Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
One of the best things about this series is the humor. Everyone talks and acts like they’re Tumblr incarnate, including bad guys, grumpy old wizards, dragons, unicorns, and random townsfolk, but it’s funny and really just part of the premise that you either have to accept or not.
Another one of the best things about this series is all the adorable, loving relationships of all kinds that make you smile and feel fuzzy.
That being said, I think this final book had too much of both those things. There was an overabundance of mushy conversations and heart-to-hearts and inner monologues about love and friendship and family and home in this book, so much of it that it got redundant, especially when there was also so much of it in the last book. And between that and all the silly scenes of Sam’s distracted rambling, Gary talking about how amazing he (Gary) is, Kevin inappropriately hitting on everyone, Ryan trying to fight everyone he thinks is interesting in Sam, and Justin muttering about how he can’t believe this is his life… not very much actually happened. By 70%, all that had happened plot-wise was Sam getting back home and a small group going on a brief, fairly simple rescue mission. I might be smote by other fans for saying this, but this was my least favorite book in the series because of how slow and repetitive it felt.
BUT it was still a fun, funny, mostly lighthearted book that cracked me up at times, and it did bring a sufficient close to Sam’s whole destiny arc. And it had touching moments. And dragons. And a play about Gary’s stolen horn. And a battle between wizards. And best friends 5eva. And love.
And it’s not entirely over! In the author’s note at the end, Klune mentioned he’ll probably be returning to the series to write from Justin’s POV, and I will be very excited for that book because Justin was a great character I felt sympathy for from the start and who grew over the series.
Overall though, Sam’s story was a fun and touching one that I enjoyed reading.
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1-3 in TJ Klune's Tales from Verania Series. Anyone who likes modern humor, adorable friendships and family, M/M romance, sassy characters, and sweet stories.
More Books in the Series:
Book Review: The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales from Verania Book 1) by TJ Klune
Book Review: A Destiny of Dragons (Tales from Verania Book 2) by TJ Klune
Book Review: The Consumption of Magic (Tales from Verania Book 3) by TJ Klune
Book Review: A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales from Verania Book 4) by TJ Klune
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Ooh nice cover. A pissed off unicorn can’t be all bad either! You know I don’t usually like it when modern humor is used in fantasy, but if it’s kind of a whimsical story anyway sometimes it works! Sounds like one of those. There’s definitely a place for more humorous fantasy I think! And dragons- naturally!
Sounds like the author defintiely had fun writing the interpersonal relationships too, given the fact that they seemed to dominate the story.
Gary’s… quite an interesting unicorn lol. I think the only reason the modern humor works is because it doesn’t try to blend in or be anything other than what it is. It’s just blatantly modern, and the whole story is just kind of absurd and whimsical.
There was a note at the end of the book, I think it was, in which he talked about how he started writing this because he needed something light and some characters to have fun with. So yes, that definitely came through!
It’s a tricky balancing act to show characters’ emotions and relationships without going overboard on the deep conversations. It sounds like this book hasn’t quite got it right. A shame not to finish on a high.
Yeah, for me, at least, it did go overboard with the deep conversations and moments. But maybe I’m just a grump lol.
Yay, I just grabbed book one yesterday! This series sounds like so much fun.
I hope you like it!
This kind of sounds like romance fluff meets fantasy, which I’m totally here for. I think I’d laugh at the Tumblr-ness of it all, or at least I hope I would! Best friends 5eva is always a plus, but I’m a bit leery of long, slow-moving books these days. Lately I’ve had the attention span of a goldfish.
That is pretty much exactly what it is lol. The Tumblr-ness is fun! So are the best friends 5eva lol. It didn’t feel long though, and it was still entertaining, I just thought there wasn’t a whole lot actually happening in this one.
That cover art is lovely!!
It’s very magical looking!
me: AWWWW look at that title! sweet!!! stars ! stars are always cool!
me: AWWWWW look at that cover so preeeettyyyy
also me: oh oh is that a dragon? is this a High fantasy??? [tsk tsk]
Lol sorry to disappoint 😛
The series itself sounds cool. Last books are always so hard and the ones I dread the most. I cannot tell you how many third books in trilogies especially YA I have unread on my bookshelf and the sad thing is, I’ve come to the realization I will probably never read them. The supernatural creatures and Tumblr talk have me curious. Great review!
It was a fun series 🙂 I actually don’t dread last books the way I know a lot of readers do. I’m usually happy with how things end. And I mean, I was happy with how things ended in this one, I just thought the book just had a lot of fluff without a lot actually happening for a while. Thanks!
I have another of his series on my Kindle that I need to start but this one sounds fun too.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
He writes a lot of good books!
Good that it was humorous! Shame that it was too heavy on the mushiness, but sounds fun overall. Great review!
A little too much mush, but definitely still fun overall 🙂 Thanks!
You’re saying Sam ‘monologued’?? He’d have a stroke! 😀
I’m excited for a story focused on Justin too. Especially his internal thoughts on his Best Friend 5eva!
Noooo, he rambled. Totally different 😉
Seriously, Justin’s parts were my favorite in this book, I love how he actually came to respect and care about Sam <3
The hug! I loved that!
Me too! I knew Justin would be the one who would understand why Sam did what he did and not be angry about it.
I love my humor and heart-to-heart moments. But I get what you mean about the book. If it is too much it can seem overdone or a little bit too cheesy. A balance is sort of what I need in the end.
Same! I love those things in books, but this one got a little too cheesy for me, and it also made the book really slow.
*chuckles* Your reviews make me smile Kristen, fair play 🙂 I love the ‘tumblr incarnate’ comment – and the ‘I might be smote’ – ! XD
Lol I’m glad I can make someone laugh 😛