The World's End

The Misewa Saga #6

by David Alexander Robertson

Eli must embrace his unique heritage and make an impossible decision about his future, and the future of Misewa, in this thrilling last adventure in the award-winning, Narnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series.

Eli, Morgan and Emily manage to free themselves from captivity as the battle between the humans, animal beings, and Bird Warriors rages on. But there's another, more personal battle, as Eli and an unlikely ally fight to save Mahihkan’s life through a previously forbidden portal. When the Sleeping Giant rumbles to life, the stakes hit an all-time high, and Eli has to reach deep within himself to summon the power so that he can protect Misewa against the dangers of colonization . . . forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Canada, Indigenous

280 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2025

About the author

DAVID A. ROBERTSON is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Literary Award, has won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, as well as the Writer's Union of Canada Freedom to Read award. He has received several other accolades for his work as a writer for children and adults, podcaster, public speaker, and social advocate. He was honoured with a Doctor of Letters by the University of Manitoba for outstanding contributions in the arts and distinguished achievements in 2023. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Katie, I didn’t know you were so bada$$!” Emily exclaimed.
“You know I’m a schoolteacher, right?” Katie said, with a smile.

The main message in this sequel is that “interfering with other people’s journeys could have important consequences.” To spotlight this message, Robertson points out that the newcomers to the nation want to colonize after they’ve treated its people badly and overused all its resources. Does this remind you of our own country’s history?

It was good to see the foster parents learn about the portal and the indigenous values of responsibility being taught. I was disappointed with the turn this series took, especially the swearing. It felt as though Robertson went through a ‘hot topics for youth’ list and picked out the top issues to include. It didn’t feel organic from book 5 onwards. It felt more representative. As my niece pointed out, she reads to enter another world and leave the issues from school and the real world behind.

I’m not sure if this is the end of the series or not, but I’m done.

I was gifted this copy by Tundra Book Group and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

worthy ending.

now i need to go back and reread the whole series

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Excellent ending but I was expecting an author note explaining his feelings about ending the series.
Easy to catch up from last book, not even really needing a recap

Eli trying to get James once to other world to help Mahihkan.
Newcomers going to a new world and treating its people like that and overusing all its resources
Whisky Jack funny bum story!
Tears are pain and sadness leaving the body
Stories are portals
Going to end a war before it even starts
Cool ghosts of the mountain
“We are stories, and as long as those stories are told, no one can ever truly be gone.”
About family and healing
Back to the future one of the most perfect movies ever made

[Melissa Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The World’s End by David A. Robinson

Ok, The Worlds End is absolutely incredible! Having read the first five books, I can honestly say this one ties everything together in the best/satisfying but also the most devastating way. Side plots and conversations from the earlier books come full circle, and you really feel how far the characters have come since the very beginning.

The battles are big and intense, but what stuck with me most were the smaller, emotional moments. Watching how friendships and familial relationships changed as well as how much each character has grown makes the ending feel even heavier. By the time I reached the last chapters, I just had to sit there for a minute because it didn’t feel real that the journey was actually over.

I would love to see more from Morgan and Eli as they grow older through their later teenage, earlier adulthood, or later on if they become parents and how their relationship with Misewa grows.

I was gifted a copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Jenna]

Review to come from my two younger guys 🙊

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

The World's End by David A. Robertson is a third person-POV Middle Grade fantasy conclusion to the Misewa Saga. Eli creates a portal and enlists the help of James to save one of his friends. In so doing, Eli, Morgan, Katie, and Emily now have to explain what has been happening in Misewa to James while also doing what they can to protect the realm from the people who seek to take it for themselves.

I have not read any of the books in this series before this one. I made a mistake when I requested and thought this was for a brand new series. As such, I went in blind and I think this is definitely not where someone should start. Things are explained, relationships are given labels (such as foster father and grandmother), but it’s so many names so fast because readers should have had five books to get to know these characters. This is a lot like Narnia, but it’s not like Narnia where the books can stand on their own.

While I was missing context for some things, I was able to pick up on how deeply Indigenous this story is and how much care went into it to depict the life of Indigenous Canadians as they are now. Swampy Cree is used throughout and there are references to CFS and how it can destroy Indigenous families. Eli makes a very pointed reference to the colonization of Canada and how it relates to the people now trying to colonize Misewa, highlighting that the pain of generations past hasn’t gone anywhere. There’s also references to the peoples living on Turtle Island today, which help show a young reader that Indigenous people are not a relic of the past nor do they only exist in fantasy.

The integration of Cree beliefs both feels very fresh and very familiar. It’s all tied into the narrative in ways that are going to feel familiar to young readers who are still learning about tropes and archetypes and story structures, but as the names and figures are distinctly Cree, they will be new to any reader who has never encountered them before. This mix is handled very well and feels age appropriate in how it adds humor and action to really sell these unique aspects.

I would recommend this to readers who have read the other Misewa books and readers looking for Middle Grade fantasy that has frank discussions around colonization

[Makayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finishing The World’s End felt a little like closing a door on a home I didn’t realize I’d grown so attached to. Robertson doesn’t just end The Misewa Saga—he makes you feel the weight of leaving behind a world that has been equal parts magical escape and mirror to our own histories.

What I loved most was how seamlessly he balanced the action with the heart. Yes, there are portals, giants, and fierce battles, but underneath all of that is a story about belonging—about what it means to stand firm in who you are and where you come from. Eli’s journey in this book felt raw and honest, the kind of character growth that makes you pause and reflect on your own place in the world.

It wasn’t a perfect read—the pacing stumbled here and there—but the ending carried so much meaning that I closed the book feeling grateful. Grateful for the characters, for the truths woven into the fantasy, and for the way Robertson trusts young readers to grapple with big, complex ideas.

This isn’t just the end of a series—it’s a reminder that stories have power, and that power stays with you long after the final page.

[Rob Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sixth and final book in the Misewa series feels like the ending of The Return of the King, the third Lord of the Rings movie by Peter Jackson. This book picks up right where the previous book left off, with Eli, Morgan, and Emily in captivity and Mahihkan the wolf presumably dead. The action picks up again quickly, and this time both of Eli and Morgan's foster parents are pulled into the story. The main storyline that had been playing out over the last few books gets wrapped up fairly quickly in this book, but there were many open questions that remained. This is where the book begins to remind me a little of the series of endings in The Return of the King, or like the climb out of the multiple levels of dream states in Christopher Nolan's movie Inception. The children reconnect with their friends on Aski, wondering if this might be the last time they see them again, and Eli tries to understand whether he even belongs in this world. Closure finally comes, but perhaps not in the ways you might hope or expect, and yet by the end of the book, you'll probably agree it couldn't have ended any other way.

[Bobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tundra Books and LibraryThing for this review copy!

This is the final book in the Misewa Saga series by David A. Robertson. Eli, Emily, and Morgan are out of captivity. The massive multi-species battle is still going on. Eli has to travel through a portal and fight to save everything.

I don't want to give away too many details as this may spoil the book for other readers, but I do want to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to read it. The author's writing style is very engaging and the action keeps the pace of each book moving swiftly forward. This last installment wraps up everything in a very satisfying way. I will miss reading about Morgan and Eli! I recommend this book to middle school readers, or older, in addition to anyone who likes stories about family, friends, or magic.

[Country Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Misewa Saga: The World's End by David A. Robertson is the final book in the Misewa Saga by the author. This is a series and book made for middle school aged children's reading. This is the conclusion to the 6 book series so if you haven't read the previous books before this review, do so now! The finale follows the journey of Eli and him risking everything to save the people he cares about and the place he also loves. The author blends in lessons of doing what is right by yourself and your people, among other moral lessons for young readers. And this story centers around a forbidden portal to another place kind of like Narnia;) I loved those books as a kid. If you love the Narnia books or the like, you will love this book and enjoy the series!

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

The World’s End by David A. Robertson is packed with high stakes, big emotions, and the kind of magic that sticks with you! Eli, Morgan, and Emily escape captivity only to land right in the middle of a massive battle: humans, animal beings, Bird Warriors, even a Sleeping Giant thrown into the mix!

But what hit me hardest wasn’t just the action, it was Eli’s personal journey. To save Mahihkan’s life, he risks everything, even stepping into a forbidden portal. The story digs deep into themes of belonging, courage, and what it really means to protect the people and places you love!

It’s an epic and heartfelt finale that ties the series together beautifully!

[Susan Coulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

After picking up book one of the Misewa Saga by @davidrobertsonwriter by chance at my local library, I was immediately hooked on Eli and Morgan’s adventures. With the Saga coming to a close with book 6, The World’s End, I know I will be recommending these books for years to come.
 
Without giving too much away, this book follows Eli most closely as he learns more about his powers as a portal keeper and his struggles to figure out where he fits between his found animal family on Misewa and earth. With his abilities comes great responsibility which forces him to make the unimaginable decision between his family and friends. This is a story about colonialism, culture, the environment, identity, foster care, death, friendship, found families, and resilience. These books nicely balance the seriousness of these subjects with humour, teachings, and adventure which make them easy to understand for middle grade readers. I have always loved the trickster character in indigenous stories and Wisahkechk was so much fun in this book offering more than one moment of comic relief during some tense moments. As this series has progressed, so has the seriousness of the story, growing with the reader. The incorporation of Cree stories, culture, and language really make this series unique and interesting, and the landscape of Misewa and northern Manitoba really reminds me of Northwestern Ontario where I live which is quite close to where this story is set. There are moments of heartbreak, fun, and an ending fitting for this series. With loveable animal and human characters alike, this book has something for everyone. What will Eli sacrifice for his friends and family? You need to read this series to find out.
 
Thank you to tundrabooks and tandemcollectiveglobal for providing a review copy of this book and providing a wonderful readalong experience.

[Lori Emilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a satisfying end to this saga (is it really the end?). Kids will eat up this fantastical tale of fighting for what’s right, Indigenous ways of being, and connection between two worlds. As unbelievable as the events are, I can readily imagine a class fully enjoying this read aloud by a teacher - the characters, the dialogue! Loved the inclusion of trickster stories too. This is an important series, and I’m so glad this final (really? It’s really the end?) instalment is here. Well done! Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this title.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between 3.25 and 3.5. All in all, I enjoyed this series, though I will say I wasn’t too keen on the last two books. We started off with Morgan as the MC, but due to a turn of events in previous books, it became more of Eli, and thus Morgan dropped off a bit.

I would’ve settled for the bittersweet ending where Eli lives in the Sky World, him being otherworldly and all, but no, he chooses to be with Morgan, Katie, James, and Emily. On one hand, they’re reunited, but on the other hand, he gave up his otherworldly side to be human, and I’m not completely keen on that.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like a satisfying end to the middle grade Misewa Saga series (although I have thought that before). There was more fantastical adventures, great found family, Indigenous culture and tradition and characters you can't help rooting for. Good on audio and perfect for fans of The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is the last in a series of 6, it can be read as a standalone book.

A great, fierce battle has finally begun, and Eli must summon his powers to save Misewa and to save the life of Mahihkan, the wolf who teaches and protects them. Great action story that teaches the way of the world and many life lessons.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best of the series but not the worst. Overall, I give this series as a whole 4 stars.
What I liked about this book: how the parents were more involved, wrapped up story lines the most
What I didn’t like: felt artificial, the swearing

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed in this one. I feels the series stretched on for too long and lost it childhood wonder type of story.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful end to a wonderful series.

[Caroline Hendry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first four books but found the world become too convoluted during the last two books. I felt some of the themes and language were too mature for the intended audience. Not enough of Arik.

[Signey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t really see any other way to the series ending, but the journey to the end was so unexpected. I really enjoyed all the adventures that Eli and Morgan went on in this book. I just wish the Saga didn’t have to end!