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Nightschool: The Weirn Books #4
Nightschool: The Weirn Books, Vol. 4
The Sohrem is rising, the Hunters are on the move, and Alex is caught in the middle! As forces conspire to draw the young weirn and her allies back to an empty school, the shadow of the enemy who has been pulling all the strings begins to show. But is it the enemy without - or the one inside her - that Alex should fear the most?!
228 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2010
110 people are currently reading
1073 people want to read
About the author
Svetlana Chmakova
38 books1,616 followersSvetlana Chmakova (Russian: Светлана Шмакова) (born 1979 in Russia) is a comic creator. She is best known for Dramacon, an original English-language (OEL) manga spanning three volumes and published in North America by Tokyopop. Her other work includes the 2-page The Adventures of CG for CosmoGIRL! magazine and the webcomic Chasing Rainbows for Girlamatic. Though born in Russia, she immigrated to Canada, where she graduated from the Sheridan College Classical Animation program, in 2002. She then began to publish her manga on the Internet, where her works were found by CosmoGirl! magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
August 15, 2011
I don't like cliff-hangers like this, at all. It's one thing to leave suspense, things left unfinished.. but.. not done this way. This volume felt almost rushed through the second half, like there were so many ideas and plot points that needed to be combined into only a specific amount of pages. Why not make it one extra volume? If it means keeping the book at a proper pace, fleshing out the villains, adding more depth, and helping us (readers) understand their motivations... why not?
Sure, it's not all that complicated to begin with, but the series arc deserves better than a rushed ending like this. Even the ending itself, which I will not spoil, felt almost like it was an after-thought, or a cop-out. It was quite disappointing ending compared to those of the previous volumes.
Still, I will give this book 4 stars. I really did enjoy it, overall, despite the issues I had with the story. Svetlana Chmakova is one of my favourite artists, and her work really does make her novels shine. I will be picking up the next volumes in the series, once it starts up again. I only hope the series strays away from cliches like that one from here-on-out.
Sure, it's not all that complicated to begin with, but the series arc deserves better than a rushed ending like this. Even the ending itself, which I will not spoil, felt almost like it was an after-thought, or a cop-out. It was quite disappointing ending compared to those of the previous volumes.
Still, I will give this book 4 stars. I really did enjoy it, overall, despite the issues I had with the story. Svetlana Chmakova is one of my favourite artists, and her work really does make her novels shine. I will be picking up the next volumes in the series, once it starts up again. I only hope the series strays away from cliches like that one from here-on-out.
October 5, 2020
I havent read this series in so many years, all I remember is how much I loved it and how I felt disappointed that it ended so abruptly.
September 14, 2020
Cool story, great characters, great art, very disappointing finish to an engaging series.
The author notes she was rushed, working multiple projects, and late with this one, and it shows. There's lots of obvious filler, e.g. frame after frame of generic swooshes with vague characters (to indicate magical battle), 6 completely black pages to illustrate changing dimensions, etc.. Specific explanations of curses in the middle, then COMPLETELY ignoring those curses at the end, so why bother to explain them at all?
I'd like to have seen what Eron or Remy are doing as they 'research', and some development of those two characters, and so many others. Maybe they are being saved for another story? I wish this had been two books, for me there was too much interesting content left out.
The worst offense to me [spoiler alert!] is 'punishment' for kidnapping, enslaving, killing, is ... being a substitute teacher. Really? If that was a joke, it missed by a mile for me. Put the biggest sociopaths as authorities over students? Trust someone who's already enslaved children alone with dozens of them? It didn't fit, Madame Chen had not been made out to be an idiot up to that point.
After 3 books, this is the installment that made me wonder if I'd missed a prequel, and wished for a text novel to properly flesh out the story as presented here. That would at least help with some of the less clear lettering! From other reviews I saw I had misread the antagonist as Schrem and one of the characters as Bron. Through 4 books! If the names and new words matter, the lettering needs to be clear.
Another letdown for me is that while the series is subtitled "The Weirn Books", there is almost NO development of the Weirns, where they come from, their abilities, so everything they do comes across as 'deus ex machina'. The fascinating Astrals also - we never see their faces, they are just black shapes with white skunk-like marking and lots of 'arms'. Their actions are represented as jagged black ink marks. What''s going on? What do the Astrals do? What CAN they do? How does the relationship develop? What is the benefit to the Astral? What do the Astrals need, how do they get it? We don't know - like too many characters in this story, they seem enthralled by the main characters, willing to do whatever is asked with no compensation or distractions....?
There is a continent of room for development here, from this strong start of this world and its characters. If you're reading the series, open the last pages of this book FIRST to read the "Night School Companion". This frames the books well, I think it should have been part of the first book! Now I have to read them all again >awww< :).
The author notes she was rushed, working multiple projects, and late with this one, and it shows. There's lots of obvious filler, e.g. frame after frame of generic swooshes with vague characters (to indicate magical battle), 6 completely black pages to illustrate changing dimensions, etc.. Specific explanations of curses in the middle, then COMPLETELY ignoring those curses at the end, so why bother to explain them at all?
I'd like to have seen what Eron or Remy are doing as they 'research', and some development of those two characters, and so many others. Maybe they are being saved for another story? I wish this had been two books, for me there was too much interesting content left out.
The worst offense to me [spoiler alert!] is 'punishment' for kidnapping, enslaving, killing, is ... being a substitute teacher. Really? If that was a joke, it missed by a mile for me. Put the biggest sociopaths as authorities over students? Trust someone who's already enslaved children alone with dozens of them? It didn't fit, Madame Chen had not been made out to be an idiot up to that point.
After 3 books, this is the installment that made me wonder if I'd missed a prequel, and wished for a text novel to properly flesh out the story as presented here. That would at least help with some of the less clear lettering! From other reviews I saw I had misread the antagonist as Schrem and one of the characters as Bron. Through 4 books! If the names and new words matter, the lettering needs to be clear.
Another letdown for me is that while the series is subtitled "The Weirn Books", there is almost NO development of the Weirns, where they come from, their abilities, so everything they do comes across as 'deus ex machina'. The fascinating Astrals also - we never see their faces, they are just black shapes with white skunk-like marking and lots of 'arms'. Their actions are represented as jagged black ink marks. What''s going on? What do the Astrals do? What CAN they do? How does the relationship develop? What is the benefit to the Astral? What do the Astrals need, how do they get it? We don't know - like too many characters in this story, they seem enthralled by the main characters, willing to do whatever is asked with no compensation or distractions....?
There is a continent of room for development here, from this strong start of this world and its characters. If you're reading the series, open the last pages of this book FIRST to read the "Night School Companion". This frames the books well, I think it should have been part of the first book! Now I have to read them all again >awww< :).
July 16, 2018
I wish there was more! I’m sad that there aren’t more volumes for this author to expand the world and dive deeper into all the characters. I feel that if she did, this could be a really good series! Some of the characters could’ve used a bit more development but I think the story and the world were created so well that I can overlook it. I’m sad this is the last volume for now :/
October 12, 2023
Ending was kind of a cop out, but overall, this was a fun series! I enjoyed the cast of characters, it was diverse, and the plot was interesting. I like the concept of the Nightschool. Maybe it’ll get animated someday!
August 7, 2024
Finishes up the story line and answers some, but not all, of the questions.
February 11, 2011
I would give it 3 1/2 stars, but I was too frustrated by the ending to give it 4 stars. The whole volume felt rushed. I don't think a story arc this big fits into 4 volumes by any means. The fact that the next volume is pretty far off makes things worse. The solution to the Sohrem felt like a cop-out and there was no explanation of whether the rest of the world felt any of the effects. The people present and awake remembered, but the ones asleep or dead at the time didn't. Does that mean everyone else who was alive and awake at the time remembers? Probably not since one guy didn't, but it still doesn't make complete sense. And another thing, why couldn't the good guys see the faces of the other Sohrem hosts? They could see the three they knew pretty clearly. And why was Mar the only one who could exert any control over herself when the Sohrem took over? I would have figured at least one of the other two would have had some success fighting back. Again, no sex, the violence was tamer in this one the the previous two, and there wasn't any language that I remember in this one. The ideas are fairly awesome. The art is interesting and appealing. It just all felt too rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2010
This is the conclusion to Chmakova's Nightschool series (though she does leave the storyline open to sequels/related series in the end). I liked this final entry for some of the creative artwork and the way so many of the characters are finally brought together. However, I wish that Chmakova had balanced her approach to the plot better throughout the four volumes. I feel like there was a slow and steady sharing of facts and details in the first couple of volumes - really setting the stage well - and then so much of the story was rushed along in the last two volumes. In fact, the details came at me so fast that I had trouble keeping track of what was really going on (not so good in a book that deals with fantasy elements). I really feel like a lot of character development and story crafting was sacrificed to fit the series into a neat four volumes. All in all, pretty enjoyable and I really liked the premise. Just wish there was another two volumes or so to really develop the story and character relationships they way they should have been...
July 14, 2011
Actual rating: 4.5
This was BY FAR the best book in the whole series! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! Epic!
I am also VERY PLEASED that while the series isn't over, the storyline came to some sort of close so I'm not tearing my hair out in waiting wondering OMG WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN! I mean, I do wonder, but it's not at a huge cliffhanger. So thank you Svetlana, I do appreciate that!
This series is really fantastic! It's fantasty, which I love, and has fantastic art, which I love, and even though it can be super serious at times, it's hilarious in other parts, which I love. All around, it's great! I can't wait to read more!
(Thanks Jillian!)
This was BY FAR the best book in the whole series! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! Epic!
I am also VERY PLEASED that while the series isn't over, the storyline came to some sort of close so I'm not tearing my hair out in waiting wondering OMG WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN! I mean, I do wonder, but it's not at a huge cliffhanger. So thank you Svetlana, I do appreciate that!
This series is really fantastic! It's fantasty, which I love, and has fantastic art, which I love, and even though it can be super serious at times, it's hilarious in other parts, which I love. All around, it's great! I can't wait to read more!
(Thanks Jillian!)
August 7, 2011
The story comes to a dramatic conclusion, while the Hunters along with Daemon, Madam Chen and Mr. Rois, strive to defeat the risen Sohrem, without damaging their young hosts. However, the power necessary to do so may involve manipulating time. Good conclusion.
*** Good series. But I feel like it is more the first chapter in a larger story. I wish that the author would hurry-up and write some more! I really like the world and feel that it has some very interesting aspects to it. I want to know MORE!!!
*** Good series. But I feel like it is more the first chapter in a larger story. I wish that the author would hurry-up and write some more! I really like the world and feel that it has some very interesting aspects to it. I want to know MORE!!!
January 26, 2011
I love this series! I'm so sad this is the last book for now! I can't wait until Svetlana starts the series up again!
May 6, 2015
Wait, what? This is not the end? Um, when exactly will the rest come out? It's been 4 years!
January 9, 2018
I love the graphics and characters, and there was a lot of action, but it lacked plot/storytelling. Like; we went deeper into main characters and I loved every second of the 3rd Volume, but this one was all power and action and little story...making it a little disappointing for me. ;;;
Ex: the fight of the power monster using the girls, same monster Mr. Roi defeated a time ago. All action and power. But it all went to scrap when it lead to the predictable end of reality altering (it almost felt like a cheat) (time rewind, ya know?)
It was that moment in books where “it was all just a Dream”, if you know what I mean, and gosh those just drive me crazy. ><
I want more plot, more explanation of why the teachers are so powerful (like how the heck did they get all this power, and there’s not even a scratch on them/tierdness after a crazy battle??? It’s overkill)
The next book opens a lot of opportunities for the author to go into more details, but it could just as easily become a middle book in which everything is predictable. I hope it does not turn out that way.
Ex: the fight of the power monster using the girls, same monster Mr. Roi defeated a time ago. All action and power. But it all went to scrap when it lead to the predictable end of reality altering (it almost felt like a cheat) (time rewind, ya know?)
