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The Edge Chronicles: The Quint Saga #3
The Edge Chronicles 3: The Clash of the Sky Galleons: Third Book of Quint
Young sky-pirate Quint Verginix’s family was devastated when his mother and brothers were killed in a vicious arson attack. Now the treacherous quartermaster responsible, Turbot Smeal, has returned, and Quint and his father are determined to take revenge.
From the deserted quarries of the Edge Cliff to the lethal glades of bloodoak trees, their deadly pursuit can only end in a clash of the sky galleons.
Clash of the Sky Galleons is the third book of the Quint Saga – first trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose.
From the deserted quarries of the Edge Cliff to the lethal glades of bloodoak trees, their deadly pursuit can only end in a clash of the sky galleons.
Clash of the Sky Galleons is the third book of the Quint Saga – first trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2006
57 people are currently reading
2405 people want to read
About the author
Paul Stewart
217 books919 followersPaul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers – from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. Together with Chris Riddell he is co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles, which has sold more than three million copies and is available in over twenty languages. They have also collaborated together on lots of other exciting books for children of all ages. The Far-Flung Adventure series includes the Gold Smarties Prize Winner Fergus Crane, and Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper, both Silver Nestle Prize Winners. Then there are the Barnaby Grimes books, two Muddle Earth adventures, and the sci-fi Scavenger and fantasy Wyrmeweald trilogies. For younger readers there is the Blobheads series, while for the very young, Paul has written several picture books, including the Rabbit and Hedgehog series, In the Dark of the Night and, his latest, Wings.
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
December 2, 2024
Volume 3 (chronologically) of the Edge Chronicles and the third in the Quint trilogy. Quint's father, Sky Pirate Captain Wind Jackal, is determined to find and kill Turbot Smeal, the murderer of his wife and family, of whom only Quint survived. It is a tale of swashbuckling vengeance and adventure which hearkens back to stories by G.A. Henty, Manville Fenn, Rafael Sabatini, and so many others, and to movies featuring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., or Errol Flynn. Mixed in with more and more details of the Edge lifeforms and the societies of Undertown and Sanctaphrax it is difficult not to become absorbed by it all.
That is not to say there aren't flaws. There is so much detail to fit into just over 400 pages that some of the action sequences became rushed and lost their vitality. The harvesting of the Stone Gardens, that is where the all-important flight rocks grow, is wonderfully done, mainly because the author gives it time and space. Against that is the felling of the blood-oak, an immensely dangerous exercise in the Deepwoods, is so abbreviated that it becomes no more than a hard day's work - with risks attached. While the great climax, the clash of the sky galleons, when the armadas of the Undertown Leagues and the Sky Pirates meet, is over so quickly that one wonders if it was worth the fuss.
Back to that old blood-oak and its tarry vines. It set me thinking. Blood-oak timber is highly prized in the shipbuilding business - but why? The tree is carnivorous. It has a gaping mouth at the top of its trunk and presumably a gastric tract extending down to something resembling a stomach. Chop it down and surely all you have are a few planks to be gained on the sides of the monstrosity's gullet. It hardly seems economic considering the risk to life and limb of the poor woodcutter trolls. But then I've never had a head for business.
As for the Clash of the Galleons, it should have been a Trafalgar - or any other non-Eurocentric naval battle you can think of. The description was so truncated it was all over in what appeared to be minutes. Where was the agonized screaming? The bloody gobbets of torn flesh? The powder monkeys slithering and dancing to their gory deaths along the slippery blood-bathed timbers? The be-medaled officers insisting they will go down with their ships? Blow that - when the Leagues' monster vessel, The Bringer of Doom, looms up they are over the side and evacuating sharper than a plutocrat when war is declared. They need not have feared. As with all such ultimate machines, The Bringer of Doom is doomed. If you are a shipowner never declare your vessel unsinkable, if you are an admiral never say your ship is unbeatable. As with England's Mary Rose or Sweden's Vasa there is a god somewhere rubbing its hands together and muttering: "Oh, you really think so?" The Bringer of Doom does exactly that- to itself. It could have been a great finale to the battle - but no, it was so rushed that its impact became diminished.
So, what about Turbot Smeal? To anyone of significant years the answer is obvious - from chapter two onwards. To everyone else the story will keep you guessing. As always with the Edge Chronicles, Chris Riddell's illustrations are mind-blowing - though many of them could have been given more space to expand.
That is not to say there aren't flaws. There is so much detail to fit into just over 400 pages that some of the action sequences became rushed and lost their vitality. The harvesting of the Stone Gardens, that is where the all-important flight rocks grow, is wonderfully done, mainly because the author gives it time and space. Against that is the felling of the blood-oak, an immensely dangerous exercise in the Deepwoods, is so abbreviated that it becomes no more than a hard day's work - with risks attached. While the great climax, the clash of the sky galleons, when the armadas of the Undertown Leagues and the Sky Pirates meet, is over so quickly that one wonders if it was worth the fuss.
Back to that old blood-oak and its tarry vines. It set me thinking. Blood-oak timber is highly prized in the shipbuilding business - but why? The tree is carnivorous. It has a gaping mouth at the top of its trunk and presumably a gastric tract extending down to something resembling a stomach. Chop it down and surely all you have are a few planks to be gained on the sides of the monstrosity's gullet. It hardly seems economic considering the risk to life and limb of the poor woodcutter trolls. But then I've never had a head for business.
As for the Clash of the Galleons, it should have been a Trafalgar - or any other non-Eurocentric naval battle you can think of. The description was so truncated it was all over in what appeared to be minutes. Where was the agonized screaming? The bloody gobbets of torn flesh? The powder monkeys slithering and dancing to their gory deaths along the slippery blood-bathed timbers? The be-medaled officers insisting they will go down with their ships? Blow that - when the Leagues' monster vessel, The Bringer of Doom, looms up they are over the side and evacuating sharper than a plutocrat when war is declared. They need not have feared. As with all such ultimate machines, The Bringer of Doom is doomed. If you are a shipowner never declare your vessel unsinkable, if you are an admiral never say your ship is unbeatable. As with England's Mary Rose or Sweden's Vasa there is a god somewhere rubbing its hands together and muttering: "Oh, you really think so?" The Bringer of Doom does exactly that- to itself. It could have been a great finale to the battle - but no, it was so rushed that its impact became diminished.
So, what about Turbot Smeal? To anyone of significant years the answer is obvious - from chapter two onwards. To everyone else the story will keep you guessing. As always with the Edge Chronicles, Chris Riddell's illustrations are mind-blowing - though many of them could have been given more space to expand.
March 28, 2021
My reading vlog for the entire Quint Saga: https://youtu.be/3TFW_kGa35Q
The close of the Quint Saga did have quite a lot of action-packed scenes but was still not as engrossing as I would have liked. Characters would make illogical decisions but I enjoyed the adventure aspects of this rather brutal book.
The close of the Quint Saga did have quite a lot of action-packed scenes but was still not as engrossing as I would have liked. Characters would make illogical decisions but I enjoyed the adventure aspects of this rather brutal book.
August 17, 2015
[5 Stars] I still think the Winter Knights was my favorite, but this was still such an action packed and wonderful conclusion to the trilogy! I loved how we got to see more interaction between Maris and Quint. Wasn't the ending just adorable? I also loved how we delved into the deep woods and saw some of the inner workings of a sky ship. Seeing the woodtroll village was also a bit of a treat, especially after reading the Twig trilogy. I also enjoyed trying to figure out the motivations and nefarious schemes the antagonist was up to throughout the story. Like I always say if you are looking for an imaginative, dark, and whimsical middle grade adventure, the Edge Chronicles are for you!
October 23, 2023
*** There are no overt spoilers in this review that are not mentioned in the book's blurb, however anyone wishing to avoid thematic spoilers may wish not to read this ***
I have come to love the Edge Chronicles. The imagination, the worldbuilding, the quirky characters, the heart - these are the sort of books I would recommend to any child looking for escapism.
There have been some phenomenal books in this series so far, but unfortunately this was not one of them. In this installment, Quint and Maris have been collected from Sanctaphrax by Wind Jackal to go in pursuit of the villainous Turbot Smeal, with whom Wind Jackal has a dark history. In premise it is an exciting concept: we all want to hear more about Sky Pirates, and who doesn't love a good revenge story? But in execution this book let me down somewhat.
First is the rather shoehorn-y fact that Wind Jackal wanted Quint along on the journey to hunt down the man who killed his family, because "I can't do this without you." Wind Jackal has never come across as an emotionally dependent character, and one would imagine that, having lost his whole family save Quint, he would want to keep Quint in a place of safety rather than dragging him off on a dangerous quest.
