Eternity

Infinity Ring #8

by Matt de la Peña

The New York Times bestselling series returns . . . and so does Matt de la Pena!

Dak, Sera, and Riq have fixed the Great Breaks in history . . . but the SQ isn't beaten yet, and the biggest, boldest Infinity Ring adventure of all time has just begun!

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Young Adult

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2014

About the author

Matt de la Peña is the New York Times best-selling, Newbery-medal-winning author of six young adult novels and four picture books. Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific, where he attended school on a full athletic scholarship for basketball. de la Peña currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. He teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country.

Visit Matt at: mattdelapena.com

Reviews

[NVTony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wondered how this series would be improved upon. Author did not disappoint. Characters remained robust and conclusion was excellent use of writers skills. Hope this is just the beginning of another adventure.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eternity

I could not get over the first half of this book. The thousands of clones were too much for me, and yes I was snooker in not suspecting the red heads manipulating of history again.

[Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, this series is for children. No, I'm not a child. But some of my favorite authors wrote on this series. How could I resist? 🤷‍♂️

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dak and Sera find different ways of readjusting to normal life after their final time traveling adventure to fix breaks in history. Dak is happily taking it easy in his backyard hammock and Sera is working on tachyon fluid experiments when their peace is interrupted by another series of events that prove their work is not done yet. This mission threatens to tear apart their friendship.

Eternity is the 8th book in the Infinity Ring Series and even though there are seven books before it a reader who has never read the others can jump right in. There are enough back story fillers to get the reader up to speed and might even encourage readers who enjoyed the story to pick up the others in the series. The format and style will appeal to middle grade readers who want a fast paced, action-adventure read. It reminded me of other Scholastic series like The 39 Clues. I enjoyed the fact that the characters meet historical people and real historical facts, which is a plus for getting kids interested in history.

I would recommend this book for purchase to any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaving Riq in the past, Dak and Sera return to the present having fixed all the breaks in time. However, the SQ has been at it still, and when crazy things start happening (like a flying dinosaur in modern times), the kids know something is wrong. Teaming up with Riq again, they have to thwart the issues for good, or it may truly prove to be the end of the world.

A really fun way to end the series. And really, it was a great series for kids - especially 3-6th grade. Lots of history mixed with science fiction. Where I only gave 3-4 stars, my kids would give them 4-5 stars.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when they thought they had saved the world, Riq, Dak, & Sera and thrown into a bigger mess than ever before. As we learned at the end of book 7, Tilda has escaped Ancient Rome. She has founded a new organization, AB, to continue her life's work. Can Dak & Sera figure out what is going on before it is too late? You absolutely must read the other books in the series first, or this won't make any sense at all. Grades 3 & up.

[Cas ♛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Although I found the start of this quite confusing at first, I was unsuspecting, and oblivious to what was happening, all the better when everything was revealed. This book is amazing, and a stunning conclusion to the Infinity Ring series, done brilliantly.

[Kryssy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so fun!! It did kind of feel like it’s own 3rd act twist to fix what they messed up in the first place

We still got the historical parts, but we get fun with the characters!! THIS is what i hoped the series would be!

Apparently there are little novellas like the 39 clues has, but i doubt i’ll read them. This was a good ending for me

- been home from time travel for a couple months
- Dinosaurs are in dak’s yard
- Arin from a previous historian mission? Was this one of the two people way at the beginning?
- Sera has her parents. And a dog
- Sera fixed the square and there is one more break
- Stops the guy who invented gunpowder
- Sera is acting like a different person
- Meet Galileo. Sera’s idol
- Everyone seems to be against sera
- Riq has been tracking down tilda
- Clones!?!?
- All ages. They know about the real dak and sera and how to stop them
- Not clones… alternate timelines!! Very rick and morty
- Other dak and sera convinced real ones to alter history. Not fix it. In tilda’s favor!
- Use the ring to go back and stop the past dak and seras
- Sera’s parents have been pretending to be SQ to please tilda and protect sera. They are SUPER smart
- Dog is a space dog
- Dak was on a spaceship?? Somehow stopped tilda’s plan
- Riq stays in the present
- Want to continue to travel in time as adventures

[Sybyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard believe it's over now. Reading this series has been a delightful journey. Ten years ago, sixth grader me picked up the first book from the local bookstore because duh, it's history and adventure! After reading it, I kinda forgot about it until nine years later (which was last year) when I started collecting the rest of the series (because the perfectionist inside refused the idea of not owning the complete series) and read book 2-4 amidst a reading slump. Now that I finally finished the entirety of it, it seems quite surreal because I feel like I've grown up with the trio - Dak, Riq, and Sera - and had all those adventures with them.

It's nostalgic, sentimental, and emotional to think that only a couple of years ago, a middle school version of me was reading AMIT while chilling in a hammock (cheers, Dak!) and now this current college version of me is in borderline agony, realising that my time with my favorite (and OG) golden trio, the time travels, the Hystorians, and the weird and surreal meetings with famous historical personalities, has now officially ended. Thank you, Infinity Ring for introducing me to the world of reading and for nurturing my love for history EST. 2011! ⏳💕

[Alex Hugie · Rating 3 out of 5]

MATT DE LA PENA

Considering I hadn't read any other books in this series and that it felt a bit closer to middle grade than YA, I thought it was a pretty enjoyable novel. Dak, Riq, and Sera are time travelers who stop Breaks in the time continuum--moments where other time infiltrators try to change the course of history. In this final adventure, they find themselves leaping everywhere from Galileo's trial to 9th century China to the launch of the first Russian space rocket in order to prevent their enemies from establishing a moon colony and nuking the Earth. Yeah. But the story was concise, the characters distinct, the premise fun. The ending felt a bit anticlimactic and the actual time periods I thought felt short on contextual details, but otherwise I think younger readers would find it an entertaining book.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more as it went on. It wasn't quite the same as the other books in the series. At first, I was really confused, so I confessed, I went looking for spoilers. When I got into it, I wondered what the point was. I knew it wasn't an introduction to another series -- or at least if it is, they haven't come out yet -- so why write this book at all? (And with the way the story was written, it easily could have been the beginning of a "new" series. Kind of the way the 39 clues worked.) The last one wrapped things up pretty nicely. I was just about done with the book at the dog abuse point. However, by the end, I decided I could see why it was written, and the way everything was resolved (including the dog) made me rate it higher than it was at the beginning. I am sad to see this series end.

[Leslie Nyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series of eight books is quite entertaining. There’re plot holes in the middle, much like how would children be expected to “save the world”. Much of why I gave the middle few books three stars.
This eighth book was done better than the middle few. Had more unexpected (the outcome was expected, but it was better than before). But as with time travel, the space time continuum thing is hard to hold true throughout the book (it’s even harder to hold true for the whole series).
But if it was meant for kids, it’s entertaining.
The take home message for me is that the “villain” spent her whole life trying to destroy... at the end her life was spent just doing that. The most valuable thing in the world is friendship. It does tie up loose ends that parents love for their children is close to the greatest thing in the world.

[MariayiahS(A3) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the last one in the series, and in my opinion, also the best. It's filled with twists, one being Dak and Sera get "cloned:" versions of them actually get pulled from different dimensions. It's definitely a good quick read book and better for younger audiences. I would suggest the Percy Jackson book series over this one, but this is a bit better then the Divergent series. None of the main characters die, and that is just one of the reasons why I think this is better then the Divergent series. Personally, no book can top the Percy Jackson series, but this is still a great series. I think this book and it's series definitely deserve 5 stars.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to a fantastic series. During this time of COVID-19 quarantine, I really enjoyed the lighthearted nature of this book. It clipped along at a good pace. I didn't like enjoy the scenes when Dak and Sera were separated, but that didn't drag on.

When I listened to #7, I thought that was the ending. This book, actually completed the series and resolved a plot twist from the previous book that I really liked. The series is ended with a completeness. However, they left it open for another series if they choose, but they not leave any cliff hangers or incomplete plots.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do series have to end!! So good. I guess I need to go on to something else now.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it also seemed to me that it was kind of unnecessary as a final book of the series.

[Hamza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! SUch a good book to an end the sires off with

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. I wasn't a fan of the first half but it became better.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series should have ended with #7. I binge-read all of the books up to this one and this one falls far from expectations. It's very predictable, stretched, and honestly a bit boring.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing ending to an Amazing series...

[Hannah Russell · Rating 1 out of 5]

They should have ended it with number seven. Everything was wrapped up with a bow, and I even felt the horrible series was a bit redeemed. Then this happened.

It didn't just have a few plot holes. It's plot Swiss cheese. And the entire Galileo thing was laughably ridiculous.

They built a new villain, and a completely new conflict just to make an eighth book? Yeah...kind of.

Really bad.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this were good which is why I'm giving it a three star rating, but I stand by my opinion stated in the previous book. This story reached its arc in book seven and book eight was not only unnecessary, but the sort of addition to the series that twists the plot in a negative way in order to elongate a series that was apparently making money for somebody.

I'm not even going to get started on all the contradictions this books made on prior books like Sera not knowing scientific things while Dak knows them or Aristotle say he was starting the Historians anyway in order to protect history and then Dak stating in this book that the organization had never been started. Those are just a couple in a laundry list of examples by the way.

The changes to the way the series dynamic worked at all are what really got me. Instead of it being history focused, it was focused on the space race and while it did give historical events related to that it didn't really fit with the way the rest of the series went. Not only that but we've got parallel universes and clones. Dak is having psychic visions which are ridiculous and dinosaurs are walking around in the 21st century?! Then there was Riq's reaction to seeing Sera and Dak again. Instead of hearing them out, he threw them in jail with no explanation whatsoever. It's like he's stopped listening all together. Considering what he experienced during their trip to the Civil War era I find the behavior completely out of character.

The book had it's moments that I actually enjoyed listening to, don't get me wrong, but over all I'd consider it the worst installment of the series so far and maintain the opinion that this should only have been a seven book series.

[Taylor Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

MATT DE LA PENA

So I DIDN'T FINISH this book. So take points off Dr. Crowe :) But, I didn't realize that this book was part of some weird series where different authors write different books. Other authors in the series include James Dashner, Carrie Ryan, Matthew Kirby, Lisa McMann, and Jennifer A. Nielsen. That was weird. I didn't realize there were series like that, but I guess that "Infinity Ring" isn't the only one. There is also "39 Clues" and "Spirit Animals". So, because this was part of a bigger group of books by different authors, I feel like I probably didn't get the whole Matt de La Pena experience because I feel like most of his other books deal with sports or Latino American stuff. This one was more like a time-traveling, history-saving, solve-the-puzzles type of book, and I wasn't really that into it. BUT! I can see how some YA readers would be, especially because there are different things for the reader to do in collecting clues and solving puzzles. This particular book is about the two main heroes, Dak and Sera and some Russian dog, who have to go into the past and interact with three different time periods and ancient people, including Galileo, and from at least where I got in the book, things don't go as well as they planned. Like I said, not really my thing, but I can see how it would get different kids and YA readers who are into this kind of book reading.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Excuse me? Does anyoone know where I can find a Mr. and Mrs. Froste? They told me to meet them here this afternoon. Apparently they want to discuss a job. Something that could 'really make history'. Their words."

This is one of those books that really should not exist. At all.

The Infinity Ring series was supposed to be concluded after seven books, but for some strange reason the publishers decided to add an extra, eighth book to it. James Dashner provided the few links in Book 7 to set up Eternity's plot, and de la Peña was a go.

But the links are very weak, and the entire plot seems VERY far-fetched and does nothing to hold the story together, to be honest. It's just sooooo weird and out there and, in a way, stupid.

But, well, fine, at least it had a good ending. I just don't feel like saying much more about this. Most of it is just crap. I don't have a clue why they botched the ending that The Iron Empire provided.

4/10
Average rating of the series: 7.04/10

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this installment of the “Infinity Ring” series, “Dak” and “Sera” time travel to prevent inventions and theories that cause destruction and war. Unfortunately, they are clones working for an evil faction headed by Tilda. Their actions and plotting cause a rift and distrust between the real Dak and Sera as they travel to ancient China, Rome and Massachusetts to prevent the invention of gunpowder, the imprisonment of Galileo and the future of rocket science. It is when the actual Dak and Sera travel to Macedonia and are reunited with Riq that they discover the real reasons driving Tilda’s machinations. They are able to thwart a plot that would populate the moon with evildoers eager to control and destroy Earth. The adventure ends with the three friends together again and a hint of yet another adventure to follow. Readers who enjoy this series will no doubt pick up this title. The publisher’s website with games and additional downloads adds appeal. Order if you have fans.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just when you think the Infinity Ring series has come to a satisfying conclusion, here comes another book that shows that there is more adventure for the time-traveling heroes Dak Smyth and Sera Froste. In this title, the two end up back in time where they make well-intended changes that will have bad results and may lead to one of their former rivals winning everything. With the help of Rik and a mysterious dog, the two go back in time again, to three specific points, and right the wrongs that they just caused. The fast-paced action and interactions between the three, each of whom suddenly have good reasons not to trust one another, will keep fans of this series enthralled and turning the pages rapidly. There are even a couple of points that will confuse readers just as much as the book's protagonists.

[Rustic Red Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

there's something missing, The Iron Empire is a good conclusion to series but this... opened a new series but it is the CONCLUSION to the Infinity series... just disappointed

[Ace Balwayan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of having time/history messed up by Tilda is great. Plus Seras and Daks from alternative dimensions. The ending... wtf. I had to read it over and over again. How did they solve the problem again? Back to rereading the last few chapters. I was like.. yeah OK. I still didn't understand. Worst book of the series tbh.

[Karsyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It should have ended with the last book. Didn't like this one at all, but I think part of it might have been the narrator. Bottom 10 of narrators ever. His regular speaking voice was fine, but he did this high pitched voice (for a boy, made no sense) that was AWFUL. Ruined the experience of the book.

[Katey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still don't really understand why they decided to add another book to the series, except the fact that Riq comes back. Other than that it was a fun book along the same vein as the others if a little more fantastical.