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Tales of the Ketty Jay #4
The Ace of Skulls
They've been shot down, set up, double-crossed and ripped off. They've stolen priceless treasures, destroyed a ten-thousand-year-old Azryx city and sort-of-accidentally blew up the son of the Archduke. Now they've gone and started a civil war. This time, they're really in trouble.
As Vardia descends into chaos, Captain Frey is doing his best to keep his crew out of it. He's got his mind on other things, not least the fate of Trinica Dracken. But wars have a way of dragging people in, and sooner or later they're going to have to pick a side. It's a choice they'll be staking their lives on.
Cities fall and daemons rise. Old secrets are uncovered and new threats revealed.
When the smoke clears, who will be left standing?
As Vardia descends into chaos, Captain Frey is doing his best to keep his crew out of it. He's got his mind on other things, not least the fate of Trinica Dracken. But wars have a way of dragging people in, and sooner or later they're going to have to pick a side. It's a choice they'll be staking their lives on.
Cities fall and daemons rise. Old secrets are uncovered and new threats revealed.
When the smoke clears, who will be left standing?
496 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2013
72 people are currently reading
2455 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wooding
79 books2,190 followersChris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
June 23, 2022
Space pirates!
Enough said.
Ok, maybe not. It appears my prior reviews of this series are rather weak. Here's why you should read The Kitty Jay series.
Firefly. In written form.
Ok, stop that! Let's do a review!
If you haven't followed the tales of the Kitty Jay, a mercenary--okay, freebooter--zepplin, it's best not to start here. Most likely, you'll understand it, but it is the capstone to a four-book series, and Wooding has done some nice things in this one, wrapping up both personal and political arcs. There's also some baseline world-building that isn't much explained, largely because it was done earlier in the series.
I hadn't seen Firefly when I started this series, and honestly, all the reviews that mentioned it were lost on me. Now that I've seen the show, I understand--comparisons are unavoidable. We have a classic troupe of misfits with challenged pasts, a steampunk setting with flying airships and revolvers, and a frontier mentality. There's a lot of humor, and a fair amount of daring and violence not exactly of their own making.
There's an attractive, roguish captain with a flexible sense of ethics, a flier who is enthusiastic with violence but incredibly dumb, a talented but shy pilot, a conflicted doctor, a conscience-ridden aristocrat on the run, a socially challenged mechanic and a loyal but somewhat passive first mate. There's even a petite but seriously socially challenged kick-ass woman.
Bonus: one irritable alley-cat and a metal golem.
But Wooding goes deeper than Firefly was ever allowed by delving into the characters' inner lives and their dysfunctional family. This is not a charming crew of lovable rogues--these crew members are seriously flawed. However, at this point in the series, they've each grown enough to start thinking about life beyond mere survival.
But, an interplanetary war has a way of intruding and making survival an issue.
Take those interpersonal dynamics and plunk them into an evolving war, ancient artifacts, and daemonologists and you have a read that kept me on the edge of my seat.
If character, world-building and plot are where it's at for you, I highly recommend this series. I'm adding it to my own library.
Five stars for the series, four stars for this book.
Enough said.
Ok, maybe not. It appears my prior reviews of this series are rather weak. Here's why you should read The Kitty Jay series.
Firefly. In written form.
Ok, stop that! Let's do a review!
If you haven't followed the tales of the Kitty Jay, a mercenary--okay, freebooter--zepplin, it's best not to start here. Most likely, you'll understand it, but it is the capstone to a four-book series, and Wooding has done some nice things in this one, wrapping up both personal and political arcs. There's also some baseline world-building that isn't much explained, largely because it was done earlier in the series.
I hadn't seen Firefly when I started this series, and honestly, all the reviews that mentioned it were lost on me. Now that I've seen the show, I understand--comparisons are unavoidable. We have a classic troupe of misfits with challenged pasts, a steampunk setting with flying airships and revolvers, and a frontier mentality. There's a lot of humor, and a fair amount of daring and violence not exactly of their own making.
There's an attractive, roguish captain with a flexible sense of ethics, a flier who is enthusiastic with violence but incredibly dumb, a talented but shy pilot, a conflicted doctor, a conscience-ridden aristocrat on the run, a socially challenged mechanic and a loyal but somewhat passive first mate. There's even a petite but seriously socially challenged kick-ass woman.
Bonus: one irritable alley-cat and a metal golem.
But Wooding goes deeper than Firefly was ever allowed by delving into the characters' inner lives and their dysfunctional family. This is not a charming crew of lovable rogues--these crew members are seriously flawed. However, at this point in the series, they've each grown enough to start thinking about life beyond mere survival.
But, an interplanetary war has a way of intruding and making survival an issue.
Take those interpersonal dynamics and plunk them into an evolving war, ancient artifacts, and daemonologists and you have a read that kept me on the edge of my seat.
If character, world-building and plot are where it's at for you, I highly recommend this series. I'm adding it to my own library.
Five stars for the series, four stars for this book.
October 25, 2018
3.5/5 stars
The Ace of Skulls gave mostly a satisfying ending to the Tales of the Ketty Jay but as a volume, in my opinion this was a slight step back in quality.
Tales of the Ketty Jay has always been consistently good from the first book; the third book was a huge step up for the series in which almost every element from the previous books was improved efficiently. That’s why it saddened me to say that even though I still loved this one, I didn’t enjoy reading the majority of this book as much as I did before with the previous three books.
The main reason behind my lack of enjoyment was due to the first 70% of the book—a lot, I know—being dominated heavily by Frey’s selfish and infuriating obsession with Trinicaaaaaa. I totally didn’t enjoy reading his character development. In my opinion, the story direction that Frey went through in this book almost completely negate the previous three books character and relationships development built between Frey and his crew mates. In his obsession—I wouldn’t call it love really, he was pretty much an undying stalker—to get back together with Trinicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (which has betrayed him and his crew to death several times), he became utterly selfish, destructive, and simply don’t care anymore about his crew or anything else.
I get it, love is blind, it makes you do stupid thing. It still doesn’t mean that you could just ignore your friends who have been there with you through thick and thin and saved your life countless times. This installment easily shows why I dislike reading romance in my read. Skill wise, Frey also was the most useless in the Ketty Jay team; other than being narcissistic, every single member of the crew was better at their job than him. Everything surrounding Frey was painful to read, it felt to me like the friendship he has built with the crew was put in second priority immediately the moment he decided to pursue Trinica. Bro/crewmate/friends before hoe? Yeah, forget about that. This situation reminded me a lot of Kvothe’s obsession with Denna but even with Kvothe, he at least valued the friendships he has built. Other than Frey, Jez’s story arc was also another disappointment. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about Jez without spoiling things.
Yeah, as you can guess, by the end of this book Frey truly became a character I can't root for. The number one most important thing that made this series great, fun, and entertaining to me were Wooding’s talent in characterizations plus the escalating tighter bond that the crew of the Ketty Jay formed throughout their adventures and quirks. Seeing this ragtag team getting closer with each other throughout their predicament was heartwarming, pleasant, and delightful to read. However, in this installment, given the choice, Frey would throw that away just because of his obsession with Trinica and that’s something I highly dislike reading and disagree with.
Now that’s out of the way, I’d like to state the positives by claiming that the last 30% of the book was absolutely incredible and breathtaking; it totally made my struggle with the first 70% of the story worth it. The side characters proved to be once again fantastic throughout the entire book and series. Their character developments and growth also reached satisfying conclusions. In the last third of the novel, Wooding brought every single plotline, background, and information established since the first book to explode brilliantly. Filled with thrilling action sequences and memorable dogfights, I was hooked completely and the series—thankfully—was able to end on a really high note.
I know I’ve talked about the negatives more than the positives here. But really, overall I still enjoyed reading through The Ace of Skulls and I certainly had a great time with the Tales of the Ketty Jay. I wouldn’t call it one of my favorite series but it has entertained me and the characters were memorable. I highly recommend this series to any readers who are looking for a great steampunk fantasy or swashbuckling adventures. The storyline may be super predictable but the characterizations—even though I’m not satisfied with Frey and Jez’s—were amazing. Personally though, I think Wooding’s newest book, The Ember Blade triumphed over this series easily and that would be my top recommendation for anyone who wants to try reading his work.
You can order the book HERE!
Series review:
Retribution Falls: 4/5 stars
The Black Lung Captain: 4/5 stars
The Iron Jackal: 4.5/5 stars
The Ace of Skulls: 3.5/5 stars
Tales of the Ketty Jay: 16/20 stars
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
The Ace of Skulls gave mostly a satisfying ending to the Tales of the Ketty Jay but as a volume, in my opinion this was a slight step back in quality.