Then there is the sense that the mission is somewhat lacking in direction. Having set up the pursuit of Smeal, one would anticipate that being the book's main focus. Instead we spend a lot of it distracted by shipping candles and bloodoak timber, without any real sense of urgency. I got the impression that these side quests were simply excuses to revisit locations that readers had loved in the past, but they only arbitrarily served the end goal and left the plot feeling somewhat diffuse. Even the subplot with the dissention between the Leagues and Sky Pirates had the air of an editor's suggestion to introduce more tension. The eponymous clash towards the end of the book lacked the drama it could have had were it to be a main plot in its own right.
All of which is not to say that this isn't an enjoyable book. Readers of the Edge Chronicles will find much they love here: we still have the same extensive, imaginative world; new characters, good, bad or just peculiar, are introduced and rendered in the captivating illustrations we have come to expect; there is a sense of an epic scale, particularly so when we spend most of the book aboard a Sky Pirate ship.
One element that floors me every time is the way in which a pleasant middle grade adventure can suddenly turn catastrophically dark. The authors do not shy away from death and devastation, but it is never gratuitous and always impactful. Readers' feelings are never wrapped in cotton wool. True, there is some element of plot armour for our protagonists, but the knowledge that bad things can and do happen emphasises the dangers that are so pivotal to the concept of the Edge world. When no character is really safe, every hazardous situation becomes that much more weighted. I was particularly surprised in this book to see a fair representation of PTSD - something from which a lot of middle grade writers would shy away. It adds a depth and a believability to a very fantastical world.
However, a combination of pace and the episodic style of this particular novel meant that we never really pause to reflect on any of the deaths that occur. Whilst you don't want to bog down a heroic adventure with themes of grief, I can't help but feel it would have lent some much-needed depth to an otherwise lacking story.
On the whole, the book felt like an overextension of a franchise in which the fans' dedication allows for a lazier execution, which is disappointing as I know how much more the authors are capable of.
I have come to love the Edge Chronicles. The imagination, the worldbuilding, the quirky characters, the heart - these are the sort of books I would recommend to any child looking for escapism.
There have been some phenomenal books in this series so far, but unfortunately this was not one of them. In this installment, Quint and Maris have been collected from Sanctaphrax by Wind Jackal to go in pursuit of the villainous Turbot Smeal, with whom Wind Jackal has a dark history. In premise it is an exciting concept: we all want to hear more about Sky Pirates, and who doesn't love a good revenge story? But in execution this book let me down somewhat.
First is the rather shoehorn-y fact that Wind Jackal wanted Quint along on the journey to hunt down the man who killed his family, because "I can't do this without you." Wind Jackal has never come across as an emotionally dependent character, and one would imagine that, having lost his whole family save Quint, he would want to keep Quint in a place of safety rather than dragging him off on a dangerous quest.
Then there is the sense that the mission is somewhat lacking in direction. Having set up the pursuit of Smeal, one would anticipate that being the book's main focus. Instead we spend a lot of it distracted by shipping candles and bloodoak timber, without any real sense of urgency. I got the impression that these side quests were simply excuses to revisit locations that readers had loved in the past, but they only arbitrarily served the end goal and left the plot feeling somewhat diffuse. Even the subplot with the dissention between the Leagues and Sky Pirates had the air of an editor's suggestion to introduce more tension. The eponymous clash towards the end of the book lacked the drama it could have had were it to be a main plot in its own right.
All of which is not to say that this isn't an enjoyable book. Readers of the Edge Chronicles will find much they love here: we still have the same extensive, imaginative world; new characters, good, bad or just peculiar, are introduced and rendered in the captivating illustrations we have come to expect; there is a sense of an epic scale, particularly so when we spend most of the book aboard a Sky Pirate ship.
One element that floors me every time is the way in which a pleasant middle grade adventure can suddenly turn catastrophically dark. The authors do not shy away from death and devastation, but it is never gratuitous and always impactful. Readers' feelings are never wrapped in cotton wool. True, there is some element of plot armour for our protagonists, but the knowledge that bad things can and do happen emphasises the dangers that are so pivotal to the concept of the Edge world. When no character is really safe, every hazardous situation becomes that much more weighted. I was particularly surprised in this book to see a fair representation of PTSD - something from which a lot of middle grade writers would shy away. It adds a depth and a believability to a very fantastical world.
However, a combination of pace and the episodic style of this particular novel meant that we never really pause to reflect on any of the deaths that occur. Whilst you don't want to bog down a heroic adventure with themes of grief, I can't help but feel it would have lent some much-needed depth to an otherwise lacking story.
On the whole, the book felt like an overextension of a franchise in which the fans' dedication allows for a lazier execution, which is disappointing as I know how much more the authors are capable of.
May 29, 2021
Despite the fact that I only started this series in December (2019), it feels really nostalgic, reminding me of the books that I really enjoyed when I was younger.
The pacing of these books has always felt a little slow but the plot as a whole was sound, building up to the ending, which was slightly anti-climactic. This was because two different issues had to wrapped up so the drama was spread between the two, resulting in neither being done justice.
I really feel remarkably neutral about the characters and would really appreciate more female characters who don't end up as love interests.
The concept and world-building that supports this series is simply wonderful, which is what contributes to the nostalgia. This is genuinely some of the most unique world-building that I've ever read, making the entire series feel fresh.
Overall, a good read, just needed more female characters and some tweaks to the plot.
The pacing of these books has always felt a little slow but the plot as a whole was sound, building up to the ending, which was slightly anti-climactic. This was because two different issues had to wrapped up so the drama was spread between the two, resulting in neither being done justice.
I really feel remarkably neutral about the characters and would really appreciate more female characters who don't end up as love interests.
The concept and world-building that supports this series is simply wonderful, which is what contributes to the nostalgia. This is genuinely some of the most unique world-building that I've ever read, making the entire series feel fresh.
Overall, a good read, just needed more female characters and some tweaks to the plot.
June 26, 2021
This novel was a delightful end to Quint's story. It was dark, epic, and character driven. A little slower than the other two books, but it more than made up for it with the action-packed sky battles and the end to a solid beginning saga of the Edge Chronicles.
February 17, 2016
4.5 stars!
This is in my opinion the best book of the Quint trilogy. It is filled with rogue adventures and twisted traps that truly demonstrates the perils of being a sky pirate.
From the start, this story plunges you into a quest of vindictive revenge. Different from the previous edge books, this one offers a true villain whose cunning and deception outmatches our protagonist. This is definitely a must read for all fans of the edge chronicle.
*** Detailed Review Below ***
What I liked about this book:
The most unique and fascinating part of the edge chronicles is the flight rocks and its usage in sky sailing. And this book offers the first insight and adventure of sky pirating without the usual involvement of the Sanctaphrax academics.
Through Cloud Wolf's adventure, the individual lives of each skyship crew is told, and the dangers that lurk the sky explored. I especially like how the author was able to expand on the innocent dangers of the edge, while still keeping a good pace for the story.
The main plot however involved Cloud Wolf chasing after his nemesis. And it was a fantastic tale that would take him to explore many details of the edge. Although the mysterious villain's identity was also quite easy to guess. But it was still interesting to see his plot in motion.
What I disliked about this book:
The story deepens the relationship of the leaguemasters towards sky pirates through the subplot of building the great sky galleons with the intent to wipe them out. But what seemed to be an interesting subplot ended quite suddenly at the end, making the whole purpose of the subplot just a description of leaguemaster greed.
This is definitely what I had in mind for a great finish to the Quint prequel trilogy. And if you haven't read the following Twig trilogy, I suggest you do so!
This is in my opinion the best book of the Quint trilogy. It is filled with rogue adventures and twisted traps that truly demonstrates the perils of being a sky pirate.
From the start, this story plunges you into a quest of vindictive revenge. Different from the previous edge books, this one offers a true villain whose cunning and deception outmatches our protagonist. This is definitely a must read for all fans of the edge chronicle.
*** Detailed Review Below ***
What I liked about this book:
The most unique and fascinating part of the edge chronicles is the flight rocks and its usage in sky sailing. And this book offers the first insight and adventure of sky pirating without the usual involvement of the Sanctaphrax academics.
Through Cloud Wolf's adventure, the individual lives of each skyship crew is told, and the dangers that lurk the sky explored. I especially like how the author was able to expand on the innocent dangers of the edge, while still keeping a good pace for the story.
The main plot however involved Cloud Wolf chasing after his nemesis. And it was a fantastic tale that would take him to explore many details of the edge. Although the mysterious villain's identity was also quite easy to guess. But it was still interesting to see his plot in motion.
What I disliked about this book:
The story deepens the relationship of the leaguemasters towards sky pirates through the subplot of building the great sky galleons with the intent to wipe them out. But what seemed to be an interesting subplot ended quite suddenly at the end, making the whole purpose of the subplot just a description of leaguemaster greed.
This is definitely what I had in mind for a great finish to the Quint prequel trilogy. And if you haven't read the following Twig trilogy, I suggest you do so!
April 7, 2018
Was soll ich sagen außer - absolute Leseempfehlung.
December 9, 2014
This book was just as great as the last. It's a great way to end Quint's Saga to The Edge Chronicles. Can't wait to start reading the next instalment.
June 3, 2022
Absolutely love the creativity with all the names and the world that was invented for this series.
Probably my favourite part of the Quint trilogy, there was always enough going on to keep me interested. I love how beneath the main story, there's always the Undertown happenings just scattered across the book that all make sense and are important at the end. It's a very well and celeverly built story and world and I love this series for that.
Probably my favourite part of the Quint trilogy, there was always enough going on to keep me interested. I love how beneath the main story, there's always the Undertown happenings just scattered across the book that all make sense and are important at the end. It's a very well and celeverly built story and world and I love this series for that.
August 11, 2022
Uff, this was brutal. Quint’s father is suddenly consumed with a plan to exact vengeance on his family’s murderer, sacrificing the lives of half of his crew in the process.
There’s a lot of bloodshed and murder. Quint and Maris didn’t really develop as characters anymore, but by the end of the book they were in love, apparently.
There’s a lot of bloodshed and murder. Quint and Maris didn’t really develop as characters anymore, but by the end of the book they were in love, apparently.
July 26, 2024
This is what I want out of a fantasy novel! The adventure this time around just felt so grandiose, there were accomplishments and pitfalls, and I felt like I really got to know the crew.
These books are kind of brutal though, I mean someone got eaten by a tree.
I enjoyed how this trilogy ended, and am excited to dive into the next few books. The world is so wonderful and fantastical.
These books are kind of brutal though, I mean someone got eaten by a tree.
I enjoyed how this trilogy ended, and am excited to dive into the next few books. The world is so wonderful and fantastical.
October 6, 2019
Loved it!
May 27, 2021
Delightful in its commitment to the nostalgia of the early Edge books. The plot is less the focus than expanding and clarifying the world of the first age. We see things merely alluded to in the Twig books, like the harvesting of the flight rocks, the sky shipyards, and new things like mines on the face of the Edge cliff, and a derelict skyship overtaken by floating organisms reminiscent of something from Nausicaa. I love this idea that there's an entire ecosystem of creatures existing in open sky and beneath the cliff that are mostly never seen during the series proper.
The revenge story isn't bad, but it seemed to be constantly struggling to maintain its presence. I was being bombarded with shiny things to look at, only for the story to try and turn my attention to "Wind Jackal is going crazy". I can at least accept Wind Jackal going mad with hatred for the killer of his family, and thus alienating his only remaining child more easily than Quint's estrangement in the Twig books. We've actually seen brief glimpses of Wind Jackal before, and he seemed like a decent father, so the pathos here is deeper as we see him fall apart. With Quint it was whiplash from the icy tyrant in the original series to, "oh actually he was a kind and noble soul".
There was more nostalgia to be had in the characters, with the origin story of Mother Horsefeather, Cowlquape's hilariously gigantic grandfather, Maris getting to be in the spotlight again, and old crew faces plus
The "clash of the sky galleons" is almost completely disconnected from all that. I can only recall a handful of points in the entire story where the two plots intersect. It develops on its own independently of the protagonists, briefly intrudes on their lives, then ends without their input. I would call that bad plotting, but honestly I don't mind. S&R needed an excuse for one last sky ship battle scene, and I'm here for it.
Heretical as this might sound, my complaint about this book is the pictures. The drawings themselves are fine, but they're laid out quite differently than they used to be. I wasn't counting, but I'd say the majority were bordered pictures, with a lot of vertical half pagers. Bordered pictures just feel more cramped, and the narrow vertical compositions are actually more cramped than the unbordered half page horizontal pictures of the past. The full page chapter opening pictures help alleviate things, but I feel a qualitative difference in how the pictures contribute to the story. This way is probably easier on the typesetters, at least. I honestly have half a mind to flip through the whole series again and count + classify all the pictures, assuming nobody else has.
August 15, 2018
'Clash of the Sky Galleons' is the third and final Edge Chronicles book with Quint as its protagonist. While I did enjoy it, I have to be honest, I won't miss him all that much.
I like the story, for the most part. I like how the crew of the Galerider gradually destroy themselves, caught up in both their captain's obsessive need for revenge and their constant financial difficulties, they end up fighting and dying, all the while helping the plans of the people aiming to bring them down. I like the various locations where Thaw sets his traps, each are pretty interesting and distinct. I like the final twist, that Smeal really had been dead all along and the real culprit was a young man consumed by ambition and short of money. Maris was a bit of a flat character in the first two books, but in this one she gets a bit more development and becomes more likable as a result. The crew are also reasonably fleshed out, which makes it pretty sad when most of them die.
There are two things that I feel didn't work. Firstly, Quint it a pretty flat character. He displays a bit more agency than before, but he's also more inconsistent. One moment he hates Smeal and wants him dead. The next he's worried about his father's quest for vengeance consuming him, which would be fine except, well, he watched his mother and brothers burn to death in agony and was left permanently traumatised as a result. Shouldn't he always want to kill Smeal just as much as his father does?
There are a few further issues. The destruction of the aptly named 'Bringer of Doom' was an absurd Deus ex Machina, especially as it was destroyed just in time to save Quint from being ripped to pieces. And the Stone Marshall's reputation probably should have taken a hit when the Leagues worked out that he murdered one of his main customers. Hubble recovering just in time to take out Thaw is also a Deus ex Machina. Thaw disguising himself as Smeal has a lot of unnecessary plot holes. He claims to have hired Smeal as his quartermaster, but Smeal is widely known and widely hated. He would have known who he was. The same goes for his meeting with the Leagues' leaders. He has no reason to speak to them in his Smeal disguise. A lot of them could have lost relatives in the fire as well. Of course it goes fine, because the Leagues are evil and Smeal was also evil. Also the foreshadowing was sometimes a bit overdone with him. And how on earth did he get down from the sky wreck when he parked his barge on it? Was it closer to the ground then? Did he perform a record-breaking parawing flight? I'm pretty sure I noticed all of this when I first read the book over a decade ago, actually.
Overall, this isn't the weakest of the Quint-led books, but it still doesn't quite hold up to scrutiny. It's got a lot less padding than 'The Winter Knights' and the characters are a bit more fleshed out, which helps a great deal. My personal favourite moment is the kitchen scene with Queep and Sagbut. That's a great little character moment. A good plot is there, and this time the reader gets to explore a bit more it if, but a few small improvements could have made it perfect.
Onto the Twig trilogy next. Yes, the protagonist of the next three books really is called Twig. Hopefully he has a bit more character to him than Quint.
I like the story, for the most part. I like how the crew of the Galerider gradually destroy themselves, caught up in both their captain's obsessive need for revenge and their constant financial difficulties, they end up fighting and dying, all the while helping the plans of the people aiming to bring them down. I like the various locations where Thaw sets his traps, each are pretty interesting and distinct. I like the final twist, that Smeal really had been dead all along and the real culprit was a young man consumed by ambition and short of money. Maris was a bit of a flat character in the first two books, but in this one she gets a bit more development and becomes more likable as a result. The crew are also reasonably fleshed out, which makes it pretty sad when most of them die.
There are two things that I feel didn't work. Firstly, Quint it a pretty flat character. He displays a bit more agency than before, but he's also more inconsistent. One moment he hates Smeal and wants him dead. The next he's worried about his father's quest for vengeance consuming him, which would be fine except, well, he watched his mother and brothers burn to death in agony and was left permanently traumatised as a result. Shouldn't he always want to kill Smeal just as much as his father does?
There are a few further issues. The destruction of the aptly named 'Bringer of Doom' was an absurd Deus ex Machina, especially as it was destroyed just in time to save Quint from being ripped to pieces. And the Stone Marshall's reputation probably should have taken a hit when the Leagues worked out that he murdered one of his main customers. Hubble recovering just in time to take out Thaw is also a Deus ex Machina. Thaw disguising himself as Smeal has a lot of unnecessary plot holes. He claims to have hired Smeal as his quartermaster, but Smeal is widely known and widely hated. He would have known who he was. The same goes for his meeting with the Leagues' leaders. He has no reason to speak to them in his Smeal disguise. A lot of them could have lost relatives in the fire as well. Of course it goes fine, because the Leagues are evil and Smeal was also evil. Also the foreshadowing was sometimes a bit overdone with him. And how on earth did he get down from the sky wreck when he parked his barge on it? Was it closer to the ground then? Did he perform a record-breaking parawing flight? I'm pretty sure I noticed all of this when I first read the book over a decade ago, actually.
Overall, this isn't the weakest of the Quint-led books, but it still doesn't quite hold up to scrutiny. It's got a lot less padding than 'The Winter Knights' and the characters are a bit more fleshed out, which helps a great deal. My personal favourite moment is the kitchen scene with Queep and Sagbut. That's a great little character moment. A good plot is there, and this time the reader gets to explore a bit more it if, but a few small improvements could have made it perfect.
Onto the Twig trilogy next. Yes, the protagonist of the next three books really is called Twig. Hopefully he has a bit more character to him than Quint.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2011
I thought it was great, like all the other edge chronicle books. This is the last in the series of the Quint trilogy. Quint finds himself caught up in his father's dangerous quest for revenge against Turbot Smeal, who started a fire that murdered his wife and sons leaving Quint the only surviving member of his family.
I love everything about The Edge Chronicles - the world is so imaginative and rich and I love the way everything from the differnt books fit together like a jigsaw. The only thing I didn't like was the change in character in Quint. The Sky pirate captain we meet in the twig trilogy is entirley differnt the character we get to know in the quint trilogy. For instance, telling maris to choose between him and the baby occurs to me as something he would never have done - he could have been a sky pirate and a father, just like his father was to him.
I love everything about The Edge Chronicles - the world is so imaginative and rich and I love the way everything from the differnt books fit together like a jigsaw. The only thing I didn't like was the change in character in Quint. The Sky pirate captain we meet in the twig trilogy is entirley differnt the character we get to know in the quint trilogy. For instance, telling maris to choose between him and the baby occurs to me as something he would never have done - he could have been a sky pirate and a father, just like his father was to him.
March 20, 2015
There's so much history in here! The more I read The Edge Chronicles, the more I realize how everything relates to everything else. This only further proved that to me. Since this is my second time reading these books, I can recall that, The Immortals digs even deeper into the thorough history that is the Edge. I can't remember as many details as I'd like to, as that book alone is so concise, but I remember that. Marvelous book. As always, Stewart and Riddell have outdone themselves in ways that even my 10 year-old self took notice.
February 13, 2011
This is the least well developed plot line in the series. The plot is confusing, and only comes together in the final pages of the book. It seems like the original book was much longer, and did not survive the editors touch. This book is good for the descriptions of the flora and fauna of Edgeworld.
March 23, 2018
Perfect for all children, including adult's inner child.
Reading age for the beginning of this trilogy is probably about Grade 2+ (for children to read on their own).
Imagination = 5 stars; I was delighted in the imagination of this world and have continued to be surprised by it.
Super enjoyable book to read.
Reading age for the beginning of this trilogy is probably about Grade 2+ (for children to read on their own).
Imagination = 5 stars; I was delighted in the imagination of this world and have continued to be surprised by it.
Super enjoyable book to read.
March 17, 2015
Possibly my favourite Edge Chronicles book so far.
August 9, 2019
This was an enjoyable read for the inventiveness of the world and the tension in the story, but I can't say that it was particularly well written.
July 31, 2019
Considering how much I love this series, this book was a bit of a disappointment. I think it comes down to Quint. He’s too good; his only flaw seems to be that. He’s trusting, very intelligent, and brave. Fire is no longer a debilitating fear of his. He overcame it in the 4th book, and therefore became fearless. It could be argued that his trust made him flawed, but everyone trusted; everyone was tricked by Thaw. The story would have been much more interesting if some of it was from Maris’s perspective, as she was changing and growing with the story while Quint remained stagnant. (I know he became a captain in the end, but he didn’t need to grow/change to become one). I also couldn’t fathom the sudden interest in Turbolt from Wind Jackal. I think they mentioned he had been getting letters, but it seemed so sudden. He was a stoic man in the 4th book - did he suddenly become overwrought with grief and anger? Possible, but suddenly his character is completely changed.
This is still a good entry in the chronicles. Not the best, but definitely not the worst.
This is still a good entry in the chronicles. Not the best, but definitely not the worst.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2023
While in many ways I thought this was the most emotional book in the Quint Saga, I must admit that the overall plot felt pretty scattershot in comparison to the other two. Because it's the first time I've read it, I may be less influenced by nostalgia than the other two, but I couldn't help but feel that the series of events weren't nearly as neatly packaged as the previous two books.
Of course, we get the continuation of the story of two characters (Quint and Maris) who in my opinion are really likeable, and we get to see the first iteration of Quint's captaincy. With some important deaths and pretty serious themes, there's a lot of emotion in this one which does paper over the issues a bit for me.
Nevertheless, I have rated this a bit lower than the previous two which for me are more cleverly crafted stories. Taking a short break from The Edge Chronicles now before I make a start on the Twig trilogy.
Of course, we get the continuation of the story of two characters (Quint and Maris) who in my opinion are really likeable, and we get to see the first iteration of Quint's captaincy. With some important deaths and pretty serious themes, there's a lot of emotion in this one which does paper over the issues a bit for me.
Nevertheless, I have rated this a bit lower than the previous two which for me are more cleverly crafted stories. Taking a short break from The Edge Chronicles now before I make a start on the Twig trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2023
Another lovely installation to the Edge Chronicles.
Something you can always depend on these books to do is constantly fill out unknown parts of the world within them, and I love that about them. We learn ever more about what it actually means to run a sky ship, various professions and techniques used to navigate the world, and ever more intricate aspects of the cultures involved.
As for the story itself, it sways a bit about what it's actually about, with the focus of all shifting now and again in a way I don't truly appreciate, but do understand. The book covers a wide spread of events in a manner other books hesitate to, and still manages to keep it interesting despite it.
Would recommend to those who appreciate the Edge Chronicles. And honestly, if you got to #8, why stop there?
Something you can always depend on these books to do is constantly fill out unknown parts of the world within them, and I love that about them. We learn ever more about what it actually means to run a sky ship, various professions and techniques used to navigate the world, and ever more intricate aspects of the cultures involved.
As for the story itself, it sways a bit about what it's actually about, with the focus of all shifting now and again in a way I don't truly appreciate, but do understand. The book covers a wide spread of events in a manner other books hesitate to, and still manages to keep it interesting despite it.
Would recommend to those who appreciate the Edge Chronicles. And honestly, if you got to #8, why stop there?
June 29, 2018
This book is actually pretty good. Most of these books actually are good but pretty weird. Like half the time it makes no sense. This one actually makes some since mostly.
This book went back to the perspective of Quint, Twig's father. In this book Quint and Maris go with Quint's father, the Wind Jackal, and become a sky pirate. Wind Jackal found out that his old enemy Turbot Smeal. Quint and Wind Jackal go of on a chase with the rest of the crew of the Gale Rider. Many of the crew die because of Turbot Smeal.
This book went back to the perspective of Quint, Twig's father. In this book Quint and Maris go with Quint's father, the Wind Jackal, and become a sky pirate. Wind Jackal found out that his old enemy Turbot Smeal. Quint and Wind Jackal go of on a chase with the rest of the crew of the Gale Rider. Many of the crew die because of Turbot Smeal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
Another thrilling adventure from the Edge! I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion of the Quint saga. This book featured many familiar faces from the previous trilogies and provided more information and backstory that will shed them in a whole new light when I inevitably read the series as a whole again, but the characters unique to this book provided much of the heart-pounding drama and intrigue that propels our protagonists' adventures. I can't wait to step into the Nate saga and see what unfolds for the Edge next.
September 15, 2024
I quite like the novels of Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell; they have created a very creative world that has far more invention in any three pages than the vast majority of fantasy writing. No tired, cliches of dwarves, elves, treants etc; pure, wild, imagination - and the plots, despite these being pitched as YA, as in this one, are deliciously dark. There is more death in this book than some "non-YA" pirate books, and certainly the characters are often better drawn.
February 14, 2024
The concluding story of the Quint sequence, this sees the crew supposedly on the hunt for the murderous traitor responsible for the death of Quint's mother. What actually takes place is a long-winded series of unrelated things that happen until an obvious revelation and potential setup for Beyond the Deepwoods. I read this to my son and it took nearly two years to do so.
April 4, 2024
While I feel this was the weakest of the Quint Trilogy books for the Edge Chronicles, I still immensely enjoy this series! Such a unique idea for a fantasy saga, and it brings me back to my childhood when I first discovered these books.
Though the books are geared for young readers, there’s enough intrigue and dark undertones and bloody battles to keep adults entertained too.
Though the books are geared for young readers, there’s enough intrigue and dark undertones and bloody battles to keep adults entertained too.
July 29, 2024
Fantastic. Right from the start this whole thing had an epic scale to it and all the pieces of the trilogy came together in a satisfactory way. Paul Stewart you are a genius. My only problem is that the villain reveal was really predictable but that was a small scratch on what was a beautiful fantasy journey. This trilogy would make for great cinema…that climax.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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