It was that moment in books where “it was all just a Dream”, if you know what I mean, and gosh those just drive me crazy. ><
I want more plot, more explanation of why the teachers are so powerful (like how the heck did they get all this power, and there’s not even a scratch on them/tierdness after a crazy battle??? It’s overkill)
The next book opens a lot of opportunities for the author to go into more details, but it could just as easily become a middle book in which everything is predictable. I hope it does not turn out that way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2020
Svetlana Chmakova is one of my favorite middle grade graphic novelists, and when I saw she had a YA series also, I jumped on it.
NIghtschool is a quadrilogy revolving around a school that hosts normal high school classes and students during the day, but at night, the classes and students are very different, and not a little dangerous. The fourth (and final) volume sees the Hunters getting closer to Alex, who they believe intentionally attacked 4 of their members, putting them into a comatose state. Alex and Ronee, meanwhile, are still trying to locate Sarah, a search that becomes even more desperate when someone else they both know suddenly disappears and seems forgotten by everyone except them.
Nightschool Vol 4 is an fantastic finale to an excellent series. I've read rumors that Ms. Chmakova may return to the world of The Nightschool, and I hope it's true, because I can't wait to immerse myself in this world again.
NIghtschool is a quadrilogy revolving around a school that hosts normal high school classes and students during the day, but at night, the classes and students are very different, and not a little dangerous. The fourth (and final) volume sees the Hunters getting closer to Alex, who they believe intentionally attacked 4 of their members, putting them into a comatose state. Alex and Ronee, meanwhile, are still trying to locate Sarah, a search that becomes even more desperate when someone else they both know suddenly disappears and seems forgotten by everyone except them.
Nightschool Vol 4 is an fantastic finale to an excellent series. I've read rumors that Ms. Chmakova may return to the world of The Nightschool, and I hope it's true, because I can't wait to immerse myself in this world again.
October 10, 2022
Yeah, just reiterates that I'm not a fan of manga (stylistically). I had some trouble with recognizing characters and all the little chibi reaction versions didn't help. I also think Chmakova has gotten much better with designing panels since these books. I sometimes didn't immediately get the order in which speech bubbles were supposed to be read, and occasionally which panel! The story was interesting, but I felt in the dark with a lot of the context, hoping it would be explained later but never was. The world building and exposition was so much better in the middle grade Weirn book she did. There was clearly a lot of lore, I just wasn't able to piece much of it together. Fascinating to see a favorite author's earlier work and see the evolution of her craft.
April 29, 2022
Everyone bonds together to fight the Sohrem.
I was pleasantly surprised with this last book. I didn't think the author would be able to actually end everything and she managed to wrap up all the screamingly large chunks. I know her intent was to revisit this world at some point and, since it's been twelve years now, I'm assuming that probably won't happen. I've read her "Awkward" and enjoyed it, but I like the supernatural touch in these stories much more. Fingers crossed that someday this series is continued.
I was pleasantly surprised with this last book. I didn't think the author would be able to actually end everything and she managed to wrap up all the screamingly large chunks. I know her intent was to revisit this world at some point and, since it's been twelve years now, I'm assuming that probably won't happen. I've read her "Awkward" and enjoyed it, but I like the supernatural touch in these stories much more. Fingers crossed that someday this series is continued.
October 21, 2019
This read was one of the best of the series but there was some parts that had me lost as the reader which is the issue with the entire series. Not really telling or showing how they won the battle and just appear back at school like nothing happened. I did like the black braided teacher and he definitely used his powers when most needed.
Disclaimer: I read a copy from the library and giving my honest opinion on the read.
Disclaimer: I read a copy from the library and giving my honest opinion on the read.
October 29, 2023
UGH! I want more from this world & characters!!
The ending was one that was *technically* clean so there isn’t a real need for other books but…I STILL WANT THEM!!
The way the plot was resolved I thought was cool due to me not knowing that something like that existed in that world - but on the other hand was kind of a cop out a bit.