Tales of the Ketty Jay has always been consistently good from the first book; the third book was a huge step up for the series in which almost every element from the previous books was improved efficiently. That’s why it saddened me to say that even though I still loved this one, I didn’t enjoy reading the majority of this book as much as I did before with the previous three books.
The main reason behind my lack of enjoyment was due to the first 70% of the book—a lot, I know—being dominated heavily by Frey’s selfish and infuriating obsession with Trinicaaaaaa. I totally didn’t enjoy reading his character development. In my opinion, the story direction that Frey went through in this book almost completely negate the previous three books character and relationships development built between Frey and his crew mates. In his obsession—I wouldn’t call it love really, he was pretty much an undying stalker—to get back together with Trinicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (which has betrayed him and his crew to death several times), he became utterly selfish, destructive, and simply don’t care anymore about his crew or anything else.
“Nothing's bigger than me!" Frey shouted back. "Me is all I've got.”
I get it, love is blind, it makes you do stupid thing. It still doesn’t mean that you could just ignore your friends who have been there with you through thick and thin and saved your life countless times. This installment easily shows why I dislike reading romance in my read. Skill wise, Frey also was the most useless in the Ketty Jay team; other than being narcissistic, every single member of the crew was better at their job than him. Everything surrounding Frey was painful to read, it felt to me like the friendship he has built with the crew was put in second priority immediately the moment he decided to pursue Trinica. Bro/crewmate/friends before hoe? Yeah, forget about that. This situation reminded me a lot of Kvothe’s obsession with Denna but even with Kvothe, he at least valued the friendships he has built. Other than Frey, Jez’s story arc was also another disappointment. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about Jez without spoiling things.
Yeah, as you can guess, by the end of this book Frey truly became a character I can't root for. The number one most important thing that made this series great, fun, and entertaining to me were Wooding’s talent in characterizations plus the escalating tighter bond that the crew of the Ketty Jay formed throughout their adventures and quirks. Seeing this ragtag team getting closer with each other throughout their predicament was heartwarming, pleasant, and delightful to read. However, in this installment, given the choice, Frey would throw that away just because of his obsession with Trinica and that’s something I highly dislike reading and disagree with.
Now that’s out of the way, I’d like to state the positives by claiming that the last 30% of the book was absolutely incredible and breathtaking; it totally made my struggle with the first 70% of the story worth it. The side characters proved to be once again fantastic throughout the entire book and series. Their character developments and growth also reached satisfying conclusions. In the last third of the novel, Wooding brought every single plotline, background, and information established since the first book to explode brilliantly. Filled with thrilling action sequences and memorable dogfights, I was hooked completely and the series—thankfully—was able to end on a really high note.
I know I’ve talked about the negatives more than the positives here. But really, overall I still enjoyed reading through The Ace of Skulls and I certainly had a great time with the Tales of the Ketty Jay. I wouldn’t call it one of my favorite series but it has entertained me and the characters were memorable. I highly recommend this series to any readers who are looking for a great steampunk fantasy or swashbuckling adventures. The storyline may be super predictable but the characterizations—even though I’m not satisfied with Frey and Jez’s—were amazing. Personally though, I think Wooding’s newest book, The Ember Blade triumphed over this series easily and that would be my top recommendation for anyone who wants to try reading his work.
You can order the book HERE!
Series review:
Retribution Falls: 4/5 stars
The Black Lung Captain: 4/5 stars
The Iron Jackal: 4.5/5 stars
The Ace of Skulls: 3.5/5 stars
Tales of the Ketty Jay: 16/20 stars
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
September 7, 2020
· Evgeny is my Personal Insurance against Crappy Books Buddy Read (EimPIaCBBR™). With Evgeny. Duh ·
⚠️ Friendly warning #1: if you're allergic to gifs, you better stay away from this fascinating review. You're welcome.
⚠️ Friendly warning #2: you know how this goes, right? Low rating = neverending review. So grab a snack and a drink, this should take a while.
In a perfect world, I would never have finished this book. At 37%, I was already thinking of drinking myself to oblivion. At 42%, I was out of walls to bang my lovely little head on. At 53%, I was considering YA Paranormal Historical Romance-induced suicide. This book was doomed. This book was on the fast track to the DNF graveyard. But then the impossible happened. Then, my above mentioned PIaCBBR™ cunningly and very deviously convinced me to keep reading. And so I did.
