish again.
Overall I would not say Henry Neff is a great writer. There are plenty of things I could complain about his style, grammar, vocab, etc... But Henry Neff is perhaps one of the greatest, most creative story tellers of our time. Kids can get...more
Overall I would not say Henry Neff is a great writer. There are plenty of things I could complain about his style, grammar, vocab, etc... But Henry Neff is perhaps one of the greatest, most creative story tellers of our time. Kids can get...more
Listening to this on CD from the library.
Continuation of the story from books 1 and 2. Astaroth is in charge. Rowen has a large territory given to them in the former US. None of the former infrastructure or cities exist anymore. A demon embassy is built right next to Rowen.
Max's father is killed by a demon. Max leaves to get revenge. He sails to Europe (formerly Italy now Bliss) on his own. Crucius finds Max and makes him a fighter for entertainmenet of the demons in the colloseum.
David and Coo...more
Continuation of the story from books 1 and 2. Astaroth is in charge. Rowen has a large territory given to them in the former US. None of the former infrastructure or cities exist anymore. A demon embassy is built right next to Rowen.
Max's father is killed by a demon. Max leaves to get revenge. He sails to Europe (formerly Italy now Bliss) on his own. Crucius finds Max and makes him a fighter for entertainmenet of the demons in the colloseum.
David and Coo...more
In this book, the author explores the idea of our choices versus our nature defining us which I think is done well and is a good message (imps are inherently evil, for example). He also explores life under the dark lord's rule which I think is interesting though a little uncomfortable (trees and spirits refer to the dark lord as the creator and the great god). I guess the only thing that really made me uncomfortable in this book is that good guys summon evil creatures and demand aid or instructi...more
Unlike the previous two books in the series, this has much less reliance on the Cuchulainn mythos. This would be kind of sad to me (because the Cuchulainn reference was what made me pick up this series in the first place) except that this book is, in my opinion, much better than the previous ones. I really feel that Mr. Neff has come into his own with this one. The plot is clearer, the pace so much easier to follow than in Book 2 and the elegance of the ending makes me happy every time I think o...more
As the stories goes on it gets better but it is still a little slow and probly not the best book I have read.
This was probably one of my favorites in the series so far. That being said, I was a little bit irritated with the deaths in this book. I guess I assumed some of the characters would make it the whole time or at least further into the series!!
I'm not going to lie, two (both) deaths may have caused me to tear up just a little bit. I am excited to see where the story goes. It wasn't at all what I was expecting but I like it. David wigged me out a little in this book, but I feel like I was conned...more
I'm not going to lie, two (both) deaths may have caused me to tear up just a little bit. I am excited to see where the story goes. It wasn't at all what I was expecting but I like it. David wigged me out a little in this book, but I feel like I was conned...more
I waited for this book for quite some time now... I really like it. I kinda disagree that the dragging part in the beginning was boring....
I actually enjoyed that part just because it provided a lot of information to think about....
I'am not an amazing writer.... and I am amazed at the long reviews some people wrote... I don't have the dedication to do that.
But I really like this series.... particular the 1st book even though a lot of people think it's similar to the harry potter series....
I actually enjoyed that part just because it provided a lot of information to think about....
I'am not an amazing writer.... and I am amazed at the long reviews some people wrote... I don't have the dedication to do that.
But I really like this series.... particular the 1st book even though a lot of people think it's similar to the harry potter series....
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Feb 09, 2011 05:09am