(WARNING: This discussion contains SPOILERS. Lots of 'em. Stay clear if you haven't read it yet. I'm adding these sentences just to be extra safe. That should be enough meaningless filler. Okay, let's get to it...)
What to say, friends? The end has come at long last, and it was better than I ever imagined. Five years ago I was already eagerly awaiting a sequel, but I had no idea just what it would all become. I'm glad I've been able to find out. Though I loved the ending very much, there's still a twinge of sadness that comes with it. These stories and characters have been a part of my life for so long, and its sad to see it all end, great as it was. (So much sehnsucht, right?)
I probably shouldn't get so attached to fictional worlds and characters, really. But as a not-so-good rabbit once said, "I would do it all again."
Okay, enough of my emotional emotionalness. On to the discussion!
This book has so much to it. So much muchness, if you know what I mean. Where to start?
Theories: so many theories were proved in this. I daresay the Great Shipping War of '19 can now be put to rest, (but it probably won't.) Jone's tonic, the dragons, etc, all featured heavily. Even the Garten-Sween theory turned out to be true! I don't know who first brought that idea up, but kudos to you.
Helmer. Yes, its a painful topic, but we should address it. His backstory adds so much to everything. His death was emphatic, as I believe was necessary. I'm still sad he died, but he died well.
Who is the Pilgrim? Is he one of Jupiter's captains, returned from his quest? Or someone else, someone older, perhaps? It never says.
Kyle turned around! I always hoped he would.
Okay, I think that's enough for now.
Happy discussing!
-Ian
my question is what happened to the wolves that were supposed to come by sea, instead the rabbits from akolan came. did they meet along the way and the rabbits fought it out and won?
So, something I just noticed: Do you think the Pilgrim's black arrows are a reference to the one from the Hobbit?
Does anyone have any info on what exactly "True Blue" is?????
cuz im stuck...
And what kind of arrow was that that killed the two preylords at the same time?!?!?!
lastly, who wanted to know what else was in the treasure cavern with the dragon hoard?????
I finished Ember's end back in August. here's my thoughts:
it felt, well, satisfying. i remember laying awake thinking. i remember reading while playing a game with my family. i remember reading in the car when i got it from the library. i remember getting in trouble for reading the whole night. I remember singing the songs, quoting the book, writing fanfiction in my old sketchbook.
when i started reading, i felt teleported to the forest and spying on the terralains. i read the part with Tunk, and since then i have never stopped quoting.
With Picket, i felt there. in the moment sorta,
it was so fulfilling in a way, because i remember yelling down the stairs to my mom, who always asked if it was the mending, two years ago, while reading book three "It's not the mending yet" [and yes i skipped ahead]
I was NOT expecting Harbone to fall. i was so devastated.
And Helmer, my friends and i can't stop sc reaming nnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooo helmer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in the school lunchroom. we also rant.
so, that is getting long, those are my thoughts on EE.
We finished listening to Ember's End an hour ago. It was so satisfying. @Ian G., "So much muchness" is a perfect way to describe it. Everything increased in intensity to make it an epic ending of the series, to me. Helmer's sacrifice was heart-wrenching 😭, but I will admit that EE needed that to reach that climax. The last battle in first Warren was epic - the characters were literally being volleyed with all the worst that could happen. You just had to stay to the end. And Picket's selfless attack on Morbin was the perfect last fight. I was literally was about to fall of my seat at that part when Picket was falling, watching Smalls finish off Morbin.
When that chapter ended, I thought Picket had died. I was so overwhelmed I said that I ... um, well, hated S. D. Smith, BUUUT I didn't mean that. You can begin to imagine my relief when everyone I loved, except for dear Helmer, was alive in the end. I wanted to hear more details about the reuniting of everybody else in the end, like Nate, who's loss of an eye made me officially love him, and Jo, and, well, everybody, but it didn't make me mad as I'm hoping side stories will come about them.
Even though it didn't go into detail with Pick's grief over Helmer's death, I still appreciate the subtle signs that Pick still greatly missed him in the end. Sometimes less IS more.
It was beautiful to hear about Smalls and Heather's kids and Picket and Weezie's kids and Wilfred and Airen's 15 kids! I was sad that Pick the farmer didn't want to talk about his past life, and a little part of me, I'll be very honest, somehow wished he was still a warrior, yet it was realistic and nostalgic, so I'm ok with it. And wars in the Mended Wood aren't possible. Thankfully.
I don't have a big problem with the fact that the Mended Wood doesn't exactly align with all of the realities of heaven, because the Mended Wood isn't supposed to, as far as I've seen, be an exact replica/allegory of heaven; it's just an echo of it, an echo of The Epic Story.
I loved loved loved etc. the new friendship between Kyle and Jo. They actually do have things in common! "Dear Kyle, You are the great nitwit of the world. Love, Jo Shanks." Do I need to say more? Speaking of that, humor also only multiplied in Ember's End. Seriously, how does S. D. Smith not run out of it?
Okay, I'll end now. This is too long. One more thing: "Picket's Apprentice", Chapter 35, was the sweetest thing.
Picket becoming a farmer I did not see coming. Seems to work, but I'm not quite convinced.
Wish Jacks had more time-he seems to have been forgotten.
Wish we could have seen the Weavers and Jacks and Picket reuniting
Can't talk about Helmer yet
The Pilgrim is Massie would be so cool
Pilgrim is Massie? That is a genius idea!!! If he isn't, he should be.
I thought so too, because he can't be one of the royal family, he's really old, and he's an archer.
I believe so too because I was looking at tBSoK and I saw that Massie had flammable arrows and the Pilgrim had flammable arrows too. Heather also said," I probably haven't heard the half of his story". That leads me to believe that he IS Massie Burnson. And they prologue of tBSoK was titled something like" The Diary of Massie Burnson.
I've said it elsewhere, but I'm guessing the Pilgrim is our boy Massie Burnson.
I have never really liked him.
YES! Helmer died. Are you calling me a monster? LOL!
I too am really sad. Its always hard for me when I finish a book series that I love. But one thing I find helpful, is to find a another one. Reading it for me, just makes it harder. I am glad Kyle turned around. I was kind of expecting it. One thing though, I can't believe Picket lost an arm, and he is a farmer. 😭😭😒😒. Why? Why? If he had just married Emma, he wouldn't be a farmer.
Helmers dead!!!!!! YES!!!
Don't say anything about #Peezie!