Unbelievable, I know. But to the very last page, thisthing book I did read. And I'm pretty sure my PIaCBBR™ either sold his soul to the devil or used some pretty dark magic here. I mean, why else would I have NOT DNFed read this pathetically crappy story? I might be somewhat masochistic and a little on the suicidal side, but I am not totally deranged . In any case, my NOT DNFing this book is a historical event of unprecedented magnitude, and my PIaCBBR™ will undoubtedly go down in history as the one and only Slightly Amazing Barnacle (SAB™) who ever managed to make me finish a book I would rather have chopped into tiny little pieces. Let me tell you, my Tiny Arthropods, this is the stuff legends are made of. And as crappy as this thing was, I have to admit that, in the end, it was all worth it. Why? Because my PIaCBBR™ gave me a medal for my somewhat astounding accomplishment.
Thank you SO much, Evgeny. You have no idea how much this means to me. My life is now complete and stuff.
Okaayyyyyy, Crap Cutting Time (CCT™) is here! Let's do this!
You know what's really funny about this little book here? It's supposed to be the best instalment in the series Not only that, it also boasts a freaking 4.44 average rating . So either a/I read the book wrong, or b/you slightly unhinged people who liked it were high on some seriously good stuff while you were reading it. Since we all know I never ever read books wrong, b is obviously the most likely explanation. I had no idea such superior quality drugs were being handed out around here. Why do I always miss all the cool stuff? Sigh.
➽ Now let me enlighten you as to why all the silly people who gave this book more than 3 stars are slightly demented:
① Humongous Potential Goes Poof LLC
A Fantasy series with a touch of steampunk. Sky pirates. A ragtag gang of dysfunctional misfits, lead by an inveterate rogue. Adventure and action and stuff. If that isn't prodigious potential, I don't know what is. And you know what Wooding did? He killed the wondrous potential dead. Really, really dead. How? By dragging things on and on and on and on and on. And on. And, most importantly, by brilliantly ruining nearly every single character in the story. And what happens to a character-driven series when the authorroyally f@cks up messes up his characters? It dies a slow, agonizing, painful death, that's what happens. And it's tragically tragic.
② Deadly Mushy Stuff, Inc.
Never, not even in my wildest crustacean dreams, would I have imagined this series could become such a Disgusting Feast of Repulsive Romantic Crap (DFoRRC™). Ew ew ew and yuck yuck yuck. That was a low, insanely treacherous move, Mr Wooding. Granted, there were some very alarming signs in the previous instalment, but this? THIS? Such a sickening case of Acute Maudlinized Sentimentalitis (AMS™) is rarely seen, even in the most traumatizing Historical Romance novels. I'm telling you, people, the most revolting, corniest lovesick puppy is a complete joke compared to ourMC wannabe rogue here. To make things worse, this story is so polluted by distasteful, repellent cheesiness that even the freaking cats get hit by a vicious case of Deadly Instalovitis (DI™), complete with HEA of Doom and Destruction (HoDaD™). This is absolutely disgraceful. I'm telling you, my Little Barnacles, so much cheese in a supposed Fantasy adventure should be outlawed. Because some things are just not done.
③ Plain Uninteresting Stuff Co.
The first80% half of this book is completely pointless. Nothing happens besides some of the disgusting stuff I just mentioned up here ↑↑ And yet, I must admit this instalment isn't as unevenly paced as the last one. And that stuff actually happens once in a while. Okay, so nothing even remotely interesting happens, but hey, crustaceans can't be choosers and stuff. The plot itself is a Big Fat Boring Bleh (BFBB™). The Ketty Jay crew shoots at things. They get shot at (but, fascinatingly enough, never get hurt or killed! It's magic!) They find themselves in boringly inextricable and inextricably boring situations. Hmmm…This sounds strangely familiar…Where have I read something similar…Let me think for a second here…Oh, I remember now! In books 1, 2 and 3 of this series, of course! How could I forget such blah blah blah yawn yawn yawn original, captivating stuff! Please, give me more! Thank the Murderous Shrimps this is the final instalment in this series, I would never have survived another one.
④ Flat Character Wasteland Ltd.
