Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember

Just when I started feeling that the series is extending a bit too much, it gets interesting to even think of leaving the series alone. Book 15, The war of the Ember, yes finally the ever-ending series of the noble owls of the Ga’Hoole tree has come to a stunning conclusion.

The strange, maniacal blue owl known as the Striga has been rousted from the Great Ga’Hoole Tree. Nyra, leader of the vicious Pure Ones, is either dead or laying low in some distant land,leaving the tree finally at peace. As if fed by an invisible spring, learning and the lively arts flourish at the great tree and spread throughout the owl kingdoms.

But unbeknowst to the Guardians, in a long-empty cave deep in the Northern Kingdoms two ruthless villains join forces to conjure an ancient evil, an evil that will do their bidding and wreak havoc on the world.

When word of this growing malevolence reaches Coryn, Soren, and the Band, the young king knows he must do two things: First, he must return the ember to the Sacred Volcanoes, for the same subtle emanation from the Ember of Hoole that stimulates the quest for knowledge and invention at the great tree, also magnifies the powers of those who seek to destroy it and all for which it stands. Second, he must gather allies. Two armies grow. Gadfeathers, bears, dire wolves, and greenowls join with the Guardians, while on the other side ancient evil takes to the sky. 

It is not a battle but a War, a war for the ember of Hoole.

A gripping tale of bravery, friendship, nobility, “gizzardly” wisdom and of valour. The War of the Ember marks the end of the long winding tale of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series spun in a well appointed plot by Kathryn Lasky and read by Pamela Garelick who  delivers the depth of personality Lasky has invested in her flock of owls and energetically leads us through the plot twists. Garelick’s distinguished yet likable voice is simply wonderful—her lively characterizations of little owls and maternally inclined snakes all delight. She’s also expert at recapping the owl’s complex history so that it’s clear to new listeners, yet fresh for the already familiar. 

A nice conclusion for this series of books. I enjoyed the whole series very much and learned a lot about owls in the process. Realize that they are written for children but are a delightful read for adults as well. As always there is the conflict of good and evil, with evil being vanquished in the last novel. It also teaches of harmony among all creatures, big or small and among varying species.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 14 : Exile

Finally the penultimate book 14 of this huge Guardians of Ga’hoole series, Exile. Although after reading 13 books at stretch anyone would definitely get bored and start asking when will this finish but Exile out of the blue still manages to captivate us readers in love and sadness with the brave owls of ga’hoole, the demonic Pure Ones, and the fight between good and evil. Few have been able to make a successful story of animals but this series exceeds that of an animal book,. Finally with the new book we can see the series with Soren and the band continue.

Exile takes an even more darker twist in the Guardians of Ga’hoole when The Striga, a blue Dragon Owl who saved Soren’s youngest daughter, Bell, and asked in return to stay and teach his ways to the owls of ga’hoole.

It was their gravest mistake to agree this proposition. 

Slowly The Striga tries to inch closer in his friendship with the king of the tree: Coryn, as Coryn is even more slowly losing control over the Ember of Hoole’s power. Even worse than that, books and ancient records detailing very early points in owl history, are being burnt, as a part of “cleansing from earthly possessions and vanity”. The blue owl has one thing standing in his way from starting a cult: the band. As Soren, Gyflie, Digger, and Twilight figure out what is going on, poisoned by the Ember and Striga, Coryn sends a message to them as they are on their way home, banishing them, never to return to the Great Ga’hoole Tree, to stay in exile.

But The Striga isn’t done. Finding ways of accusing the owls of treason with hard evidence, The Striga orders that band is to be tracked down and imprisoned by their own friends of the tree . Hopeless the band separates hoping to meet again with allies to free Coryn from The Striga’s spell.

Kathryn Lasky again stumbles us with strange and dark secrets, keeps us pinned to the book in great fights, and warming our hearts with the courage and daring of the owls of ga’hoole. Exile gives us a view with the classic, good and evil, and the misuse of power and wisdom, that make a great story.

I have to say though, I may have been slowly loosing interest in the series a little but the further into the series I go, the darker the books get, introducing things like references to cults, black magic, and demonic practices, but thankfully the author is able to keep a balance between the to facts of life with good and evil.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 13: The River of Wind

Book 13, The River of Wind, finally the series i almost coming to an end. 

The owl Bess has been studying The Others for sometime. They have had strange markings, maps, and the special “winged ones” all clues that suggest that the owls aren’t alone or weren’t, at one point. But in the scraps of strange objects, lies a map of a strange sixth kingdom.

Bess calls Soren and the entire Chaw of chaws to investigate and see where this sixth kingdom lies. To find this place they must go on an air current The Others called “The River of Wind.”

Traveling they find blue Dragon Owls, with almost Buddhist-like values, who live in the mountains. But Nyra, Soren’s sister-in-law, is back with the cult of The Pure Ones who know of the sixth kingdom and spreads the demon’s magic over the monastery.

What I love is how Lasky adds yet another fascinating culture based on real life, this makes the story just as interesting.

In the story we see how peace is easily disturbed by violence. The story takes a dark twist when even some of the blue owls practice black magic on the new eggs, making them possessed with hagsfiend magic and when they keep a large bird as the king, though he isn’t very humble, being filled with jewels and materials things get worse. Nyra’s strange demonic religion is spreading dangerously as her very feathers turn dark with all the evil that possesses her and Soren becomes worried that Coryn is concerned about his destiny, his mother, and the idea he might be what she is consumed in.

And the biggest secret of the blue owls in their evil past is revealed.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 12: The Golden Tree

Book 12, The Golden Tree may as well be the best book of the whole series, although 15 books is stretching my interest.

After the mid-mini series of the Legends Triology the Band finally makes a comeback, and Coryn is getting used to being King. Soren’s chicks also hatch, though I was disappointed there wasn’t much about them in The Golden Tree. 

Coryn and the Band go on a journey to discover whether Nyra is really a hagsfiend, and if Coryn’s blood is tainted due to his evil heritage, but end up finding out something totally different and possibly even more dangerous. A dark secret from the past is unearthed, and is in Nyra’s clutches. Coryn and the Band need to stop Nyra before it’s too late, and an important, beloved character nearly dies (i’m not revealing the name, it’ll spoil all the fun), and another character does die. I was practically on the edge of my seat with excitement!

Meanwhile, in Coryn’s absence, Otulissa is left to deal with the annoying Whiskered Screech Owl, Gemma, and Elyan the Great Gray Owl. Both have become obsessed with the Ember of Hoole, and many Guardians start to follow them. Eventually, even Otulissa is powerless to stop them, and the Guardians’ only hope of alerting Coryn lies in one of the most unlikely of owls.

A character mentioned in Book 1, Bess the Boreal Owl, Grimble’s favorite daughter, reappears as the Keeper of the Palace of Mists in The Golden Tree. However, Bess, like Soren’s daughters, Pellimore, and Eglantine, also has no dialogue, except for flashbacks.

One of the book’s greatest surprises was Madame Plonk’s amazing personality transformation, from a spoiled, fat old singer to a warrior gadfeather. There are also hints at new romances, and a brand-new owl kingdom.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 11: To Be A King

Book 11 and the final book of the Legends Triology, To Be A King was likable not excellent for besides a few errors, the author didn’t tie up all of the loose ends as effectively as in her previous books.

The things I liked about this book in particular were the creative new characters, a new romance, and Hoole’s transition from being a chick to an adult, from being a follower to a leader. Part of the book centers on the forces of evil (Pleek, Ygryk, Kreeth, and Lutta, Pleek and Ygryk’s “daughter”), while the other part centers on the newly formed Guardians of Ga’Hoole.

This book basically lays the foundation for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, the sea of Hoolmere and the Island of Hoole. The final battle for the N’rythghar is waged. While King Hoole reigns over the S’rthgahr, chaos runs rampant in the N’rythghar. Lord Arrin is ammassing an army for a final invasion, while kraals, Ullryck’s hagsfiend troops, and a mad upstart owl’s forces fight for the spoils. King Hoole must also form an army before Short Light, or lose all hope of ever reclaiming his father’s throne. Hoole gains new allies: Strix Strumajen the Spotted Owl, Sir Bors the Barn Owl, Sir Tobyfor the Northern Hawk Owl, Lord Rathnik the Snowy Owl, and many others.

New, dark forces also lurk, preparing to strike and steal the Ember of Hoole: the archfiend Kreeth, and the changeling bird Lutta. Lutta transforms into Emerilla, Strix Strumajen’s lost daughter, in order to gain Hoole’s trust and steal the Ember. But Lutta finds something much more than just the Ember…

There are also deaths in To Be A King, but nothing too disappointing. Basically, the entire book explains how the Guardians of Ga’Hoole came to be.

But there were some problems in the book. Some parts were poorly edited, and had many errors. At the end, it was unclear whether or how Lord Arrin, Ullryck, and Shadyk were defeated and/or killed. Sure, Hoole and the Guardians triumphed, but the whole battle was mostly vague.

Other than that, To Be A King is a great ending for the Legends trilogy and provides some insight on Book 12, The Golden Tree.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 10: The Coming of Hoole

Book 10 The Coming of Hoole,  finally Kathryn Laskey is getting back on track. The arc of irrelevance and boredom started in The Hatchling and continued all the way through The First Collier. But The Coming of Hoole is interesting and sticks to the original Guardians of Ga’Hoole story without slipping up nearly as much as the past three books. 

Laskey made the right move in ending Grank’s rambling first-person narrative and returns to the third-person, which the rest of the series is written in. The “writer” of this Legend book that Soren and Coryn (now accompanied by Otulissa and the rest of the band) read is supposedly unknown, but easy to figure out from pretty much the first ten pages. I liked her choice, and though you don’t really get much more insight into this character than any of the others, it was still good narrative.

The widowed Queen Siv’s egg has hatched, and Grank names the owlet Hoole. Immediately he and Theo begin to teach and train him, and Hoole is enthusiastic about it all. You can’t help but love his owlet character- he’s hyper and ambitious, totally unaware of who he really is and the power he has. When others decide to inhabit the island with Hoole, Grank, and Theo, however, the first collier begins making plans for their journey to Beyond the Beyond, where Hoole will learn from the dire wolves- most especially Fengo, Grank’s old friend.

Meanwhile, Siv can’t stand to have never seen her owlet. She makes an attempt to see him, which almost ends in his capture by hagsfiends, so contents herself with letting those she trusts in her old kingdom know she’s there, readying suport for when she’ll need it.

As typical now with Kathryn Laskey, there is no show of character development- Hoole grows up overnight without so much as a warning, and there is almost no mention of how the owl kingdom is faring without Hrath’s leadership. So why do they care that the hagsfiends are there? From what it shows they haven’t done anything bad! The battle scene at the end is sloppy, and, as predicted, the magic of the hagsfiends doesn’t seem to stop any of Hoole’s side, even though it supposedly made them unreachable in The First Collier.

But I still liked this book. It had good pace with a good story. Afterward, however, I’ll be very glad to get back to Soren and the band (with the unfortunate addition of Coryn) with The Golden Tree, which will supposedly pick up where The Outcast left off. It’s almost hard to read their tiny prolouge and epilouge scenes in the Legends trilogy.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 9: The first collier

Book 9 The First Collier, like the book 7 & 8(The hatchling & The Outcast) changes perspectives again from the band (Soren, Gylfie, Digger and Twilight) to Coryn in the last two books towards the old legends of ga’hoole. This book is the first part of a mini series triology.

From his death bed, the old owl Ezylryb warns Soren and the great tree’s new king, Coryn, of a coming danger, and instructs them to read the Legends of Ga’Hoole so they will know the identity of this mysterious rising threat.

The first of these three ancient volumes is entitled “The First Collier.” In it, Soren and Coryn find a world of chaos, warring kingdoms, and nachtmagen, the dark magic of the evil half-crow, half-owl creatures known as hagsfiends.

When good King H’rath is murdered by the foul hagsfiends, his mate Queen Siv knows she must give up her egg if it is to survive. The hagsfiend Ygryk knows that within the egg is a very special owl, and she wants nothing more than to steal it and turn the chick within to evil. To rescue her chick, Siv gives the egg to noble Grank, the first collier, so he can raise it far from the hagsfiends’ harm. 

Lasky was very elaborate with the characters names like: H’rath, N’yrtghar. Doing this was part of her creation of a new Scottish/ German owl language called “Krakish.” This shows the creativity of the author when they are able to “make up” a whole language (in fact she made two).

By the tale’s end, Soren and Coryn discover what Ezylryb intended them to learn: that the evil is not confined to the time of legends. An ancient malevolence has been loosed from the past that will threaten the very existence of the great tree.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 8: The Outcast

Book 8 The Outcast, the plot was well focused, and a lot of the characters grew and developed. It, of course, was focused on destiny, and this is the book where Nyroc, now named Coryn, finally fufills part of that magnificent destiny. 

Nyroc, rejected by the Pure Ones and by even the peacable owls, is an outcast, flying alone and thinking of all that has happened. But in Ambala he meets up with an old friend of Soren, and with his free will goes to a lawless place- Beyond the Beyond- where he believes his destiny will come true. However, when Coryn saves an egg for a family of Burrowing Owls, he isn’t as sure of what that destiny is.

When he reaches the Beyond, he meets a “gnaw wolf” in a pack of dire wolves. This wolf has a lame leg and as the tradition of the pack remains, he must go to the Sacred Volcanoes where the Ember of Hoole lies, waiting for the new king. Meanwhile, Otulissa meets Gwyndor in the Beyond, and they together find Nyroc. Otulissa believes Coryn is the true heir of Hoole and teaches him basic colliering (which Coryn is awesome at).

Little does Coryn know that his mother is coming for him, and is recruiting desperate dire wolves for her army. And at a crucial moment, it becomes a race for the Ember within one of the volcanoes and a new king must emerge- or die trying. 

I enjoyed this second adventure of Nyroc (or Coryn as he becomes). Beyond the Beyond is an interesting new place with many new creatures in the series such as dire wolves and ravens. It was also nice to see Otulissa make an appearance as well as some other old friends.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 7: The Hatchling

Book 7 The Hatchling, represents a new direction for the series. It seems that Soren’s story reached its closure at the end of The Burning, so now we step into the shoes (er, talons) of young Nyroc. 

Nyroc is all that his ambitious mother could want. A terrific flyer for one so young, obedient and very promising, Nyroc is going to be his evil father’s heir. He believes all that his mother Nyra has told him. He believes that his uncle Soren murdered his father Kludd. He believes that the owls who live in the Ga’Hoole tree are the enemy. He believes that it is his destiny to help overthrow these owls and pay them back for the defeat that the Pure Ones suffered at their hands.

And then things start to change. Nyroc sees images in fire, images that show a very different story. The images show that his father Kludd was the one who tried to kill Soren and not the other way around. In the flames Nyroc sees his mother and father committing murder and he is greatly disturbed. Bit by bit he starts to put together the true story of what happened to the Pure Ones, and the truth horrifies him. There is only one thing he can do: Nyroc has to leave his home to try to find out the truth about his parents.

Nyroc and his best friend Phillip flee the lands where the Pure Ones live only to be pursued by Nyra and her henchmen. Nyra is determined to make her son accept his birthright, and she doesn’t care what she has to do to achieve her goal. Her ruthless cruelty finally helps Nyroc see that he no longer can be one of the Pure Ones. He has to find his own way in the world.

Kathryn Lasky has made this one of her most powerful books in the Ga’Hoole series. The reader is shown how easy it is to influence others and control what they think and how they behave. At the same time, she shows us how a strong character can turn away from a life that is unacceptable, even if the price to do so is very high. Despite his fears and the dangers he faces, Nyroc accepts that he has to leave his mother’s cruel world. He learns by listening and watching that there is another kind of world out there, one that is full of love, kindness, truth and courage.
I was also pleased to see that, near the end of the book, Otulissa really comes into the spotlight. She had become one of my favorite characters, and she’s obviously going to play a big role in the books to come.

In short, this is a new beginning for the Guardians of Ga’hoole, but the epic themes remain strong. This, combined with liberal references to the rest of the series, make The Hatchling an obvious choice for fans.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 6: The Burning

Book 6 The Burning,  Soren and his band of owls have gone to the Northern Kingdoms with several different tasks to prepare for the upcoming war with the Pure Ones. They are charged with doing research, recruiting help from the Northern Forces, and training with new ice weapons. This is a highly dangerous mission and there is a chance they could be killed. Each maturing owl will be tested mentally and physically preparing for and fighting in the war against the Pure Ones. 

The Burning had the most action of any of the books in the series so far. It also had great descriptions of the Northern Kingdoms, and an incredible encounter with a polar bear! I enjoyed how each owl matures and how their individual personalities start to come through a bit more. I will be interested to see how they will change further and if their relationships with each other will change in the upcoming books of the series.

Pamela Garelick has created a rich collection of voices and gives a spirited narration. It was one of the best audiobooks I have ever heard. This wasn’t the best book in the series, I think, but it was a terrific ending. (At least I think it’s the end) It was well written, and a great book. I won’t say too much, so I don’t spoil it. I think if you’ve finished Ga-Hoole, turn your attention to the Warriors series, by Erin Hunter. Those are longer, and most Lasky fans will enjoy them.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 5: The Shattering

Book 5 The Shattering the story takes a different view and focuses on Eglantine, Soren’s younger sister, who is unknowingly brainwashed or shattered by a close friend of hers of the prisoners taken during the previous who is sent to help Kludd’s wife Nyra to carry out one of their plans. Now the story shows one of the millions “unusual” concepts.

Flecks; the secret of St. Aggies, are small metal pieces said to be more valuable than gold, but it as a other use. Under certain conditions like eclipse and full moon the flecks can change people. Nyra wanted to use the flecks, to brainwash Eglantine. But hagsmire (owl hell) magic says the flecks during an eclipse can set a certain person’s destiny to be a special one. Nyra was going to bath her egg in flecks during this time.

This becomes one of the many things that will turn Nyra mad, into a hagsfiend (owl demon) because of her obsession with demon magic.

Suspenseful and full of unexpected twists and turns. Words take flight in this fifth installment in the Ga’Hoole series… Pamela Garelick captures the essential qualities of owls with fluttery, quavering tones. Balancing the high voices of the female owls, Garelick portrays Ezylryb in a craggy voice and Nyra with a terrifyingly cruel menace. One can imagine the echoing owl voices filling the night air with eerie sounds. Numerous characters and owl vocabulary create a challenging text, but Garelick compensates with a slow, explanatory pace… Scenes of action and the final battle scene make for a dramatic audiobook animated by an able narrator.

The fantasy’s strong believability and fascinating plot make this series a must-read for fantasy-lovers.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 4: The Siege

Book 4 The Siege, ”We are the Chaw of Chaws. Don’t you forget that?” Soren and his friends have to keep trying. Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger were in. They’re going to fight, will the others? I don’t know how the author does it, but these books just keep getting better.

Soren’s beloved mentor, Ezylryb, is finally back at the Great Ga’Hoole Tree. But all is not well. There’s a war between good and evil in the owl kingdom. On one side is a group led by Soren’s fearsome brother, Kludd, who wears a terrifying metal mask to cover his battle-scarred face. On the other side are the owls of the Great Ga’Hoole Tree, who must fight to protect their legendary home from Kludd’s attacks.

Hate & Jealously are a definite strong undertone in the series. What if you were extremely shocked that your own brother was a leader of an evil group of owls known as the ” pure ones” and then he was planing an attack on the Great Tree and also planing on killing you!?

The setting of the book takes place in various places but mostly at the Great Gahoole tree and Saint Aegolius academy for orphaned owls. The main characters are Soren who’s a barn owl, was snatched when he was only an owlet, is the student of a very wise teacher at the Great Gahoole tree named Ezylryb, Leader of the ” band”, brave, and he constantly worries about his sister Eglantine. Gylfie is a tiny elf owl who was also snatched when she was just an owlet, is Soren’s best friend, uses very intelligent and big words,and is very brave. Digger is a burrowing owl, part of the band with Soren, Gylfie, and Twilight, asks many questions, and his brother was eaten by st. Aegolius academy lieutenants. Next, is Twilight is a Great Grey owl, can see through heavy fog,fierce but kind- hearted,and was orphaned as an owl because of the St. Aggies Academy but managed to get away. Last, is Kludd who is a Barn owl just like Soren, is Soren’s older brother, leader of the so called ” pure ones”, and also known as Metal Beak.

The plot summary is about Soren’s brother Kludd had just been in a battle with an owl he never thought he’d seen again which is his younger brother Soren who had come to save his mentor Ezylryb who had disappeared after the rescue of his sister Eglantine. So, Kludd is enraged with hate of seeing his brother alive when thought he had been dead because he had pushed him out of a tree while his parents were out hunting. And now he is planing an attack upon the Great tree. While Soren and his friends are assigned a mission to go to back to a place that was dreadful to both him and Gylfie , for they had been to St. Aggies before and never wanted to go back because of the evilness of moon blinking which causes and owl to forget about who they are and to just do as they’re told.So,Soren,Gylfie, Twilight, Digger, and some other friends Soren had met at the Great Gahoole tree has to sneak back into St. Aggies as spies and figure out if there are any of Kludd’s followers there trying to steal something called Flecks that is iron but very valuable and can be used for evil. You have to read the book to see if Soren and his friends make it out of St. Aggies alive again and if his brother succeeds in taking over The Great tree of Gahoole.

The theme of the book is numbers aren’t everything in war and it is just to have faith and be strong,to fight for your rights, and all that you believe in. A passage from the book that supports the theme is:

Ezylryb could feel the growing confidence of the troops. ” my trust is in your abilities this battle to the finish- does not waver, but grows by the second. we are few compared to these evil owls, but as i said before numbers aren’t everything. And never in the history of owl kind has so much been owned a few. And now i say, go forth. Go forth for our island, go forth for our tree, go forth for our honor and all that we imagine when we think of the civilization wrought by our Guardians of Gahoole. Once more i say, ye be owls of valor. Glaux bless.” ( Glaux is God) 

At one point when the knowledge of flecks is spronk, i.e., forbidden by Dewlap the ryb of Ga’hoology(who was later found to be a spy for the pure ones after being mislead into thinking by them of the otherwise) you will definitely agree with Otulissa! SPRINK ON SPRONK! Dewlap had no right to spronk that book! besides, who,may I ask, besides Dewlap, DECLARED IT SPRONK??? Simply speaking a little amount of knowledge is a danger to all.

The pacing of the book is kind of slow in the beginning but then it picks up speed in the middle and you just never want to put the book down. The book is written from a Christian perspective because this book mentions God which is Glaux throughout the book. Plus, Kathryn Lasky is a Christian. I think the author is trying to let you picture what hate and war does to people and i think the authors mood is to make it suspenseful and leaves you with wonder on wanting to know what will happen next so you get the next book. I would recommend this book to people who like owls,fast paced books that you’d probably finish within a week or less and to older middle school people because there are some violence in the book an some deaths that are tragic. 

Building on the owl world that she created in her other Ga’Hoole books, Kathryn Lasky captivates us with the gripping and terrifying events that fill the lives of these extraordinary owls. Many of them must face new challenges and confront old demons. There is no guarantee that Soren and his friends will all survive the new threats that confront them. Spiced with a sprinkling of mythology, mysticism and wonderful characterizations, THE SIEGE is an excellent continuation of a unique series. 

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 3: The Rescue

Guardians of Ga’Hoole is a classic in the making — Kathryn Lasky brings a thrilling new owl world to life. A key theme in the series is friendship: Soren and Gylfie’s bond is at the heart of the story. The struggle between good and evil is evergreen and infinitely interesting. This is great series for both boys and girls alike.

In Book 3 The Rescue, now that Soren has been reunited with his sister, Eglantine, he must face his next challenge: making sense of the mysterious disappearance of his mentor, Ezylryb. When Soren discovers that Ezylryb is in danger, he and his friends Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger devise a plan to save their teacher. In this process, Soren fights a ferocious foe who wears a terrifying metal beak, sharpened for battle. It’s not until the confrontation is over that Soren discovers the true identity of his opponent.

In this third installment of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, Soren is no longer that inexperienced young owl who didn’t know his place in the world. Almost ready to become a Guardian of Ga’Hoole, his training nearly complete, Soren is confident of his skills and knowledge, yet he is far from happy. The loss of his grumpy and unpredictable teacher, Ezylryb, has left him very depressed and unable to enjoy his life and reunion with his sister. Then, something truly bizarre and unsettling occurs. While on a training mission, Soren is visited by the scrooms, or ghosts, of his parents. They warn him of something terrible: “Metal! Beware Metal Beak!”

Soren and his friends had once witnessed the death of an owl who told them that there was something even more awful than the so-called owl orphanage that they had run away from. At the time they had found this hard to believe. Now they are beginning to realize that there is something truly evil out there, something dreadful threatening all the owls. They can also see that the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place —- there was the strange abduction of Soren’s sister and the other little owls, the loss of Ezylryb, the death of the loner owl, and the warning from Soren’s parents. Everything seemed to point to this unknown owl called Metal Beak. Who was he and what did he want?

Soren and friends Digger, Gylfie and Twilight set out to find the answers to these questions. They also take some new friends and companions from the Ga’Hoole tree with them. With the skills they have all learned, they hope to be able to handle whatever challenges face them on this new and frightening quest.

Once again Kathryn Lasky takes us into her fascinating world of owls. Not only do they have their own history, mythology, language and sense of humor, the owls also have their own unique way of seeing the world. For them the black of night has shades of black, tones and depths that give them the power to see the world in a distinctive way. Their gizzards do more than crush their food; they also warn and guide them, giving them a sense of the future and the past.

Lasky has given her owls a depth of personality that is fascinating and captivating. She also leaves us with enough questions unanswered that we are left hanging, wanting more. 

Since I had the Audiobooks, so I would also like to add that Pamela Garelick delivers the depth of personality Lasky has invested in her flock of owls and energetically leads us through the plot twists. Garelick’s distinguished yet likable voice is simply wonderful—her lively characterizations of little owls and maternally inclined snakes all delight. She’s also expert at recapping the owl’s complex history so that it’s clear to new listeners, yet fresh for the already familiar. 

This is mostly because some of those tantalizing mysteries are finally getting resolved. What are “flecks”? A healthy reliance on science particularly magnetism for the most part. What happened to the traumatized owlets from the end of The Journey? And what became of the other members of Soren’s family? All of these questions and more are answered in this book. It also retains the great writing style of the series, which is simple enough for a young child but contains enough descriptive elements to captivate a teen. The best thing is, even when some of your burning questions are answered at the end, you’ll still want to read the fourth book, proving that this series does not rely solely on plot hooks.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 2: The Journey

Book 2 of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, The Journey continues the story of Soren and the gang, straight out of St. Aggie’s towards their journey to the great Ga’Hoole tree.

The Band, i.e., Soren (Barn owl), Gylfie (Elf owl), Digger (Burrowing owl) and Twilight (Great Grey owl) and Mrs. Plithiver (Soren’s nest-maid snake, with whom he reunited with in the last book) at the end of the previous book had embarked on a journey to the great Ga’Hoole tree that grows on an island in the middle of the Sea of Hoolemere, where knightly owls live and rise in the darkness to perform noble deeds.

This book introduces us to a variety of other birds, and a lot of scenery and oddly enough no trace of humans at all. Humans here are vaguely termed as The others. There are traces of human civilization in the forms of ruins of churches, castle, chapels and many stone gardens leading the readers to believe that the humans have either left the Earth or are extinct.

The group has to go through a lot of hardships on this journey. They get mobbed by crows, get hypnotized by the clear rivers and lakes at the Beaks. These hardships prove to be the test of time for this group and they emerge as not just a band but a family. From the Narrow Lakes to the Ice Narrows. The warning of the “you only wish” by the dying Barred Owl, springs upon us the first trace of an impending doom upon the animal kingdom. For these “Pure Ones” to whom we are introduced in the next book are group of barn owls much like Soren, who believe that it is the barn owls who are the “purest” owl species on Earth. 

When they finally arrive at the tree, they find themselves in a Hogwarts-like school where owls are divided into “chaws,” or small teams, that focus on particular skills such as navigation or search and rescue. By the end of the book, Soren has learned the fate of his lost sister, discovered that he has some unique powers, and has lost his new mentor, leaving things wide open for the next installment. Therefore, the many unresolved mysteries are put on the back burner for a while, as the book describes the owls’ experiences in their varioius chaws. Rather than being an annoyance, though, this brief change in tone serves as a welcome break, and it also introduces us to plenty of new characters. These newly-introduced owls have well-drawn and funny personalities, and many of them play important roles in the later books. 

The story flows nicely and has a certain appeal that carries readers along, despite the sometimes-jarring addition of unnecessary owl poetry. Lasky’s fully realized world is full of traditions based on the actual habits of owls, but this is still a world in which owls can read and write. 

