| Title | : | Firewing (Silverwing, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0689869886 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780689869884 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 317 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2000 |
| Awards | : | Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award (2004) |
Firewing (Silverwing, #3) Reviews
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wild time. totally forgot how much random existence/death/happiness philosophy is in this book lmao
if u are gonna read this series; i think this book is objectively unnecessary -
4.5 STARS. Kenneth Oppel is a great author, no doubt about it. He creates characters that feel real, whether they be humans or bats, and weaves a world around them that you feel you inhabit while you read about it. His action sequences are among the best I've read yet he manages to instill such thoughtfulness and heartfelt emotions in his characters that the stories always have a depth that still manages to surprise and impress me even though I've read half a dozen of his books so far.
I wavered between four and five stars for this final book in the Silverwing trilogy. It's told through three main perspectives: that of Shade, the hero bat protagonist of the last two books; his son, Griffin, who gets sucked into the underworld through a fissure in the earth and whom Shade must go to save; and Goth, the evil cannibal bat and Shade's nemesis from the first two books who, though dead, continues to torment Shade and Griffin in the underworld he now inhabits. I must say on one hand it's a pretty genius stroke to kill the villain in one book only to have him stay a villain in his ghost-form in another because the protagonists are in the underworld; but, on the other hand, I also felt a little bit cheated since I had expected an adventure with more new characters.
This is a very unusual story and one I am not sure all readers will enjoy or appreciate. Especially the young readers who are, I assume, the target audience. Death and what happens after death are key components, as is a theme of guilt as young Griffin accidentally caused the death of one of his best friends. The book calls into question ideas about "religion" as what the bats where always taught to be true about the afterlife does not seem to be true at first, and even in the afterlife they must have faith that what Nocturna created for them is true and good and that the lord of the dark underworld, Cama Zotz, did not create the ultimate empty existence for eternity. As you may imagine, this is no lighthearted adventurous romp and yet it wasn't quite as dismal as I'd expected it to be. Some of the new supporting characters add a real charm to the story and I think I am satisfied with the ending. And, wow, the book really packs an emotional zing; I never would have thought I'd be tearing up for a middle grade novel about a bunch of bats but Oppel is, as I said, a master! We also have some father/son themes here, such as the worry-wart Griffin feeling that he needs to live up to his heroic father's image and not being certain how he will do it. And Shade, on the other hand, loving his son for who he is and willing to do anything to save him.
This could have easily been a five star book, but ultimately am uncertain how I felt about a few aspects of the journey that I wavered between four and five stars; I think it was all clear in Oppel's mind and he delivers a solid story but I was left with lingering questions--which may have been his intention but I usually like to feel more certain of how I should feel at the end of a book. Also, at times I had to really stop and pay special attention to whether the chapter was starting with Shade or Griffin's perspectives as at times their voices seemed a bit too similar but, again, perhaps that was just my fault as the reader and not Oppel's as the writer. Finally, though the underworld created in this book is fascinating and feels very "real" I'm not sure it was my favorite place to spend 300+ pages so my personal enjoyment diminished a little though, again, this is just personal taste.
All in all, I recommend this series (including this final book) to those who appreciate high-quality middle grade fiction (whether they typically like "animal books" or not) and especially those books that do not pander to young people instead treating children with respect, trusting them with the intellectual and emotional intelligence to give a story that will help them question and form views of the world. That said, I do caution that sensitive young readers may find these books too scary and sad at times and may wish to hold off for reading at a later time. -
I'm between 2 and 3 stars on this book. I must say I LOVED Silverwing and Sunwing, but I just hated the story (well actually only the ending) of this book!
WARNING: Major spoiler ahead!!! read at your own risk. I'm pretty much reveling the whole ending of this book.
SPOILER:
So yeah that we're my thoughts on that. But actually the rest of the book I really enjoyed. LOL -
When it comes to the Silverwing series by Kenneth Oppel, I am instantly intrigued and interested. They are spectacular. This one, Firewing, is the last one in the series that is about Shade, is about Shade, who in this book is a father of a child named Griffin. Griffin slips through a rift in the ground into the Underworld, where is is told to find the Tree to return home. However, in this world, he is the only living one. Other bats in the Underworld are dead, and can steal your life. Shade must venture on a journey to the Underworld to find and save his son.
This book was very surprising to me. It was probably the worst book I’ve ever read. The plot is horrible compared to the first two books (which, if I may mention, were phenomenal - definitely go check them out), and the story is confusing and uncaptivating. When reading this, I wanted to throw the book off my bed, it was so bad. The fact that the female main character, Marina, is not even important in Firewing, just makes me cringe. She was the second main character in the first book! The fact that Griffin, being a new character, plays a huge role in this story makes me cringe and shake my head.
The theme of the story is a good theme - it focuses on how Shade goes to save Griffin, his son, from almost certain death, when even his own father abandoned him in a search to satisfy his curiosity. Shade is constantly worrying about his son even though he hadn’t met him yet! The setting of the story is also interesting, because it is set in the land of the dead, whose god is Cama Zotz. The setting makes for an interesting story as it is possible to get your own life ripped out of your body and make someone evil alive once more.
The action was not compelling AT ALL. The fact is that it was only interesting at parts when the gods were mentioned and the “fights” (if you can even call them that) were going on. The whole story was just dull, with the switching of characters at awkward places and not knowing what time is during the story. The fights were not exciting at all, may I mention, involving one character running away while another chases with a murderous intent. Not fun at all.
The setting was extremely unclear. You can get that you are in the Underworld, but the visualization and other literary skills, which usually just come to me, didn’t in this case. It was hard to see where the characters were and their correlation with time compared to the other characters. Since it was a story about journeying, and all of them were on the same route, it was hard to track where they were at specific times when another point of view was introduced.
The “camera switches” were difficult to understand. I think this is the major component in making this title not a fun read. In most stories, you can clearly tell who is the main character. Not in this book. Oh, no, you have to be between Shade and Griffin, and they are both given the same amount of speaking time, so how can you tell who is more important? In the previous two books, it was obvious that Shade was the protagonist and Marina was the sidekick, even though they were traveling together and Marina was older.
The ending, should I say, was absolutely trash. I read it and literally wanted to cry by the way Kenneth Oppel ended the Silverwing trilogy. This was just a horrible ending. You would honestly be better off not reading this book and only reading the first two books.
I would recommend all readers to pick up the first two books in the series, Silverwing and Sunwing. They are absolutely stunning in the way they are written and the way the plot carries out. You won’t be disappointed. This one, though, you will definitely be disappointed. Firewing will crush your hopes and dreams about everything in the Silverwing universe. It wasn’t a fun read, it was confusing and unfollowable, and overall a bad book. I wish to save you the wasted time and energy that will be used to pick up the book and read it. Overall, I believe that Kenneth Oppel could’ve and would’ve and should’ve chose a better ending to the whole series. Firewing was frankly a waste of my time and will be a waste of your too if you read it. -
This book has quite a depressing ending. The entire book just made me sad that the main character was not Shade anymore.Overall,one of the gloomiest books I've ever read.
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This is possibly the worst book ever. And I read
Eldest, so I'm one to talk. The storyline itself is darn depressing, but the ending is the worst in the history of literature. Absolutely pathetic. The spoiler is the ending, so don't read it.
Okay, so basically, to repeat, this is a terrible book. Worst ever. Don't read. Leave it at Sunwing and pretend everyone's happy forever, blah, blah. -
Amazing book! Until I got to the end. I mean, for a book so good, shouldn't it have at least HALF as good an ending? I hated the ending because it was like you just finished a chapter. You. Don't. Know. What. Happens. Next. But, NOTHING happens next since it was the end of the series. As you can see, I loved the book but REALLY did not like the ending. What happens to Goth? What happens when Griffin and Luna make it back to Tree Haven? I usually enjoy cliff hangers, but not when you are left hanging off the cliff with nothing to pull you back on.
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3.5 stars. Although this was an amazing story, I just felt as though there was something missing, especially from the ending. This was the last book in the series and after a Christmas break filled with reading and caring about Shade, Marina and the other characters in this series I thought that this was a bit of a let down. Great book, definitely worth reading (like the whole series, which is excellent ) but be prepared for mixed feelings at the end of this story.
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Just plain stupid!
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CW: Suicide, Ableism, Bigotry
I can't believe it. This is the worst ending to a series I've ever experienced, and the journey wasn't fun either.
It was chock full of really ableist and discriminatory language towards disabled people. They keep describing disabled characters as creepy, strange, disturbing, and crippled for their differences. There's even a moment where a disabled character opens up about their struggle and the other characters make a joke about wishing he was disabled in a way that would shut him up?? And they all laugh at his expense? What the actual fuck?!
The characters also were incredibly discriminatory towards this one bat, because they didn't like his species. They don't really have to change or learn, they just are allowed to continue being bigoted assholes.
It ends with the bad guy succeeding, and the main character we know and love from the previous 2 books COMMITTING SUICIDE BRUTALLY IN FRONT OF HIS SON. But they still try to pass it off as a happy ending? What a shit show. I'm shocked that I've never heard any complaints from anyone else who had read this. -
Liked the book as a story, but it is not a good third book. Griffin is a sweetie, and I enjoyed interactions between him and Luna. However, I grew fond of Shade and Marina, and it was sad not seeing Marina for most of this book. And this owl vs. bat conflict only briefly comes up in conversation. I was feeling the third book would've resolved the politics into something more substantial than removing the day-time bans. Bats still seemed to be considered some kind of sub-animal species at least to owls who seemed to be in charge.
All in all, I enjoyed the story even if most of it was filled with new characters and a new plot. -
Not quite a Princess Bride ending and not quite a Blake's 7 ending either.
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A disappointing conclusion to Shade's journeys (as I understand the last book in the series is actually a far past prequel), and seems to argue the point with the Airborn series that Oppel chokes after the second book in a series. Altogether, it does have a cohesive, interesting plot, but suffers many other problems. Nearly all the book happens in the land of the dead, so it is more surreal than the previous books, which is a good and bad thing (land of the dead should be weird to the living, but as the previous books dealt primarily with the goings on in this world, it felt weird to abandon it for nearly a whole book).
My second biggest problem, is that Griffin never really steps up as the great protagonist character that Shade is, added to that, a lot of favorite characters from the past books get maybe a scene, and that with the notable exceptions of Java and Luna, all the new characters are flat/boring caused a weak showing for characters (and Goth is back... again! New bad guy please!).
My biggest problem is the horrible payoff, (I can put up with characters going through some seriously rotten times, but they had better get a good return, even if it's just a lesson learned, for all their suffering!) Worst. Ending. Ever.
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Major Spoilers Rant!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't read if you don't want to know or don't already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW COULD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME KENNETH OPPEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????? HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? YOU HAVE BETRAYED MY TRUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU END THIS BOOK THAT WAY!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????????? THE ENDING COMPLETELY RUINS THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BAD GUY IS NOT SUPPOSED TO LIVE AND ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW..HOW COULD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!? NO!!! SHADE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET GRIFFIN'S LIFE FORCE BACK, LUNA AND GRIFFIN WERE SUPPOSED TO BOTH INHALE GRIFFIN'S LIFE FORCE,AND GOTH WAS SUPPOSED TO GET SUCKED INTO THE TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU LET THE CHARACTER I'VE BEEN GETTING TO KNOW AND CARE ABOUT FOR THREE BOOKS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????? I HAVE BEEN SOBBING FOR TEN MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW I WILL EVER READ ANOTHER OF YOUR BOOKS EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AS I SAID BEFORE, YOU HAVE BETRAYED MY TRUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
People are really beating up this book. In fact, they caused me to almost overlook it altogether and stop at Book Two, which I'm really glad I didn't. This one was, in my opinion, a conclusive and solid ending to the trilogy.
Maybe I never was a cheerleader for Shade or I'm just more accustomed to more depressing themes, but I thought it was played out beautifully. To be honest, I did not think it was depressing at all.
Shade, through his role of a father, is a depiction of a character who has grown and matured through all his experiences. His last dramatic act at the end of the book is the epitome of a character arc being built since the beginning of the series. This change might be unsettling to some readers. But let me tell you, there are some books out there where the characters are 100% exactly the same in book seven as they were in book one, and it is DULL and perfectly monotonous.
Well, the point of this review is to say, READ THE BOOK and form your own opinion. Don't disregard it because of all the negative reviews up here. -
One of the things I enjoyed about this installment in the Silverwing saga was the fantastical nature of the plot. The earlier ones were just slightly off on the believable aspect, but because this one delved into a whole new world where anything could happen (and frequently did), it did not jar with me. Griffin's personality also struck a chord, I think because he was so different from his father. Indeed, the only thing that really bugged me was the corny nature of the ending (the sacrifice bit). Also, it seemed to be planning for another series?
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I've read some emotional books in my lifetime. And as a writer myself, I really believe in investing emotions into literature. But after over a decade, this is the only book I've ever cried over. Yes: I profusely cried when reading the "Homecoming" chapter. AND IT WAS ABOUT BATS. I've never cried over another piece of literature. Kenneth Oppel--you've accessed a deep part of my emotions via compelling bat characterization that humans, to this point, haven't been able to reach. Well done. This has inspired my writing like nothing else.
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3.5 stars
What a throwback to my childhood. The scene where Shade sacrificed himself for Griffin made me cry as a kid, and has stuck with me since I read it for the first time. This time, I wasn't as taken with it, perhaps because I binged the first two and was reaching a bit of Silverwing fatigue. Goth as an antagonist seemed tired and overdone; and I didn't particularly like the pacing either. I still think the first book is the strongest, but this one will always have a soft spot in my heart as the first book to make me cry. -
Very good
This review is for the entire trilogy. At first, I wasn't very impressed. It seemed a bit boring at times, and the writing seemed forced. But, as I came to know the characters and to care about them, it became more intriguing and I couldn't stop reading. The descriptions got better, more intense, more visible, and the story came alive in my mind's eye. Perhaps the writer got better at his craft, or more inspired, but gets better and better. Funny, exciting, life-affirming, absorbing and uplifting, I highly recommend the Silverwing Trilogy. -
I remember this book traumatizing me as I read it in bed staying up late to finish it. I loved the Silverwing series and was excited to where it would pick up with the son. Well, it was a little bit slow paced then BAM awful upsetting ending I won't spoil but ruined my night and I couldn't go to sleep because of how upset I was. Anyway thanks for coming to my TED talk.
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I cried
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I did not like the ending. I felt like it was a little stupid. Goth is definitely a Karen. I have to admit it was cool to see Frieda again.
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What an exhilarating end and conclusion to a truly epic, adventure trilogy.
Following on from Shade's storyline and the collapse of Goth's and Cama Zotz, a new Tree Haven has been established and the Silverwings can now freely roam the night and day. There is peace with the owls and all beasts are safe. Griffin, the son of the esteemed Shade and Marina, is an anxious bat who overthinks every situation. He finds himself travelling, by accident, into the land of the dead where there are perilous consequences for those who are living. Through learning of the Pilgrims and his father's fierce determination to bring his son back to the living world, back home, this is a great adventure.
Honestly, the final part of this book almost had me in tears. The ending is phenomenal and is a 'true' end to such a marvellously dark series. I loved the fantasy element in this one and learning more about sound-scape and how bat's communicate and listen and see. The new characters were a breath of fresh air to the trilogy and brought new perspectives and good relations. Of course, following Shade's point of view was just as thrilling.
Oppel really deserves the mention for his fantastic story and conclusion! -
Yeah, this was a disappointing conclusion to the Silverwing YA trilogy. The main character is now Griffin, son of Shade and Marina, and after a fairly disastrous experiment in stealing fire from some human campers, Griffin is caught in an earthquake and sucked down into the underworld where he finds himself in, essentially, bat hell. Or at least bat limbo. The weird supernatural elements of the previous two books were the bits I liked least and that seemed most jarringly out of place in a set of stories that could otherwise have simply been the bats coexisting in the same world as humans, and so having this entire book set in some weird supernatural afterlife full of dead bats and a demon god just made no sense at all any way I looked at it. Even if you're totally into the cool demon god stuff, the ending of the book is still disappointing and quite a downer and I'd honestly just recommend stopping after book 2.