When this series started, the members of the Ketty Jay crew had less personality than barnacles (no offense, my Tiny Arthropods) and were as emotional as a truckload of bricks. Then book 2 happened, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for this should-have-been-awesome gang of wannabe misfits. Alas, that was not to be. And things went seriously downhill from there. To finish in a blaze of One-Dimensional Character Flatland Glory (ODCFG™). Most of the characters are just there. They add nothing to the plot. Silo had tons of potential, but Wooding completely gave up on his character, and he became less interesting than a cardboard box. And don't get me started on Jez, because I might end up slightly smashing things. Oh, and by the way, Mr Wooding, YES, we get it, Pinn is a complete, total, utter idiot. You've been rehashing it every other paragraph since book 1, so YES, I think we understand what you have been trying to tell us ever so subtly. You can stop now.
The only salvageable characters here? Crake and "loud, vulgar, wonderful" Samandra Bree, the "foul-mouthed tomboy killing machine." If it were me, I'd just kill silly Captain Frey and put her in charge. This chick is so wondrous she deserves more page time. And a series of her own. Wink wink nudge nudge and all that crap.
⑤ Wannabe Rogue Corp.
Darian Frey. You would have made such a great lead for The Duke and I. Admit it now, you are a nothing but a Pathetically Romantic Nitwit (PRN™) in a roguish pirate's clothing. You know what you should do? Move into a crappy Historical Romance novel. I'm pretty sure you'd feel at home there. And take yourtripolar bipolar girlfriend with you while you're at it. This complete joke of a wannabe villainous chick is ludicrously ludicrous. This girl? A cunning, scary badass? I'm telling you, Darian, you better hide her somewhere safe. And Quick. I'd bet you anything The Lady will eat her for breakfast if you don't. And we wouldn't want that, would we? Oh no, of course not.
Okay, so it seems I haven't been really fair with our dear Captain Frey here. I have to say he is not all mushiness and disgusting, hopeless romanticism. Oh no. He is much more than that. He is also an untrustworthy, egotistical bastard who doesn't give a damn if his crew (or anyone else for that matter) gets slightly slaughtered as long as He gets what His Glorious Self (HGS™) wants. Such a loveable guy. I wonder why I don't feel like locking him up in my High Security Harem. I can be so weird sometimes. And full of crap. Yeah, that too.
And that's about it. I would have loved to go on and on and on, and tell you more about this wonderfully entertaining book, but things to do, places to go, crappy stuff to read and blah blah blah.
» And the moral of this Thank the Holy Shrimp this Was the Last Instalment I Thought I Was Going to Die Crappy Non Review (ThHStWtLIITIwGtDCNR™) is: if you loved this book, you read it wrong. You're welcome.
· Book 1: Retribution Falls ★★★
· Book 2: The Black Lung Captain ★★★★
· Book 3: The Iron Jackal ★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
It took me a whole shrimping month to finish this thing. And the only reason I didn't DNF it is because my above-mentioned PIaCBBR™ put a gun to my head and forced me to read it to the very last shrimping page. Now I want my medal. And a bottle of something. Anything will do, as long it gets me real drunk.
►► Full This book has more Mush in It than a Freakin' Historical Romance Ew Ew Ew but Hey it's not All Bad the Book is Boring as Hell Too Crappy Non Review (TBhmMiitaFHREEEbHinABtBiBaHTCNR™) to come.
P.S. Evgeny, this Insurance against Crappy Books thing isn't working. I want my money back.
⚠️ Friendly warning #1: if you're allergic to gifs, you better stay away from this fascinating review. You're welcome.
⚠️ Friendly warning #2: you know how this goes, right? Low rating = neverending review. So grab a snack and a drink, this should take a while.
In a perfect world, I would never have finished this book. At 37%, I was already thinking of drinking myself to oblivion. At 42%, I was out of walls to bang my lovely little head on. At 53%, I was considering YA Paranormal Historical Romance-induced suicide. This book was doomed. This book was on the fast track to the DNF graveyard. But then the impossible happened. Then, my above mentioned PIaCBBR™ cunningly and very deviously convinced me to keep reading. And so I did.
Unbelievable, I know. But to the very last page, this
Thank you SO much, Evgeny. You have no idea how much this means to me. My life is now complete and stuff.
Okaayyyyyy, Crap Cutting Time (CCT™) is here! Let's do this!