Still it was a really good fantasy short series that I will be recommending to others!
The ending was one that was *technically* clean so there isn’t a real need for other books but…I STILL WANT THEM!!
The way the plot was resolved I thought was cool due to me not knowing that something like that existed in that world - but on the other hand was kind of a cop out a bit.
Still it was a really good fantasy short series that I will be recommending to others!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2019
Yup. Really good.
Quite enjoyed it.
Epic battle scenes. I absolutely loved madam principal. I want to see more of her. There was a nice ending to the book, and she gave some glosses to the words that she invented so that was nice. The best part was that she promised more!!! Yay! Of course that was 9 years ago...but I live in hope!
More please!!!
Quite enjoyed it.
Epic battle scenes. I absolutely loved madam principal. I want to see more of her. There was a nice ending to the book, and she gave some glosses to the words that she invented so that was nice. The best part was that she promised more!!! Yay! Of course that was 9 years ago...but I live in hope!
More please!!!
November 12, 2020
The fourth book is the concluding book to this particular series. There's a major fight against some baddies, some fan art but it all forms more of an outline to a longer series that would have had more character development. I like the Alex character but none of the others really interested me that much. All told it was an okay series but that's about it.
June 21, 2022
I wish there was so much more to series/world because it’s truly fascinating and I want to know as much as I can. I enjoyed this volume and was really surprised by the end but there were also many scenes that I think could have been a little different since they were hard to read/figure out what was happening.
November 23, 2014
Way to ruin your good premise.
This book started out pretty well. The thing with Rochelle has a few clichés I must say or better "did we need that with her as well?" Sure it's not bad in and on itself but we have already Alex to be special so did we need it with Rochelle as well especially when it leads to nothing? Like with so much else in this book. Albeit I admit that after seeing how badly Cassandra Clare handled the reason to feel bad for characters it was nice to see it done competently here. Competently in that it has actual consequences that you must learn to deal with and control as best as you can because it can get really lethal pretty fast, not some generic and incredibly obvious bad plot device that even your moronic main character would have been able to see as a fake and even if not, would not be a reason to be an asshole (followers of my reviews will know what I am referring to). Here you see actually good characters dealing realistically and sympathetically with such shit in their lives. And we see Alex's "normal" life at home being dramatically affected by what is going on.
We got again the nice artwork touches like Alex's Astral forming an umbrella. Also our magic trio again shows their mutual trust and their competence. Technically so do the hunters, albeit it still doesn't excuse them not telling Daemon anything about what they are up to, even though it going bad was fucking obvious light-years away.
Even though the antagonistic reveal in chapter 22 was partially obvious, it still had good suspense and pacing, as well as story.
But at about chapter 23 (about halfway) it all goes downhill in my mind. The reveal of the bad guys is really annoying since it comes out of nowhere, we do not even know why they are the way they are despite them being obvious characters and not just forces or anything like e.g. the original Godzilla would be. However it is pretty obvious that they are morons
The hunters in the final battle reach full on Mary/Gary Sue/Stu status in my mind. I have no idea what they did or anything, I can speculate, but in either way it comes out of nowhere and so feels very deus ex machina like. Sadly the artwork started to become a tad cluttered here and sometimes the pictures were basically swirls and barely anything more. I guess it was supposed to be fighting with magic but it makes following what is going on difficult. Not to mention considered that the bad guys apparently planned all of this they apparently did not make sure that their targets were secured, that is literally how they are beaten, one of the targets comes in and saves the others and the rest later arrive as well. And when we learn what actually set the whole plot in motion it becomes especially idiotic. Seriously what they did there was really freaking idiotic, that was a huge whole in their plan that any halfway smart person would have seen coming.
And you know how I talked about the hunters going into deus ex machina? That is pretty much what you got at the end of the manga and characters become really moronic, even more than the bad guys.
The second half of the manga was really disappointing to me because it just looks so lazily written to me. And seriously the author had proved she can do so much better so why did she do this? Was she in a rush to end it? Because seriously that is how this feels, rushed, as if one more volume was not an option, which the manga really would have needed.
So unlike so many others here, for me it did not end on a high note, but with a big disappointment.
This book started out pretty well. The thing with Rochelle has a few clichés I must say or better "did we need that with her as well?" Sure it's not bad in and on itself but we have already Alex to be special so did we need it with Rochelle as well especially when it leads to nothing? Like with so much else in this book. Albeit I admit that after seeing how badly Cassandra Clare handled the reason to feel bad for characters it was nice to see it done competently here. Competently in that it has actual consequences that you must learn to deal with and control as best as you can because it can get really lethal pretty fast, not some generic and incredibly obvious bad plot device that even your moronic main character would have been able to see as a fake and even if not, would not be a reason to be an asshole (followers of my reviews will know what I am referring to). Here you see actually good characters dealing realistically and sympathetically with such shit in their lives. And we see Alex's "normal" life at home being dramatically affected by what is going on.
We got again the nice artwork touches like Alex's Astral forming an umbrella. Also our magic trio again shows their mutual trust and their competence. Technically so do the hunters, albeit it still doesn't excuse them not telling Daemon anything about what they are up to, even though it going bad was fucking obvious light-years away.
Even though the antagonistic reveal in chapter 22 was partially obvious, it still had good suspense and pacing, as well as story.
But at about chapter 23 (about halfway) it all goes downhill in my mind. The reveal of the bad guys is really annoying since it comes out of nowhere, we do not even know why they are the way they are despite them being obvious characters and not just forces or anything like e.g. the original Godzilla would be. However it is pretty obvious that they are morons
The hunters in the final battle reach full on Mary/Gary Sue/Stu status in my mind. I have no idea what they did or anything, I can speculate, but in either way it comes out of nowhere and so feels very deus ex machina like. Sadly the artwork started to become a tad cluttered here and sometimes the pictures were basically swirls and barely anything more. I guess it was supposed to be fighting with magic but it makes following what is going on difficult. Not to mention considered that the bad guys apparently planned all of this they apparently did not make sure that their targets were secured, that is literally how they are beaten, one of the targets comes in and saves the others and the rest later arrive as well. And when we learn what actually set the whole plot in motion it becomes especially idiotic. Seriously what they did there was really freaking idiotic, that was a huge whole in their plan that any halfway smart person would have seen coming.
And you know how I talked about the hunters going into deus ex machina? That is pretty much what you got at the end of the manga and characters become really moronic, even more than the bad guys.
The second half of the manga was really disappointing to me because it just looks so lazily written to me. And seriously the author had proved she can do so much better so why did she do this? Was she in a rush to end it? Because seriously that is how this feels, rushed, as if one more volume was not an option, which the manga really would have needed.
So unlike so many others here, for me it did not end on a high note, but with a big disappointment.
January 1, 2019
Well, not really the ending I was hoping for, exactly, but I guess satisfying enough? I really just wanted more than four volumes is all--I feel like there's a lot left to be explained and more stories Chmakova could tell...so I will hold out hope that someday she will!
July 18, 2021
Good Book
I liked it anyway. Can't sleep, 100% disabled veteran. It entertains me. Gives my mind something to do setting here in the dark. While everyone else sleeps. Good storyline, good artwork. Can't wait for the next one.
I liked it anyway. Can't sleep, 100% disabled veteran. It entertains me. Gives my mind something to do setting here in the dark. While everyone else sleeps. Good storyline, good artwork. Can't wait for the next one.
May 23, 2022
Over all good series. Wrapped up too quick. Unsure how I feel about all of it. Loved the school series but it ended too fast. The hunter section was slow to start and then ended very well to mixed results. Great art!
October 23, 2017
awesome story, just my favorite style of manga drawing.
December 6, 2017
Read 1-4 of these in two days.
July 10, 2018
Nooooo I wanted moooooore <3
January 19, 2019
Interesting and confusing story. I'm glad everything worked out. I hope she will write more to this series.
October 30, 2019
The final book is reallly good. The battle, and also the descriptions of the sohrem is always chilling and very cool.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews