Reviewed by: BigAl
Genre: YA/Paranormal
Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words
Availability
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Author:
Globetrotter
Imogen Rose is Swedish by birth, went to college in London (where she received
a PhD in immunology), and is now a Jersey girl. After her eight-year-old
daughter insisted she write down her stories, Rose wrote the first of her
Portal Chronicles series and decided to let it out into the world. The response
was so positive that she’s continued with the series, and started two other
series.
For more,
visit Rose’s website.
Description:
The final
book of the Portal Chronicles series, which brings to conclusion the
time-and-dimension-hopping adventures of the two Arizonas, Arizona Stevens and
her alter ego in another dimension, Arizona Darley.
Appraisal:
The covers
of past Portal Chronicles books each depicted a new moon phase. Imogen Rose set
herself up to have to wind up the series with this book, with a full moon on
the cover. I’ve read several times in several different venues that Rose is a
“pantser” rather than an outliner and didn’t know where the story was going; I
was interested in seeing how she’d wrap up the overall story line. I saw two
logical conclusions, which I won’t detail to avoid spoilers, but will say that
one of my ideas left room for some of the characters from this series to find
their way into Rose’s Bonfire Chronicles or Bonfire Academy series (a very real
possibility since the world’s occupied by all of her books have some overlap
and we’ve seen some characters appear in both). This still seems possible,
while also bringing Arizona’s tale to a logical end, not unlike what I’d
pictured, but ultimately a bit different and even better than what I was
thinking. Actually, it was the perfect ending. One that should leave most
Portal Chronicles fans satisfied.
Reaching
the end of a favorite series, which this has become, is bittersweet. The cliché
says that all good things must come to an end, and I suppose that’s right. A
book series that goes on too long often falls into the trap of too much
repetitiveness and formula, and I appreciate that the Portal Chronicles are
concluding before that had a chance to happen. I’ve enjoyed watching Rose grow
as a storyteller and author, and look forward to continuing to do so as her
other series progress.
FYI:
I would
recommend reading the entire series. Reading the books piecemeal or out of
order would leave a reader confused and lacking necessary back story.
A small
amount of adult language.
Format/Typo Issues:
My review
is based on a beta version of this book, so I’m unable to judge this area.
Rating: ***** Five stars
7 comments:
Thanks for taking the time to review my book, BigAl. Glad you enjoyed it and approved of the ending. It's easy for a pantster to keep writing a series without an ending in sight, so I consider myself lucky that it came to a natural conclusion with the full moon (though I did have an picture of a lunar eclipse to fall back on :/ ).
Then I want another book with an eclipse on the cover. You could describe it as the second final book in the series. :D
It's like you live in my head. :D
It won't be a second final, though. And not for a few years, so don't say, "Hurry harder!"
Portal Chronicles- X's Saga... could happen. Unless I turn into Hank Moody.
Don't tell anyone!
Hurr ... Oops.
Umm. My lips are sealed. No one will ever know. :D
Congratulations on the release of Fusion, Imogen.
Great review Al.
Thanks, Vicki!
*sneaks off quietly* Mwahahahahaha!
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