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Storybound #2
Story's End
Enter the magical land of Story in this sequel to Storybound , perfect for fans of Inkheart , The School for Good and Evil , and classic fantasy tales like Ella Enchanted and The NeverEnding Story . Kids who love fairy tales, dragons, and magic will be enchanted by Una Fairchild's unforgettable adventure in Story's End . Story is a land of dashing Heroes, dastardly Villains, and epic quests—and once upon a time, a noble King. But the King vanished so long ago that even the memory of him is lost. Now a cruel Enemy plots to rewrite Story's future, and an ordinary girl named Una Fairchild may be the only one who can stop him. As Una and her friends Peter and Indy race to defeat the Enemy, their quest will take them deep into the secrets of Story's past . . . and Una's own mysterious ties to this fairy-tale kingdom and its long-forgotten King. Discover the richly imagined world, spirited cast of storybook characters, and timeless appeal of Story's End , which closes the book on Una's adventure "with an all-out bang" (ALA Booklist ).
416 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2013
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August 5, 2023This book brought the whole world of Story that we learned about in STORYBOUND completely to life!
So many twists and turns... I just don't even know where to start!
Of course, STORYBOUND is one of my FAVORITE books, so I was bound to love this one, right? (Heh... Bound. STORY bound. See what I did there?)
BUT this book SURPRISED me!
I'm trying to keep this spoiler free, but I LOVE a book that can make me gasp and have to set the book to the side for a few minutes to process things, and this book reached my expectations perfectly!
The friendship between the characters blossomed and grew into something even stronger then friendship. By the End I almost felt like all the characters were FAMILY. And I absolutely love that.
I loved the mind blowing places and people that meet, opening up the whole world in the book into so many unique people that I never even knew were there.
The writing was interesting as always, and the way it switched from multiple characters POV was fascinating.
STORY'S END blew me away in more ways then one.
So many twists and turns... I just don't even know where to start!
Of course, STORYBOUND is one of my FAVORITE books, so I was bound to love this one, right? (Heh... Bound. STORY bound. See what I did there?)
BUT this book SURPRISED me!
I'm trying to keep this spoiler free, but I LOVE a book that can make me gasp and have to set the book to the side for a few minutes to process things, and this book reached my expectations perfectly!
The friendship between the characters blossomed and grew into something even stronger then friendship. By the End I almost felt like all the characters were FAMILY. And I absolutely love that.
I loved the mind blowing places and people that meet, opening up the whole world in the book into so many unique people that I never even knew were there.
The writing was interesting as always, and the way it switched from multiple characters POV was fascinating.
STORY'S END blew me away in more ways then one.
May 1, 2013
This sequel to Storybound surpasses the original. Fast-paced action and interesting characters drive this fantasy novel that doubles as a religious allegory. Story, a world beset by evil looks to the return of the King who will defeat the Enemy, right all wrongs and deliver his people, only to find he's been there all along. The compelling theme is explicitly stated in response to Una's questioning why the King doesn't prevent evil, "Better to strengthen the good than to rid the world of evil.... keeping bad things away will not fill the world with more good. Busy yourself with filling the world with goodness, Una, and you will find it a much better Story." Amen.
May 21, 2013
Storybound was one of the Barnes & Noble Free Friday's books, and I enjoyed the book so much I paid for the second volume in the series, Story's End. The books seem to be closely bound together plot-wise, which makes me wonder if Marissa Burt originally wrote it as one book, and Harper Collins divided it into two books because of the length. I've heard of such things happening before. Also, the Nook version tends to not give adequate notice when switching scenes. I'm assuming the print version does better.
All is not right in the Land of Story. Una Fairchild is Written In from the Land of Readers (presumably, but not necessarily, our world), and must work together with various Characters she meets to help overcome the Talemasters, and bring back the Muses and the King of Story.
One thing I really liked about the books were that they seemed crammed full of Christian imagery, especially the second book, once we meet and recognize the King. The imagery is subtle enough that it's entirely possible the author didn't even realize that she was putting it in, But portions of the final battle between the King and the Enemy reminded me strongly of images in Revelation 19, where Christ battles the Beast and the False Prophet. And portions of it doesn't. Like I said, it's subtle, and other people might not see it.
I do not know if Ms. Burt intends any more books in this universe, but I believe that this story concludes with Story's End. There are other threads that could still be concluded, such as, will Una return to our world? Should she? but the main Good vs. Evil, save the universe, plotline has finished.
