The Black Reckoning

January 1, 2015
Kids grow up so quickly these days-at least they do when they are prophetically linked to magical relics.When last readers saw the Wibberly children (The Fire Chronicle, 2012), Emma had been kidnapped by the Dire Magnus, and Kate and Michael were left frantic in Antarctica. The Dire Magnus' malevolent power has since multiplied, and the magical world, complacent in its underestimate of his capability, is ill-prepared. In turn, death, destruction and mounting anxiety breed tension and cultural clashes (namely between elves and dwarves), and Kate and Michael fear they won't see their sister again. Ultimately, the final Book of Beginning, the Book of Death, must be found before the Dire Magnus locates it, and 12-year-old Emma, the book's destined Keeper, is the only one who can travel to the world of the dead to retrieve it. Survival isn't taken for granted in this often grim, bleak landscape of battles, destitution and-as the title implies-death. With over two years having passed since Chronicle, the first sixth of the book serves as a welcome recap (who is Hugo Algernon again?). Emma's feisty, humorous voice is the most prominent narrative focus here, though as with both previous books, Kate's perceptive compassion and Michael's inquisitive practicality share the stage. This fantasy trilogy closes with both satisfying finality and the realistic, requisite heartbreak that comes with saying goodbye. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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May 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-In this series conclusion, it is young Emma's turn to take center stage and obtain the Book of Death, which the 12-year-old handles with bravery, imagination, and the willing assistance (nay, sacrifice) of beloved friends both new and old. There is high adventure: war with all its inherent idiocy (finding a leader is impossible when the witches, gnomes, and elves despise one another), the hunt for treasure, and an unsettling visit to the Land of the Dead. There is also humor, this time in the character of Willy the Giant, whose large body is easily matched by his wits and heart. Fear, frustration, and violence also feature in this story, as well as heartbreak. Ultimately, however, the lost are found, the world is saved, and love manages to win out in the end. With no guarantee of survival, the Wibberly siblings prove themselves to be worthy guardians over life and death. Readers will need to have read the first two books for maximum enjoyment. VERDICT A fine, if somber, end to an excellent fantasy trilogy.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 This final installment in the Books of Beginning series picks up the trio of once-orphaned siblings where The Fire Chronicle (2012) left them: newly resurrected Kate is still reeling from time-traveling with the boy who will one day become her enemy, and Michael, who brought her back, attempts to harness the powers of his own recently discovered Book. But Emma is on her own, captured by the evil (though perhaps not entirely so) Dire Magnus and his cronies, and her sister and brother are prepared to risk everything to free her. This is Emma's story, and it is Emma and her quest for her BookThe Black Reckoning, or the Book of Deaththat takes center stage in the narrative. It's a journey that encompasses the land of the giants and the land of the dead, and each page sends the siblings hurtling toward a startling, sometimes somber conclusion. Stephens once again nails the sibling dynamic, and this end of a trilogy is both action-packed and introspective. Sure to please fans.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This New York Times best-selling series already has a following, and the final volume is sure to draw interest.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)