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Order of the Bell #3
The Hummingbird
In the aftermath of the great battle that left Wonderland in ruins, Crescenzo DiLegno and his two best friends have reunited with their families in Florindale, but the war wages on in every kingdom. The Order of the Bell is scattered, presumably left to the mercy of Queen Avoria, whose grip on the New World grows tighter every day. Cities have already fallen, the shadows have spread, and a fortress of nightmares has appeared in the heart of New York City.
Determined to take back his home and restore order to the worlds, Crescenzo must rally all the people he's met from his adventures, from the troubled prince to the rebellious Lost Boys, and storm Avoria's castle of illusion. The Carver's war against the wicked Ivory Queen brews to an explosive finale, but dark secrets about her true nature have yet to emerge, and not everybody will be prepared to survive them.
Determined to take back his home and restore order to the worlds, Crescenzo must rally all the people he's met from his adventures, from the troubled prince to the rebellious Lost Boys, and storm Avoria's castle of illusion. The Carver's war against the wicked Ivory Queen brews to an explosive finale, but dark secrets about her true nature have yet to emerge, and not everybody will be prepared to survive them.
330 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2018
1 person is currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Devlin
8 books156 followersJacob grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and he has been writing in different capacities ever since he could hold a crayon. Today he has published seven books, including Roses in the Dragon’s Den, which won a Reader’s Favorite Silver Medal in 2020. His books tend to explore the themes of family, youth empowerment, and finding magic in our backyards. While he refers to his writing career as his “five-to-nine life”, he believes stories are essential to every aspect of his work, his hobbies, and his community.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 24, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Not too long after having read The Unseen did I start The Hummingbird and I realized this was actually the last installment. Unfortunately it doesn’t feel like this book made much improvements in the things that bothered me about the previous two.
The Hummingbird starts close to the ending of The Unseen and continues on at a similar pace. We sidetrack to Neverland to gather the Lost Boys for the cause in the first half of the book and in the second half of the book there is the end battle. I think I could have done without Neverland. It felt like it added little really. The Lost Boys played no role further in the book and their initial reluctance was so easily swept to the side by asking nicely. And that is what I mean with no depth as mentioned in previous reviews of this series. I cannot believe any of that would have made the Lost Boys said yes because we barely touch the surface on so many elements and underlying tensions between characters. Tinkerbell for instance was barely dealt with at all.
There are just too many character point of views to adequately deal and add in depth with for the amount of pages. And without depth of the character nothing ever quite reached me on an emotional level. In Neverland we could have really delved into Pietro and his relationship with The Lost Boys, Hook, Wendy and Tinkerbell and Zach who still has to deal with his dad being Peter Pan. But we do not get any of that.
Adding on to that is that the author is trying to go for the epic battle for the end but it felt unbelievably flat. This and that is tossed in as twists. Characters you think are gone or dead are tossed back in. Everyone suddenly throws their lives on the line for each other. This person dies, that person dies. Almost everyone dies. Betrayal. The evil queen isn’t quite so evil. And then everything gets reverted at the end. One big happy ending. To say I was extremely frustrated with that ending would be an understatement.
I will say that I think The Order of the Bell trilogy is a nice quick in between read for those that like fairytale retellings in bulk like Once Upon a Time and The Tenth Kingdom if you adjust your expectations.
Not too long after having read The Unseen did I start The Hummingbird and I realized this was actually the last installment. Unfortunately it doesn’t feel like this book made much improvements in the things that bothered me about the previous two.
The Hummingbird starts close to the ending of The Unseen and continues on at a similar pace. We sidetrack to Neverland to gather the Lost Boys for the cause in the first half of the book and in the second half of the book there is the end battle. I think I could have done without Neverland. It felt like it added little really. The Lost Boys played no role further in the book and their initial reluctance was so easily swept to the side by asking nicely. And that is what I mean with no depth as mentioned in previous reviews of this series. I cannot believe any of that would have made the Lost Boys said yes because we barely touch the surface on so many elements and underlying tensions between characters. Tinkerbell for instance was barely dealt with at all.
There are just too many character point of views to adequately deal and add in depth with for the amount of pages. And without depth of the character nothing ever quite reached me on an emotional level. In Neverland we could have really delved into Pietro and his relationship with The Lost Boys, Hook, Wendy and Tinkerbell and Zach who still has to deal with his dad being Peter Pan. But we do not get any of that.
Adding on to that is that the author is trying to go for the epic battle for the end but it felt unbelievably flat. This and that is tossed in as twists. Characters you think are gone or dead are tossed back in. Everyone suddenly throws their lives on the line for each other. This person dies, that person dies. Almost everyone dies. Betrayal. The evil queen isn’t quite so evil. And then everything gets reverted at the end. One big happy ending. To say I was extremely frustrated with that ending would be an understatement.
I will say that I think The Order of the Bell trilogy is a nice quick in between read for those that like fairytale retellings in bulk like Once Upon a Time and The Tenth Kingdom if you adjust your expectations.
February 19, 2018
I waited for what seems like forever for the final installment in The Order of the Bell, and can I just say.... IT WAS WORTH EVERY SECOND WAITING. I loved this entire series, and now that I'm through, it is so bittersweet.
Enzo and gang take on the Ivory Queen herself in this action packed book. It was amazingly well written, and never a dull moment. When the characters were not actively fighting, they were busy planning or overcoming a mental or emotional obstacle that got in their way. Another thing I've really loved about Jacob Devlin's writing is his emphasis on relationships that are non romantic. Sure, there are a few of those, but the main focuses are more on friendships and familial relationships, and those are the ones that are usually not touched on enough.
The characters are developed from page 1 of The Carver, all the way to the last page of The Hummingbird, and I feel honored to have been with those characters throughout their journey. If you have not picked up The Carver, I highly recommend it. The series is amazing.
*I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. These are 100% my honest opinions*
Enzo and gang take on the Ivory Queen herself in this action packed book. It was amazingly well written, and never a dull moment. When the characters were not actively fighting, they were busy planning or overcoming a mental or emotional obstacle that got in their way. Another thing I've really loved about Jacob Devlin's writing is his emphasis on relationships that are non romantic. Sure, there are a few of those, but the main focuses are more on friendships and familial relationships, and those are the ones that are usually not touched on enough.
The characters are developed from page 1 of The Carver, all the way to the last page of The Hummingbird, and I feel honored to have been with those characters throughout their journey. If you have not picked up The Carver, I highly recommend it. The series is amazing.
*I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. These are 100% my honest opinions*
March 20, 2018
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, fantasy worlds, and evil witches)
Pages: 335
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blaze Publishing and I’m a rep for them. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: In the aftermath of the great battle that left Wonderland in ruins, Crescenzo DiLegno and his two best friends have reunited with their families in Florindale, but the war wages on in every kingdom. The Order of the Bell is scattered, presumably left to the mercy of Queen Avoria, whose grip on the New World grows tighter every day. Cities have already fallen, the shadows have spread, and a fortress of nightmares has appeared in the heart of New York City.
Determined to take back his home and restore order to the worlds, Crescenzo must rally all the people he's met from his adventures, from the troubled prince to the rebellious Lost Boys, and storm Avoria's castle of illusion. The Carver's war against the wicked Ivory Queen brews to an explosive finale, but dark secrets about her true nature have yet to emerge, and not everybody will be prepared to survive them.
Another conclusion to a much loved series and I had the feels yet again. The characters were richly developed and their struggles and emotions made me feel too. The pacing was well done and it didn’t feel like the story was too fast or too slow. In short it was an amazing ending for this amazing series.
However, I felt really confused throughout the book. There’s a ton of plot points in the book and it just feels overwhelming for the reader. I had to reread some parts in order to remember or make sense of what was happening in the book. I also feel that some of the world building could have been better. I didn’t feel like I knew the worlds I visited well enough and I’d like to know more about them and what they looked like.
Verdict: If you like Once Upon A Time then you’ll love this series!
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, fantasy worlds, and evil witches)
Pages: 335
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blaze Publishing and I’m a rep for them. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: In the aftermath of the great battle that left Wonderland in ruins, Crescenzo DiLegno and his two best friends have reunited with their families in Florindale, but the war wages on in every kingdom. The Order of the Bell is scattered, presumably left to the mercy of Queen Avoria, whose grip on the New World grows tighter every day. Cities have already fallen, the shadows have spread, and a fortress of nightmares has appeared in the heart of New York City.
Determined to take back his home and restore order to the worlds, Crescenzo must rally all the people he's met from his adventures, from the troubled prince to the rebellious Lost Boys, and storm Avoria's castle of illusion. The Carver's war against the wicked Ivory Queen brews to an explosive finale, but dark secrets about her true nature have yet to emerge, and not everybody will be prepared to survive them.
Another conclusion to a much loved series and I had the feels yet again. The characters were richly developed and their struggles and emotions made me feel too. The pacing was well done and it didn’t feel like the story was too fast or too slow. In short it was an amazing ending for this amazing series.
However, I felt really confused throughout the book. There’s a ton of plot points in the book and it just feels overwhelming for the reader. I had to reread some parts in order to remember or make sense of what was happening in the book. I also feel that some of the world building could have been better. I didn’t feel like I knew the worlds I visited well enough and I’d like to know more about them and what they looked like.
Verdict: If you like Once Upon A Time then you’ll love this series!
March 5, 2018
Overall for me, The Hummingbird was just an okay read not bad but lacking in the fairytale elements and descriptions I was hoping to find. It was however very fast paced and action filled so still a good read. For anyone who enjoys the TV series Once Upon a Time chances are you will like this book as I thought it had a similar vibe. Full disclosure I did not read the first two books in this series which may have impacted the way I felt about this book which is the conclusion to the series. I felt overwhelmed at parts by how many different sub-plots were taking place at the same time. This did make the story very fast paced and action filled but I felt like much was lost in connection and detail. My other gripe is keeping track of who’s who in the story was often difficult in many cases the characters names were changed slightly from their original fairytale names but in some cases such as that with Alice in Wonderland they were referred to by multiple names (Alice was called Alice but also Alicia) and I was forced to re-read or guess who was being referred to. I liked the idea of the main characters being children of the original fairytale characters but it left me wanting more fairytale elements and more detailed descriptions.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.*
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.*
March 31, 2018
In The Hummingbird, Jacob Delvin brings the magical worlds from famous fairy tales and story books to life with this thrilling, funny, and inspiring story. Pietro, Zack, Wendy, and Hook take Hook’s ship, the H.M.S. Hummingbird, to Neverland hoping to recruit the lost boys and save Neverland from the Dark, which is corrupting the land. Meanwhile, Rosanna, Crescenzo, and the Order of the Bell prepare for a final stand against Queen Avora in the new world, the world we live in. When a small group goes out to scout ahead, they capture Master Cherry (aka Robin Hood), who promises to help them defeat the Avora, the Queen. The story takes you through the Order’s shaky plan to stop the queen.
Opinion:
This is the third book in the Order of the Bell series, so I advise you read The Carver and The Unseen first. Overall, it was an amazing book and had a plot engaged you in the story. Many hours in the night I was reading this book, and it was perfect for long car rides. The characters were very easy to imagine so you could see them performing the words on the page. I give The Hummingbird five stars for being an incredible book.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer, Age 10
Opinion:
This is the third book in the Order of the Bell series, so I advise you read The Carver and The Unseen first. Overall, it was an amazing book and had a plot engaged you in the story. Many hours in the night I was reading this book, and it was perfect for long car rides. The characters were very easy to imagine so you could see them performing the words on the page. I give The Hummingbird five stars for being an incredible book.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer, Age 10
March 31, 2018
In The Hummingbird, Jacob Delvin brings the magical worlds from famous fairy tales and story books to life with this thrilling, funny, and inspiring story. Pietro, Zack, Wendy, and Hook take Hook’s ship, the H.M.S. Hummingbird, to Neverland hoping to recruit the lost boys and save Neverland from the Dark, which is corrupting the land. Meanwhile, Rosanna, Crescenzo, and the Order of the Bell prepare for a final stand against Queen Avora in the new world, the world we live in. When a small group goes out to scout ahead, they capture Master Cherry (aka Robin Hood), who promises to help them defeat the Avora, the Queen. The story takes you through the Order’s shaky plan to stop the queen.
Opinion:
This is the third book in the Order of the Bell series, so I advise you read The Carver and The Unseen first. Overall, it was an amazing book and had a plot engaged you in the story. Many hours in the night I was reading this book, and it was perfect for long car rides. The characters were very easy to imagine so you could see them performing the words on the page. I give The Hummingbird five stars for being an incredible book.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer, Age 10
Opinion:
This is the third book in the Order of the Bell series, so I advise you read The Carver and The Unseen first. Overall, it was an amazing book and had a plot engaged you in the story. Many hours in the night I was reading this book, and it was perfect for long car rides. The characters were very easy to imagine so you could see them performing the words on the page. I give The Hummingbird five stars for being an incredible book.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer, Age 10
April 24, 2023
The Hummingbird is a young adult fantasy novel and modern fairy tale adaptation and the final book in the Order of the Bell Trilogy. The story follows Enzo and his friends as they return to the New World (our world) for a final confrontation with Avoria. On arrival, they find New York trapped in a perpetual winter, with a massive citadel rising from the center of the city. They must fight their way to the fortress and ascend to the highest floor to defeat the evil queen and save all world’s from her tyranny.
The Hummingbird is a fun story full of fantastic peril. Enzo continues developing into a truly worthy leader. All characters involved, enemy and ally alike, are interesting individuals. Important decisions must be made, sacrifices performed, and fears must be conquered to defeat the evil queen in a truly epic finale.
Overall, The Hummingbird is an excellent story and a fantastic way to end the trilogy. Fans of fantasy and fairy tale adaptations will love this book and will be hoping to see Enzo and friends again.
The Hummingbird is a fun story full of fantastic peril. Enzo continues developing into a truly worthy leader. All characters involved, enemy and ally alike, are interesting individuals. Important decisions must be made, sacrifices performed, and fears must be conquered to defeat the evil queen in a truly epic finale.
Overall, The Hummingbird is an excellent story and a fantastic way to end the trilogy. Fans of fantasy and fairy tale adaptations will love this book and will be hoping to see Enzo and friends again.
April 28, 2024
The Hummingbird is by far my favorite. The Unseen had my favorite character, Matthew Haddinger, and I thought the story was great, but there was just something about the third and last book that had me even more captivated than the first two books. I loved how it grew intense by the end of the first chapter, how certain events that unfolded created a dull ache of sadness only a few books have managed, and how new characters appeared complicated. It is a bit predictable and there are a few spelling mistakes, but I would argue that that's a part of the books charm. Overall, I'm glad to have gone on this war-bound journey with the Carver - I'm happy with where the story finished its expedition!
March 30, 2018
Exciting conclusion to the series! The danger kicks off right at the start and remains steady throughout. Devlin added a lot of interesting spins on gadgets and armor that I really enjoyed. I really enjoyed the TWO reveals about the baddie. Very, very excellent. Devlin did such an amazing job depicting Hansel as a bad guy in book one, I would love to read something similar about !!!!
SPOILERS below!
SPOILERS below!
April 1, 2018
I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well I didnt realize that this was the last installment to the series so I was very confused. The writing was a bit difficult to keep up with as well.
Well I didnt realize that this was the last installment to the series so I was very confused. The writing was a bit difficult to keep up with as well.
May 7, 2018
Received an ARC copy for an honest review.
The final story in this series threw me through a wild mix of emotions from page to page. I laughed, I felt fear, and I felt a great deal of sadness. The characters in this book are easy to grow attached to and even easier to cheer on. I cared about their journey, their mission, and rooted for them every step of the way. Their connections felt genuine and when they felt fear over the potential to lose one another, you felt that fear just as deeply.
The copy I received had a few typos here and there, which threw me, but it didn’t pull me too far out of the book. However, as an aspiring editor they did make me raise my eyebrows. A few quick fixes, though, and the content would feel far more professional.
I admire Jacob Devlin’s ability to write for multiple main characters at one time. Too often I find the personalities of characters falling apart as I read through a scene where more than three characters are front and center. Characters like Mulan, Liam, Hansel, and Pietro stood out just as much as Enzo and Rosana did. That made the ability to connect to all of them far simpler. They aren’t perfect characters, but they are special in their own way.
For a young adult fantasy novel, based on fairytale characters we’ve all grown up loving, this book was pretty great. The level of writing isn’t anything to write home about, as I feel the author is still growing, but I wouldn’t have any issue recommending it to someone who loves fairytales.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews