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The Seelie Wars #2
The Last Changeling
In The Hostage Prince, Prince Aspen and midwife’s apprentice Snail tried to prevent the Seelie War by making a perilous journey to Aspen’s father’s kingdom. Their journey started the war instead. Chased by two armies, Aspen and Snail find refuge with the actors of Professor Odds’ traveling troupe, dodging soldiers, Border Lord berserkers, a hungry troll, and assorted dwarfs, drows, lycants, boggles, and a cloaked spy. Will they make it out? Is any place safe for the two of them? And who, exactly, is the mysterious Professor Odds, who seems to have his own hidden powers and agenda? Fast-paced and funny,The Last Changeling, the second book of the Seelie Wars trilogy, is the perfect way to introduce newly fledged readers to fantasy.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2014
5 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Jane Yolen
987 books3,245 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 24, 2019
Four stars
Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Prose:
Pretty good. Nothing too spectacular. It's a typical middle-grade novel style, as far as prose goes.
Romance:
So sweet! There's not a whole ton of this aspect. More of a friendship type thing. I totally ship two of the characters though! Characters:
Very well-done. Everyone is distinct and most have really good arcs. The villain(s?) were good too. It was hard to tell sometimes who was the REAL villain. A lot of complicated loyalties.
Plot:
Fairly good. A bit slow at times, and this particular novel focuses more on the characters at first, and less on the abstract war, but I did enjoy it.
Overall:
A very good novel and I'm definitely going to want to read the next one. I like the characters, especially. And I'm SOOOOOO glad we finally learn Snails real name! I knew her name couldn't be Snail!
Content:
Nothing. Middle-grade level content-wise.
Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Prose:
Pretty good. Nothing too spectacular. It's a typical middle-grade novel style, as far as prose goes.
Romance:
So sweet! There's not a whole ton of this aspect. More of a friendship type thing. I totally ship two of the characters though! Characters:
Very well-done. Everyone is distinct and most have really good arcs. The villain(s?) were good too. It was hard to tell sometimes who was the REAL villain. A lot of complicated loyalties.
Plot:
Fairly good. A bit slow at times, and this particular novel focuses more on the characters at first, and less on the abstract war, but I did enjoy it.
Overall:
A very good novel and I'm definitely going to want to read the next one. I like the characters, especially. And I'm SOOOOOO glad we finally learn Snails real name! I knew her name couldn't be Snail!
Content:
Nothing. Middle-grade level content-wise.
May 10, 2015
Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum
What I love about this series is that the authors do not spoon feed their readers. Although a knowledge of Seelie and Unseelie mythology is helpful, this information is also slowly revealed throughout the books, making it a great introduction to the myths. Although it probably obvious to most readers even in the first book, Snail is a changeling, as if the title didn't already let us know. Snail is completely blindsided by this news too, although Prince Aspen is not at all and is rather miffed that Snail didn't know. Isn't she aware that no Seelie or Unseelie has red hair?
What I dislike about this series is the absolute volatile nature of both Snail and Prince Aspen. One wrong word and the two are at one another's throats. Their miscommunications were okay in the first book, but I expected a deeper connection to have formed by the second and was constantly surprised when Snail in particular, treats her companion so poorly. It made her a hard character to like. At least Prince Aspen is trying to learn and grow.
I also felt like the pacing was a bit slow on this one. Although a lot happens, there were sections that felt unnecessary and I wasn't rushing to finish it. In fact, I started and finished two other books while still reading this one because I needed more. I wasn't willing to give up on it completely though because I was intrigued enough to see where the plot was going. I am not sure when the third installment will arrive, but I am interested enough to want to finish the series in its entirety.
What I love about this series is that the authors do not spoon feed their readers. Although a knowledge of Seelie and Unseelie mythology is helpful, this information is also slowly revealed throughout the books, making it a great introduction to the myths. Although it probably obvious to most readers even in the first book, Snail is a changeling, as if the title didn't already let us know. Snail is completely blindsided by this news too, although Prince Aspen is not at all and is rather miffed that Snail didn't know. Isn't she aware that no Seelie or Unseelie has red hair?
What I dislike about this series is the absolute volatile nature of both Snail and Prince Aspen. One wrong word and the two are at one another's throats. Their miscommunications were okay in the first book, but I expected a deeper connection to have formed by the second and was constantly surprised when Snail in particular, treats her companion so poorly. It made her a hard character to like. At least Prince Aspen is trying to learn and grow.
I also felt like the pacing was a bit slow on this one. Although a lot happens, there were sections that felt unnecessary and I wasn't rushing to finish it. In fact, I started and finished two other books while still reading this one because I needed more. I wasn't willing to give up on it completely though because I was intrigued enough to see where the plot was going. I am not sure when the third installment will arrive, but I am interested enough to want to finish the series in its entirety.
March 2, 2015
This multi-layered fantasy covers of gamut of emotion (from laugh out loud funny to profoundly sad) and the plot is so delightfully twisty you'll be surprised at every new discovery in Ms. Yolen's amazing fantasy world of Seelie and Unseelie folk. The unlikely heroes, Aspen the elven prince and Snail the midwife's apprentice, are so realistically rendered the reader wants to hug them, weep with them, yell at them to STOP before they get hurt (worse), and laugh with them. Themes of friendship, loyalty, and being noble when it would be much, much easier to wimp out make what could have been a simple adventure romp a deeply moving, thought-provoking story.
May 26, 2021
This was a really interesting continuation of this series and I can tell the author improved a lot between the two books. I had a lot of fun reading it and I'm enjoying how the characters continue to develop. Prince Aspen was a little annoying in the first book but he's growing and learning a lot about being a good friend and so is Snail. Both also learn some cool new abilities which was really fun to read. A little predictable for this 20 yr old writer, but that's not necessarily a bad thing and I'm sure my middle schooled brother will love it when I give him a copy. I also really loved all the wordplay in this one!
I highly recommend this series and look forward to reading the next installment!
I highly recommend this series and look forward to reading the next installment!
September 13, 2017
3.5 stars
This middle book takes Aspen and Snail on the run from both Seelie and Unseelie and straight into the arms of the unusual traveling troupe of Professor Odd. Who may not have both of their best interests at heart...
There are some good character moments in this one. A worthy sequel that really expands on all the good elements of the first.
This middle book takes Aspen and Snail on the run from both Seelie and Unseelie and straight into the arms of the unusual traveling troupe of Professor Odd. Who may not have both of their best interests at heart...
There are some good character moments in this one. A worthy sequel that really expands on all the good elements of the first.
March 8, 2018
An excellent entry...of to find the next.
May 31, 2018
Exciting, witty and full of heart; everything a good story needs.
May 14, 2020
Starts off fairly standard journey through a fantasy land, then turns bloody and bleak and only gets more so.
September 7, 2015
A high 3.5 stars. This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
This is my review of the second book in the Seelie Wars series. Click here to check out my review of the first book, The Hostage Prince.
This book . . . was not what I went into it expecting. No, it was much more original than that. I thought it would be a kind of cliche sequel focusing on Aspen and Snail as they snuck around, joined a circus troup, did performances . . . kind of like this one great book that I read ages ago and can't find back (click here to see if you can help me figure out what it's called!). Instead, even though we did get quite a few of those elements to a certain extent, it's still pretty unique. I can't say that I enjoyed The Last Changeling quite as much as the first book, because I definitely spent most of the middle of the book scratching my head a little bit going "what on Earth is going on? And, um, why should I care?" But the ending really picked up a lot, taking the story in some pretty cool directions - and leaving me desperate to read the third book.
In The Hostage Prince, I didn't really have a favorite character. That has now changed: I can say with absolutely certainty that Aspen is my fave. And that's not because I don't like Snail, but because I do love Aspen - more than I love Snail. Not that Snail is bad or anything, but I didn't think her big "plot twist" was nearly as powerful as it could have been. Aspen's, on the other hand . . . yikes. I need to get my hands on the third book as soon as possible!
Snail and Aspen's relationship was one of my favorite things in the first book, and I think it went through some interesting phases as their story continued in The Last Changeling and they faced all the challenges/experiences thrown their way. Aspen has mostly gotten over his snobbishness toward Snail, and now it's more of the push and shove that goes along with being true friends (and maybe the beginnings of a little more than that). I think the third book will be when things really take off, though.
And really, that's the meat of it. This was a pretty good book, though not as good as the first one, but a lot of it just felt like filler. Filler that's setting up for the third book, yes, but still slightly drawn-out filler. That's a common second-book-in-a-trilogy problem, though, so I'm not really holding it against The Last Changeling. I just need the third book. Like, now.
This is my review of the second book in the Seelie Wars series. Click here to check out my review of the first book, The Hostage Prince.
This book . . . was not what I went into it expecting. No, it was much more original than that. I thought it would be a kind of cliche sequel focusing on Aspen and Snail as they snuck around, joined a circus troup, did performances . . . kind of like this one great book that I read ages ago and can't find back (click here to see if you can help me figure out what it's called!). Instead, even though we did get quite a few of those elements to a certain extent, it's still pretty unique. I can't say that I enjoyed The Last Changeling quite as much as the first book, because I definitely spent most of the middle of the book scratching my head a little bit going "what on Earth is going on? And, um, why should I care?" But the ending really picked up a lot, taking the story in some pretty cool directions - and leaving me desperate to read the third book.
In The Hostage Prince, I didn't really have a favorite character. That has now changed: I can say with absolutely certainty that Aspen is my fave. And that's not because I don't like Snail, but because I do love Aspen - more than I love Snail. Not that Snail is bad or anything, but I didn't think her big "plot twist" was nearly as powerful as it could have been. Aspen's, on the other hand . . . yikes. I need to get my hands on the third book as soon as possible!
Snail and Aspen's relationship was one of my favorite things in the first book, and I think it went through some interesting phases as their story continued in The Last Changeling and they faced all the challenges/experiences thrown their way. Aspen has mostly gotten over his snobbishness toward Snail, and now it's more of the push and shove that goes along with being true friends (and maybe the beginnings of a little more than that). I think the third book will be when things really take off, though.
And really, that's the meat of it. This was a pretty good book, though not as good as the first one, but a lot of it just felt like filler. Filler that's setting up for the third book, yes, but still slightly drawn-out filler. That's a common second-book-in-a-trilogy problem, though, so I'm not really holding it against The Last Changeling. I just need the third book. Like, now.
January 13, 2015
Prince Aspen and midwife Snail are on the run from both the Seelie and Unseelie armies. They have unintentionally started a war between the two courts. On the road they meet up with Professor Odds and his band of misfit players. Together with a new mother troll and her baby, they hit the road to evade the armies. Professor Odds is not what he seems however, and has ulterior motives for recruiting Snail. Turns out she is a changeling, a human child stolen into the faery world. Professor Odds is recruiting changelings to take on whichever army wins the war. Prince Aspen just wants to stop the war however he can, but at this point it is pretty inevitable.
So I didn't read the first book of the series but this one does a nice job of summing up the events. There is a lot of humor with the dwarves and the dog/carpet thing and the troll. There is a nice cast of characters taken straight out of faery lore, though I do wish some of them had been more explained. I know what a red cap is, but young readers probably do not. This book sets up the final book in the trilogy very nicely and I am sure fans will be eagerly awaiting the conclusion.
So I didn't read the first book of the series but this one does a nice job of summing up the events. There is a lot of humor with the dwarves and the dog/carpet thing and the troll. There is a nice cast of characters taken straight out of faery lore, though I do wish some of them had been more explained. I know what a red cap is, but young readers probably do not. This book sets up the final book in the trilogy very nicely and I am sure fans will be eagerly awaiting the conclusion.
June 13, 2015
The 2nd book is worse than the 1st, but it is not on my hate list. I didn't have much expectation for this book, and it lived down to my expectations. The characters, world building, and tone of voice were all low quality. The story was very predictable. This was an annoying read to me. The plot is interesting, but the story telling style is tiresome. This is more of a 1.5 star for me. I just don't like to give a book a 1 star, unless I can't stand the book. Young readers might enjoy this book.
June 13, 2015
This one was more annoying than the first book. Perhaps that was because I already knew what to expect, and was not surprised. It tries very hard to be literary fiction for children, resulting in contradictions. The story development is okay, but the character development leaves quite a bit to be desired. The language tries to be flowery and educated, but comes off more as pretensious.
November 23, 2015
In this sequel to The Hostage Prince, Aspen and Snail have run away from his village disguised as a minstrel as a courtier. They hide among a troupe of traveling players, but find much more than they had bargained for. It is important to have read the first book in The Seelie Wars series before this one.
January 6, 2015
Snail and Prince Aspen are on the run from both the Seelie and UnSeelie armies. On the road, they meet the mysterious Professor Odd.
The plot seems to have influences from Ray Bradbury and Tolkien.
A good pivot book, that leaves you wanting to know what happens in the final story.
The plot seems to have influences from Ray Bradbury and Tolkien.
A good pivot book, that leaves you wanting to know what happens in the final story.
January 22, 2015
This book was probably closer to a 3.5 than a 3. It was pretty interesting, but it did not hold my attention and keep me up late reading the way the first book in the series did. That said, I am still looking forward to book three. No swearing or anything uncomfortable.
January 27, 2015
I love Aspen and Snail!
July 13, 2015
Too much blood and descriptions of such for my liking...
April 9, 2017
Teens Prince Aspen and Midwife Snail alternate chapters. The Seelie and Unseelie kingdoms of fairy are going to war, and Aspen wants to stop them. Snail just wants to escape the dungeon. She keeps realizing that her life until now has not been so good, and she sees ways of maybe making it better.
Traveling with some actors surely has a way of changing perspectives, for both of them. Midwifing a troll-baby is also pretty life-changing for Snail - happened last book, but the consequences carry through. Lots of references to the previous book, but anything that affects the plot is clearly laid out, so I didn't feel that I'm missing much.
Is there romance? No, but the prince goes google-eyed over a beautiful woman. There are no beautiful men for Snail to goggle at. Also, all the changelings - humans kidnapped into fairy-land - seem to be white.
Aspen and Snail learn a lot about themselves. They choose to take their real names toward the end of the book, instead of these nicknames.
Middle book of a trilogy: no major plot points are resolved. And I don't care enough to pick up the other books in the series.
Traveling with some actors surely has a way of changing perspectives, for both of them. Midwifing a troll-baby is also pretty life-changing for Snail - happened last book, but the consequences carry through. Lots of references to the previous book, but anything that affects the plot is clearly laid out, so I didn't feel that I'm missing much.
Is there romance? No, but the prince goes google-eyed over a beautiful woman. There are no beautiful men for Snail to goggle at. Also, all the changelings - humans kidnapped into fairy-land - seem to be white.
Aspen and Snail learn a lot about themselves. They choose to take their real names toward the end of the book, instead of these nicknames.
Middle book of a trilogy: no major plot points are resolved. And I don't care enough to pick up the other books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews