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The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers #6
روز سرنوشت
بعد از شکست کاهیل ها در برابر وسپرها، ایمی و دن کاهیل با نقشه جدیدی به اتفاق دوستان دیگرشان مبارزه با وسپرها را از سر میگیرند. این بار قصد دارند ماشین قیامت را که وسپر یک برای نابودی دنیا ساخته از کار بیاندازند. البته این کار هزینه سنگینی برای همه شان دربردارد. آیا کاهیلها این بار میتوانند در برابر دشمنان قدیمی و سرسخت خود پیروز شوند؟
275 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2013
450 people are currently reading
7154 people want to read
About the author
David Baldacci
222 books123k followersDavid Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.”)
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 549 reviews
May 3, 2016
I feel like I’m being a bit generous with three stars here. This is definitely not the worst book I’ve ever read, but it is far from one of the best. There were sections here and there that I liked, but the overall lack of plot and obvious rush to wrap everything up dragged my rating down to three stars. It’s borderlining two stars, but I decided to round up like I usually do. I apologize for any spelling mistakes from here on out because I will be too caught up in my rant to really notice or care. Just a heads up :)
Moving on...I feel like over time, each author is slowly adding their little bits and pieces (preferences really) to try and make the characters more of their own. And personally, I hate it. This is the problem when a bunch of people get together to write a series...it becomes inconsistent and the plot starts turning every which way. I’m not blaming the authors, I know that everybody has a different writing style, but us readers as suffering because of it. Let’s look a bit closer at each character and you’ll see what I mean. HUGE SPOILERS UP AHEAD!!!
Amy: By far, my favorite character, or at least, she was. Not sure about how I feel about her now after reading Day of Doom...thanks a bunch Baldacci. She starts off in book one as an extremely shy but smart and sensible girl (as well as being very prone to blushing). Okay, cool. Fast forward, and she’s lovestruck, then betrayed which makes her stronger in the end. Nice, I respect that and honestly, that just made her character so much better because it showed that she wasn’t going to let a crush stand in her way. Her forgiving side shows up again and again which shows the human in her: the ability to put lives in front of old grudges. It’s really near the end of second series that I start to get annoyed. Evan (who I see almost as a plot device) shows up, and even though I’m not a huge fan of Evan, their relationship is pretty genuine. But guess what? They can’t just leave them be, nope, they have to squish somebody else in to make yet another infamous love triangle! Thus: Jake is created. Technically, Amy cheated on Evan more than once with Jake which frustrates me to no end. Amy’s got more morals than everybody else put together, so WHAT IS THIS?!? Get a grip, Amy! Throughout Day of Doom, I felt like gagging several times, starting from the point where Amy is all like “He was so hot! And smart! And hot!” Okay, Amy...we get it already...Jake’s hot. What happened to Evan, hmmmm? As I was reading this I felt like pulling my hair out. Baldacci, you took this researching bookworm leader who goes to great lengths to save her family into this stereotypical teenager who’s on the brink of melting into a puddle every time she even sees Jake. Please. I’m sorry, but you’re completely messing with the image of a tough girl who can actually make decisions. Not all girls stare out of their window all day thinking about “hot” guys, thank you very much. I’m going to leave Amy for now before I do some drastic like throw this book out of my window (especially since this isn’t my book and my friend would murder me if I did harm it in any way).
Dan: At the beginning of the book, where we left him about to drink the serum, it’s very dark. You can see that he’s matured way too quickly and has turned to depending on himself rather than his family in this fight. Dan’s evidently older and it scared me a bit...until Baldacci starts making references about turning green and how Amy swapped the serum for some concoction of beets, brussel sprouts and collard greens. Really? REALLY? She just took it and dumped it down the drain? Hello? I would have liked to maybe have seen an inner struggle for Amy not to drink the serum herself which is realistic. What human being never fantasizes about being so powerful? Not many, that’s for sure and I don’t think that Amy’s one of them. Baldacci just completely oversimplifies things here. This disappointment partially disappeared when he reveals that Dan has more of the serum...but it wasn’t good enough. Sorry. Throughout the rest of the book, you can see a little bit of Dan’s connection with Atticus and a bit of sibling love between him and Amy, but other than that...nada. It’s filled with his thoughts about how lovesick Jake looks, how disgusting Amy and Jake are when they look at each other, how he has a duty as a little brother to make fun of Amy, how much of a puppy dog Jake is, how he won’t let love take over him like that, and did I mention how much he hates Jake and Amy together? Yeah. Well, I found that extremely unfair. They’re most likely about to die and that’s the only thing he can think about? Dan’s condescending towards Atticus (like with the lightning) which reflects none of his earlier total trust. Ugh, Dan’s character wasn’t as messed up as Amy’s, but it was still pretty bad. And I hate how everything is resolved in the end with Dan not even regretting that he didn’t use the serum! It’s like he’s not even affected by Natalie and Evan’s deaths! Sure, they weren’t his favorite people in the world, but they fought side by side to the end. So, Dan not showing any emotion was not right and not Dan. Not at all.
Jake: SNAP OUT OF IT! You’re so caught up in Amy that your mind is blanking and you forget about your own brother. Great show of character right there...and your “confession” to Amy made me want to barf, btw. And after that confession? YOU ARE ON A TRAIN RIGHT NEXT TO ISABEL KABRA, THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO END, EVERYTHING’S FALLING APART AND THE ONLY THING YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS THAT YOU CAN’T WIN SOMETIMES JUST BECAUSE AMY IS PUTTING HER FAMILY IN FRONT OF A KISS FROM YOU? STOP BEING SO SELFISH!!!! Whew, I had to get that out of my system. Sure, maybe Jake’s cute and smart (or maybe even hot like Amy says) but his lack of judgment and timing never ceases to amaze me.
Atticus: Baldacci, what have you done to the kid genius? It was like he wasn’t even there in this book! You cast him aside and made other people have the revelations and make the breakthroughs. *sigh* Since he wasn’t really there most of the time, I don’t have much to complain about but still...I’m annoyed.
And then on page 217:
Jake said, “It’s a door. First one we’ve seen.”
“It’s a big door,” added Atticus...
ATTICUS!!! Your genius is showing here...a “big” door? Wow, Baldacci, that’s the most intelligent comment you could give Atticus in this situation?
Nellie: What’s up with her? No “kiddo” greeting? No complaints about food? Either being a hostage has totally broken her entire personality...or another character has been messed with. Again.
Fiske: Whoaaaa...hold up. Since when is Fiske some bad-ass “old fart” who acts like he’s straight out of some old black-and-white action film? His whole sarcasm/hold your head up high thing would be completely admirable...if he was about 40 years younger and had this attitude from the beginning. Sorry, I don’t do well with total personality changes.
Sinead: *groan* Coming back from the bad side? How many more pathetic excuses will these characters be fed? I understand that they have a strong triplet bond and such, but going to the Vespers and getting your brother captured and held hostage and then getting them both almost killed isn’t exactly sisterly love either. Sinead can think for herself! And then when she shoots that guy on the train...even though it was an accident, I can’t believe that she didn’t feel any remorse. Maybe her time with the Vespers really changed her, but I doubt that. It’s more likely that it was just yet another inconsistency in this book.
Isabel Kabra: Isabel at the end of this book just made me want to kick myself. While I would have liked any other character’s motherly side to have come out...that’s so not Isabel. She’s supposed to be ruthless. She already disowned them and has double-crossed them more times than I have fingers and toes! But no, Baldacci has to go and make her “sensitive” side (which she doesn’t even have) come out at the death of her daughter who she already was planning on killing...contradictory much? I honestly loved the whole idea of no trust between the Vespers and the tension between Isabel and Damien. The whole “only looking out for yourself” thing really caught my interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead anywhere. Plus, Isabel then took down Damien because of Natalie...not very Vesperish of her. It had so much potential, I was thinking that it was going to be crucial in the end, but surprise, surprise, it wasn’t. Sacrificing for the greater good is not in Isabel Kabra’s agenda...ever. Her whole bad guy reputation was ruined! Just horrible. It was bad enough that he did it with Sinead, but I could have lived with that. You don’t mess with Isabel Kabra.
Natalie: She was not done justice. Her death was pathetic. Natalie Kabra should not go down electrocuted. Natalie Kabra, fashionista, would go down kicking and screaming (as well as threatening to sue between screams) if at all possible. She’s the one who would turn on you and stick a needle full of deadly poison in your back. I realize that she isn’t very popular with most readers due to her stuck up personality, but I felt like her character was one of the most genuine. She’s a teenager and has been pampered all of her life, raised under Isabel. How unrealistic would it be if she turned out to be some charity-giving, kind girl? Terribly unrealistic. However, several times, you can see her mask cracking to reveal an actually quite naïve, insecure person who hides behind her poisons and attitude. So actually, personally, I love Natalie. And she didn’t deserve to go down like that.
Ian: Ian is slowly dropping down my list of favorite characters, but his obvious concern for his sister was actually one of the highlights of this book. Here we have two siblings, so alike and yet, never realized how far apart they were until they were actually separated. He’s no longer that arrogant jerk that we met early on. A lot of people have changed him for the better and I love that he can escape his controlling mother (while still scheming like a true Lucian) to fight for what’s harder (but right). One of the redeeming bits of this book in my opinion.
Holts: They are not fighting machines. Period. They’ve got hearts, feelings and are some of the most stubborn (but kind as well if you look hard enough) people ever and yet...in this book, they’re reduced to mere bodies programmed to fight. Just stop.
Evan: His death...was so obvious. Can’t let him get in the way of Jake and Amy, can we. Another totally “Jane Eyre” unnecessary death to get rid of a character once the love triangle is exhausted. Truth be told, Evan was never one of my favorite characters, but his death wasn’t heroic or for anything other than “love.” Nobody even realized that he was shot! All I’m saying is that he became a completely neglected character and was pushed aside until he was needed to die. Why, why, why? Couldn’t anybody come up with an alternate solution to just killing him off??
Wizards: Umm...I’d just like to point out that there is no way Jonah’s voice is that horrible if he’s an international popstar...just saying. They’re honestly acting like cranky little kids around him. Jonah’s just trying to boost the mood a bit and they’re just reacting as if he asked them to eat moldy cheese or something. Sure, they have the right to complain a little, but again, it’s not in their character to really do so.
Just as a side note...who says or spells “Oh my god” like Ohmigod. Like...honestly? Baldacci’s trying to hard to imitate “teenager speak” but it’s not working.
The whole thing at the end with Amy seeing everyone who had died? Bleh. They’re Cahills. I’m sorry, but their history hasn’t really been sugar and butterflies, so why are you trying to make it all happy now?
Baldacci brushes through everything, dusting his hands of this whole business at the end. Honestly, I owe Baldacci a huge apology. I’ve been bashing on him since the beginning of the book and he doesn’t really deserve a lot of it. Point blank: had this been his book and his book alone, I wouldn’t have done that. It’s the fact that the characters are out of character (no pun intended) in a book that’s ending a second series that really drives me mad.
With that in mind, why do they even need a third series? I hope that it doesn’t keep going downhill from here, because while I will continue to read the books, I will definitely not be the happiest person ever (which will most likely lead to more four page long rants, oops I mean reviews).
So yeah, there you have it, my thoughts in a nutshell.
*EDIT*
This was bugging me as well, so I'm going to add it in:
Vesper One: His "reveal" was terribly anti-climatic. He wasn't anybody we had really been introduced to before in any detail. He showed up for a few pages and was dead by the end. Really? That's the infamous Vesper One? I was so disappointed. If you're expecting some mad genius villain like I was, prepare to be let down.
So, Vesper One was thwarted by his own plans. Vesper Two turned good and sacrificed herself over a dead daughter whom she was going to kill anyways. Vesper Three's over on the good side now as well...seems like the council's falling to pieces...wonder what they'll come up with for the third series as it seems that there are no bad guys remaining...
**EDIT (again)**
What. Is. This. I just read this (it's a part of David Baldacci's bio on Goodreads):
"David has recently written Day of Doom, part of the 39 Clues series, his addition only adding to the already renowned group of authors part of the series."
Adding to the series...right. Somebody has obviously not been reading these reviews...hint hint
Moving on...I feel like over time, each author is slowly adding their little bits and pieces (preferences really) to try and make the characters more of their own. And personally, I hate it. This is the problem when a bunch of people get together to write a series...it becomes inconsistent and the plot starts turning every which way. I’m not blaming the authors, I know that everybody has a different writing style, but us readers as suffering because of it. Let’s look a bit closer at each character and you’ll see what I mean. HUGE SPOILERS UP AHEAD!!!
Amy: By far, my favorite character, or at least, she was. Not sure about how I feel about her now after reading Day of Doom...thanks a bunch Baldacci. She starts off in book one as an extremely shy but smart and sensible girl (as well as being very prone to blushing). Okay, cool. Fast forward, and she’s lovestruck, then betrayed which makes her stronger in the end. Nice, I respect that and honestly, that just made her character so much better because it showed that she wasn’t going to let a crush stand in her way. Her forgiving side shows up again and again which shows the human in her: the ability to put lives in front of old grudges. It’s really near the end of second series that I start to get annoyed. Evan (who I see almost as a plot device) shows up, and even though I’m not a huge fan of Evan, their relationship is pretty genuine. But guess what? They can’t just leave them be, nope, they have to squish somebody else in to make yet another infamous love triangle! Thus: Jake is created. Technically, Amy cheated on Evan more than once with Jake which frustrates me to no end. Amy’s got more morals than everybody else put together, so WHAT IS THIS?!? Get a grip, Amy! Throughout Day of Doom, I felt like gagging several times, starting from the point where Amy is all like “He was so hot! And smart! And hot!” Okay, Amy...we get it already...Jake’s hot. What happened to Evan, hmmmm? As I was reading this I felt like pulling my hair out. Baldacci, you took this researching bookworm leader who goes to great lengths to save her family into this stereotypical teenager who’s on the brink of melting into a puddle every time she even sees Jake. Please. I’m sorry, but you’re completely messing with the image of a tough girl who can actually make decisions. Not all girls stare out of their window all day thinking about “hot” guys, thank you very much. I’m going to leave Amy for now before I do some drastic like throw this book out of my window (especially since this isn’t my book and my friend would murder me if I did harm it in any way).
