Half Lost

Starred review from December 14, 2015
The Half Bad trilogy ends as strongly as it started in this conclusion to one of the finest recent examples of YA fantasy. Although the Alliance was nearly destroyed by the Council of White Witches, and Nathan’s father, the Black Witch Marcus, has been murdered, the ragtag rebellion continues. Nathan, never the most emotionally stable witch, is more fragile than ever, torn between the needs of the Alliance’s fight and his desire for revenge. The only thing that may save the Alliance is if Nathan persuades a powerful Black Witch named Ledger to give him an amulet that will make Nathan virtually impervious to injury. Green’s portrait of Nathan as a damaged mixture of good and evil, a sort of well-meaning monster, is masterly, and the series’ intensity and the author’s willingness to put her characters through enormous pain and transformative loss haven’t changed a bit. Powerful scenes of suffering, defeat, and—occasionally—triumph can be found throughout. Readers will finish this grueling, cathartic tale both relieved and satisfied. Ages 14–up. Ages 14–up. Agent: Claire Wilson, Rogers, Coleridge & White.

Starred review from January 1, 2016
Fueled by a thirst for vengeance and the powers passed on by his infamous father, Nathan fights to end a war without losing himself in this series conclusion. Ever since his former beloved, Annalise, shot his father, Nathan has become obsessed with hunting her down. While the remaining members of the Alliance hide out in bases across the continent, he and Gabriel lie low in their own camp in a forest. Greatorex heads up the closest group of witches, and she tries to lead Nathan on the straight and narrow path to restoring balance--a path of justice rather than his recent brand of rampant killing. To end the war, Nathan must eliminate Wallend and Soul O'Brien, who run the evil Council of White Witches. But Nathan's changed since the day he was forced to eat his own father's heart; even Gabriel, his dearest confidant, worries he's becoming someone to dread. Nathan must fight to protect his soul just as fiercely as he guards the people closest to him. A slow burn of a read, the last leg of Nathan's journey is devastating and beautiful as he finds love and comes to full power. Like the best portrayals of war and its hideous aftermath, the consequences will haunt readers long after the final page. An immensely satisfying finale of dazzling magic, hard-earned romance, and the tragic realities of war. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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March 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-In Half Wild (Viking, 2015), the previous volume of this trilogy, Annalise, the former romantic partner of protagonist Nathan, killed his father, Marcus. Now Nathan is obsessed with tracking down Annalise, though he's not exactly sure what he'll do when he finds her. Nathan and his new lover, Gabriel, are part of the Alliance, whose purpose is to eliminate the evil Council of White Witches. As always, Nathan is moody and reticent, even more so since the death of his father. While he's been developing the magical powers he inherited from Marcus, he has also been killing groups of the Council's Hunters as he comes across them. His murderous spree worries Gabriel and Alliance leaders, and he has to work hard to repress the evil part of him. The climax of the story, in which Nathan leads Alliance fighters as they invade the Council's headquarters, is violent and bloody but not unexpectedly so. The result of the battle and the story's denouement are unexpected, and the conclusion of the tale is emotionally wrenching but fitting. Those who have read the first two installments of the trilogy will read the enthralling finale eagerly and should, ultimately, be satisfied. VERDICT Essential for libraries that own the first two books in the trilogy. Purchase multiple copies if possible.-Marlyn Beebe, Long Beach Public Library, CA

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Starred review from December 15, 2015
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* In the final book of the Half Bad trilogy, Nathan has become his worst fear: a killer for killing's sake, just like Marcus, his Black Witch father. The Alliance is delighted at this philosophical metamorphosis, brought about after Nathan eats his father's heart, certain that their cause will now prevail, provided Nathan can get the other half of the amulet from Ledger, thus ensuring Nathan's protection. Then he will be powerful enough to murder Soul, the leader of the Council of White Witches. The Alliance's ultimate goal? Black and White Witches living together in a semblance of harmony. Only Gabriel can tap Nathan's conscience, reminding him of their own dream of a peaceful home near the rivertheir happily ever after. It's a poignant finale to a trilogy that readers, for full effect, will need to absorb from its beginning. Ratcheted violence, a touching love story resolved from a unique love triangle, and Nathan's continued personal battle between his Black and White Witch personas all weave together toward a melancholy yet perfectly pitched denouement. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The 51-country rollout of the first book paved the path for commercial and critical success, culminating in this worthy finish.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)