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A review by justareadingmama_charly
Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
2.0
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, but the other three were hard for me to get through. I know I was the series as a teenager, but I have no memory of the books after the first two and now I remember why--the last three books are so boring.
Some thoughts:
-if the books had been about a third of the length, I think I would have liked them more
-my least favorite parts were when they were in the sanctuaries after another artifact, with characters just introduced that I didn't care about at all and having a bunch of pointless obstacles (and when it was Kendra's point of view, she was just there while the adults overcame the obstacles but Kendra needed to be there because of her powers).
-Seth's sections were generally much more interesting to me than Kendra's. He is a much more proactive character and Kendra is so bland and usually just there.
-way too many characters and ideas (like the eternals) we're introduced too late for me to really care about them
-Bracken does not feel like a teenager, in the way he is written and in the narrator's voice for him. I was very surprised (not in a good way) when Kendra's feelings for him were brought up and I never felt any chemistry between them (or between Warren and Vanessa). And the ending, with the casual mention of Kendra someday becoming an eternal was just ... No.
-and the wrap up with spinx. Oh my gosh. Just let him die. He's already been alive longer than he should, has shown himself to be successfully manipulative, and doesn't mind using terrible means (including murder) for his ends. Making him an eternal is just stupid. I never liked the concept of the eternals in the first place.
-their Sorenson grandparents being alive was a little silly to me
-I really loved that they brought Patton Burgess back into the plot, he was such a fun character
Overall, I enjoyed the first two books and had to slog through the last three. I wouldn't have stuck with it if I wasn't listening with my kids. They (ages 9, 7, and 6) loved the series and loved the ending.
Some thoughts:
-if the books had been about a third of the length, I think I would have liked them more
-my least favorite parts were when they were in the sanctuaries after another artifact, with characters just introduced that I didn't care about at all and having a bunch of pointless obstacles (and when it was Kendra's point of view, she was just there while the adults overcame the obstacles but Kendra needed to be there because of her powers).
-Seth's sections were generally much more interesting to me than Kendra's. He is a much more proactive character and Kendra is so bland and usually just there.
-way too many characters and ideas (like the eternals) we're introduced too late for me to really care about them
-Bracken does not feel like a teenager, in the way he is written and in the narrator's voice for him. I was very surprised (not in a good way) when Kendra's feelings for him were brought up and I never felt any chemistry between them (or between Warren and Vanessa). And the ending, with the casual mention of Kendra someday becoming an eternal was just ... No.
-and the wrap up with spinx. Oh my gosh. Just let him die. He's already been alive longer than he should, has shown himself to be successfully manipulative, and doesn't mind using terrible means (including murder) for his ends. Making him an eternal is just stupid. I never liked the concept of the eternals in the first place.
-their Sorenson grandparents being alive was a little silly to me
-I really loved that they brought Patton Burgess back into the plot, he was such a fun character
Overall, I enjoyed the first two books and had to slog through the last three. I wouldn't have stuck with it if I wasn't listening with my kids. They (ages 9, 7, and 6) loved the series and loved the ending.