Dan: At the beginning of the book, where we left him about to drink the serum, it’s very dark. You can see that he’s matured way too quickly and has turned to depending on himself rather than his family in this fight. Dan’s evidently older and it scared me a bit...until Baldacci starts making references about turning green and how Amy swapped the serum for some concoction of beets, brussel sprouts and collard greens. Really? REALLY? She just took it and dumped it down the drain? Hello? I would have liked to maybe have seen an inner struggle for Amy not to drink the serum herself which is realistic. What human being never fantasizes about being so powerful? Not many, that’s for sure and I don’t think that Amy’s one of them. Baldacci just completely oversimplifies things here. This disappointment partially disappeared when he reveals that Dan has more of the serum...but it wasn’t good enough. Sorry. Throughout the rest of the book, you can see a little bit of Dan’s connection with Atticus and a bit of sibling love between him and Amy, but other than that...nada. It’s filled with his thoughts about how lovesick Jake looks, how disgusting Amy and Jake are when they look at each other, how he has a duty as a little brother to make fun of Amy, how much of a puppy dog Jake is, how he won’t let love take over him like that, and did I mention how much he hates Jake and Amy together? Yeah. Well, I found that extremely unfair. They’re most likely about to die and that’s the only thing he can think about? Dan’s condescending towards Atticus (like with the lightning) which reflects none of his earlier total trust. Ugh, Dan’s character wasn’t as messed up as Amy’s, but it was still pretty bad. And I hate how everything is resolved in the end with Dan not even regretting that he didn’t use the serum! It’s like he’s not even affected by Natalie and Evan’s deaths! Sure, they weren’t his favorite people in the world, but they fought side by side to the end. So, Dan not showing any emotion was not right and not Dan. Not at all.
Jake: SNAP OUT OF IT! You’re so caught up in Amy that your mind is blanking and you forget about your own brother. Great show of character right there...and your “confession” to Amy made me want to barf, btw. And after that confession? YOU ARE ON A TRAIN RIGHT NEXT TO ISABEL KABRA, THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO END, EVERYTHING’S FALLING APART AND THE ONLY THING YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS THAT YOU CAN’T WIN SOMETIMES JUST BECAUSE AMY IS PUTTING HER FAMILY IN FRONT OF A KISS FROM YOU? STOP BEING SO SELFISH!!!! Whew, I had to get that out of my system. Sure, maybe Jake’s cute and smart (or maybe even hot like Amy says) but his lack of judgment and timing never ceases to amaze me.
Atticus: Baldacci, what have you done to the kid genius? It was like he wasn’t even there in this book! You cast him aside and made other people have the revelations and make the breakthroughs. *sigh* Since he wasn’t really there most of the time, I don’t have much to complain about but still...I’m annoyed.
And then on page 217:
Jake said, “It’s a door. First one we’ve seen.”
“It’s a big door,” added Atticus...
ATTICUS!!! Your genius is showing here...a “big” door? Wow, Baldacci, that’s the most intelligent comment you could give Atticus in this situation?
Nellie: What’s up with her? No “kiddo” greeting? No complaints about food? Either being a hostage has totally broken her entire personality...or another character has been messed with. Again.
Fiske: Whoaaaa...hold up. Since when is Fiske some bad-ass “old fart” who acts like he’s straight out of some old black-and-white action film? His whole sarcasm/hold your head up high thing would be completely admirable...if he was about 40 years younger and had this attitude from the beginning. Sorry, I don’t do well with total personality changes.
Sinead: *groan* Coming back from the bad side? How many more pathetic excuses will these characters be fed? I understand that they have a strong triplet bond and such, but going to the Vespers and getting your brother captured and held hostage and then getting them both almost killed isn’t exactly sisterly love either. Sinead can think for herself! And then when she shoots that guy on the train...even though it was an accident, I can’t believe that she didn’t feel any remorse. Maybe her time with the Vespers really changed her, but I doubt that. It’s more likely that it was just yet another inconsistency in this book.
Isabel Kabra: Isabel at the end of this book just made me want to kick myself. While I would have liked any other character’s motherly side to have come out...that’s so not Isabel. She’s supposed to be ruthless. She already disowned them and has double-crossed them more times than I have fingers and toes! But no, Baldacci has to go and make her “sensitive” side (which she doesn’t even have) come out at the death of her daughter who she already was planning on killing...contradictory much? I honestly loved the whole idea of no trust between the Vespers and the tension between Isabel and Damien. The whole “only looking out for yourself” thing really caught my interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead anywhere. Plus, Isabel then took down Damien because of Natalie...not very Vesperish of her. It had so much potential, I was thinking that it was going to be crucial in the end, but surprise, surprise, it wasn’t. Sacrificing for the greater good is not in Isabel Kabra’s agenda...ever. Her whole bad guy reputation was ruined! Just horrible. It was bad enough that he did it with Sinead, but I could have lived with that. You don’t mess with Isabel Kabra.
Natalie: She was not done justice. Her death was pathetic. Natalie Kabra should not go down electrocuted. Natalie Kabra, fashionista, would go down kicking and screaming (as well as threatening to sue between screams) if at all possible. She’s the one who would turn on you and stick a needle full of deadly poison in your back. I realize that she isn’t very popular with most readers due to her stuck up personality, but I felt like her character was one of the most genuine. She’s a teenager and has been pampered all of her life, raised under Isabel. How unrealistic would it be if she turned out to be some charity-giving, kind girl? Terribly unrealistic. However, several times, you can see her mask cracking to reveal an actually quite naïve, insecure person who hides behind her poisons and attitude. So actually, personally, I love Natalie. And she didn’t deserve to go down like that.
Ian: Ian is slowly dropping down my list of favorite characters, but his obvious concern for his sister was actually one of the highlights of this book. Here we have two siblings, so alike and yet, never realized how far apart they were until they were actually separated. He’s no longer that arrogant jerk that we met early on. A lot of people have changed him for the better and I love that he can escape his controlling mother (while still scheming like a true Lucian) to fight for what’s harder (but right). One of the redeeming bits of this book in my opinion.
Holts: They are not fighting machines. Period. They’ve got hearts, feelings and are some of the most stubborn (but kind as well if you look hard enough) people ever and yet...in this book, they’re reduced to mere bodies programmed to fight. Just stop.
Evan: His death...was so obvious. Can’t let him get in the way of Jake and Amy, can we. Another totally “Jane Eyre” unnecessary death to get rid of a character once the love triangle is exhausted. Truth be told, Evan was never one of my favorite characters, but his death wasn’t heroic or for anything other than “love.” Nobody even realized that he was shot! All I’m saying is that he became a completely neglected character and was pushed aside until he was needed to die. Why, why, why? Couldn’t anybody come up with an alternate solution to just killing him off??
Wizards: Umm...I’d just like to point out that there is no way Jonah’s voice is that horrible if he’s an international popstar...just saying. They’re honestly acting like cranky little kids around him. Jonah’s just trying to boost the mood a bit and they’re just reacting as if he asked them to eat moldy cheese or something. Sure, they have the right to complain a little, but again, it’s not in their character to really do so.
Just as a side note...who says or spells “Oh my god” like Ohmigod. Like...honestly? Baldacci’s trying to hard to imitate “teenager speak” but it’s not working.
The whole thing at the end with Amy seeing everyone who had died? Bleh. They’re Cahills. I’m sorry, but their history hasn’t really been sugar and butterflies, so why are you trying to make it all happy now?
Baldacci brushes through everything, dusting his hands of this whole business at the end. Honestly, I owe Baldacci a huge apology. I’ve been bashing on him since the beginning of the book and he doesn’t really deserve a lot of it. Point blank: had this been his book and his book alone, I wouldn’t have done that. It’s the fact that the characters are out of character (no pun intended) in a book that’s ending a second series that really drives me mad.
With that in mind, why do they even need a third series? I hope that it doesn’t keep going downhill from here, because while I will continue to read the books, I will definitely not be the happiest person ever (which will most likely lead to more four page long rants, oops I mean reviews).
So yeah, there you have it, my thoughts in a nutshell.
*EDIT*
This was bugging me as well, so I'm going to add it in:
Vesper One: His "reveal" was terribly anti-climatic. He wasn't anybody we had really been introduced to before in any detail. He showed up for a few pages and was dead by the end. Really? That's the infamous Vesper One? I was so disappointed. If you're expecting some mad genius villain like I was, prepare to be let down.
So, Vesper One was thwarted by his own plans. Vesper Two turned good and sacrificed herself over a dead daughter whom she was going to kill anyways. Vesper Three's over on the good side now as well...seems like the council's falling to pieces...wonder what they'll come up with for the third series as it seems that there are no bad guys remaining...
**EDIT (again)**
What. Is. This. I just read this (it's a part of David Baldacci's bio on Goodreads):
"David has recently written Day of Doom, part of the 39 Clues series, his addition only adding to the already renowned group of authors part of the series."
Adding to the series...right. Somebody has obviously not been reading these reviews...hint hint
August 28, 2015
If you are a reader coming fresh off the first 39 Clues series and you're thinking of reading the follow-up, Cahills vs. Vespers, here's a helpful piece of advice for you that, trust me, comes straight from my heart:
DON'T.
If you were only a casual fan of 39 Clues, then don't read this series because it just has more of what you probably didn't like about 39 C--inconsistent characters and wild plot changes. If you loved the 39 Clues series, you might be tempted to read the next series just because you were such a big fan. Believe me, that's an even BIGGER reason not to read this one. Pretty much all the things I, and probably you, liked about the first series have been falling apart throughout C vs. V.
I've just finished reading Day of Doom, and since finishing it, I've been growing more and more depressed. Although I wasn't a big fan of the earlier books in this series, I had hoped that DoD would redeem the others. Guess what? It failed! Miserably! Characters I had adored in the first series were twisted beyond recognition. The book was full of anticlimactic, abrupt plot twists. The whole thing was just a major disappointment.
If that hasn't convinced you NOT to read the Cahills vs. Vespers series--what can I say? I guess you've got the disappointment and depression coming to you. If I HAVE convinced you--you most definitely won't regret it.
Now onto some ranting. (If you ignored my well-meaning advice, don't read the rest of this review, because there are going to be spoilers.) I'm going to actually number the most frustrating things for me, just to make it easier, because there's a LOT to rant about.
*MAJOR SPOILERS*
1. The freaking love triangle between Amy, Jake, and Evan. This again displays some of those character inaccuracies I was talking about. For example, who would think that Amy Cahill would CHEAT ON HER BOYFRIEND????!! NOT ME, THAT'S FOR SURE!!! Actually, Amy has had so many crushes over the two series--Ian, Kurt (if that was his name, he sort of disappeared), Evan, and now Jake--but I would never have expected her to behave so horribly. I didn't like her boyfriend, Evan, but the fact that she cheated on him w/ Jake is despicable. When Jake up and declared "love" for her, I almost barfed. Also, the fact that Baldacci killed off Evan to resolve the triangle is utterly pathetic.
2. Isabel Kabra suddenly becoming a caring mother. Okay, so first she's this evil psycho mother who shoots her own children, right? She lies, cheats, and manipulates people, right? Well--wait, where the heck did all that awesomely villainous stuff go? David Baldacci tossed it out the window!! *pauses to shake first at David Baldacci* During the first part of the book, she was pretty evil, which was fine with me. The part about her being Vesper 2 was a bit out of the blue, but I was willing to put up with it. Then....her daughter, Natalie (who, by the way, Isabel shot in the foot once) electrocutes herself--Isabel actually feels LOVE for her daughter (who, by the way, she shot in the foot)--drinks the serum that Dan Cahill had prepared--kills Vesper 1 to avenge her daughter's death (WHO, BY THE WAY, SHE ONCE SHOT IN COLD BLOOD)--and sacrifices herself, for heaven's sake, ripping apart the doomsday machine. Please, does Isabel Kabra seem like the sort of person to sacrifice herself for the greater good?
3. The doomsday machine. What--?? ?? ???!!! asfklafjlsdfs Total fail!! The only POSSIBLE hint before this book that a machine to destroy the world existed was the little gear that Amy had. Aside from that, the machine was just a ridiculous way to raise the stakes. I imagine that Mr. Baldacci was thinking, "Hmm, how can I make the series go out with a bang? I know, I'll invent a machine that can flood Lake Michigan, wipe out Chicago, and turn the sky purple!"
4. The untimely deaths of Evan, Amy's sort-of-ex-boyfriend, and Natalie Kabra, may they rest in peace. *moment of silence for Evan and Natalie* So......WHY, DAVID FREAKING BALDACCI?????!!???!!?!!?!!!?!?!?!?!?!??! Evan I was not majorly fond of, but you do NOT KILL A CHARACTER MERELY TO RESOLVE A LOVE TRIANGLE!!!! You hear?? Repeat after me: No. Killing. To. Resolve. Love. Triangles. It's lazy and borders on cheating. Plus, he had parents, didn't he? No explanation as to what Amy and Dan told them about his death. And Natalie....oh, poor, poor Natalie. Natalie, David Baldacci apparently didn't care about you, but I DO! I think you were a GREAT character before series 2 got to you!!! And it's just not fair that you got electrocuted just after you were reunited with your brother Ian and that your death was just glossed over!! *sobs and hugs Natalie* Wait--she probably wouldn't like me hugging her, I'd wrinkle her designer clothes or something. *refrains from hugging Natalie* Seriously, Natalie was a little witch sometimes, but--but--she was one of the main characters! She was a Kabra, for heaven's sake! You can't just kill off a Kabra! She was AWESOME! YOU CAN'T JUST KILL NATALIE!!!
5. Ian. He gets a section to himself because he was such an awesome character in series 1 and plus his sister died, so I feel sorry for him. Okay, Ian....gosh, where to start? You poor guy. Of all the characters that were twisted, his was probably the worst. During the worst part of his character-morph, he would shriek at the sight of a cat. Everyone even forgot that he smelled like cloves in the first book. *sniffles forlornly* Shockingly, David Baldacci actually managed to redeem him in this book and he was almost back to the smooth, suave, slightly scary Kabra that he was in Series 1, and was back on my Absolute Favorite Characters Ever list. But then his sister died. Will he ever recover, I wonder? You poor, poor guy.
6. The ending. After Isabel destroys the machine, Amy is knocked on the head with a big chunk of rock and is miraculously transported to heaven, or wherever, where she talks with her dead grandmother and Evan (who I'm starting to like more and more--it's not his fault he got such a crappy ending and girlfriend), sees Alastair (who also died, I forgot to mention, and his death was also tossed aside), and witnesses Isabel and Natalie Kabra walking hand in freaking hand. (May I say, one more time, that Isabel SHOT HER DAUGHTER IN THE FOOT? And was planning to kill her, too??!) I'm not kidding you. This nauseating scene actually happened. And then Amy wakes up to discover that she's back in her own room with Dan standing over her. Dan informs her that she was knocked unconscious by previously mentioned big chunk of rock and has been brought back home. Amy doesn't remember any of this, and so David Baldacci is conveniently spared the bother of having to write any scenes explaining how everyone got home. Then Amy gets up, goes downstairs, is reunited with everybody in a happy, fluffy ending, and there--it's done. The book is done. Send it off to the publishers, slap a cover on it to disguise the crap within, and finally make lots of money selling said crap.
7. They're making another series? HAHAHAHAHAHA, good one! That's hilarious, really, absolutely hysteri--wait, you weren't joking? *facepalm*
Will I read the next series? Who knows? Perhaps, if I can find it easily. If I do, though, the only reason will be to read more about Ian, and see how he copes. Personally, I think he and Sinead should be a couple, since Amy no longer deserves him.
*END SPOILERS*
Baldacci didn't totally mutilate the book. It actually started off pretty well, and there was a lot of the immature humor that was in Series 1--but then everything went downhill. I'm glad I wrote this rant, though, because I don't feel as depressed as when I started, though.
And finally, if you've made it to the end, check out Jessica's review, which is just plain awesome and sums up most everything I felt about this book perfectly.
End rant.
DON'T.
If you were only a casual fan of 39 Clues, then don't read this series because it just has more of what you probably didn't like about 39 C--inconsistent characters and wild plot changes. If you loved the 39 Clues series, you might be tempted to read the next series just because you were such a big fan. Believe me, that's an even BIGGER reason not to read this one. Pretty much all the things I, and probably you, liked about the first series have been falling apart throughout C vs. V.
I've just finished reading Day of Doom, and since finishing it, I've been growing more and more depressed. Although I wasn't a big fan of the earlier books in this series, I had hoped that DoD would redeem the others. Guess what? It failed! Miserably! Characters I had adored in the first series were twisted beyond recognition. The book was full of anticlimactic, abrupt plot twists. The whole thing was just a major disappointment.
If that hasn't convinced you NOT to read the Cahills vs. Vespers series--what can I say? I guess you've got the disappointment and depression coming to you. If I HAVE convinced you--you most definitely won't regret it.
Now onto some ranting. (If you ignored my well-meaning advice, don't read the rest of this review, because there are going to be spoilers.) I'm going to actually number the most frustrating things for me, just to make it easier, because there's a LOT to rant about.
*MAJOR SPOILERS*
1. The freaking love triangle between Amy, Jake, and Evan. This again displays some of those character inaccuracies I was talking about. For example, who would think that Amy Cahill would CHEAT ON HER BOYFRIEND????!! NOT ME, THAT'S FOR SURE!!! Actually, Amy has had so many crushes over the two series--Ian, Kurt (if that was his name, he sort of disappeared), Evan, and now Jake--but I would never have expected her to behave so horribly. I didn't like her boyfriend, Evan, but the fact that she cheated on him w/ Jake is despicable. When Jake up and declared "love" for her, I almost barfed. Also, the fact that Baldacci killed off Evan to resolve the triangle is utterly pathetic.
2. Isabel Kabra suddenly becoming a caring mother. Okay, so first she's this evil psycho mother who shoots her own children, right? She lies, cheats, and manipulates people, right? Well--wait, where the heck did all that awesomely villainous stuff go? David Baldacci tossed it out the window!! *pauses to shake first at David Baldacci* During the first part of the book, she was pretty evil, which was fine with me. The part about her being Vesper 2 was a bit out of the blue, but I was willing to put up with it. Then....her daughter, Natalie (who, by the way, Isabel shot in the foot once) electrocutes herself--Isabel actually feels LOVE for her daughter (who, by the way, she shot in the foot)--drinks the serum that Dan Cahill had prepared--kills Vesper 1 to avenge her daughter's death (WHO, BY THE WAY, SHE ONCE SHOT IN COLD BLOOD)--and sacrifices herself, for heaven's sake, ripping apart the doomsday machine. Please, does Isabel Kabra seem like the sort of person to sacrifice herself for the greater good?
3. The doomsday machine. What--?? ?? ???!!! asfklafjlsdfs Total fail!! The only POSSIBLE hint before this book that a machine to destroy the world existed was the little gear that Amy had. Aside from that, the machine was just a ridiculous way to raise the stakes. I imagine that Mr. Baldacci was thinking, "Hmm, how can I make the series go out with a bang? I know, I'll invent a machine that can flood Lake Michigan, wipe out Chicago, and turn the sky purple!"
4. The untimely deaths of Evan, Amy's sort-of-ex-boyfriend, and Natalie Kabra, may they rest in peace. *moment of silence for Evan and Natalie* So......WHY, DAVID FREAKING BALDACCI?????!!???!!?!!?!!!?!?!?!?!?!??! Evan I was not majorly fond of, but you do NOT KILL A CHARACTER MERELY TO RESOLVE A LOVE TRIANGLE!!!! You hear?? Repeat after me: No. Killing. To. Resolve. Love. Triangles. It's lazy and borders on cheating. Plus, he had parents, didn't he? No explanation as to what Amy and Dan told them about his death. And Natalie....oh, poor, poor Natalie. Natalie, David Baldacci apparently didn't care about you, but I DO! I think you were a GREAT character before series 2 got to you!!! And it's just not fair that you got electrocuted just after you were reunited with your brother Ian and that your death was just glossed over!! *sobs and hugs Natalie* Wait--she probably wouldn't like me hugging her, I'd wrinkle her designer clothes or something. *refrains from hugging Natalie* Seriously, Natalie was a little witch sometimes, but--but--she was one of the main characters! She was a Kabra, for heaven's sake! You can't just kill off a Kabra! She was AWESOME! YOU CAN'T JUST KILL NATALIE!!!
5. Ian. He gets a section to himself because he was such an awesome character in series 1 and plus his sister died, so I feel sorry for him. Okay, Ian....gosh, where to start? You poor guy. Of all the characters that were twisted, his was probably the worst. During the worst part of his character-morph, he would shriek at the sight of a cat. Everyone even forgot that he smelled like cloves in the first book. *sniffles forlornly* Shockingly, David Baldacci actually managed to redeem him in this book and he was almost back to the smooth, suave, slightly scary Kabra that he was in Series 1, and was back on my Absolute Favorite Characters Ever list. But then his sister died. Will he ever recover, I wonder? You poor, poor guy.
6. The ending. After Isabel destroys the machine, Amy is knocked on the head with a big chunk of rock and is miraculously transported to heaven, or wherever, where she talks with her dead grandmother and Evan (who I'm starting to like more and more--it's not his fault he got such a crappy ending and girlfriend), sees Alastair (who also died, I forgot to mention, and his death was also tossed aside), and witnesses Isabel and Natalie Kabra walking hand in freaking hand. (May I say, one more time, that Isabel SHOT HER DAUGHTER IN THE FOOT? And was planning to kill her, too??!) I'm not kidding you. This nauseating scene actually happened. And then Amy wakes up to discover that she's back in her own room with Dan standing over her. Dan informs her that she was knocked unconscious by previously mentioned big chunk of rock and has been brought back home. Amy doesn't remember any of this, and so David Baldacci is conveniently spared the bother of having to write any scenes explaining how everyone got home. Then Amy gets up, goes downstairs, is reunited with everybody in a happy, fluffy ending, and there--it's done. The book is done. Send it off to the publishers, slap a cover on it to disguise the crap within, and finally make lots of money selling said crap.
7. They're making another series? HAHAHAHAHAHA, good one! That's hilarious, really, absolutely hysteri--wait, you weren't joking? *facepalm*
Will I read the next series? Who knows? Perhaps, if I can find it easily. If I do, though, the only reason will be to read more about Ian, and see how he copes. Personally, I think he and Sinead should be a couple, since Amy no longer deserves him.
*END SPOILERS*
Baldacci didn't totally mutilate the book. It actually started off pretty well, and there was a lot of the immature humor that was in Series 1--but then everything went downhill. I'm glad I wrote this rant, though, because I don't feel as depressed as when I started, though.
And finally, if you've made it to the end, check out Jessica's review, which is just plain awesome and sums up most everything I felt about this book perfectly.
End rant.
June 5, 2013
If you really enjoyed this book, you probably want to stop reading now because I am going to rant. I hated it so much.
All of the dialogue felt forced and the characters fell flat. I love this series, I really do, but when they pick authors, they need to get decent ones. I had to force myself not to put it down, it was that bad. If the dialogue and characters weren't bad enough, there wasn't even a decent plot line. It was extremely predictable and it changed some of the things I loved in the books leading up to it. The whole book made me sick.
The romance in it was awful. I couldn't believe it, David Baldacci Evan just because he wanted Amy to be with Jake. He didn't even write in any doubts about her kissing Jake even though she was dating SOMEONE ELSE at the time! The romance in this book between Amy and Jake was so obvious from the beginning that I (like Dan every time they started getting goo-goo eyed at each other) wanted to throw up. She and Jake just randomly started confessing their love for each other WHILE THEY WERE IN A TRAIN WITH ISABEL KABRA. Get your priorities straight Amy.
All of the characters annoyed me to the extreme, and that's really odd considering I loved them last book. I think that it would have made an ok book if a different author had written it, but David Baldacci has no clue how to write teenage dialogue. I mean seriously, "Omigod" and "He was so hot! And smart! And hot!"
For the whole book it seemed like one of the characters would have an idea and all the rest of them would give them a pat on the pack. I wanted the characters to at least have a little bit of trouble, but no, their plans all worked until the very end when a few people got killed.
That was another thing I hated, the death scenes. Baldacci killed off people that didn't need to be killed and shouldn't have been killed. When they died, he gave some stupid line like, "and they fell to the ground dead". When Evan died, he even said that no one noticed! None of the deaths conveyed any emotion to me and I didn't even feel sad when some of my favorite characters from other books died. I mean if you can't get me to feel sad that a little girl got electrocuted, then you don't need to write that death scene. Natalie should have gone down kicking and screaming, her death was one of the lowest points of this already awful book.
Sorry about that huge rant, and I probably just wasted 2 minutes of your life, but honestly, it was an awful book, I hope the next author is MUCH better.
*That was a rant I wrote just after reading this book, please scroll for a better thought out review*
When you look at Day of Doom in a book store, with its electric red cover and interesting plot summary, you have no idea that what lies inside the cover is more useful for starting a fire than reading. All 39 clues readers know that for each book in the series, the publishing company chooses a different author. David Baldacci was a definite mistake.
Baldacci is a well-known adult novel writer. His book are mainly thrillers and murder mysteries similar to John Grisham’s books. He is simply not a children’s author and did not pay enough attention to the other 39 clues books to write a good, or even decent book.
The 39 clues series is about Dan and Amy Cahill, two siblings in a dangerous family that has a history that stretches back to medieval Europe. In the first series, they competed with other members of their large and distant family to find different ingredients that would create a serum with unimaginable power. In the second series (the one that Baldacci concluded) members of their family have been taken captive by the arch-nemesis of the Cahills, the Vespers. Dan and Amy, along with a few other Cahills follow the exact instructions of Vesper 1, so they can save the captives before their “day of doom”.
In Day of Doom, Amy and Dan are trying to find Vesper 1 before their time runs out. The weather is changing in ways they have never seen before and the captives are growing desperate. Amy and Dan race to find the Vesper’s secret location before it’s too late. The pace is hurried, like the author was just trying to fit everything in rather than write a decent book. He made the plot line simple, ignoring opportunities to surprise readers and settling for the simplest solution every time. Baldacci throws in a love triangle and calls it a day. News flash for him: He ruined this series.
Baldacci simplified all of the characters that readers had grown up with. It seemed like all of the character development that the series had built for years was wiped away in the first hundred pages. Dan went back to being the annoying little brother, instead of the thoughtful, smart, and slightly lonely boy that he was in the last book. Amy’s tough attitude disappeared and she turned into a lovesick puppy dog. None of the characters were left unscathed. Fiske Cahill was turned into some kind of ninja. Isabel Kabra actually has a heart and loves her children. Jonah Wizard has a terrible voice (that millions of people worldwide happened to love). The Holts are brainless fighting machines. Natalie Kabra is a sad whimpering little girl. Atticus isn’t a freaky genius. Jake is sprouting confessions of love.
To put it plainly, this is not a 39 clues book. This is a famous author’s attempt to write a children’s book. This is a book written by someone who has no idea how kids talk. This is a travesty that die-hard 39 clues fans will scream and cry over.
They can only hope that the next author can somehow mop up the mess David Baldacci created.
May 22, 2013
I can't adequately explain quite how saddened, disappointed, and kind of angry I am about the way this series ended. I would have hoped that they would have brought Rick Riordan back in to tie up the loose ends, or one of the other established authors of this series, but they didn't. David Baldacci doesn't even seem to have read the other books. He has little to no idea about how any of the characters would speak or act, let alone how teens in general speak and act, or how to write for a YA audience.
This is likely going to turn into a rant, so I'm going to put spoiler tags in here.
I think this is the longest review I've ever written on Goodreads, which goes to show just how many points I took umbrage with. Because of how bad this finale was, I would probably not even recommend this spin off series to fans of the original 39 Clues. I wish I could rewind to before I even knew about the Vespers.
PS: Rick Riordan, if you want to rewrite this book, I wouldn't object.
This is likely going to turn into a rant, so I'm going to put spoiler tags in here.
I think this is the longest review I've ever written on Goodreads, which goes to show just how many points I took umbrage with. Because of how bad this finale was, I would probably not even recommend this spin off series to fans of the original 39 Clues. I wish I could rewind to before I even knew about the Vespers.
PS: Rick Riordan, if you want to rewrite this book, I wouldn't object.
March 7, 2013
Oh. My. Gods.
Before I begin, Jessica Ding, I swear to high heaven that if you read this review the consequences will not be pretty. You have been warned.
Now. This book. This....this book...I – just – no.
I’m going to talk about (rant) on the plot, the writing, the characters, and talk briefly about the next series, so here goes.
The Plot: Relatively simple. Amy and Dan Cahill race against time to stop the evil Vespers from basically literally destroying the world. And, naturally, they do. But the thing is...the plot was doing fine, honestly (if we ignore all other aspects of the story), moving right along very smoothly...right up until page 232. At which point the Vespers are driven from the room where the Doomsday Device is kept. And then...well, to be honest, it kind of stops. It's as if David Baldacci flounders, wondering what the heck to do with this in order to tie into the ending that he has planned. There’s little to no plot for a while, as he has put his characters in such a position even I was wondering if they’d make it out, and it’s basically just fruitless dialogue that, to be honest, was stupid and didn’t add to the book or its conclusion at all. But aside from that, the plot moved along well and was probably the best part of this book.
Now. The writing. It was childish. Stupid. Horribly amateur, and immature as well. It was like Baldacci took writing lessons from Stephanie Meyer and then wrote this book. It was awful, with one of the worst parts being: “He was so hot! And smart! And hot!” Honestly, if they had to pick this author to write a book in the series, did it have to be the last? Anyone could have done a better job (except perhaps Stephanie Meyer). It’s like he tried overly hard to make it appealing to teenagers, by using the quote above as well as numerous “Omigod!”s which is not properly spelled, and certainly doesn’t belong in books of this caliber. Not to mention choppy sentences, stupid descriptions, poor (OK, fine, shitty) character portrayal and extreme dramatics with descriptions (hello? We know who these people are; we don’t need a backstory!). I was cringing regularly, as well as banging my head against the nearest flat surface. It was quite awful, to say the absolute least, and very, VERY detracting from the book.
And now, the characters....
Amy: Ugh. She was so completely, utterly, horribly out of character whenever it came to scenes involving Jake. I assume that Baldacci, like Meyer, prefers his women submissive and stupid, particularly around guys, as she becomes little better than Bella Swan whenever she is around Jake. Other than that, she’s suddenly transformed back into her amazing leader self, which was so strange and foreign at the beginning of this book. But to be honest, she’d been sort of out of character since Trust No One. Regardless, this was by no means her best book, and I sincerely hope she improves in the coming series.
Dan: Nothing really to be said here, other than this: Baldacci, he has a focus in life other than making his big sister’s life miserable! Honestly! The maturity that had been starting to show in Dan is gone, completely, and he’s back to being what can only be described as an immature 9-year-old, rather than a practically grown-up 13 year old who is saving the world.
Jake: EWUGHGROSS!!!! Jake’s main purpose in this is to be Amy’s savior, hero, and love interest. Honestly, that’s all the guy does. No more contribution of ideas, no, rather he sits around, shoots people with a gun to save Amy, and becomes so besotted with her that he fails to notice his missing little brother. The stern, intelligent guy from past book is gone, and in his place is Edward Cullen minus the sparkles. And one of his worst scenes is that stupid “love confession” that makes me want to barf and repeatedly slam my head on a sharp object. Especially Amy’s reaction. Ugh.
Atticus: Again, not much to say here. He’s not as much of his genius self, though: as a matter of fact I fail to recall one time in this book where he used his excessive knowledge. That would be why he seems like dead weight. Ah. OK, well, thanks, Baldacci, for ruining one of this series best up-and-coming characters.
Fiske Cahill: OK, what the author did to Atticus, Jake, and Amy pales in comparison to what Baldacci did to Fiske. He butchered, murdered, completely destroyed all shreds of Fiske’s credibility, leaving us with a thoroughly sarcastic, brutal, stupid character – a shade of what he once was. There’s no depth to Fiske whatsoever here; as a matter of fact he resorts to insults of violence, having lost all his dignity, and is completely and overly sarcastic (perhaps trying to be more appealing to the teenage audience?) I mean, Fiske is not supposed to be a butt-kicking, funny 60 year old, he’s supposed to be a dignified, level-headed old man who’s not much good in a fight, a tactical leader, and stern yet occasionally – OCCASIONALLY – funny! Ugh.
Nellie: Dead weight. Reunion with Dan and Amy pretty much didn’t exist, no more “kiddo” – nothing here to say, really. I’d hoped for more of her. The only thing you can say is that she got really mad at the world for no good reason for about two paragraphs in the beginning of the book and that was it.
Natalie: Not the shallow, pompous girl she always has been underneath – no, of course not! Another character who suddenly has depth and just loves, loves, LOVES her pwecious little older brother and can suddenly work perfectly with people as a team and fight well. NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!! I wasn’t too upset about her death in the end: I’ve never liked her and it lacked emotion. Boring.
Reagan & Hamilton: I’m putting them together because they served one purpose in this book: Fight. And that was it. No more intellectual development for Hamilton, no more team building for Reagan, instead they’re just the stupid Tomas, there to fight and be muscle heads.
Phoenix: Quite pitiful in this book, really, although that’s understandable as he’s so young and he has been through such a terrible ordeal. He was OK overall.
Jonah: He basically just exists to be the butt of jokes. NEVER BEFORE in this entire series has he been mentioned to have bad vocals, and yet in this series it's like he's Justin Beiber. 90% of the characters rag on him about his vocals at some point in the book, to the point where it's annoying instead of funny. Really, and just when I was expecting some depth in Jonah. Sigh.
Ted: As he’s a flat character, there wasn’t much to screw up here: his senses other than his sight are as sharp as ever and he does have a clever moment early in the book.
Sinead: Oh, gods, NO! She’s naturally suddenly crawling back to Dan and Amy, because after all, she only agreed to serve Vesper One because her poor brothers were injured and she just loves them so and she had to save them with the best medical treatments and yet she agrees to let a man capture Ted just to lock him up and barely feed him and put him through hell and – yeah, overall, so stupid. She doesn’t need to be crawling back to anyone, she’s a badass and can hold her own, but naturally, she’s forgiven by the entire group.
Evan: As Amy’s other love interest, he naturally had to be killed so that Amy and Jake could be together, instead of gracefully bowing out and going off to be with, I don’t know, Sinead. Of course he had to die. I mean, come on, what are they gonna say to his parents?! This guy was such a good character, he was only killed because he was in the way of Jake and Amy’s barf-fest – I mean, love.
Vesper One: Bleh. Typical evil villain, and yet he’s viewed as childish, stupid, and manipulative to the rest of his followers. I really, really wanted him to be Arthur Trent, because that would have been the best twist EVER (like, ever), and it would have demanded a totally badass explanation and connecting of all those clues and crap, so it would have been great, but instead he’s descended from Damien Vesper. Yawn. I think Baldacci got lazy here.
Isabel Kabra: Completely messed up. SINCE WHEN DOES SHE HAVE HUMANITY? I DON’T CARE IF HER DAUGHTER DIED! SHE WAS PLANNING TO KILL BOTH IAN AND NATALIE, WHY DOES SHE ALL OF A SUDDEN CARE THAT NATALIE WAS KILLED? UGH!!!!!!!!!!! AND THEN SHE JUST BECOMES A RAVING LUNATIC IN THE END AND JUST CLAWS AWAY AT THE MACHINE AND BASICALLY SAVES THE DAY AND NO FREAKING WAY THAT’S SO WRONG SHE WAS ONE OF THE BEST VILLAINS EVER AND SHE JUST HAD TO GO AND FIND HUMANITY I MEAN VILLAINS DON’T DO THAT BALDACCI, COME ON!!!
Basically, Baldacci reshaped the characters to be more shallow, less important, screwed every single relationship up and turned it into something it’s not. He ruined most of my favorite characters and has generally left me with a feeling of wanting to burn this book so as not to have to deal with the horrid mess he made.
As for a continuation of this series, well, good luck with that. I mean, I can kind of see where they want to go (dealing with Dan and Amy’s thefts and all that) but that could have really been summed up in a nice epilogue and therefore end these series. Is a third one really necessary? I personally don’t think so.
In conclusion, I feel like this series was brought down on a stunningly bad note, and I will most likely never reread this book. You know the book’s bad when you know that even you could have done a better job.
Before I begin, Jessica Ding, I swear to high heaven that if you read this review the consequences will not be pretty. You have been warned.
Now. This book. This....this book...I – just – no.
I’m going to talk about (rant) on the plot, the writing, the characters, and talk briefly about the next series, so here goes.
The Plot: Relatively simple. Amy and Dan Cahill race against time to stop the evil Vespers from basically literally destroying the world. And, naturally, they do. But the thing is...the plot was doing fine, honestly (if we ignore all other aspects of the story), moving right along very smoothly...right up until page 232. At which point the Vespers are driven from the room where the Doomsday Device is kept. And then...well, to be honest, it kind of stops. It's as if David Baldacci flounders, wondering what the heck to do with this in order to tie into the ending that he has planned. There’s little to no plot for a while, as he has put his characters in such a position even I was wondering if they’d make it out, and it’s basically just fruitless dialogue that, to be honest, was stupid and didn’t add to the book or its conclusion at all. But aside from that, the plot moved along well and was probably the best part of this book.
Now. The writing. It was childish. Stupid. Horribly amateur, and immature as well. It was like Baldacci took writing lessons from Stephanie Meyer and then wrote this book. It was awful, with one of the worst parts being: “He was so hot! And smart! And hot!” Honestly, if they had to pick this author to write a book in the series, did it have to be the last? Anyone could have done a better job (except perhaps Stephanie Meyer). It’s like he tried overly hard to make it appealing to teenagers, by using the quote above as well as numerous “Omigod!”s which is not properly spelled, and certainly doesn’t belong in books of this caliber. Not to mention choppy sentences, stupid descriptions, poor (OK, fine, shitty) character portrayal and extreme dramatics with descriptions (hello? We know who these people are; we don’t need a backstory!). I was cringing regularly, as well as banging my head against the nearest flat surface. It was quite awful, to say the absolute least, and very, VERY detracting from the book.
And now, the characters....
Amy: Ugh. She was so completely, utterly, horribly out of character whenever it came to scenes involving Jake. I assume that Baldacci, like Meyer, prefers his women submissive and stupid, particularly around guys, as she becomes little better than Bella Swan whenever she is around Jake. Other than that, she’s suddenly transformed back into her amazing leader self, which was so strange and foreign at the beginning of this book. But to be honest, she’d been sort of out of character since Trust No One. Regardless, this was by no means her best book, and I sincerely hope she improves in the coming series.
Dan: Nothing really to be said here, other than this: Baldacci, he has a focus in life other than making his big sister’s life miserable! Honestly! The maturity that had been starting to show in Dan is gone, completely, and he’s back to being what can only be described as an immature 9-year-old, rather than a practically grown-up 13 year old who is saving the world.
Jake: EWUGHGROSS!!!! Jake’s main purpose in this is to be Amy’s savior, hero, and love interest. Honestly, that’s all the guy does. No more contribution of ideas, no, rather he sits around, shoots people with a gun to save Amy, and becomes so besotted with her that he fails to notice his missing little brother. The stern, intelligent guy from past book is gone, and in his place is Edward Cullen minus the sparkles. And one of his worst scenes is that stupid “love confession” that makes me want to barf and repeatedly slam my head on a sharp object. Especially Amy’s reaction. Ugh.
Atticus: Again, not much to say here. He’s not as much of his genius self, though: as a matter of fact I fail to recall one time in this book where he used his excessive knowledge. That would be why he seems like dead weight. Ah. OK, well, thanks, Baldacci, for ruining one of this series best up-and-coming characters.
Fiske Cahill: OK, what the author did to Atticus, Jake, and Amy pales in comparison to what Baldacci did to Fiske. He butchered, murdered, completely destroyed all shreds of Fiske’s credibility, leaving us with a thoroughly sarcastic, brutal, stupid character – a shade of what he once was. There’s no depth to Fiske whatsoever here; as a matter of fact he resorts to insults of violence, having lost all his dignity, and is completely and overly sarcastic (perhaps trying to be more appealing to the teenage audience?) I mean, Fiske is not supposed to be a butt-kicking, funny 60 year old, he’s supposed to be a dignified, level-headed old man who’s not much good in a fight, a tactical leader, and stern yet occasionally – OCCASIONALLY – funny! Ugh.
Nellie: Dead weight. Reunion with Dan and Amy pretty much didn’t exist, no more “kiddo” – nothing here to say, really. I’d hoped for more of her. The only thing you can say is that she got really mad at the world for no good reason for about two paragraphs in the beginning of the book and that was it.
Natalie: Not the shallow, pompous girl she always has been underneath – no, of course not! Another character who suddenly has depth and just loves, loves, LOVES her pwecious little older brother and can suddenly work perfectly with people as a team and fight well. NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!! I wasn’t too upset about her death in the end: I’ve never liked her and it lacked emotion. Boring.
Reagan & Hamilton: I’m putting them together because they served one purpose in this book: Fight. And that was it. No more intellectual development for Hamilton, no more team building for Reagan, instead they’re just the stupid Tomas, there to fight and be muscle heads.
Phoenix: Quite pitiful in this book, really, although that’s understandable as he’s so young and he has been through such a terrible ordeal. He was OK overall.
Jonah: He basically just exists to be the butt of jokes. NEVER BEFORE in this entire series has he been mentioned to have bad vocals, and yet in this series it's like he's Justin Beiber. 90% of the characters rag on him about his vocals at some point in the book, to the point where it's annoying instead of funny. Really, and just when I was expecting some depth in Jonah. Sigh.
Ted: As he’s a flat character, there wasn’t much to screw up here: his senses other than his sight are as sharp as ever and he does have a clever moment early in the book.
Sinead: Oh, gods, NO! She’s naturally suddenly crawling back to Dan and Amy, because after all, she only agreed to serve Vesper One because her poor brothers were injured and she just loves them so and she had to save them with the best medical treatments and yet she agrees to let a man capture Ted just to lock him up and barely feed him and put him through hell and – yeah, overall, so stupid. She doesn’t need to be crawling back to anyone, she’s a badass and can hold her own, but naturally, she’s forgiven by the entire group.
Evan: As Amy’s other love interest, he naturally had to be killed so that Amy and Jake could be together, instead of gracefully bowing out and going off to be with, I don’t know, Sinead. Of course he had to die. I mean, come on, what are they gonna say to his parents?! This guy was such a good character, he was only killed because he was in the way of Jake and Amy’s barf-fest – I mean, love.
Vesper One: Bleh. Typical evil villain, and yet he’s viewed as childish, stupid, and manipulative to the rest of his followers. I really, really wanted him to be Arthur Trent, because that would have been the best twist EVER (like, ever), and it would have demanded a totally badass explanation and connecting of all those clues and crap, so it would have been great, but instead he’s descended from Damien Vesper. Yawn. I think Baldacci got lazy here.
Isabel Kabra: Completely messed up. SINCE WHEN DOES SHE HAVE HUMANITY? I DON’T CARE IF HER DAUGHTER DIED! SHE WAS PLANNING TO KILL BOTH IAN AND NATALIE, WHY DOES SHE ALL OF A SUDDEN CARE THAT NATALIE WAS KILLED? UGH!!!!!!!!!!! AND THEN SHE JUST BECOMES A RAVING LUNATIC IN THE END AND JUST CLAWS AWAY AT THE MACHINE AND BASICALLY SAVES THE DAY AND NO FREAKING WAY THAT’S SO WRONG SHE WAS ONE OF THE BEST VILLAINS EVER AND SHE JUST HAD TO GO AND FIND HUMANITY I MEAN VILLAINS DON’T DO THAT BALDACCI, COME ON!!!
Basically, Baldacci reshaped the characters to be more shallow, less important, screwed every single relationship up and turned it into something it’s not. He ruined most of my favorite characters and has generally left me with a feeling of wanting to burn this book so as not to have to deal with the horrid mess he made.
As for a continuation of this series, well, good luck with that. I mean, I can kind of see where they want to go (dealing with Dan and Amy’s thefts and all that) but that could have really been summed up in a nice epilogue and therefore end these series. Is a third one really necessary? I personally don’t think so.
In conclusion, I feel like this series was brought down on a stunningly bad note, and I will most likely never reread this book. You know the book’s bad when you know that even you could have done a better job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2013
Pathetic. That's what it was. I'm so frustrated at David Baldacci, who completely ruined the series. If you haven't read it, I strongly recommend you don't and preserve your good experiences with the series.
!! This contains spoilers. !!
Ready, set, rant! :-
Firstly he turns the book into a soap opera. Unnecessary drama, puke worthy gooey love scenes. Just pathetic.
And the repetitive use of omigod just make's one nauseous.
And the characters? Completely off mark.
Take for Example-
Amy:- I cant... Just no. You know when you physically wince every time your favorite character whose intellectual and mature, acts like a love-sick teenager, that the author has lost his mind. Throughout the book she needed to get her priorities straight. And the use of this- "He's so hot. And smart. and hot." makes me want to seriously burn the book.
It's so wannabe-ish and structurally flawed that I seriously feel anybody else could have done a better job.
The loop holes, the off- character remarks is just too much. Even the plot line is such a cliche.
AND OH GOD! AJT, WHY COULDN'T HE HAVE BEEN ALIVE?? It was a serious disappointment.
THE DEATHS:- Unnecessary and undescriptive. I wished they would have touched my heart, like Mclyntres and Erasmus'.
*RIP Natalie, Evan and Uncle Alister*
This book was one of the worst conclusions to a series ever. For me it was THE worst conclusion to the series.
!! This contains spoilers. !!
Ready, set, rant! :-
Firstly he turns the book into a soap opera. Unnecessary drama, puke worthy gooey love scenes. Just pathetic.
And the repetitive use of omigod just make's one nauseous.
And the characters? Completely off mark.
Take for Example-
Amy:- I cant... Just no. You know when you physically wince every time your favorite character whose intellectual and mature, acts like a love-sick teenager, that the author has lost his mind. Throughout the book she needed to get her priorities straight. And the use of this- "He's so hot. And smart. and hot." makes me want to seriously burn the book.
It's so wannabe-ish and structurally flawed that I seriously feel anybody else could have done a better job.
The loop holes, the off- character remarks is just too much. Even the plot line is such a cliche.
AND OH GOD! AJT, WHY COULDN'T HE HAVE BEEN ALIVE?? It was a serious disappointment.
THE DEATHS:- Unnecessary and undescriptive. I wished they would have touched my heart, like Mclyntres and Erasmus'.
*RIP Natalie, Evan and Uncle Alister*
This book was one of the worst conclusions to a series ever. For me it was THE worst conclusion to the series.
April 21, 2013
It was horrible, so incredibly disappointing. I can't even begin to list the incredibly stupid lines or stupid scenarios. It was just so, so bad. Baldacci may be a bestselling adult author, but he has no idea how to write for kids, he was condescending and obnoxious. All of the scary people turned into buffoons and the smart kids started acting like idiots. There was no suspense and the plotting was so weak; if I typed up a list of the things I noticed that made no sense this review would be screens long, and I'm terrible at noticing that stuff. And did the author even read the rest of the series? This 2nd series about the battle with the Vespers has a very dark tone and a lot of emotional layers. The kids are older, worn down by the constant fight and questioning their ability to continue on. This perky rah-rah nonsense and the constant and unrelenting lovey-dovey crap between Amy and Jake was just horrible. The editors made a huge mistake by giving this final book in the Vespers series to an author who has no idea about how to write for kids. The quality in the series has been uneven, but nothing as bad as this before.
Just to give one example from early on in the book, "Amy found herself gazing longingly at Jake and felt her heart beating faster. He was so hot! And smart! And hot!" Seriously? Who is this girl? Certainly not Amy Cahill.
Just to give one example from early on in the book, "Amy found herself gazing longingly at Jake and felt her heart beating faster. He was so hot! And smart! And hot!" Seriously? Who is this girl? Certainly not Amy Cahill.
March 5, 2013
This review contains minor, non-specific spoilers. Major and specific spoilers are hidden under spoiler tags.
I won't say that I was disappointed, exactly, by the end of this series, but...I was disappointed. I felt that it didn't maintain the clever problem solving that the previous series and the previous books in this series had. It seemed that Amy and Dan almost didn't need to be there for the finale of the series. I can see how they were needed, but they didn't play as big a role that I wish they would have played.
There were also some moments that were left inconclusive, but that I know won't appear in the sequel series. They were concluded, but not appropriately, and too easily, like That was too easy, and not dealt with satisfactorily for me. For having made such a big deal about it and having it be a major plot point in the previous books, I didn't like how that was cleaned up.
I also didn't like some of the deaths. I mean, I don't like any deaths, but sometimes they are needed in the book. These were too sudden, and almost unnecessary. I can see how they were needed, but I was left feeling as though plot points could have been resolved without having characters die.
Despite those few criticisms, I did enjoy the book. It lived up to the standards previously set by the 39 Clues, for the most part. If you enjoyed the previous series and previous books, I recommend that you read this one.
Also, given the ending, I can see how they're setting things up for the next series, coming this fall. I am looking forward to seeing what direction Unstoppable takes, and I will read that when it comes out.
I won't say that I was disappointed, exactly, by the end of this series, but...I was disappointed. I felt that it didn't maintain the clever problem solving that the previous series and the previous books in this series had. It seemed that Amy and Dan almost didn't need to be there for the finale of the series. I can see how they were needed, but they didn't play as big a role that I wish they would have played.
There were also some moments that were left inconclusive, but that I know won't appear in the sequel series. They were concluded, but not appropriately, and too easily, like That was too easy, and not dealt with satisfactorily for me. For having made such a big deal about it and having it be a major plot point in the previous books, I didn't like how that was cleaned up.
I also didn't like some of the deaths. I mean, I don't like any deaths, but sometimes they are needed in the book. These were too sudden, and almost unnecessary. I can see how they were needed, but I was left feeling as though plot points could have been resolved without having characters die.
Despite those few criticisms, I did enjoy the book. It lived up to the standards previously set by the 39 Clues, for the most part. If you enjoyed the previous series and previous books, I recommend that you read this one.
Also, given the ending, I can see how they're setting things up for the next series, coming this fall. I am looking forward to seeing what direction Unstoppable takes, and I will read that when it comes out.
April 2, 2013
I don't think this final installation of the series deserves one whole star. Only because I have appreciated the other 5 books in the series, and the prior 39 Clues series, and because I was invested in the series, and needed to see how it ended, did I read this.
Baldacci ruined the characters. He turned a complex family filled with characters who were relatable and real in the midst of dealing with unrealistic things, he made them caricatures of themselves. I can only assume that he grossly misunderstood how this story worked and what the readers of these stories enjoy. A hokey action-packed adventure that includes long-named made-up disasters and lots of teary-eyed moments is not what I had expected. I could vomit at how he violated this well-established story. And, as a side note, I have NEVER felt so talked-down-to as a reader, and I read a lot of children's literature. It is quite evident that Baldacci has NO experience writing for a younger audience.
The remainder of this review will contain spoilers, so if you want to read this book without my prejudices, stop here.
My first issue with this story starts at the very beginning when Baldacci completely ignored how Park had ended book 5. Dan had already drank the serum from a test-tube. So why is he gazing at the serum in a goblet set in a fancy hotel bathroom? And Amy, it had been established, was in a deep state of shock. So why did she miraculously recover in time to figure out what Dan had been doing while she was catatonic and switch out the serum for vegetable juice? I get that we don't want Dan to actually drink the serum, but couldn't it have begun with someone barging in on him and causing him to spit it out? Why did this book seek to devalue the ending of the prior book?
The next, bigger issue, is the disregard Baldacci had for the characters as they had already been created over 16 previous books. Since when does Amy or Dan tear up at every turn? When did Jonah Wizard start seeking approval for singing? Why did Fiske turn into a wise-ass? And Hamilton has never desired violence. Does everyone have to address their partner as "dear" so and so? Vesper One is petulant?! Give me a break! In reading this I frequently muttered in disgust as a new, cheesy moment occurred for these characters. This was shameful.
And the extensive violence peppered with bad jokes. Or the conclusion where Amy needs to speak to or notice each and every character and make some observation. I guess Baldacci got tired of his own crap when he got to Atticus: "That left Atticus, who Amy spent time with and gave plenty of hugs, too." Gag me with a spoon.
If anything, Book 6 showed an immature writing style. I have never read any of Baldacci's novels, and now I never will. I assume that this genre would have been a bit of a challenge, since it's not his normal target audience. And I would assume, that an author would try to take on the challenge with as much integrity as possible. His approach was disrespectful to the readers, and, I would think, to the other authors who had worked hard to create a cohesive collaborative series. He should be ashamed.
Baldacci ruined the characters. He turned a complex family filled with characters who were relatable and real in the midst of dealing with unrealistic things, he made them caricatures of themselves. I can only assume that he grossly misunderstood how this story worked and what the readers of these stories enjoy. A hokey action-packed adventure that includes long-named made-up disasters and lots of teary-eyed moments is not what I had expected. I could vomit at how he violated this well-established story. And, as a side note, I have NEVER felt so talked-down-to as a reader, and I read a lot of children's literature. It is quite evident that Baldacci has NO experience writing for a younger audience.
The remainder of this review will contain spoilers, so if you want to read this book without my prejudices, stop here.
My first issue with this story starts at the very beginning when Baldacci completely ignored how Park had ended book 5. Dan had already drank the serum from a test-tube. So why is he gazing at the serum in a goblet set in a fancy hotel bathroom? And Amy, it had been established, was in a deep state of shock. So why did she miraculously recover in time to figure out what Dan had been doing while she was catatonic and switch out the serum for vegetable juice? I get that we don't want Dan to actually drink the serum, but couldn't it have begun with someone barging in on him and causing him to spit it out? Why did this book seek to devalue the ending of the prior book?
The next, bigger issue, is the disregard Baldacci had for the characters as they had already been created over 16 previous books. Since when does Amy or Dan tear up at every turn? When did Jonah Wizard start seeking approval for singing? Why did Fiske turn into a wise-ass? And Hamilton has never desired violence. Does everyone have to address their partner as "dear" so and so? Vesper One is petulant?! Give me a break! In reading this I frequently muttered in disgust as a new, cheesy moment occurred for these characters. This was shameful.
And the extensive violence peppered with bad jokes. Or the conclusion where Amy needs to speak to or notice each and every character and make some observation. I guess Baldacci got tired of his own crap when he got to Atticus: "That left Atticus, who Amy spent time with and gave plenty of hugs, too." Gag me with a spoon.
If anything, Book 6 showed an immature writing style. I have never read any of Baldacci's novels, and now I never will. I assume that this genre would have been a bit of a challenge, since it's not his normal target audience. And I would assume, that an author would try to take on the challenge with as much integrity as possible. His approach was disrespectful to the readers, and, I would think, to the other authors who had worked hard to create a cohesive collaborative series. He should be ashamed.
March 10, 2013
It is really difficult to give the final book of a series (which I love) only two stars. Heck, I even feel 2 is too much! This book really did not live up to what I really expected it to.
The writing is quite terrible. "He said...", "She said...", "Amy said...". I had to plough my way through the book just for the sake of finishing it. Gone is the Amy who is tough and badass, and who would definitely would not spew out "He was so hot! And smart! And hot!".
The rest of the characters were also somewhat odd. From Jake's: "Ohmigod!" to Isabel Kabra's sudden love for her children. Was I still reading the same series? What happened to the ruthless Isabel who disowned her children? Where did this badass "Old-fart" Fiske come from? Is Dan 13 years old or 9 again? Did the Holts forget their feelings in bed before going on to save the world?
The love triangle. How should this be solved? Ok. Let's just squish Evan and let Amy an Jake be together. Really? There was no other way? Could he not have let Evan gracefully bow out of the relationship and maybe find someone else (Like Sinead who has crawled back from the evils)? And was Amy not so obsessed with him at the beginning of the series? It almost felt like: "Oh. Evan died. Jakes here. Lets go." in the end.
Isabel Kabra is AJT? That was just simply a huge letdown. I was ready for a whole showdown between Dan and his alive father. But no. Isabel Kabra is AJT.
I expected so much more. This may sound quite harsh but maybe someone else should have written this book. There was such a big build up from Vesper One to the captured being reunited with Amy and Dan but nope. It feels like dreaming to find that I won the lottery and then waking up to a Physics test. What is that? I understand that everyone has their own writing styles and this series is sort of written for a almost younger audience (10-15) but "Ohmigod" and "He was so hot! And smart! And hot!"? That is plain BAD.
I feel so bad for bashing this so much. But all these "interesting" characters I thought I knew and an even more "interesting" plot line for the last book of a series? I just really can't help it.
The writing is quite terrible. "He said...", "She said...", "Amy said...". I had to plough my way through the book just for the sake of finishing it. Gone is the Amy who is tough and badass, and who would definitely would not spew out "He was so hot! And smart! And hot!".
The rest of the characters were also somewhat odd. From Jake's: "Ohmigod!" to Isabel Kabra's sudden love for her children. Was I still reading the same series? What happened to the ruthless Isabel who disowned her children? Where did this badass "Old-fart" Fiske come from? Is Dan 13 years old or 9 again? Did the Holts forget their feelings in bed before going on to save the world?
The love triangle. How should this be solved? Ok. Let's just squish Evan and let Amy an Jake be together. Really? There was no other way? Could he not have let Evan gracefully bow out of the relationship and maybe find someone else (Like Sinead who has crawled back from the evils)? And was Amy not so obsessed with him at the beginning of the series? It almost felt like: "Oh. Evan died. Jakes here. Lets go." in the end.
Isabel Kabra is AJT? That was just simply a huge letdown. I was ready for a whole showdown between Dan and his alive father. But no. Isabel Kabra is AJT.
I expected so much more. This may sound quite harsh but maybe someone else should have written this book. There was such a big build up from Vesper One to the captured being reunited with Amy and Dan but nope. It feels like dreaming to find that I won the lottery and then waking up to a Physics test. What is that? I understand that everyone has their own writing styles and this series is sort of written for a almost younger audience (10-15) but "Ohmigod" and "He was so hot! And smart! And hot!"? That is plain BAD.
I feel so bad for bashing this so much. But all these "interesting" characters I thought I knew and an even more "interesting" plot line for the last book of a series? I just really can't help it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2014
This review has some spoilers. Very large spoilers. Don't say I didn't warn you.
I'll start by saying that the ending was pretty predictable. Machine is destroyed, Amy and Dan survive, the world is saved, YAAAAY!
Pffft.
Where were we? Oh, yes.
David Speminer is Damien Vesper.
And yes, I figured that out before Atticus. And I had the decency to figure it out IN MY HEAD.
(I solved it on page 125, paragraph 3.)
I decided to write some messages to the characters. (It is the end of the series, after all. Cahills vs. Vespers, at least.)
So here they are:
Dear Amy-
You dirty, dirty player. First you like Ian. You loooove Ian. Ian secretly loooooves you. BTW, Ian still likes you.) The you start to date Evan. You both like each other, and you're like: Oh Evan I love you! Then, you like Jake. No, you "love" him. Evan and Ian are immediately discarded.
Make up your mind, Amy. Tsk tsk.
Dear Dan-
How did you not realize that Amy switched the stuff? And honestly, did you expect her NOT to? Anyways, there weren't a lot of funny moments and comments from you this time. You've lost your touch.
Dear Jake-
I personally find you strange. You know Evan and Amy are dating...so why? I don't really like you. You just seem sort of unstable.
Dear Isabelle-
SUPER SERUM POWER MONKEYS FOR THE WIN! Blow up the device, Vesper One, and yourself. Going out with a BUH-BAM! Nice. >:D
Dear Evan-
I'm not sure why they killed you. I mean, you're a minor character, and all you do is pawn over Amy. My guess is that the authors were totally shipping Amy and Jake, and you were just in the way, so BAM! They made like a Vesper and killed you off.
Dear Ian & Natalie-
It's a shame you died, Natalie. It's a shame you lost your sis and mom, Ian. You're both cool cats. Or shall I say, cool cobras?
Dear Fiske-
You are one FREAKING AWESOME OLD DUDE.
No gif needed.
Dear Atticus-
Seriously. Those anagrams it took you a SCRABBLE DECODER to figure out?! I sometimes doubt your intelligence. That's all I have to say.
I also have a few updates from during the book, what was flashing through my mind.
Page 125, Paragraph 3:
David Speminer is Damien Vesper.
And yes, I figured that out before Atticus. And I had the decency to figure it out IN MY HEAD.
Page 157:
Hey guys, I think you're missing something. Uh, like ATTICUS??!!
And of course, I have my little things I call "plot revisions."
My ideas would've made it so much better.
ARTHUR TRENT. SHOULD'VE. BEEN. ALIVE.
We were all waiting for this. The moment when Arthur steps out in his glory, and we all stare absentmindedly at the book, saying, "What a phenomenal plot twist!"
Secondly, Atticus's role as Guardian should've come into play, because all that kid did was get kidnapped by Isabelle, and, well, NOTHING.
Then, I also suggest that they add more explosions. With more details.
Oh, and exaggerate a bit more on Natalie and Ethan's deaths. I cried when Erasmus died, but I was just like: •_•
"Oh,okay. They're dead. Let's move on now."
Also, I entertained myself for what, three seconds? Solving the anagrams. It would've been nice to add some secret codes, too, that reveal little Cahill and Vesper secrets, inside the pages.
So, yes. 4 stars, even though my rating is actually 3 1/3 stars. I just decided to make if four.
I'll start by saying that the ending was pretty predictable. Machine is destroyed, Amy and Dan survive, the world is saved, YAAAAY!
Pffft.
Where were we? Oh, yes.
David Speminer is Damien Vesper.
And yes, I figured that out before Atticus. And I had the decency to figure it out IN MY HEAD.
(I solved it on page 125, paragraph 3.)
I decided to write some messages to the characters. (It is the end of the series, after all. Cahills vs. Vespers, at least.)
So here they are:
Dear Amy-
You dirty, dirty player. First you like Ian. You loooove Ian. Ian secretly loooooves you. BTW, Ian still likes you.) The you start to date Evan. You both like each other, and you're like: Oh Evan I love you! Then, you like Jake. No, you "love" him. Evan and Ian are immediately discarded.
Make up your mind, Amy. Tsk tsk.
Dear Dan-
How did you not realize that Amy switched the stuff? And honestly, did you expect her NOT to? Anyways, there weren't a lot of funny moments and comments from you this time. You've lost your touch.
Dear Jake-
I personally find you strange. You know Evan and Amy are dating...so why? I don't really like you. You just seem sort of unstable.
Dear Isabelle-
SUPER SERUM POWER MONKEYS FOR THE WIN! Blow up the device, Vesper One, and yourself. Going out with a BUH-BAM! Nice. >:D
Dear Evan-
I'm not sure why they killed you. I mean, you're a minor character, and all you do is pawn over Amy. My guess is that the authors were totally shipping Amy and Jake, and you were just in the way, so BAM! They made like a Vesper and killed you off.
Dear Ian & Natalie-
It's a shame you died, Natalie. It's a shame you lost your sis and mom, Ian. You're both cool cats. Or shall I say, cool cobras?
Dear Fiske-
You are one FREAKING AWESOME OLD DUDE.
No gif needed.
Dear Atticus-
Seriously. Those anagrams it took you a SCRABBLE DECODER to figure out?! I sometimes doubt your intelligence. That's all I have to say.
I also have a few updates from during the book, what was flashing through my mind.
Page 125, Paragraph 3:
David Speminer is Damien Vesper.
And yes, I figured that out before Atticus. And I had the decency to figure it out IN MY HEAD.
Page 157:
Hey guys, I think you're missing something. Uh, like ATTICUS??!!
And of course, I have my little things I call "plot revisions."
My ideas would've made it so much better.
ARTHUR TRENT. SHOULD'VE. BEEN. ALIVE.
We were all waiting for this. The moment when Arthur steps out in his glory, and we all stare absentmindedly at the book, saying, "What a phenomenal plot twist!"
Secondly, Atticus's role as Guardian should've come into play, because all that kid did was get kidnapped by Isabelle, and, well, NOTHING.
Then, I also suggest that they add more explosions. With more details.
Oh, and exaggerate a bit more on Natalie and Ethan's deaths. I cried when Erasmus died, but I was just like: •_•
"Oh,okay. They're dead. Let's move on now."
Also, I entertained myself for what, three seconds? Solving the anagrams. It would've been nice to add some secret codes, too, that reveal little Cahill and Vesper secrets, inside the pages.
So, yes. 4 stars, even though my rating is actually 3 1/3 stars. I just decided to make if four.
March 1, 2023
What an ending!
Final book couldn't have ended on a more dramatic tone. Racing to save the world from disaster and collapse of the planet, Cahills once again find themselves in the centre of the world unfolding.
This was full of suspense, from the beginning to the end of the book. Couldn't have imagined a better end to the whole thing.
Final book couldn't have ended on a more dramatic tone. Racing to save the world from disaster and collapse of the planet, Cahills once again find themselves in the centre of the world unfolding.
This was full of suspense, from the beginning to the end of the book. Couldn't have imagined a better end to the whole thing.
April 4, 2013
Okay. I really, really hated this book. I have read every book in the first 39 Clues series, and every book in the second series, and I can say with some certainty that this was the worst. The second series as a whole was sub-par from the first, but this book just takes the cake - the rotten, moldy, rat-infested cake. I threw it across the room at one point.
Most of the things I hated about this book were what it lacked. Characterization, believable dialogue, and a half-way reasonable premise. ALL of the character development in the past - how many books now? - disappeared, and left behind more saccharine sweetness and over-the-top villainy than I was able to stomach. Mr. Baldacci obviously hasn't had much - if any - interaction with teenagers. If he had, he would have written dialogue that sounds like people would actually say it. He turned what were previously well-developed, believable characters into one-dimensional stereotypes.
Also, while I don't really want to go into detail, the premise of the doomsday device, as well as its effects, were so bad as to be almost hilarious. In addition, a note to Mr. Baldacci: if you are not writing science fiction, do not use the phrase "reverse the polarity". I don't care if you are describing some ridiculous magnetic field thing. Don't. Say. It.
Why, oh why, couldn't they have gotten a good children's author to write the conclusion to a series of children's books? Or even a teen author, given that most of the characters are teens at this point? No, instead they choose someone famous for his adult novels to write a novel about teenagers.
I definitely wish I hadn't wasted money on buying this book. If you must read it, wait for it to come out at your local library.
Rant over.
Most of the things I hated about this book were what it lacked. Characterization, believable dialogue, and a half-way reasonable premise. ALL of the character development in the past - how many books now? - disappeared, and left behind more saccharine sweetness and over-the-top villainy than I was able to stomach. Mr. Baldacci obviously hasn't had much - if any - interaction with teenagers. If he had, he would have written dialogue that sounds like people would actually say it. He turned what were previously well-developed, believable characters into one-dimensional stereotypes.
Also, while I don't really want to go into detail, the premise of the doomsday device, as well as its effects, were so bad as to be almost hilarious. In addition, a note to Mr. Baldacci: if you are not writing science fiction, do not use the phrase "reverse the polarity". I don't care if you are describing some ridiculous magnetic field thing. Don't. Say. It.
Why, oh why, couldn't they have gotten a good children's author to write the conclusion to a series of children's books? Or even a teen author, given that most of the characters are teens at this point? No, instead they choose someone famous for his adult novels to write a novel about teenagers.
I definitely wish I hadn't wasted money on buying this book. If you must read it, wait for it to come out at your local library.
Rant over.
March 7, 2013
I ended up plowing through the rest just because I had to finish the series. It was painful to see some of my favorite characters changed beyond recognition. The poor writing was difficult to handle, too. I ended up returning the book because I don't plan to read it again. It served its purpose: to conclude the series. A book should be an enjoyable adventure, but this one markedly was not and therefore not worth my money.
Only about a fifth of the way through, but so far, the writing is atrocious. Amy and Jake are incredibly out of character, and the relationship between them has completely changed. It's gone from the reluctant realization that they both feel something to an obnoxious stereotypical teen romance. To quote one of Amy's lines exactly- "He was so hot! And smart! And hot!" Does that sound like Amy?
Just the writing itself is horrible. There's a lot of "Dan said....He said.... Jake said..." Lots of short, choppy sentences. Lots of over-describing. I'm going to attempt to weather through the rest of the book, simply because I love the rest of the series so much.
Only about a fifth of the way through, but so far, the writing is atrocious. Amy and Jake are incredibly out of character, and the relationship between them has completely changed. It's gone from the reluctant realization that they both feel something to an obnoxious stereotypical teen romance. To quote one of Amy's lines exactly- "He was so hot! And smart! And hot!" Does that sound like Amy?
Just the writing itself is horrible. There's a lot of "Dan said....He said.... Jake said..." Lots of short, choppy sentences. Lots of over-describing. I'm going to attempt to weather through the rest of the book, simply because I love the rest of the series so much.
April 3, 2013
Syrup of Ipecac. Induces vomiting. I agree, it was by far the worst book of the Cahills vs Vespers series and this series, as a whole, does not stand up to the high standards of the first Cahills series. I think the ones who let us down the worst were the publishers and the editor they hired. Or maybe they didn't bother to hire an editor. Baldacci is an idiot, but he's just a hired gun, after all.
And how does an idiot get away with reinventing basic physics and basic geology? He can't even keep his nonsense about the nature of reality consistent. (First the train sucks, then it blows. What?) Subduction zone in Colorado? Going both ways? Tsunamis coming out of the depths of the earth? I guess this is a fantasy planet, but people who invent fantasy planets usually have some understanding of basic physics and geology. Baldacci has none.
This guy writes bestsellers? Remind me never to read a bestseller. And never to trust the NY Times. And not to read any more Scholastic books. The way they have twisted this series, especially in book 6, shows us that this publisher is in the business of lying to children and promoting violence and trying to convince us that our side is always right, even while they partake in violence that matches the violence they condemn. An eye for an eye, anyone? Is that the way we want to be, or do we want to restrain and disarm the attackers? "Cahills save the world" has replaced the earlier Cahill moral code in which Cahills never stooped to the level of their opponents, but instead, outwitted them. I forget the words that were used in the earlier books. Maybe someone remembers.
Did we love the earlier books because they told us that our side is always right and anything goes, since we are the good guys? Or did we love them because the protagonists were smart and honest and cared for each other? Was it wrong to admit error and mail back the book stolen from the monks in the first series? Are we and the Cahills always right?
Scholastic is trying to teach us that good guys are perfect and killing people indiscriminately is right because we are the good guys.
And how does an idiot get away with reinventing basic physics and basic geology? He can't even keep his nonsense about the nature of reality consistent. (First the train sucks, then it blows. What?) Subduction zone in Colorado? Going both ways? Tsunamis coming out of the depths of the earth? I guess this is a fantasy planet, but people who invent fantasy planets usually have some understanding of basic physics and geology. Baldacci has none.
This guy writes bestsellers? Remind me never to read a bestseller. And never to trust the NY Times. And not to read any more Scholastic books. The way they have twisted this series, especially in book 6, shows us that this publisher is in the business of lying to children and promoting violence and trying to convince us that our side is always right, even while they partake in violence that matches the violence they condemn. An eye for an eye, anyone? Is that the way we want to be, or do we want to restrain and disarm the attackers? "Cahills save the world" has replaced the earlier Cahill moral code in which Cahills never stooped to the level of their opponents, but instead, outwitted them. I forget the words that were used in the earlier books. Maybe someone remembers.
Did we love the earlier books because they told us that our side is always right and anything goes, since we are the good guys? Or did we love them because the protagonists were smart and honest and cared for each other? Was it wrong to admit error and mail back the book stolen from the monks in the first series? Are we and the Cahills always right?
Scholastic is trying to teach us that good guys are perfect and killing people indiscriminately is right because we are the good guys.
August 26, 2020
Loved this book and the whole 39 Clues series. The characters are wonderful and the writing was amazing and intriguing. David Pittu, the narrator on the audiobooks of the whole series, was as usual, amazing. He is my favorite audiobook narrator.
This book was the conclusion to the Cahills vs. Vespers series and what a conclusion it was! I was at the edge of my seat during the last few chapters.
Trigger warnings for death of loved ones.
A wonderful read!
This book was the conclusion to the Cahills vs. Vespers series and what a conclusion it was! I was at the edge of my seat during the last few chapters.
Trigger warnings for death of loved ones.
A wonderful read!
December 4, 2024
Another huge chapter of what’s turned out to be a fantastic and high stakes mystery series has come to a close. I doubt I’ll be able to not fully read through all the other spinoffs, but truly it kind of felt like maybe the end of the actual Cahill kids parts of this series. I really enjoyed the well rounded ending on this one, and the actual deaths and world altering stakes just made this series finally have the oomph it really needed.
July 9, 2025
if I were to go back in time and tell my 15-year-old self that her favorite character in this book was ian kabra she would be SO SHOCKED
May 25, 2013
Book closes shut. I am just going to start out with how much I love the 39 Clues series. I started this series in the 7th grade and I have been reading them for 5 years now. I was super excited when I heard that there would be a sequel series and it turned out to be just as AMAZING as the first. The Day of Doom was the conclusion to the second series and I want to say it was good, but it just wasn't amazing. Some plot holes were too conveniently tied up while the villain turned out to not be so bas as I thought it would be. Not too many thoughts on this one, because this was a fun read. Some of the deaths were sad... ;_; THE FEELS.
Thank you for these awesome books.
I just heard that there would be a new series! *excited! ^^*
BEFORE
Come now book!
Thank you for these awesome books.
I just heard that there would be a new series! *excited! ^^*
BEFORE
Come now book!
April 12, 2013
This book was by far the worst in the series. Honestly, I've read better fanfictions than this.
This book wasn't a complete let down. The action was pretty neat and I liked how Isabel turned out in the end. It showed that she did indeed have a heart. Also, Dan was hilarious in this book. I loved how he got out of his depressed state he was in the beginning of the Cahills vs Vesper series.
SPOILER ALERT
Amy-
She bothered me the most. She was the most OOC out of all of them. They turned Amy to a drama-queen, boy-crazy girl.
She was sad about Evan's death for a short amount of time and immediately went to Jake. She dumped Evan for a jerk like Jake. I wasn't happy with Amy's decision.
It doesn't seem realistic. How could Amy and Jake start off with hating each other, then having a crush, and immediately love each other? It's not possible.
{"So here goes. I could make it all ooey-gooey and sappy but, that's not how I feel, Amy…"}
{"I love you Amy Cahill…"}
{Amy's eyes began to tear up, "Oh, Jake."}
The scene in the closet was horrible. It was so sappy and something I would never expect to happen in a 39 Clues book, especially when the character is Amy.
Ian-
{Ian was sniffling now.}
{Ian broke down crying.}
Ian used stereotypical British words that he never uses. They made him weak by "crying" and "sniffling" in the scene where he's talking to Isabel. I would never expect Ian to act that way, even if it is Natalie who is captured.
Fiske-
{Fiske shouted, "Who the bloody hell are you?"}
{"Touché," said Fiske. "So very predictable of you, Dame."}
Fiske is way out of character. Since when did he use the words bloody hell and in DoD he was being sarcastic. I never recalled Fiske acting like that in the other series. Also, he made so many jokes, when he's supposed to be the serious one.
Jonah-
Jonah was also OOC. I don't like how David Baldacci displayed him. They made Jonah seem worthless in this book. All he said was things about singing a song.
Jake-
All I could say is that I hate him. I used to like him but not anymore. I have a long list of reasons, but I won't write them down.
Evan & Natalie's death-
I didn't like how they killed off Evan like that. The author made it so obvious that they wanted to get rid of him so Jamy would happen. It's sad that Evan died saving Amy, when she didn't deserve it. He didn't know that his girlfriend was cheating on him.
I also didn't like how Natalie and Isabel died. Ian is left with no one. His sister and mother are dead, his father has disappeared, and he doesn't even get the girl in the end.
Overall, this book wasn't the best. It was okay, it could've been much better. There were some good parts. Dan was awesome in this book, very funny. Also, the action scenes were nice and I liked how Isabel turned good in the end, it showed that she really did care about her children.
The good news is, I read the excerpt for the next book, Nowhere to Run. Jude Watson did a great job fixing up the series. The characters were IC, and the book reminds me of the first series. I'll be looking forward towards Nowhere to Run.
This book wasn't a complete let down. The action was pretty neat and I liked how Isabel turned out in the end. It showed that she did indeed have a heart. Also, Dan was hilarious in this book. I loved how he got out of his depressed state he was in the beginning of the Cahills vs Vesper series.
SPOILER ALERT
Amy-
She bothered me the most. She was the most OOC out of all of them. They turned Amy to a drama-queen, boy-crazy girl.
She was sad about Evan's death for a short amount of time and immediately went to Jake. She dumped Evan for a jerk like Jake. I wasn't happy with Amy's decision.
It doesn't seem realistic. How could Amy and Jake start off with hating each other, then having a crush, and immediately love each other? It's not possible.
{"So here goes. I could make it all ooey-gooey and sappy but, that's not how I feel, Amy…"}
{"I love you Amy Cahill…"}
{Amy's eyes began to tear up, "Oh, Jake."}
The scene in the closet was horrible. It was so sappy and something I would never expect to happen in a 39 Clues book, especially when the character is Amy.
Ian-
{Ian was sniffling now.}
{Ian broke down crying.}
Ian used stereotypical British words that he never uses. They made him weak by "crying" and "sniffling" in the scene where he's talking to Isabel. I would never expect Ian to act that way, even if it is Natalie who is captured.
Fiske-
{Fiske shouted, "Who the bloody hell are you?"}
{"Touché," said Fiske. "So very predictable of you, Dame."}
Fiske is way out of character. Since when did he use the words bloody hell and in DoD he was being sarcastic. I never recalled Fiske acting like that in the other series. Also, he made so many jokes, when he's supposed to be the serious one.
Jonah-
Jonah was also OOC. I don't like how David Baldacci displayed him. They made Jonah seem worthless in this book. All he said was things about singing a song.
Jake-
All I could say is that I hate him. I used to like him but not anymore. I have a long list of reasons, but I won't write them down.
Evan & Natalie's death-
I didn't like how they killed off Evan like that. The author made it so obvious that they wanted to get rid of him so Jamy would happen. It's sad that Evan died saving Amy, when she didn't deserve it. He didn't know that his girlfriend was cheating on him.
I also didn't like how Natalie and Isabel died. Ian is left with no one. His sister and mother are dead, his father has disappeared, and he doesn't even get the girl in the end.
Overall, this book wasn't the best. It was okay, it could've been much better. There were some good parts. Dan was awesome in this book, very funny. Also, the action scenes were nice and I liked how Isabel turned good in the end, it showed that she really did care about her children.
The good news is, I read the excerpt for the next book, Nowhere to Run. Jude Watson did a great job fixing up the series. The characters were IC, and the book reminds me of the first series. I'll be looking forward towards Nowhere to Run.
August 20, 2015
Warning: This review contains rants, rants and nothing but RANTS.
I want to be completely honest. When I finished this book, I first thought of giving it four stars. Like,"Um, that's not so bad." But as I sat around for about 30 minutes and reflected on what I had just read, I was horrified.
I'm gonna mention first what I hated MOST. That thing about this book that made we want to roll my eyes or vomit—either one works—throughout the whole book: The romance thingy going on between Jake and Amy. Romance was supposed to make you feel good, right? It was supposed to make you feel all gooey and stuff. But in this case? It was absolutely sickening. Throughout the "romantic" parts, the same thing kept going on and on in my head. Get a grip of yourself Amy. You have a boyfriend for crying out loud, stop trying to hook up with someone else! I mean seriously, how cam you make out with another guy all the time when you are fully aware that you have a boyfriend, who's given up everything for you?
And there's the conversations. The conversations that felt all sappy and unnatural. The unconvincing conversations that were written as though they were uttered by actors and actresses in a crappy film, not modern-day teenagers. Those conversations were painful to read.
As I end my review, I'll be brutally honest again when I say this: This book writes like bad fanfiction and I'm sure that there are other stories on the web with much, much more to offer. This is my least favorite 39 Clues book of the seventeen I have read so far. I despise it, hardcore. I don't know what you're thinking Baldacci, but you've ruined most of the characters. ESPECIALLY AMY. She is not as heartless as you made her be.
I want to be completely honest. When I finished this book, I first thought of giving it four stars. Like,
I'm gonna mention first what I hated MOST. That thing about this book that made we want to roll my eyes or vomit—either one works—throughout the whole book: The romance thingy going on between Jake and Amy. Romance was supposed to make you feel good, right? It was supposed to make you feel all gooey and stuff. But in this case? It was absolutely sickening. Throughout the "romantic" parts, the same thing kept going on and on in my head. Get a grip of yourself Amy. You have a boyfriend for crying out loud, stop trying to hook up with someone else! I mean seriously, how cam you make out with another guy all the time when you are fully aware that you have a boyfriend, who's given up everything for you?
And there's the conversations. The conversations that felt all sappy and unnatural. The unconvincing conversations that were written as though they were uttered by actors and actresses in a crappy film, not modern-day teenagers. Those conversations were painful to read.
As I end my review, I'll be brutally honest again when I say this: This book writes like bad fanfiction and I'm sure that there are other stories on the web with much, much more to offer. This is my least favorite 39 Clues book of the seventeen I have read so far. I despise it, hardcore. I don't know what you're thinking Baldacci, but you've ruined most of the characters. ESPECIALLY AMY. She is not as heartless as you made her be.
July 10, 2013
So..........like......................................
WHERE'S THE COVER!!??!!!!!!!
D:
PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE WITH A FAKE-COLOURED, FAKE-TASTING, DIPPED-IN-SUGAR CHERRY ON TOP?
meow~
edit on Nov 14, 2012
MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, THE COVER IS UNVEILED!!!!!!
JFO489324JFWER@#$#@43W8AJRIO234E#$30809
Seriously can NOT wait to find out what happens. LOVE the 39 Clues series soo soooo much. And STILL can't figure the heck out why a KIDDIE SERIES CAN GET MY HEART POUNDING SO DANG MUCH; IT'S THAT GOOD!!!!!
edit on Feb 14, 2013
HOLY MOLY GUACAMOLE ON MISS SHIRLEY'S RAVIOLI
SERIES 3 PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
edit on July 7, 2013
Qool Quotes:
"Dan was devouring a loaded cheeseburger with fries, while Atticus was spooning soup into his mouth. Jake was finshing his pizza. Amy had gotten a salad, but had eaten half of Dan's fries. Grease was apparently wonderful fuel for plotting against evil." pg. 9
"The room service meal [see above quote] seemed like a long time ago, though it really hadn't been. They were all at an age where the calories seemed to be burned up as soon as they passed the lips." pg. 24
WHERE'S THE COVER!!??!!!!!!!
D:
PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE WITH A FAKE-COLOURED, FAKE-TASTING, DIPPED-IN-SUGAR CHERRY ON TOP?
meow~
edit on Nov 14, 2012
MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, THE COVER IS UNVEILED!!!!!!
JFO489324JFWER@#$#@43W8AJRIO234E#$30809
Seriously can NOT wait to find out what happens. LOVE the 39 Clues series soo soooo much. And STILL can't figure the heck out why a KIDDIE SERIES CAN GET MY HEART POUNDING SO DANG MUCH; IT'S THAT GOOD!!!!!
edit on Feb 14, 2013
HOLY MOLY GUACAMOLE ON MISS SHIRLEY'S RAVIOLI
SERIES 3 PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
edit on July 7, 2013
Qool Quotes:
"Dan was devouring a loaded cheeseburger with fries, while Atticus was spooning soup into his mouth. Jake was finshing his pizza. Amy had gotten a salad, but had eaten half of Dan's fries. Grease was apparently wonderful fuel for plotting against evil." pg. 9
"The room service meal [see above quote] seemed like a long time ago, though it really hadn't been. They were all at an age where the calories seemed to be burned up as soon as they passed the lips." pg. 24
August 14, 2016
I literally have nothing redeeming to say about this book. I'm sure at one point in my life I've read a worse one, but I honestly for the life can't think of it. I liked this series, I started it as a kid and I wanted to finish it, some of the characters were great and the concept was good. And then...this.
The books were slowly going downhill on the track of decent bookdom, but this one derailed completely, took a sharp turn in the wrong direction, grew legs and ran away as fast as it's cliche little legs could carry it. From the stupidest love declarations I have ever heard (And I read YA fiction, that's saying A LOT) worst. death. scene. ever, strange character redemption, and the butchering of characters that were occasionally decent (Or in Ian Kabra's case fabulous beyond measures, and in this one butchered beyond recognition)
I highly doubt I'll read the next series. For me the books ended at the first series, and other series was kind of like a spin off...and then this book was a really bad fanfiction. It was a nightmare. A really, terrible nightmare that I'm sure will disappear sometime. (Please? This cannot be canon.)
Word of advice to anyone who shares at least a scrap of love for 39 Clues. Don't read this book. It really isn't worth your time, it's painful, badly written, and manages to butcher vaguely likable characters into cliche oblivion.
The books were slowly going downhill on the track of decent bookdom, but this one derailed completely, took a sharp turn in the wrong direction, grew legs and ran away as fast as it's cliche little legs could carry it. From the stupidest love declarations I have ever heard (And I read YA fiction, that's saying A LOT) worst. death. scene. ever, strange character redemption, and the butchering of characters that were occasionally decent (Or in Ian Kabra's case fabulous beyond measures, and in this one butchered beyond recognition)
I highly doubt I'll read the next series. For me the books ended at the first series, and other series was kind of like a spin off...and then this book was a really bad fanfiction. It was a nightmare. A really, terrible nightmare that I'm sure will disappear sometime. (Please? This cannot be canon.)
Word of advice to anyone who shares at least a scrap of love for 39 Clues. Don't read this book. It really isn't worth your time, it's painful, badly written, and manages to butcher vaguely likable characters into cliche oblivion.
November 1, 2015
Как испортить конец обалденнейшей серии? Отдать писать последнюю книгу какому-то придурку, превратившему шикарную драму в фарс. Я очень зол. Шутки не в тему, тупое поведение персонажей. Рррр.
От этой любовной линии мне хочется биться головой об стену. Вроде Эми осталась с кем я хотела, но автор и тут напоганил. Я такого тупого и неправдоподобного признания в любви даже в порнушных романах не видела. А ведь в предыдущих книгах пищала от восторга даже если они случайно друг к другу прикоснуться.
Конец скомкан. Чтоб вы понимали, там развязка на последних пяти страницах.
И жертвы. Умерли немного не те, кто я ожидала.
В общем, краткие итоги серии: читать советую. Первая серия отдает детской наивностью, но в ней много загадок и приключений. Атмосфера то что надо. Вторая лучше первой. Первые пять книг я могу уверенно внести в список любимых. Шестую - в список величайших фейлов к ряду с концом Дивергента, Бегущего и Делириума.
Кстати, перевод мне больше понравился именно украинский. Я половину читала на русском, половину на украинском. Украинский приятнее и точнее (я некоторые моменты не поленилась с оригиналом сверить). Так что если у вы владеете украинским, то читайте именно на нем, мой вам совет.
Итог книги: 7 из 10
Итог серии: 9 из 10
От этой любовной линии мне хочется биться головой об стену. Вроде Эми осталась с кем я хотела, но автор и тут напоганил. Я такого тупого и неправдоподобного признания в любви даже в порнушных романах не видела. А ведь в предыдущих книгах пищала от восторга даже если они случайно друг к другу прикоснуться.
Конец скомкан. Чтоб вы понимали, там развязка на последних пяти страницах.
И жертвы. Умерли немного не те, кто я ожидала.
В общем, краткие итоги серии: читать советую. Первая серия отдает детской наивностью, но в ней много загадок и приключений. Атмосфера то что надо. Вторая лучше первой. Первые пять книг я могу уверенно внести в список любимых. Шестую - в список величайших фейлов к ряду с концом Дивергента, Бегущего и Делириума.
Кстати, перевод мне больше понравился именно украинский. Я половину читала на русском, половину на украинском. Украинский приятнее и точнее (я некоторые моменты не поленилась с оригиналом сверить). Так что если у вы владеете украинским, то читайте именно на нем, мой вам совет.
Итог книги: 7 из 10
Итог серии: 9 из 10
May 6, 2016
This book is just a mess compared to the other 39 clues books. The author is just in a hurry to wrap up the book and has not really understood the characters at all. I wish someone else re-wrote this book, as it just doesn't belong...
July 28, 2013
I think they should have had someone else write the finale. The series was a big buildup and then to me it was kind of a letdown. Don't get me wrong, I love the series and plot idea, just not how the book was written. It wasn't funny and too sappy.
September 11, 2024
Good story and I thought the ending was terrific. Good vs evil sci-fi battle for the world.
September 4, 2018
Well, it wraps things up...
September 20, 2024
By far the worst book yet without question and Baldacci wrote it like he was held at gunpoint and told to create a book in 24 hours. Has to be the laziest thing I’ve ever read in my life; you could’ve given a random homeless crackhead a pack of newports to write it and it would’ve been better than this.
August 3, 2013
http://angelasanxiouslife.blogspot.co...
I am so glad I am done with this series. Though I will admit it ended a little over dramatic. Now that the series is done I still don't believe that it needed to continue. If you don't know what I am talking about, the 39 Clue was originally 10 books. They were good. Then the series continued with 6 more books called the Cahills VS Vespers (and a book that took place in between the two series). I think that Scholastic was just trying to make more money off a good thing. Kind of like all those Young Adult trilogies out there that don't really need to be a trilogy.
I was also disappointed that this series added a love triangle. Do we always have to get a love triangle??? The characters by the end of the Cahills VS Vespers series are just totally different then the ones we got to know before. People want to KILL people and then two chapters later don't want to KILL them? I know that sometimes I want to punch people and then I don't want to but that's totally different then killing someone.
Also in this book there is suddenly a machine to kill the world. Throughout the series of the Cahills VS Vespers we have been collecting items from all over the world. Not sure how I feel about them all of a sudden turning into pieces for a big old machine. It is a hard thing probably to end a series like this when there are all different authors writing each book.
THEN I FIND OUT THIS.. The third series, Unstoppable, was revealed in Publishers Weekly on October 25, 2012. Nowhere to Run, the first book in the series, will be released October 1, 2013. Jude Watson wrote the story arc for this series. A 2nd book called Breakaway will be released in January 2014.
I can't... I don't... WHA!!!!! Well 39 Clues I'm out. We had a long and wonderful journey together but it's time we part ways.
I am so glad I am done with this series. Though I will admit it ended a little over dramatic. Now that the series is done I still don't believe that it needed to continue. If you don't know what I am talking about, the 39 Clue was originally 10 books. They were good. Then the series continued with 6 more books called the Cahills VS Vespers (and a book that took place in between the two series). I think that Scholastic was just trying to make more money off a good thing. Kind of like all those Young Adult trilogies out there that don't really need to be a trilogy.
I was also disappointed that this series added a love triangle. Do we always have to get a love triangle??? The characters by the end of the Cahills VS Vespers series are just totally different then the ones we got to know before. People want to KILL people and then two chapters later don't want to KILL them? I know that sometimes I want to punch people and then I don't want to but that's totally different then killing someone.
Also in this book there is suddenly a machine to kill the world. Throughout the series of the Cahills VS Vespers we have been collecting items from all over the world. Not sure how I feel about them all of a sudden turning into pieces for a big old machine. It is a hard thing probably to end a series like this when there are all different authors writing each book.
THEN I FIND OUT THIS.. The third series, Unstoppable, was revealed in Publishers Weekly on October 25, 2012. Nowhere to Run, the first book in the series, will be released October 1, 2013. Jude Watson wrote the story arc for this series. A 2nd book called Breakaway will be released in January 2014.
I can't... I don't... WHA!!!!! Well 39 Clues I'm out. We had a long and wonderful journey together but it's time we part ways.
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