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Gods of Manhattan #3
Gods of Manhattan 3: Sorcerer's Secret
War is brewing in Mannahatta - the spirit city that coexists with Manhattan - as the truce between the Munsee Indians and the Gods begins to crack. Villain Willem Kieft is building an army against the Munsees, and Rory - the only person who can see both worlds - and his friends are trying to stop him. But despite their efforts, the city draws closer to the ultimate final battle. The question is, will Rory be able to restore order to the city, or will his attempt to save everyone fail?
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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420 people want to read
About the author
Scott Mebus
9 books44 followersScott Mebus is American novelist, composer and playwright
He has written two adult novels, Booty Nomad and The Big Happy, as well asthe children's urban fantasy series "Gods of Manhattan".
He has written two adult novels, Booty Nomad and The Big Happy, as well asthe children's urban fantasy series "Gods of Manhattan".
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 19, 2013
All told, I liked this series every bit as much as the Percy Jackson/Kane Chronicles/Heroes of Olympus books by Rick Riordan. To me, it's an added bonus that they're set in New York City and bring up history and folklore made in the USA! This appears to be the final book in the series, and Mebus got so busy getting the story told that sadly, there was less time for charming new gods and fewer adventures with the Rattle Watch. But it did have a good conclusion! (That counts for a lot with me.) If you like Percy Jackson, check out this series, as well as the Ash Mistry/Savage Fortress series.
Anyway! Here's the final installment, complete with spoilers (so beware!):
The evil god Willem Kieft has figured out a way to kill other gods, even though that's expressly against the Agreement (a group of rules that the gods signed up to obey when the white men came to Mannahatta and it turned out that some of them would live on and be remembered). Not only that, but he demonstrates to some of his inner circle that if you steal a newly-killed god's locket of power, you will gain his/her powers in addition to your own (although you also gain his godly duties, too).
Rory is having bad dreams--dreams into which Kieft is somehow now able to insert himself in order to threaten the boy. As a leftover from the previous story, Rory's mother has been infected by Typhoid Mary and lies in a sort of coma, protected by the Munsees; Bridget is also stuck: for some reason, she's unable to get out of her paper and wood body and back into her human form. So there's a lot at stake for Rory in this final mission. Nicholas and Alexa convince Rory that the only way to know what to do next is to visit the Fortune Teller. Upon arriving in her former haunts, though, they find that the doorway has been destroyed.
Alexa remembers that her father (recently murdered by Kieft) kept diaries that detailed his doings over many years, and she thinks there may have been info in them about finding the second of the Fortune Teller's three doors. However, as they're talking an apparition appears, planted by the Teller, that shows how the door was destroyed, and tells Rory that "his blood" will show him how to find the second door.
Later that evening, Rory awakens from another dream featuring Kieft to find Peter Hennessy hiding in the bushes, watching helplessly as his wife lies comatose, although guarded by the Munsee. He wants to help, but he's too afraid for the children's safety to want to tell them the location of the Fortune Teller's door--until Rory uses his powers, granted by the Sachem's Belt, to cause him to tell the truth: that the Teller is located at the Little Red Lighthouse near the GW bridge. When they arrive at her 20s speak-easy, she offers to give them clues that will lead them to both the diaries that Adriaen Van Der Donck hid in various locations around the city, and to the location of Kieft's treasure, which is the source of his power--but to get all this, they first have to beat her in a game of chance. Rory gives her an all-or-nothing deal where they all bet on the flip of a coin, and Fortune, losing, has to answer all their questions. She tells them that part of the diary is hidden in one of each of the city's five boroughs. They must go to each one, in any order they choose, except they must visit The Swindler (in Mannahatta) last. And since they are limited by their "blood"--i.e., people born in Brooklyn have Brooklyn blood and are are the only ones who can go there--not every member of the Rattle Watch can accompany Rory, Bridget and Soka on their quest.
Meanwhile, Kieft--through his evil Indian sidekick Askook--has captured Peter Hennessy and is tempting him to do more dirty work by promising to keep Peter's children safe. (But who can believe the crafty First Advisor?) Back in Central Park, Nicholas is trying to foster a working relationship between the Munsees and the gods who are opposed to Kieft...but because of past betrayals, it's a tough sell. For starts, Kieft has figured out how to makes knives that can kill the gods, and he's handing them out to his henchmen. He's also setting up camp on Roosevelt Island, and many are flocking to him, afraid of being on the wrong side in the upcoming battle.
Alexa, Rory, Bridget, and Soka head first to Alexa's home in The Bronx, where her father, not surprisingly, hid one of the packages behind a portrait of her mother, who died when Alexa was a baby. Alexa goes in and the others wait outside; there, they run into Peter, who's there, he says, to help them. And he does, actually, assisting them to steal a boat and make a getaway. Alexa, who can't enter Queens (their next stop) stays behind to deflect the Cowboys, a group of ruffians who are chasing them. Soka is having trouble channeling and using her magic: it won't work when she wants it to, and when it gathers unbidden, it's out of control. They read the rescued first part of Adriaen's diary on the boat: showing how Kieft worked with The Lady (the Mother Earth figure of New York) to set up an agreement for the famous folk of New York that will allow them to be remembered and become gods--which agreement will keep them from fading away like the god of shady dealing, Peter Minuit (original trader who cheated the Indians when he 'bought' Manhattan Island for cheapo wampum).
Next stop, Queens, where they're met by Simon Astor. They're supposed to look in the belly of a royal steed, and they soon figure out this has to do with Rufus King, the God of Also-Rans. Today is race day, based on the ghost of the Vanderbilt Cup Race, and Rufus King will have a car in the running--clearly, the royal steed. Rufus admits to having had Adriaen's package, but it's hidden in a car that Vanderbilt won from him at the last race--and of course, Vanderbilt has no intention of letting his competiton's "friends" go snooping around a car that's just about to start a race. While they're there, something strange happens: when Rory hears one of Kieft's men spreading lies about the Munsee a burning in his stomach is followed by everyone in the vicinity's suddenly beginning to speak the truth--and Rory realizes this may be a lasting side effect of having worn the Sachem's Belt in...Book 1? Anyway, Peter and Bridget agree to drive King's car to follow Vanderbilt and try to get the diary; Rory and Smon have no other recourse than to get Into a jalopy belonging to Simon and follow the other racers, including the Lamborghini Brothers. After a race filled with Dirty Driving, Vanderbilt's car ends up in a wreck and Bridget pulls the snooty man to safety while Peter rescues the package. (Maybe he really IS on their side!) Mr. Hennessy stays to distract Kieft's men as Simon and the kids make their escape to Brooklyn, where they need to find the Fair Egineer. Peter eventually gets caught by Kieft's men and is threatened by the slippery devil himself.
Diary entry 2: Adriaen and "Henry" have traveled with Kieft to a remote spot to make a pact with the Lady. But who's Henry? Turns out he's one of the original Lights, who can see Mannahatta. He's working for Kieft because the man knows he's human and could out him--and Henry loves Mannahatta and never wants to live in the mortal world again. Unfortunately, Kieft has figured out how to use Henry to do bad deeds in his behalf, so Kieft never gets caught. (And it doesn't take the kids very long to figure out that Henry is yet another name used by Peter Hennessy. He really has been around forever.)
The Engineer they need to see next appears to be Washington Roebling, designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. The builder, along with those who worked with him in pressurized caissons underwater in order to sink the foundations of the bridge, ending up getting and being deformed by the bends, due to the sudden change in air pressure when they surfaced. Roebling, even as a god, is so hideous that his wife is his public face--thus she is the Fair Engineer. She tells them her packet of Adriaen's diary is in the now-cement-filled caisson under the Brooklyn Bridge. (Luckily, it still exists in its original form in Mannahatta.) After a scary encounter with the spirits who are still at work there, Soka experiences a resurgence of her powers that allows them to escape with the diary...but the very unpredictability of these powers makes them even more frightening to her. This is where Soka has her very first spirit encounter with The Lady, whose voice she hears directing her, and whose pau-wau, or medicine woman, she's evidently being trained to become.
On their way to Staten Island, the kids hitch a ride on the spirit of the ironclad Monitor. At the island, they're looking for the Unlucky Patroon, a Dutch settler named Cornelis Melyn, who's lived up to his name by being arrested by the British and sent off to the prison ship Jersey. Melyn has a native American friend named Perewyn, who is able to teach Soka some things about her power in the short time they're together. Good guys Robert De Vries and Perewyn help the kids hatch up a plan to masquerade as British officers delivering prisoners (themselves) to the prison ship and, with the help of a magical compound, the kids' terrible disguises work. They convince Admiral Howe to take them aboard, where they find a great number of other prisoners rotting away, and are ultimately successful in setting Melyn free, after discovering Soka's rogue brother, Tammand, in the jail, and finding Adriaen's journal on Admiral Howe's desk.
JP Morgan has a gripe: he's not the god of banking. Everyone has heard of Morgan, and no one has heard of Tobias--who the heck WAS he, anyway? Morgan's questions get Peter Stuyvesant thinking...and snooping for answers. In the meantime, Teddy Roosevelt arrives, all gung-ho and ready for action--but it seems like his bullheadedness might get them all into trouble. Nicholas wants to follow Teddy, because at least he's doing SOMETHING. Later, we see that Caesar Prince knows something about Tobias (that he was the first regular human allowed to become a god by assuming a dead god's locket--his locket being that of the former god of banking, who was killed in a fight with the Munsees). Prince agrees to keep Tobias's secret in exchange for an undisclosed favor later on.
The latest piece of Adriaen's journal tells of the travelers' encounter with a giant creature in an underground lake on the way to see the Lady. This creature can only be appeased with a sacrifice, which in this case turns out to be Adriaen's wife, following along behind them secretly. Although Kieft had planned to use Adriaen, the giant Albino Alligator eats her--bad for her, and ultimately, bad for Kieft's schemes. Adriaen and Kieft had collected a drop of blood from all the god wanna-bes on Manhattan back in the day and offer this, along with a set of rules (including the one that gods can't kill each other) by which all the gods will have to abide. Strangely, the Lady recognizes Henry, Kieft's servant, and is surprised that he's not the one there making the deals. Although Kieft is evil, she agrees that the newcomers should be represented among the gods as well as the Munsees, and the bargain is struck. Adriaen'safraid that Kieft has cheated somehow....but the bargain has been made, and there's no going back.
Upon getting back to Manhattan island, Rory and Bridget see their father waiting for them, and run to him--only to have him do the right thing for once and scream at them that it's a trap. Bridget ges away, but Rory is captured and taken to Kieft. Roosevelt uses Rory's capture as the pretext for starting a fight, but the good guys are quickly beaten back. The bad guys have set up headquarters on Roosevelt Island, and it's here Rory is brought. He has continued to have bad dreams with Kieft in them, but now the Lady intervenes and shuts Kieft down in the dream department (taking sides!). Rory is abandoned on the island, but retrieved by Nathan Hale (God of Martyrs) and Rober Townsend (God of Spies). They exit just in time to keep Roosevelt's rescue squad from attacking the hospital, which has been booby-trapped and blows up. Kieft now thinks Rory is dead.
The last hiding place for Adriaen's journal is the lair of the Swindler--Peter Minuit himself. Long thought dead, gone, and forgotten as a god, it turns out he's not entirely dead after all. But they don't meet him in his room--nope, they find the Fortune Teller there instead, who gives them the rest of the scoop as a reward for their success. She hands over the final journal entry, in which they find out how Alexa's mother died, and how the part played by her, and Adriaen, kept the deal from being totally Kieft's...a good thing. The Fortune Teller lets them know that Kieft's treasure is hidden below, and that they're allowed to take one thing from it. Rory immediately decides it'll be Munsee spells, to help Soka train her powers, and to help cure his mother. On their way out of City Hall, they run into Hex (aka Aaron Burr) and--when it turns out that events topside are going crazy and Soka and Alexa realize they need to be with their people--Rory finally agrees to let Hex go with them, because he has magic and they don't. In the Map Room, they find out that the river-fed cave they bumbled into in book 1 is the Lady's underground cavern, and they're soon on their way down, experiencing vivid, grotesque hallucinations and finally, with the aid of Alfred Ely Beach and a special subway car that goes straight down, over the waterfall they go.
In the lake at the bottom of the cavern they find the treasure--along with the not-quite-dead body of Peter Minuit and half of his god locket. They take the book of spells as the one thing allowed by the Fortune Teller, and it appears that Peter Minuit is going to be the sacrifice to the Albino Alligator, when their father shows up and tosses in the book of spells insead. Sacrifice accepted, they are admitted into the presence of the Lady.
The Lady causes Henry to tell the children his story--starting with the fact that he's Henry Hudson, and has been around almost 500 years. He had made a deal with the Lady, when he first discovered the land, that he would keep it secret--but he failed (as he has on everything else he's ever done since). His curse, Her punishment for failure, was to stay alive and witness all the destruction wrought by the people who came as a result of his actions. It didn't take Kieft long to realize that, although mortal, Henry couldn't die...and through blackmail, he became Kieft's tool. Using Munsee magic stolen from the great medicine woman Alsoomse, Kieft figured out how to transplant a bit of Henry's unkillable soul into his own, and made himself impervious to death--although, like Henry, he was also not a god. He has been working to perfect the god-killing knife ever since, because he wants to be in sole charge of everything. The Lady now promises Henry redemption from his miserable state if Rory will use the power of the Sachem's Belt to tell the truth about Kieft.
Back at the fight in Central Park, Nicholas has turned out to be the natural leader of the pack, able to rally both gods and spirits to fight on the side of right by admitting that, although he's NOT a god, he's still willing to fight for what's best for the city. Kieft's Bowery Boys are running around killing gods on both sides and stealing their lockets, then turning them over to their boss. Caesar Prince appears at this time to convince some of Kieft's closest associates that they'll all be dead if they don't walk away...and they finally do, led by Tobias, who recognizes his cue for returning a favor. Soka's powers are coming into full flower as she stands in Central Park, ancestral home of her people, and feels the spirit of her mother guiding her. Her growing magic hold Kieft's spells at bay just enough that Rory is able to tap into Kieft's power himself and throw it into reverse. Instead of sucking power out of everyone else, the truth makes its way out from Kieft and into the mind of everyone there: and, as they see Kieft for what he is, and understand the depth of his plan (that, as a mortal, he is not bound by the Agreement and can therefore kill with impunity) they all walk away. In a rage, Kieft throws a knife at Rory--but Henry steps into its path and finally, finally, meets his end, as the Lady promised. And because the bit of Henry's soul is what was keeping Kieft alive, that evil man is destroyed at the same time.
Conveniently for the kids and their mom, Henry promptly shows up again, with a god's locket bestowed upon him. He IS Henry Hudson, after all, and his name is on just about everything in NYC. Soka reminds Rory that, once he has admitted them in, people like his mother (and Bridget) are also able to see Mannahatta, even if they aren't Lights. So maybe she can be reunited with Peter and they really can be a happy family after all these years! Only problem is ... how are they going to explain everything to their mom?!?!?!
June Cleaver's ratings: Language: PG-13; Sexual content PG (hand-holding and kissing, pretty mild); violence R (lots of knifing, killing, and blood, although mostly in the context of non-human spirits and gods); Nudity: G; GLBT content: G; Substance abuse: PG (some alcohol, although again mostly in the hands of adult spirits); Occult: PG-13 (use of magic to do evil). Overall rating: PG-13.
Anyway! Here's the final installment, complete with spoilers (so beware!):
The evil god Willem Kieft has figured out a way to kill other gods, even though that's expressly against the Agreement (a group of rules that the gods signed up to obey when the white men came to Mannahatta and it turned out that some of them would live on and be remembered). Not only that, but he demonstrates to some of his inner circle that if you steal a newly-killed god's locket of power, you will gain his/her powers in addition to your own (although you also gain his godly duties, too).
Rory is having bad dreams--dreams into which Kieft is somehow now able to insert himself in order to threaten the boy. As a leftover from the previous story, Rory's mother has been infected by Typhoid Mary and lies in a sort of coma, protected by the Munsees; Bridget is also stuck: for some reason, she's unable to get out of her paper and wood body and back into her human form. So there's a lot at stake for Rory in this final mission. Nicholas and Alexa convince Rory that the only way to know what to do next is to visit the Fortune Teller. Upon arriving in her former haunts, though, they find that the doorway has been destroyed.
Alexa remembers that her father (recently murdered by Kieft) kept diaries that detailed his doings over many years, and she thinks there may have been info in them about finding the second of the Fortune Teller's three doors. However, as they're talking an apparition appears, planted by the Teller, that shows how the door was destroyed, and tells Rory that "his blood" will show him how to find the second door.
Later that evening, Rory awakens from another dream featuring Kieft to find Peter Hennessy hiding in the bushes, watching helplessly as his wife lies comatose, although guarded by the Munsee. He wants to help, but he's too afraid for the children's safety to want to tell them the location of the Fortune Teller's door--until Rory uses his powers, granted by the Sachem's Belt, to cause him to tell the truth: that the Teller is located at the Little Red Lighthouse near the GW bridge. When they arrive at her 20s speak-easy, she offers to give them clues that will lead them to both the diaries that Adriaen Van Der Donck hid in various locations around the city, and to the location of Kieft's treasure, which is the source of his power--but to get all this, they first have to beat her in a game of chance. Rory gives her an all-or-nothing deal where they all bet on the flip of a coin, and Fortune, losing, has to answer all their questions. She tells them that part of the diary is hidden in one of each of the city's five boroughs. They must go to each one, in any order they choose, except they must visit The Swindler (in Mannahatta) last. And since they are limited by their "blood"--i.e., people born in Brooklyn have Brooklyn blood and are are the only ones who can go there--not every member of the Rattle Watch can accompany Rory, Bridget and Soka on their quest.
Meanwhile, Kieft--through his evil Indian sidekick Askook--has captured Peter Hennessy and is tempting him to do more dirty work by promising to keep Peter's children safe. (But who can believe the crafty First Advisor?) Back in Central Park, Nicholas is trying to foster a working relationship between the Munsees and the gods who are opposed to Kieft...but because of past betrayals, it's a tough sell. For starts, Kieft has figured out how to makes knives that can kill the gods, and he's handing them out to his henchmen. He's also setting up camp on Roosevelt Island, and many are flocking to him, afraid of being on the wrong side in the upcoming battle.
Alexa, Rory, Bridget, and Soka head first to Alexa's home in The Bronx, where her father, not surprisingly, hid one of the packages behind a portrait of her mother, who died when Alexa was a baby. Alexa goes in and the others wait outside; there, they run into Peter, who's there, he says, to help them. And he does, actually, assisting them to steal a boat and make a getaway. Alexa, who can't enter Queens (their next stop) stays behind to deflect the Cowboys, a group of ruffians who are chasing them. Soka is having trouble channeling and using her magic: it won't work when she wants it to, and when it gathers unbidden, it's out of control. They read the rescued first part of Adriaen's diary on the boat: showing how Kieft worked with The Lady (the Mother Earth figure of New York) to set up an agreement for the famous folk of New York that will allow them to be remembered and become gods--which agreement will keep them from fading away like the god of shady dealing, Peter Minuit (original trader who cheated the Indians when he 'bought' Manhattan Island for cheapo wampum).
Next stop, Queens, where they're met by Simon Astor. They're supposed to look in the belly of a royal steed, and they soon figure out this has to do with Rufus King, the God of Also-Rans. Today is race day, based on the ghost of the Vanderbilt Cup Race, and Rufus King will have a car in the running--clearly, the royal steed. Rufus admits to having had Adriaen's package, but it's hidden in a car that Vanderbilt won from him at the last race--and of course, Vanderbilt has no intention of letting his competiton's "friends" go snooping around a car that's just about to start a race. While they're there, something strange happens: when Rory hears one of Kieft's men spreading lies about the Munsee a burning in his stomach is followed by everyone in the vicinity's suddenly beginning to speak the truth--and Rory realizes this may be a lasting side effect of having worn the Sachem's Belt in...Book 1? Anyway, Peter and Bridget agree to drive King's car to follow Vanderbilt and try to get the diary; Rory and Smon have no other recourse than to get Into a jalopy belonging to Simon and follow the other racers, including the Lamborghini Brothers. After a race filled with Dirty Driving, Vanderbilt's car ends up in a wreck and Bridget pulls the snooty man to safety while Peter rescues the package. (Maybe he really IS on their side!) Mr. Hennessy stays to distract Kieft's men as Simon and the kids make their escape to Brooklyn, where they need to find the Fair Egineer. Peter eventually gets caught by Kieft's men and is threatened by the slippery devil himself.
Diary entry 2: Adriaen and "Henry" have traveled with Kieft to a remote spot to make a pact with the Lady. But who's Henry? Turns out he's one of the original Lights, who can see Mannahatta. He's working for Kieft because the man knows he's human and could out him--and Henry loves Mannahatta and never wants to live in the mortal world again. Unfortunately, Kieft has figured out how to use Henry to do bad deeds in his behalf, so Kieft never gets caught. (And it doesn't take the kids very long to figure out that Henry is yet another name used by Peter Hennessy. He really has been around forever.)
The Engineer they need to see next appears to be Washington Roebling, designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. The builder, along with those who worked with him in pressurized caissons underwater in order to sink the foundations of the bridge, ending up getting and being deformed by the bends, due to the sudden change in air pressure when they surfaced. Roebling, even as a god, is so hideous that his wife is his public face--thus she is the Fair Engineer. She tells them her packet of Adriaen's diary is in the now-cement-filled caisson under the Brooklyn Bridge. (Luckily, it still exists in its original form in Mannahatta.) After a scary encounter with the spirits who are still at work there, Soka experiences a resurgence of her powers that allows them to escape with the diary...but the very unpredictability of these powers makes them even more frightening to her. This is where Soka has her very first spirit encounter with The Lady, whose voice she hears directing her, and whose pau-wau, or medicine woman, she's evidently being trained to become.
On their way to Staten Island, the kids hitch a ride on the spirit of the ironclad Monitor. At the island, they're looking for the Unlucky Patroon, a Dutch settler named Cornelis Melyn, who's lived up to his name by being arrested by the British and sent off to the prison ship Jersey. Melyn has a native American friend named Perewyn, who is able to teach Soka some things about her power in the short time they're together. Good guys Robert De Vries and Perewyn help the kids hatch up a plan to masquerade as British officers delivering prisoners (themselves) to the prison ship and, with the help of a magical compound, the kids' terrible disguises work. They convince Admiral Howe to take them aboard, where they find a great number of other prisoners rotting away, and are ultimately successful in setting Melyn free, after discovering Soka's rogue brother, Tammand, in the jail, and finding Adriaen's journal on Admiral Howe's desk.
JP Morgan has a gripe: he's not the god of banking. Everyone has heard of Morgan, and no one has heard of Tobias--who the heck WAS he, anyway? Morgan's questions get Peter Stuyvesant thinking...and snooping for answers. In the meantime, Teddy Roosevelt arrives, all gung-ho and ready for action--but it seems like his bullheadedness might get them all into trouble. Nicholas wants to follow Teddy, because at least he's doing SOMETHING. Later, we see that Caesar Prince knows something about Tobias (that he was the first regular human allowed to become a god by assuming a dead god's locket--his locket being that of the former god of banking, who was killed in a fight with the Munsees). Prince agrees to keep Tobias's secret in exchange for an undisclosed favor later on.
The latest piece of Adriaen's journal tells of the travelers' encounter with a giant creature in an underground lake on the way to see the Lady. This creature can only be appeased with a sacrifice, which in this case turns out to be Adriaen's wife, following along behind them secretly. Although Kieft had planned to use Adriaen, the giant Albino Alligator eats her--bad for her, and ultimately, bad for Kieft's schemes. Adriaen and Kieft had collected a drop of blood from all the god wanna-bes on Manhattan back in the day and offer this, along with a set of rules (including the one that gods can't kill each other) by which all the gods will have to abide. Strangely, the Lady recognizes Henry, Kieft's servant, and is surprised that he's not the one there making the deals. Although Kieft is evil, she agrees that the newcomers should be represented among the gods as well as the Munsees, and the bargain is struck. Adriaen'safraid that Kieft has cheated somehow....but the bargain has been made, and there's no going back.
Upon getting back to Manhattan island, Rory and Bridget see their father waiting for them, and run to him--only to have him do the right thing for once and scream at them that it's a trap. Bridget ges away, but Rory is captured and taken to Kieft. Roosevelt uses Rory's capture as the pretext for starting a fight, but the good guys are quickly beaten back. The bad guys have set up headquarters on Roosevelt Island, and it's here Rory is brought. He has continued to have bad dreams with Kieft in them, but now the Lady intervenes and shuts Kieft down in the dream department (taking sides!). Rory is abandoned on the island, but retrieved by Nathan Hale (God of Martyrs) and Rober Townsend (God of Spies). They exit just in time to keep Roosevelt's rescue squad from attacking the hospital, which has been booby-trapped and blows up. Kieft now thinks Rory is dead.
The last hiding place for Adriaen's journal is the lair of the Swindler--Peter Minuit himself. Long thought dead, gone, and forgotten as a god, it turns out he's not entirely dead after all. But they don't meet him in his room--nope, they find the Fortune Teller there instead, who gives them the rest of the scoop as a reward for their success. She hands over the final journal entry, in which they find out how Alexa's mother died, and how the part played by her, and Adriaen, kept the deal from being totally Kieft's...a good thing. The Fortune Teller lets them know that Kieft's treasure is hidden below, and that they're allowed to take one thing from it. Rory immediately decides it'll be Munsee spells, to help Soka train her powers, and to help cure his mother. On their way out of City Hall, they run into Hex (aka Aaron Burr) and--when it turns out that events topside are going crazy and Soka and Alexa realize they need to be with their people--Rory finally agrees to let Hex go with them, because he has magic and they don't. In the Map Room, they find out that the river-fed cave they bumbled into in book 1 is the Lady's underground cavern, and they're soon on their way down, experiencing vivid, grotesque hallucinations and finally, with the aid of Alfred Ely Beach and a special subway car that goes straight down, over the waterfall they go.
In the lake at the bottom of the cavern they find the treasure--along with the not-quite-dead body of Peter Minuit and half of his god locket. They take the book of spells as the one thing allowed by the Fortune Teller, and it appears that Peter Minuit is going to be the sacrifice to the Albino Alligator, when their father shows up and tosses in the book of spells insead. Sacrifice accepted, they are admitted into the presence of the Lady.
The Lady causes Henry to tell the children his story--starting with the fact that he's Henry Hudson, and has been around almost 500 years. He had made a deal with the Lady, when he first discovered the land, that he would keep it secret--but he failed (as he has on everything else he's ever done since). His curse, Her punishment for failure, was to stay alive and witness all the destruction wrought by the people who came as a result of his actions. It didn't take Kieft long to realize that, although mortal, Henry couldn't die...and through blackmail, he became Kieft's tool. Using Munsee magic stolen from the great medicine woman Alsoomse, Kieft figured out how to transplant a bit of Henry's unkillable soul into his own, and made himself impervious to death--although, like Henry, he was also not a god. He has been working to perfect the god-killing knife ever since, because he wants to be in sole charge of everything. The Lady now promises Henry redemption from his miserable state if Rory will use the power of the Sachem's Belt to tell the truth about Kieft.
Back at the fight in Central Park, Nicholas has turned out to be the natural leader of the pack, able to rally both gods and spirits to fight on the side of right by admitting that, although he's NOT a god, he's still willing to fight for what's best for the city. Kieft's Bowery Boys are running around killing gods on both sides and stealing their lockets, then turning them over to their boss. Caesar Prince appears at this time to convince some of Kieft's closest associates that they'll all be dead if they don't walk away...and they finally do, led by Tobias, who recognizes his cue for returning a favor. Soka's powers are coming into full flower as she stands in Central Park, ancestral home of her people, and feels the spirit of her mother guiding her. Her growing magic hold Kieft's spells at bay just enough that Rory is able to tap into Kieft's power himself and throw it into reverse. Instead of sucking power out of everyone else, the truth makes its way out from Kieft and into the mind of everyone there: and, as they see Kieft for what he is, and understand the depth of his plan (that, as a mortal, he is not bound by the Agreement and can therefore kill with impunity) they all walk away. In a rage, Kieft throws a knife at Rory--but Henry steps into its path and finally, finally, meets his end, as the Lady promised. And because the bit of Henry's soul is what was keeping Kieft alive, that evil man is destroyed at the same time.
Conveniently for the kids and their mom, Henry promptly shows up again, with a god's locket bestowed upon him. He IS Henry Hudson, after all, and his name is on just about everything in NYC. Soka reminds Rory that, once he has admitted them in, people like his mother (and Bridget) are also able to see Mannahatta, even if they aren't Lights. So maybe she can be reunited with Peter and they really can be a happy family after all these years! Only problem is ... how are they going to explain everything to their mom?!?!?!
June Cleaver's ratings: Language: PG-13; Sexual content PG (hand-holding and kissing, pretty mild); violence R (lots of knifing, killing, and blood, although mostly in the context of non-human spirits and gods); Nudity: G; GLBT content: G; Substance abuse: PG (some alcohol, although again mostly in the hands of adult spirits); Occult: PG-13 (use of magic to do evil). Overall rating: PG-13.
March 7, 2025
This series got stronger with each volume. An exciting and fitting conclusion to the Gods of Manhattan. While this series might not be as riveting as Percy Jackson, it offers a more complex and nuanced mythology. There's also a good cast of characters that will stick with you. Highly enjoyable.
February 6, 2020
2.5 stars. Lots of historical figures and it taxed my limited historical New York knowledge. I wanted to abandon this book at the start (2 stars), but I was engaged after 70 pages (and the first 2 books in the series), so my advice is to overcome all the slow starts in this series and keep reading. Ending was brutal and violent but
If you like historical figures or old time New York City, you might appreciate this series more than me. I'm glad that I finished the series, but it took me 11 years. I have to recommend The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series over this one.
The war between the gods of Mannahatta and the Munsees comes to a head. 12 year old Rory Hennessey is a Light and truth bringer, the main weapon in beating Kieft. Another problem that I had was not many 12 year olds get romantically involved. Rattle Watch and Rory's other allies were effective.
Favorite things:
With-reservations:
violence, murder, betrayal, prejudice, black magic
If you like historical figures or old time New York City, you might appreciate this series more than me. I'm glad that I finished the series, but it took me 11 years. I have to recommend The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series over this one.
The war between the gods of Mannahatta and the Munsees comes to a head. 12 year old Rory Hennessey is a Light and truth bringer, the main weapon in beating Kieft. Another problem that I had was not many 12 year olds get romantically involved. Rattle Watch and Rory's other allies were effective.
Favorite things:
With-reservations:
violence, murder, betrayal, prejudice, black magic
October 15, 2011
I really liked how this series ended. I feel that Scott Mebus saved the best for last. He really did quite great with this last book.
The reason I really liked this book is probably because it has more action than the previous books. I gave it a 5 star rating 'cause this book made me see the beauty of the whole concept of the series. I never did appreciate the concept after reading the first 2 books in the trilogy. Well, after reading this last book I finally enjoyed the whole concept of the book (you know, with the gods and Mannahatta). But I also did feel a little disappointed in the first two books because I feel that the whole story has A LOT of characters and, to my dismay, I felt that these characters were not used or introduced properly. I felt that I barely know these characters. But this third and final book did it for me - I finally got to know them better and hell, did I enjoy these characters!
So what I'm trying to say is that I really liked the book. I was actually disheartened upon reading the first book because it was so shallow. What I mean to say is that I knew that the whole plot would go deeper but the first book was a bit of a downer. There were so many characters that it was hard to keep up and worse, I didn't get to know these characters well enough to actually appreciate them.
Well, despite that impression the first book left me, I still read on to the rest of the trilogy and it just got better with every book! Haha!!! I loved this last book! :))
The reason I really liked this book is probably because it has more action than the previous books. I gave it a 5 star rating 'cause this book made me see the beauty of the whole concept of the series. I never did appreciate the concept after reading the first 2 books in the trilogy. Well, after reading this last book I finally enjoyed the whole concept of the book (you know, with the gods and Mannahatta). But I also did feel a little disappointed in the first two books because I feel that the whole story has A LOT of characters and, to my dismay, I felt that these characters were not used or introduced properly. I felt that I barely know these characters. But this third and final book did it for me - I finally got to know them better and hell, did I enjoy these characters!
So what I'm trying to say is that I really liked the book. I was actually disheartened upon reading the first book because it was so shallow. What I mean to say is that I knew that the whole plot would go deeper but the first book was a bit of a downer. There were so many characters that it was hard to keep up and worse, I didn't get to know these characters well enough to actually appreciate them.
Well, despite that impression the first book left me, I still read on to the rest of the trilogy and it just got better with every book! Haha!!! I loved this last book! :))
February 9, 2013
This trilogy is a great read and lots of fun. I have never been more curious about the City of New York or its history. In many ways it is like a "Heroes of Olympus" (name of the Percy Jackson series) for early America. Fascinating. And taken down by the truth!
There are so many good things being taught- what is right, being saved by having someone else kill so you didn't have to, those who give back vs those who simply take...it teaches many awesome lessons not the least of which is that Malibu Death Barbie is going to kick your butt if you mess with her family!
Really recommend the trilogy. No idea if they will do something else with it, but happy that this is here. It is not the greatest book, it didn't keep me up all night reading, but all the excitment is there and all of the story is together and makes sense (in a fantasy way). Redeption is possible through doing the right thing and you can't just take what you want :)
There are so many good things being taught- what is right, being saved by having someone else kill so you didn't have to, those who give back vs those who simply take...it teaches many awesome lessons not the least of which is that Malibu Death Barbie is going to kick your butt if you mess with her family!
Really recommend the trilogy. No idea if they will do something else with it, but happy that this is here. It is not the greatest book, it didn't keep me up all night reading, but all the excitment is there and all of the story is together and makes sense (in a fantasy way). Redeption is possible through doing the right thing and you can't just take what you want :)
April 24, 2014
Absolutely loved this series! I love to think of a place like Manhattan as being filled with spirits and Gods from the past who built the city and made it what it is today. Without all the people building bridges and creating parks the city would never have taken shape and the idea of remembering all of them makes me so happy! Without the past the present could never exist and Scott Mebus allows us to believe that the past is still present in the present day city. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure and to anyone who knows how important it is to never forget to remember.
September 27, 2012
out of the whole series, i liked this one the best. mostly because the ending did not disappoint. I hate it when I love most of the books, and then the ending is too short, or too sappy, or too slapped on in haste. This one felt like it was well thought through and the author tied everything in really well. I enjoyed that.
March 16, 2013
Well I must say that this was yet another great young adult series. I was sorry to see the end of Rory and his sister Brigit. We need books like this to keep our imagination open to wild and wonderful things. Sometimes I think it's books like this that keep the older generation thinking and feeling younger. Thank you!
October 18, 2015
R2
This book is the third and final book in Scott Mebus's Gods of Manhattan series, and would highly recommend it if you like books with more action than normal in them. This book is just absolutely amazing how they find out all these new things about Rory's family and Kieft's godhood. This book would also appeal to many fans of the Percy Jackson.
This book is the third and final book in Scott Mebus's Gods of Manhattan series, and would highly recommend it if you like books with more action than normal in them. This book is just absolutely amazing how they find out all these new things about Rory's family and Kieft's godhood. This book would also appeal to many fans of the Percy Jackson.
December 5, 2010
I think this series is great for tween/teen readers. There is a little tiny hint of a boy & girl liking each other and a kiss at the end. so, maybe 6th grade up. It was not as good for me as say, the Percy Jackson series, but I think youth/teen readers could really like this series.
April 30, 2012
If you want to be taken into a magical world where you have to try to bring peace to the world, then this is the perfect book. This book have a lot of discription about different kinds of magical place, that can only be seen by gods and only a few mortals and some magicians.
June 2, 2013
This book was amazing. If you read the first two books you must read this one. If you have not read the first two books, you should. Read them in order or suffer the consequences. Secrets come to light and mysteries are solved in this thrilling conclusion.
April 8, 2014
The book was good but the part about the Indian or Native American having powers seemed unrealisic and a girl our age who has a paperbag for a head makes no sense when their is a war going on in the area.
November 14, 2010
Only issue I had with this is that it was the last book in the Trilogy. I can only hope there is a follow up series
February 15, 2011
This is fun and full of adventure, although starting to get a little formulaic. . .
Want to read
July 11, 2011???????????????????
May 2, 2014
great
August 13, 2016
It was too confusing and their were to many confusing charecters
Want to read
July 10, 2012If my library gets this....
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