In this beautifully and sensitively written book, Kathryn Lasky has continued to build on the world she created in Book One, where owls are a very elite group of birds, proud and separate from the other animals. In no time, the reader is caught up in a story where both dreadful and wonderful things happen. As Soren struggles to understand his new environment, he slowly begins to learn that there is more to life than just what he sees, hears and touches. Soren’s realization about his own abilities is an exceptionally strong and powerful element in THE JOURNEY. There is also the discovery by the owls that live in the Great Ga’Hoole Tree that something truly dreadful is happening to the baby owls in the Southern Kingdoms. We are left hanging, wanting to know what this evil is, and at the same time fearing for the welfare of these owls.

The world building is excellent, with a few intriguing hints that it might take place on a post-Holocaust Earth, and the characterization is solid. The owls are unique and complex, with conflicting feelings and just the right mix of seriousness and fun. This book was as good as the first, a treat for children and adults with great descriptions of owl and nest-maid snake daily life, and the action packed search and rescue mission to return the owlets to the tree. Fantasy readers will enjoy the adventure, but the book will appeal mainly to fans of the first volume in the series. 

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)

Guardians of Ga’hoole Book 1: The Capture

Owl have always been a mystery to the human kind. These creatures of the night with their big eyes are associated with one superstition or another but are definitely a sight to see. So, when they get roped in fiction, i.e., a good plot….well how could you miss it!

The movie Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole was my introduction to the series. This book, #1 The Capture, is very different and I’ll tell you why. Born in the peaceful forest of Tyto, Soren the barn owl looks forward to a life of eating bugs and learning to fly, but evil forces have another plan for the owls. When Soren is captured and taken to a mysterious place known as St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, he discovers the orphanage has a darker purpose. With the help of his friend, Gylfie, they set out to uncover the truth and find a way to escape. Unfortunately, the only way out is up, and the young owls will have to learn to fly if they have a hope of escape. 

Lasky portrays an owl world that has more in common with George Orwell than with Brian Jacques, offering readers big questions about human social psychology and politics along with real owl science. Broad themes related to the nature of personal choice, the need for fellowship based on love and trust, and sharing knowledge with one’s peers are presented compellingly and with swift grafting to the animal adventure story. Developmentally linked celebrations (such as “First Fur” and “First Meat”), methods devised for brain-washing (including the regimental marching of sleepy owls by moonlight), and the diverse landscapes in which owls makes their homes come to life here as Soren rebels against his captors, makes a friend, and executes the first stage of his planned liberation and family reconciliation.

Lasky incorporates a great deal of information about owl behavior and translates it into the customs of a culture. The owls have rituals for their first bites of different types of food, for example, and for the stages of learning to fly. The St. Aggie’s scenes are creepy enough to get under even an adult’s skin, while still keeping the violence level appropriate for the target audience. There are a few deaths, but the details are mostly glossed over. Soren and Gylfie are inspired to heroism, in part, by the legends of Ga’Hoole, which are kind of like the owl equivalent of the Arthurian cycle. I really like the idea behind The Capture, which is that one should be brave in the face of tyranny and that stories can help build that courage. The book would have been stronger, though, if a few of the legends had actually been worked into the story. We often read that one character is telling the Ga’Hoole stories to another, but not what’s actually in those stories. I’ve been a mythology geek for at least twenty years, so it’s pretty easy for me to imagine what the stories are probably like, but I wouldn’t necessarily expect a child to have the same knowledge base.

There’s a constant action, and constant thinking between the owls. All the details are very graphically presented. So much so that the reader can actually imagine every tiny bit of detail presented to us. The songs….well in all the seriousness of presented in the plot and the melancholia of the protagonist the songs, be it the Catterpillar song, Twilight’s songs or the songs sung at St. Aggie’s provide us with a bit of a laugh. Now I don’t know about you all but listened to all book in audiobook format, so the reader provided us with wonderful rhyming songs that were pretty hilarious to listen to. 

This being the #1st book of a series of 15 is quite short and at its end its “To Ga’Hoole” they went.

Genre :       Fiction, Children's


Publisher : Scholastic


Rate :         5/5 (It was amazing)