All is not right in the Land of Story. Una Fairchild is Written In from the Land of Readers (presumably, but not necessarily, our world), and must work together with various Characters she meets to help overcome the Talemasters, and bring back the Muses and the King of Story.
One thing I really liked about the books were that they seemed crammed full of Christian imagery, especially the second book, once we meet and recognize the King. The imagery is subtle enough that it's entirely possible the author didn't even realize that she was putting it in, But portions of the final battle between the King and the Enemy reminded me strongly of images in Revelation 19, where Christ battles the Beast and the False Prophet. And portions of it doesn't. Like I said, it's subtle, and other people might not see it.
I do not know if Ms. Burt intends any more books in this universe, but I believe that this story concludes with Story's End. There are other threads that could still be concluded, such as, will Una return to our world? Should she? but the main Good vs. Evil, save the universe, plotline has finished.
November 10, 2012
There could be no better fate than to be written into the fantastic world of Story. Marissa Burt's storytelling comes from an evident love of books, characters, and reading. She brilliantly educates young readers about the many genres of writing and their respective character types and plots. She invites young readers-through the examples of triumph and transformation of Una's and Snow's lives--to be the heroes of their own stories and to not be afraid to take risks for a world in which they believe.
Storybound ended at a critical moment in the story Una Fairchild and her friends. The sequel, Story's End proves to be just as magical as the first, so much so, that readers should hope Burt writes more adventures and that this is not the "End" of Story, but the second installment of many more to come.
I have noticed that others have compared her books to many other novels without consideration for one's experience. Serious readers will appreciate her books because they are smart, and readers who love fantasy will appreciate her imagination. If you've ever wanted to inhabit the world of a book you've loved, pick it up. I would say that if you liked Michael Buckley's Grimm Sisters books, Jasper Fforde's Last Dragonslayer, Polly Shulman's The Grimm Legacy, Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland series, David Ward's Between Two End, E. Archers Geek Fantasy Novel and any book who have at their heart children who become part of a story within a story, you will love these books.
A special note of thanks to Marissa Burt for sending me an advance copy of her book. I hope your kindness extends to your young readers at your readings and signings. Thank you for an early opportunity to know the next part of Una's story. While a bit distant from the Pacific Northwest, I'm sure that Square Books, Jr. in Oxford, MS, would love to have you :-)
Storybound ended at a critical moment in the story Una Fairchild and her friends. The sequel, Story's End proves to be just as magical as the first, so much so, that readers should hope Burt writes more adventures and that this is not the "End" of Story, but the second installment of many more to come.
I have noticed that others have compared her books to many other novels without consideration for one's experience. Serious readers will appreciate her books because they are smart, and readers who love fantasy will appreciate her imagination. If you've ever wanted to inhabit the world of a book you've loved, pick it up. I would say that if you liked Michael Buckley's Grimm Sisters books, Jasper Fforde's Last Dragonslayer, Polly Shulman's The Grimm Legacy, Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland series, David Ward's Between Two End, E. Archers Geek Fantasy Novel and any book who have at their heart children who become part of a story within a story, you will love these books.
A special note of thanks to Marissa Burt for sending me an advance copy of her book. I hope your kindness extends to your young readers at your readings and signings. Thank you for an early opportunity to know the next part of Una's story. While a bit distant from the Pacific Northwest, I'm sure that Square Books, Jr. in Oxford, MS, would love to have you :-)
April 7, 2013
The Story's End is a wonderful story. It is about parents-child relationship and about having friends. Una Fairchilds discovered her real parents in Storybound. What worse was that she did the most horrible thing in the Storybound. She released the Enemy, who happened to be her real father. Now her father is searching for the elements to rewrite Story. The Enemy was going to destroyed the characters who would opposed him with the help of the Red Enchantress, who is her real mother.
To Una's sad discovery, her real parents didn't want her. As long as she was useful, her parents kept her alive.
Una also discovered and learned from the King of Story, that what she has done exist in the past, remained in the past. What she is going to do about that mistake is, what going to define her. Just because she made an error in judgement, doesn't mean she is going to lose her friends.
I love the lesson that The Story's End provided. In some way, there is also a parallel Christian concept that runs through the story if the readers ponders deeply about the book. Because I love the story concept, I went and bought the first book, Storybound.
To Una's sad discovery, her real parents didn't want her. As long as she was useful, her parents kept her alive.
Una also discovered and learned from the King of Story, that what she has done exist in the past, remained in the past. What she is going to do about that mistake is, what going to define her. Just because she made an error in judgement, doesn't mean she is going to lose her friends.
I love the lesson that The Story's End provided. In some way, there is also a parallel Christian concept that runs through the story if the readers ponders deeply about the book. Because I love the story concept, I went and bought the first book, Storybound.
June 6, 2017
Marissa Burt’s first novel, Storybound, was a delightful read. Unfortunately, the sequel, Story’s End does not have the same magic as the first one, only because it doesn’t work as a stand-alone book. If you do not read the first in the series, you will be confused. And even after reading the first one, you may still be confused as you try to keep straight Muses, Tale-Keepers, Written-Ins, Villains, the Enemy, the King, etc. While it works as an action-packed adventure, overall it needed a bit more cohesion and character depth.
But Story’s End does include plenty of good messages, often tending to be allegorical in a subtle way. Good does triumph over evil and it is rewarding to watch the young characters, especially Una, Snow, and Peter, use their creativity and wisdom to overthrow the Enemy and Duessa.
While Story’s End is recommended, readers will need to read it almost immediately after Storybound in order to keep the whole story “bound”.
Reviewed for: www.goodreadingguide.com
But Story’s End does include plenty of good messages, often tending to be allegorical in a subtle way. Good does triumph over evil and it is rewarding to watch the young characters, especially Una, Snow, and Peter, use their creativity and wisdom to overthrow the Enemy and Duessa.
While Story’s End is recommended, readers will need to read it almost immediately after Storybound in order to keep the whole story “bound”.
Reviewed for: www.goodreadingguide.com
April 30, 2013
The King has disappeared and his story is all but forgotten. A most evil one is ready to rewrite Story and even more will be lost if he succeeds. Una Fairchild, 12, with the help of her friends Peter and Indy, is the key to stopping him. Adventure, deceit, secrets and lies make this Story hard to put down.
Why I picked it up: I am drawn to fairy tale retellings and related right now.
Why I finished it: It has the right level of adventure for this age group with characters these readers will enjoy. And a confession -this is the sequel to a book I haven't read. Don't know how that happened - it must have come in with the pile of new books and looked interesting so I brought it home.
I would give it to - middle graders. It, well the first one, Storybound, will be easy to recommend this summer as the sequel is ready for them, too.
Why I picked it up: I am drawn to fairy tale retellings and related right now.
Why I finished it: It has the right level of adventure for this age group with characters these readers will enjoy. And a confession -this is the sequel to a book I haven't read. Don't know how that happened - it must have come in with the pile of new books and looked interesting so I brought it home.
I would give it to - middle graders. It, well the first one, Storybound, will be easy to recommend this summer as the sequel is ready for them, too.
March 15, 2013
12 year old Una Fairchild is a foster child in the land of Readers and discovers a book in her school library that is a portal to the land of Story...a land in total chaos because the king who is the writer of all stories that were, is, and will be. The villains in Story unfortunately are also the missing parents of Una. Her bloodties to these two characters link her to the magic that is needed to work with the resistance movement to bring back the long lost king...which in essence sets alls the stories straight again and literally brings back "happily ever after." Yes, there are strong echos of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart and MacHale's Travelors' series...very catchy plot within a plot.
November 4, 2012
Note: I received a free ARC of the novel.
First thing, I love the cover art! It's very eye-catching and definitely draws interest in.
I really enjoyed Story's End. The plot was very engaging and didn't drag in any place. I liked discovering more about other places in Story like The Ranch and the Enchanted Swamp. Getting to see more of Snow and her relationship with her mother was a great thing, plus learning more about Professor Thornhill. It may not have ended "happily ever after" but with a definite good resolution.
First thing, I love the cover art! It's very eye-catching and definitely draws interest in.
I really enjoyed Story's End. The plot was very engaging and didn't drag in any place. I liked discovering more about other places in Story like The Ranch and the Enchanted Swamp. Getting to see more of Snow and her relationship with her mother was a great thing, plus learning more about Professor Thornhill. It may not have ended "happily ever after" but with a definite good resolution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2013
I received an uncorrected proof for review. Marissa Burt has writen another spell bound book that draws you in and will not let you out until the end. This book is a fitting sequal to the first book, "STORYBOUND". Just as we thought Una's travels could not get any more interesting or eventful, we find ourselves in te middle of Una's life and her strugles to overcome her longing to find her parents and what she must do when she does. This book is actioned packed and ready for all ages to enjoy.
April 17, 2013
~First Reads Winner~
Just finished this and it was awesome. The level of scary and honor was exactly right for the age. The concept refreshing and the writing well done. I really enjoyed this and I believe any age reader would as well. Hopefully we get to re-visit Story. I KNOW there is another tale just waiting to be written!
Just finished this and it was awesome. The level of scary and honor was exactly right for the age. The concept refreshing and the writing well done. I really enjoyed this and I believe any age reader would as well. Hopefully we get to re-visit Story. I KNOW there is another tale just waiting to be written!
May 12, 2013
This was a fantastic sequel to Storybound. The story gets so much more intense and the moral questions that are presented can give kids and adults alike an insight into the world.
I felt connected to all of the characters: Una, Peter, Indy, and Sam. Even Snow comes around and by the end she's helping Horace make the right choice.
Basically and most simply, I loved it.
I felt connected to all of the characters: Una, Peter, Indy, and Sam. Even Snow comes around and by the end she's helping Horace make the right choice.
Basically and most simply, I loved it.
September 28, 2014
Finished reading Story's End. I thought it was an amazing read, it answered all the previous questions set by Storybound. I'm hoping for a third book & that this will become a series, but that's really up to Ms. Burt :-) Such a huge fan. I hope to see more great things from Ms. Burt!
June 21, 2018
omg i LOVED it!!!!!!!!!
May 11, 2013
Story's End is a great sequel! Marissa Burt is an amazing Muse herself!
I can't wait to see what new and exciting stories she has in store for us next.
This a must read series!
I can't wait to see what new and exciting stories she has in store for us next.
This a must read series!
April 12, 2013
I really loved this Children's series. Reminds me of Thursday Next but for kids!
May 5, 2013
An enjoyable read that I will be sharing with my young niece and nephew.
October 6, 2013
I'd highly recommend the Storybound books (this is the second of two), it's very easy to get pulled into the world Burt has written and there's a lot of room for her to continue with these characters if she chose to (though the story has wrapped up completely in this sequel). In reviews a lot of people seemed to enjoy this book significantly less than the first. I think this may be partly because many of them specifically said that they hadn't read the first one recently, so it was hard to remember everything (one review said it's difficult to keep straight the TaleMasters, TaleKeepers, Taleless, Muses, etc. I did not find this to be at all the case, any more than it's hard to keep track of which is a cat and which is a dog, but I suppose if you read Storybound a year before reading Story's End and didn't reread the former before reading the latter it might be a bit more challenging). Personally, I liked them both equally, but this one was a bit more breath-taking, as the first book was mostly scene setting, character building, world building, and this was acting on those foundations.
The series seems to put a lot of emphasis on the idea (stated in so many words at one point) that nobody is all one thing or another, everybody is a mix of good and bad. A character who is introduced as a snobbish "popular girl" type is then given more depth such that you understand she's not how she appears, she's protecting herself and her feelings with attitude, she does not have the circle of friends that seem to crowd around her, she's unhappy and lonely and just like the main character who feels attacked by her. Characters make hard choices with the awareness that those choices will have both positive and negative repercussions but that they have to live with those repercussions and do the best they can to mitigate the bad and increase the good. Characters are given the opportunity for growth and change, and some take it while others don't, just as happens in reality. Some people are betrayed by their own desires, some by their ignorance, some by their cowardice, some by their weakness, some by other people. Love does not always mean happiness, when one loves someone unworthy who does not return the affection, but it can mean happiness when it's worked for.
My biggest rounds of applause for this book go to two things: 1. the story itself is interesting, well-written, fun, and fast-moving. 2. realism. No caricatures, no two-dimensional people, no simple solutions, no deus ex machina. Everything that resolved the challenges was written in from the very beginning, was led to, could have been foreseen if looked at in the right way.
The series seems to put a lot of emphasis on the idea (stated in so many words at one point) that nobody is all one thing or another, everybody is a mix of good and bad. A character who is introduced as a snobbish "popular girl" type is then given more depth such that you understand she's not how she appears, she's protecting herself and her feelings with attitude, she does not have the circle of friends that seem to crowd around her, she's unhappy and lonely and just like the main character who feels attacked by her. Characters make hard choices with the awareness that those choices will have both positive and negative repercussions but that they have to live with those repercussions and do the best they can to mitigate the bad and increase the good. Characters are given the opportunity for growth and change, and some take it while others don't, just as happens in reality. Some people are betrayed by their own desires, some by their ignorance, some by their cowardice, some by their weakness, some by other people. Love does not always mean happiness, when one loves someone unworthy who does not return the affection, but it can mean happiness when it's worked for.
My biggest rounds of applause for this book go to two things: 1. the story itself is interesting, well-written, fun, and fast-moving. 2. realism. No caricatures, no two-dimensional people, no simple solutions, no deus ex machina. Everything that resolved the challenges was written in from the very beginning, was led to, could have been foreseen if looked at in the right way.
July 16, 2013
If you are a writer you should read these books. Observe how the characters differ by the way they get along with each-other!
This is the second book of a two book series (at least, I'm assuming this is the last book although it would be a pleasant surprise if there would be another book coming one day).
The first book was more fairy-tale-ish than this one turned out to be but it was still a great book. This one would have turned into a horror/western (don't worry, not really gory), were it not for Kai and the return of the wonderful King.
The first book took place mostly in the Fantasy District (and I kind of wish the whole world of Story displayed in the book was fantasy, as this is sort of supposed to be a fantasy book) and this one moved around to other places. I didn't mind that we got to see the Ranch, which was very fun and the cowboys and cowgirls were fun and made me grin.
I'm just not very into horror, so the good vampire (don't worry he's only in one brief scene) and undead Taless made me bring down my rating a star. I would have liked to call it amazing and there were some pretty amazing parts in it - Kai is one of my favorites ever! - but I don't know, the undead people seemed to be just thrown in there. *minor spoiler* the Taless are basically characters that have been brought back and put into the bodies of dead people. I was sort of expecting someone to recognize someone that the Taless had embodied and burst into tears, or some other subplot that could have made them useful for more than just being scary.
I love how Kai sort of embodies the character of the word Story and how he knows about why a good story needs a villain and so forth.
Throughout the book I was trying to figure out if I had already met the king. Was it this person? Or was it that person? Oh wait no, that rules out that person. But it's so cool who the King did turn out to be. I wish there had been a little more to the ending -maybe a few people rebuilding the town, a message being sent here or there, a bit more things in motion. Makes me wonder what happens after the end. They say it's the end of Story so does that mean the story doesn't continue after the last page, that everyone ceases to exist? I know that's probably not it, it's just something I thought of.
It was a good book, you should definitely read it (but read the first book, Storybound, first)!
This is the second book of a two book series (at least, I'm assuming this is the last book although it would be a pleasant surprise if there would be another book coming one day).
The first book was more fairy-tale-ish than this one turned out to be but it was still a great book. This one would have turned into a horror/western (don't worry, not really gory), were it not for Kai and the return of the wonderful King.
The first book took place mostly in the Fantasy District (and I kind of wish the whole world of Story displayed in the book was fantasy, as this is sort of supposed to be a fantasy book) and this one moved around to other places. I didn't mind that we got to see the Ranch, which was very fun and the cowboys and cowgirls were fun and made me grin.
I'm just not very into horror, so the good vampire (don't worry he's only in one brief scene) and undead Taless made me bring down my rating a star. I would have liked to call it amazing and there were some pretty amazing parts in it - Kai is one of my favorites ever! - but I don't know, the undead people seemed to be just thrown in there. *minor spoiler* the Taless are basically characters that have been brought back and put into the bodies of dead people. I was sort of expecting someone to recognize someone that the Taless had embodied and burst into tears, or some other subplot that could have made them useful for more than just being scary.
I love how Kai sort of embodies the character of the word Story and how he knows about why a good story needs a villain and so forth.
Throughout the book I was trying to figure out if I had already met the king. Was it this person? Or was it that person? Oh wait no, that rules out that person. But it's so cool who the King did turn out to be. I wish there had been a little more to the ending -maybe a few people rebuilding the town, a message being sent here or there, a bit more things in motion. Makes me wonder what happens after the end. They say it's the end of Story so does that mean the story doesn't continue after the last page, that everyone ceases to exist? I know that's probably not it, it's just something I thought of.
It was a good book, you should definitely read it (but read the first book, Storybound, first)!
March 12, 2015
Things aren't looking so good for Story. The Enemy, Fidelus the Muse who went a little power crazy is back. The other Muses are all captured and under the Red Enchantress's power. Fidelus is gathering the Elements, the legendary tools necessary to write or unwrite Story's story or even write Story's End. He's also raising up Taleless and promising them fresh bodies...which is not good news for the living characters of Story.
The Resistance, those who believe that the King will return to Story, has inside information thanks to what Peter, Indy and Una discovered in the last book. They are trying to build their numbers and spread the truth to the rest of Story so that just maybe they can thwart Fidelus' plans. It doesn't look very good for a while with Snow & her mother imprisoned, Una separated from the Resistance and under the enchantment of a sorceress, and the zombie-like Taleless attacking all over. Will the King actually return, and can the Resistance overcome Fidelus before he writes his own version of Story's End?
A very satisfying resolution to the tale built up in Storybound. Burt did a great job of having several complex characters, and building them along with a weaving plot line from several different view points up to the grand finale. It is nice that the story is resolved in just two books, but I do hope she returns to Story for more tales in the future. I really enjoyed the world she has built.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond two adults kissing. There are a couple of battles in this book, so there is some violence. Most of what is described is the turning to dust of Taleless. A person is branded at one point, and one person's feet are burned in torture. That's about the only things described, and even they aren't too graphic. Some of the main characters get injured during the climax battle, but thanks to having fairy characters around they are easily healed.
The Resistance, those who believe that the King will return to Story, has inside information thanks to what Peter, Indy and Una discovered in the last book. They are trying to build their numbers and spread the truth to the rest of Story so that just maybe they can thwart Fidelus' plans. It doesn't look very good for a while with Snow & her mother imprisoned, Una separated from the Resistance and under the enchantment of a sorceress, and the zombie-like Taleless attacking all over. Will the King actually return, and can the Resistance overcome Fidelus before he writes his own version of Story's End?
A very satisfying resolution to the tale built up in Storybound. Burt did a great job of having several complex characters, and building them along with a weaving plot line from several different view points up to the grand finale. It is nice that the story is resolved in just two books, but I do hope she returns to Story for more tales in the future. I really enjoyed the world she has built.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond two adults kissing. There are a couple of battles in this book, so there is some violence. Most of what is described is the turning to dust of Taleless. A person is branded at one point, and one person's feet are burned in torture. That's about the only things described, and even they aren't too graphic. Some of the main characters get injured during the climax battle, but thanks to having fairy characters around they are easily healed.
June 6, 2016
I really don't do this book any justice by not remembering much about the first book, Storybound. I DO recall, however, mentioning it to a friend once and saying something like: "It wasn't a bad book, but it felt really flat and unexciting."
In a way, Story's End also felt the same way. There were no Feels. And while there was a really decent progression and great writing and narration, the entire thing just felt detached. And even kind of rushed. The build-up to the climactic ending battle didn't draw me in. None of it really drew me in.
But the characters were great, even if only on paper because they didn't feel alive either. I had trouble relating with the characters, and while I've never been one to love too much angst, the main character, Una Fairchild's secret back history and subsequent discovery of her secret birth would have merited at least a little bit of angst. But that didn't happen and we merrily breeze our way through the book as we roll closer to the ending.
Also, I don't remember who the character Snow is, but she ended up getting quite tiresome and annoying. Otherwise, the other characters were okay, I guess.
Nonetheless, Story's End makes a fairly good conclusion to a well-thought-out duology, and if I knew how to appreciate it better, then maybe I could have liked it a bit more.
In a way, Story's End also felt the same way. There were no Feels. And while there was a really decent progression and great writing and narration, the entire thing just felt detached. And even kind of rushed. The build-up to the climactic ending battle didn't draw me in. None of it really drew me in.
But the characters were great, even if only on paper because they didn't feel alive either. I had trouble relating with the characters, and while I've never been one to love too much angst, the main character, Una Fairchild's secret back history and subsequent discovery of her secret birth would have merited at least a little bit of angst. But that didn't happen and we merrily breeze our way through the book as we roll closer to the ending.
Also, I don't remember who the character Snow is, but she ended up getting quite tiresome and annoying. Otherwise, the other characters were okay, I guess.
Nonetheless, Story's End makes a fairly good conclusion to a well-thought-out duology, and if I knew how to appreciate it better, then maybe I could have liked it a bit more.
June 21, 2013
With the enemy returning at the hands of an unknowing Una Fairchild, the fate of Story is in peril.
Whispers of the true king of Story waft from character to character. Yet, can it be believed?
As the Red Enchantress blankets most of the Story with lies, can a proper ending be written?
With Una’s new knowledge of who she is exposed, can Story forgive her for what she has done?
What will become of Story? What ending is it destined to have?
Burt is truly a gifted middle grade writer. I absolutely adored Storybound, and I wasn’t disappointed with Story’s End. I do think the second book is bit more mature than the first, but it’s an exciting end for such a fantastical world.
All loose ends are tied up and I really enjoyed how Una is not a traditional character. To avoid spoilers, it’s understood when the book is read.
Story’s End will challenge middle grade readers and expose them to battles against good versus evil. What is happening to the characters isn’t immediately understood, making them perfect for parent assisted or reading groups.
For all the parents, there is a happy ending. For a two book series it’s beautifully written with care for it’s age range, and brings to life stories in a way that hasn’t been done in many a year. Even adults can find the fun and thrill. Well done Burt! I am so happy to recommend such amazing work!
Whispers of the true king of Story waft from character to character. Yet, can it be believed?
As the Red Enchantress blankets most of the Story with lies, can a proper ending be written?
With Una’s new knowledge of who she is exposed, can Story forgive her for what she has done?
What will become of Story? What ending is it destined to have?
Burt is truly a gifted middle grade writer. I absolutely adored Storybound, and I wasn’t disappointed with Story’s End. I do think the second book is bit more mature than the first, but it’s an exciting end for such a fantastical world.
All loose ends are tied up and I really enjoyed how Una is not a traditional character. To avoid spoilers, it’s understood when the book is read.
Story’s End will challenge middle grade readers and expose them to battles against good versus evil. What is happening to the characters isn’t immediately understood, making them perfect for parent assisted or reading groups.
For all the parents, there is a happy ending. For a two book series it’s beautifully written with care for it’s age range, and brings to life stories in a way that hasn’t been done in many a year. Even adults can find the fun and thrill. Well done Burt! I am so happy to recommend such amazing work!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2013
I finished off this book in only a couple of days. Honestly it is just so easy to get into and so filled with action. Una continues to be absolutely awesome. I love that this is a young reader's book that has a female protagonist who is fully capable of doing things for herself. Yes, she has friends who help her greatly but she never has Peter or Indy do something for her because she is a girl. She learns to be a hero all by herself. Along that same line seeing more of Snow was one of my favorite parts. Snow is a pretty tough girl, training to be a lady or not, who ends up saving many character's lives. It is also so fun to see Peter and Indy working together as friends instead of arguing over silliness. There is not a character who I did not enjoy reading about because they were all so well done.
The setting and storyline were once again fabulous. This time we get to see more of the horror and western characters which was really entertaining. All of story is just such a cool idea that I again found myself wishing it was a place I could visit. This book definitely held a lot of characters fulfilling more than one role which was so relatable. So few people are all good or all evil and it was nice to see that dichotomy brought up so perfectly in a children's book. I enjoyed this series so much, I hope Marissa Burt comes out with more books in the future!
The setting and storyline were once again fabulous. This time we get to see more of the horror and western characters which was really entertaining. All of story is just such a cool idea that I again found myself wishing it was a place I could visit. This book definitely held a lot of characters fulfilling more than one role which was so relatable. So few people are all good or all evil and it was nice to see that dichotomy brought up so perfectly in a children's book. I enjoyed this series so much, I hope Marissa Burt comes out with more books in the future!
June 10, 2013
Story's End takes place after the events of Storybound. Una, Peter and Indy have survived the return of the Enemy Fidelus and are out to stop his evil plots. Snow and her mother have been captured by the Duessa and must find a way to escape. Duessa and Fidelus are out to rewrite Story so that only their supporters survive and everyone worships them as the King and Queen of Story. The characters must unite to fight against them and pray for the return of the true king.
This is such a fun series. I love how creative Burt was in the creation of Story with its different districts of characters (Enchanted Forest, Westerns, Internationals, etc.). I also really enjoy the tale of the muses and how they created the Tales until they were imprisoned in an enchanted sleep. Una and her band of resistance fighters are all interesting and complex characters. The ending was completely satisfying and exactly what I hoped for. I am going to keep Marissa Burt on a to-read list.
This is such a fun series. I love how creative Burt was in the creation of Story with its different districts of characters (Enchanted Forest, Westerns, Internationals, etc.). I also really enjoy the tale of the muses and how they created the Tales until they were imprisoned in an enchanted sleep. Una and her band of resistance fighters are all interesting and complex characters. The ending was completely satisfying and exactly what I hoped for. I am going to keep Marissa Burt on a to-read list.
May 3, 2013
This was a good, imaginative end to the story, and I did like it. It made me realize something, though, one of the reasons why I have a harder time connecting to fantasy than other genres. It is this kind of fantastical, deux ex machina ending. Outlook is bleak? No way to survive? Hope and plans are in ruins? No problem! It turns out that this character/object/power (that the reader had no idea existed) trumps everything else, and will save the day! It all turned out to be so simple! Yay for them! I'm exaggerating here, but the point I'm trying to make is real: I have a hard time with stories/authors that have tricks up their sleeves that are never hinted at beforehand and are quick fixes. Don't get me wrong--I really liked the book and characters, I just happened to use this review to share a pet peeve. :)
Does anyone actually still read my reviews, just out of curiosity? I'm thinking of paring down my good reads friends.
Does anyone actually still read my reviews, just out of curiosity? I'm thinking of paring down my good reads friends.
April 8, 2014
This book picked up right where the first left off and hit the ground running. The story swept me along the whole way, and then dropped me on the ground at the end. Watching the different characters move toward the climax was great. Snow, Peter, Indy, and Una all had their own missions and agendas. Each could have managed to have been the sole focal point; sharing the burden made me want them to come together all the more.
When I came to the last page, I was surprised that it was the last page. I felt like the final chapter had been left out and everything ended too abruptly. The battle ended, people reunited, but what happened to Snow's relationship with her mother? How does Una fit into Story?
It's definitely worth reading, especially if you enjoyed the first book (which I did). I hope Ms. Burt comes back to Story one day and lets us know how everyone truly made out.
When I came to the last page, I was surprised that it was the last page. I felt like the final chapter had been left out and everything ended too abruptly. The battle ended, people reunited, but what happened to Snow's relationship with her mother? How does Una fit into Story?
It's definitely worth reading, especially if you enjoyed the first book (which I did). I hope Ms. Burt comes back to Story one day and lets us know how everyone truly made out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2013
It was a good sequel and ending(?). I would have liked a little more of the story, but I still liked it. I like all of the characters. I liked the addition of Kai, he was interesting and mysterious. I would have liked to have known more about him. I liked how it ended. I thought Kai's "moral" to the story was a very good one. You can't wish all the bad away. There will always be bad with good, that's what makes the good good. It wasn't your typical story and it was nice to have something a little different. Also, there wasn't any teen love stories, etc. None of the young characters "ended up" with each other. That was actually kind of nice too. I hope that there's more, but if not I would still definitely recommend these two books!
December 1, 2013
Just as good as the first one. These characters have sup rising depth. It's too bad it wasn't just published as one book instead of 2. They are not that long and would have made an excellent stand alone novel. The way it was forced into a series (I am guessing publisher encouragement) makes it lose one star. Otherwise I was very pleasantly surprised by the books all around.
The land of Story is rich in detail. The characters are interesting and avoid stereotypes. The plot has just a few twists and turns, but never becomes so convoluted that you can't follow it easily.
Excellent choice for the middle grade fantasy fan.
The land of Story is rich in detail. The characters are interesting and avoid stereotypes. The plot has just a few twists and turns, but never becomes so convoluted that you can't follow it easily.
Excellent choice for the middle grade fantasy fan.
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October 11, 2013(Note: I read the Advanced Reader's Copy) This is a wonderful continuation of Storybound, Marissa Burt's lovely and charming 1st novel. The characters are interesting, engaging and I have to admit I was delighted not to wait for the final edition to arrive in stores. There's danger and treachery afoot, but who are the true villains and how do our young protagonists stop the destruction of their world? Well, you'll have to read it and see.
September 28, 2017
WOW! What an amazing finish to the fabulous story Marissa Burt started in Storybound. While the action keeps your heart pounding, it never overshadows the beauty of the story, itself. The eloquent message and empowerment it offers to the reader leaves a lasting mark. Beautifully written and wonderfully conceived, both Storybound books are a must read for everyone loves to be brought into a great story.
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