You know what's really funny about this little book here? It's supposed to be the best instalment in the series Not only that, it also boasts a freaking 4.44 average rating . So either a/I read the book wrong, or b/you slightly unhinged people who liked it were high on some seriously good stuff while you were reading it. Since we all know I never ever read books wrong, b is obviously the most likely explanation. I had no idea such superior quality drugs were being handed out around here. Why do I always miss all the cool stuff? Sigh.
➽ Now let me enlighten you as to why all the silly people who gave this book more than 3 stars are slightly demented:
① Humongous Potential Goes Poof LLC
A Fantasy series with a touch of steampunk. Sky pirates. A ragtag gang of dysfunctional misfits, lead by an inveterate rogue. Adventure and action and stuff. If that isn't prodigious potential, I don't know what is. And you know what Wooding did? He killed the wondrous potential dead. Really, really dead. How? By dragging things on and on and on and on and on. And on. And, most importantly, by brilliantly ruining nearly every single character in the story. And what happens to a character-driven series when the author
② Deadly Mushy Stuff, Inc.
Never, not even in my wildest crustacean dreams, would I have imagined this series could become such a Disgusting Feast of Repulsive Romantic Crap (DFoRRC™). Ew ew ew and yuck yuck yuck. That was a low, insanely treacherous move, Mr Wooding. Granted, there were some very alarming signs in the previous instalment, but this? THIS? Such a sickening case of Acute Maudlinized Sentimentalitis (AMS™) is rarely seen, even in the most traumatizing Historical Romance novels. I'm telling you, people, the most revolting, corniest lovesick puppy is a complete joke compared to our
③ Plain Uninteresting Stuff Co.
The first
④ Flat Character Wasteland Ltd.
When this series started, the members of the Ketty Jay crew had less personality than barnacles (no offense, my Tiny Arthropods) and were as emotional as a truckload of bricks. Then book 2 happened, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for this should-have-been-awesome gang of wannabe misfits. Alas, that was not to be. And things went seriously downhill from there. To finish in a blaze of One-Dimensional Character Flatland Glory (ODCFG™). Most of the characters are just there. They add nothing to the plot. Silo had tons of potential, but Wooding completely gave up on his character, and he became less interesting than a cardboard box. And don't get me started on Jez, because I might end up slightly smashing things. Oh, and by the way, Mr Wooding, YES, we get it, Pinn is a complete, total, utter idiot. You've been rehashing it every other paragraph since book 1, so YES, I think we understand what you have been trying to tell us ever so subtly. You can stop now.
The only salvageable characters here? Crake and "loud, vulgar, wonderful" Samandra Bree, the "foul-mouthed tomboy killing machine." If it were me, I'd just kill silly Captain Frey and put her in charge. This chick is so wondrous she deserves more page time. And a series of her own. Wink wink nudge nudge and all that crap.
⑤ Wannabe Rogue Corp.
Darian Frey. You would have made such a great lead for The Duke and I. Admit it now, you are a nothing but a Pathetically Romantic Nitwit (PRN™) in a roguish pirate's clothing. You know what you should do? Move into a crappy Historical Romance novel. I'm pretty sure you'd feel at home there. And take your
Okay, so it seems I haven't been really fair with our dear Captain Frey here. I have to say he is not all mushiness and disgusting, hopeless romanticism. Oh no. He is much more than that. He is also an untrustworthy, egotistical bastard who doesn't give a damn if his crew (or anyone else for that matter) gets slightly slaughtered as long as He gets what His Glorious Self (HGS™) wants. Such a loveable guy. I wonder why I don't feel like locking him up in my High Security Harem. I can be so weird sometimes. And full of crap. Yeah, that too.
And that's about it. I would have loved to go on and on and on, and tell you more about this wonderfully entertaining book, but things to do, places to go, crappy stuff to read and blah blah blah.
» And the moral of this Thank the Holy Shrimp this Was the Last Instalment I Thought I Was Going to Die Crappy Non Review (ThHStWtLIITIwGtDCNR™) is: if you loved this book, you read it wrong. You're welcome.
· Book 1: Retribution Falls ★★★
· Book 2: The Black Lung Captain ★★★★
· Book 3: The Iron Jackal ★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
It took me a whole shrimping month to finish this thing. And the only reason I didn't DNF it is because my above-mentioned PIaCBBR™ put a gun to my head and forced me to read it to the very last shrimping page. Now I want my medal. And a bottle of something. Anything will do, as long it gets me real drunk.
►► Full This book has more Mush in It than a Freakin' Historical Romance Ew Ew Ew but Hey it's not All Bad the Book is Boring as Hell Too Crappy Non Review (TBhmMiitaFHREEEbHinABtBiBaHTCNR™) to come.
P.S. Evgeny, this Insurance against Crappy Books thing isn't working. I want my money back.
October 3, 2017
Book 1: 3.75*
Book 2: 4.25*
Book 3: 4.25*
Book 4: 5*
Now that is how you tie up a series. Bringing all the elements together into one elongated mega convergence with twists and amazing visual imagery that would be brilliant on the big screen.
What really made this series get better and better is that the author invested time in the characters. Time into their thoughts, dreams, fears, flaws and their love for each other. Without that it's just a 3.5* fun swashbuckling adventure. There's nothing wrong with that. It would have been a fun read. As it stands it contends for a place in my alltime top ten series and definitely #1 in the Steampunk or aetherpunk if you prefer the more modern sub-genre term.
From an adventure standpoint this series delivers on it's own. Adding in faction after faction each with it's own agenda and they crashing them together at the end for an epic conclusion that really last the entire second half of the final book. This is how authors should set it up and then knock it down.
I look forward to reading more books by Mr Wooding including his release coming next year The Ember Blade.
Book 2: 4.25*
Book 3: 4.25*
Book 4: 5*
Now that is how you tie up a series. Bringing all the elements together into one elongated mega convergence with twists and amazing visual imagery that would be brilliant on the big screen.
What really made this series get better and better is that the author invested time in the characters. Time into their thoughts, dreams, fears, flaws and their love for each other. Without that it's just a 3.5* fun swashbuckling adventure. There's nothing wrong with that. It would have been a fun read. As it stands it contends for a place in my alltime top ten series and definitely #1 in the Steampunk or aetherpunk if you prefer the more modern sub-genre term.
From an adventure standpoint this series delivers on it's own. Adding in faction after faction each with it's own agenda and they crashing them together at the end for an epic conclusion that really last the entire second half of the final book. This is how authors should set it up and then knock it down.
I look forward to reading more books by Mr Wooding including his release coming next year The Ember Blade.
October 4, 2017
A good wrap-up of a highly joyful series. The strong point of this book is blending perfectly between sub plots of each Ketty Jay crews' character developments with main plot of each book. This final book gives readers the long-waited full blooming of characters, serves them in a high-stake epic scale plot that worthy of a last book of a series.
The only weakness of this series is the predictable plots. But the executions are SO CONSISTENTLY good since the first book, I am willing to give this book full five star rating.
This series is one of the safest bet for seeking a fun, full-action fantasy story.
The only weakness of this series is the predictable plots. But the executions are SO CONSISTENTLY good since the first book, I am willing to give this book full five star rating.
This series is one of the safest bet for seeking a fun, full-action fantasy story.
October 6, 2017
A great, satisfying ending for one the most fun series I've ever read. Wooding did a great job of bringing all of the threads together and delivered the closure I was hoping for.
This crew started as a band of misfits but with each book they grew into something more and with each book I loved them more. Wooding did a great job with the characterization and because of it this series surpassed the light, adventure vibe it gave at the beginning and gave me something more than just the fast paced action and well placed humor.
Even though none of the books found their place on my favorites shelf, overall, this series became one of my favorites and I'm looking forward to Wooding's next series.
This crew started as a band of misfits but with each book they grew into something more and with each book I loved them more. Wooding did a great job with the characterization and because of it this series surpassed the light, adventure vibe it gave at the beginning and gave me something more than just the fast paced action and well placed humor.
Even though none of the books found their place on my favorites shelf, overall, this series became one of my favorites and I'm looking forward to Wooding's next series.
November 26, 2015
[9/10]
This wasn't how things were supposed to end up. He'd never asked for much. He'd never seriously coveted wealth and power. All he'd wanted was the freedom to do what he wanted. But somewhere along the line he's acquired a crew that he cared about. Somehow he's fallen back in love with a woman he'd thought he'd left behind.
The time has come for pirate captain Darian Frey to stop running and hiding. He's got to take a stand and fight, if not out of patriotic fervor for his civil war torn country of Vardia, at least for his friends and companions - the group of outcasts and misfits that form the crew of his airship, The Ketty Jay . He is the Ace of Skulls - the joker type of game card that can turn a losing hand into a big win, and a winning one into a defeat, depending on the style of play. I have compared some of the previous books to the cult TV series Firefly for the tongue in cheek dialogue, amoral characters and intense action sequences. For the last book I would go for comparison to the more epic Battle of Endor in the original Star Wars trilogy: a spectacular finale that redefines the concept of going out 'in a blaze of glory', when some little people are deciding the fate of the war. Captain Frey has something of the young rogue Han Solo in him, with the Ketty Jay as the Vardian version of the Millenium Falcon and the goth/emo Trinicka Dracken as a bad girl version of Princess Leia. And to continue with my far fetched similes, some of the coolest characters in the series, the Century Knights, are the modern version of Alexandre Dumas' Musketeers - the bad-a$$ honor guard of the Duke of Vardia. All these references try to underline the type of rollercoaster adrenaline rush the series provided. The second half of the book is a non stop battle sequence, raising the stakes and the danger level to incredible odds as the finish line approached. I stayed up until 4 a.m. reading, unwilling to take abreak until I turned the last page.
More than any of the previous volumes, the adventure underlines the importance of belonging, of sharing your burdens with friends, of working together as a team. Darian is not the lone wolf type, he tends to mess up things more often than not. His crew will stand by him, grumbling and cursing, complaining and joking every step of the way: Crake the daemonist, Jez the half mane navigator, Malverry the doctor / gunner, Silo the mechanic, Pinn and Harkins the crack fighter pilots, Ashua the punk new recruit, Bess the iron golem and last but not least Slag the tomcat - the ship mascot and pest control officer. I have grown quite fond of all of them over the course of four books, and hope the author will find a way to come back and treat us to more of their adventures, with or without the Century Knights thrown in. The worldbuilding sustaining the plot, with the political conflicts, the religious revolts, the technological advances in firepower and flight machines, the magical forces unleashed by daemonologists, the still unexplored territories, the rich history : all this work seems too good to let it go unused, much as I admire and respect the decision of the author to stop while the going is good.
Another pipedream I have is that the series will be picked up for a movie or TV series adaptation. I believe it has all the hip elements to make it a success: underdogs to cheer for, antisocial / amoral heroes, snappy dialogue, a good dose of horror, cool costumes, wholesale slaughter with cutlasses, pistols, shotguns, autocannons, flamethrowers, dynamite and so on.
So, for a good time, call on Captain Frey and his merry pirate crew. You can start with Retribution Falls, or even with this last book and track backward (the series is episodic, with each book's main plot self-contained, and only the larger political struggle carrying on from one book to the next). I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
This wasn't how things were supposed to end up. He'd never asked for much. He'd never seriously coveted wealth and power. All he'd wanted was the freedom to do what he wanted. But somewhere along the line he's acquired a crew that he cared about. Somehow he's fallen back in love with a woman he'd thought he'd left behind.
The time has come for pirate captain Darian Frey to stop running and hiding. He's got to take a stand and fight, if not out of patriotic fervor for his civil war torn country of Vardia, at least for his friends and companions - the group of outcasts and misfits that form the crew of his airship, The Ketty Jay . He is the Ace of Skulls - the joker type of game card that can turn a losing hand into a big win, and a winning one into a defeat, depending on the style of play. I have compared some of the previous books to the cult TV series Firefly for the tongue in cheek dialogue, amoral characters and intense action sequences. For the last book I would go for comparison to the more epic Battle of Endor in the original Star Wars trilogy: a spectacular finale that redefines the concept of going out 'in a blaze of glory', when some little people are deciding the fate of the war. Captain Frey has something of the young rogue Han Solo in him, with the Ketty Jay as the Vardian version of the Millenium Falcon and the goth/emo Trinicka Dracken as a bad girl version of Princess Leia. And to continue with my far fetched similes, some of the coolest characters in the series, the Century Knights, are the modern version of Alexandre Dumas' Musketeers - the bad-a$$ honor guard of the Duke of Vardia. All these references try to underline the type of rollercoaster adrenaline rush the series provided. The second half of the book is a non stop battle sequence, raising the stakes and the danger level to incredible odds as the finish line approached. I stayed up until 4 a.m. reading, unwilling to take abreak until I turned the last page.
More than any of the previous volumes, the adventure underlines the importance of belonging, of sharing your burdens with friends, of working together as a team. Darian is not the lone wolf type, he tends to mess up things more often than not. His crew will stand by him, grumbling and cursing, complaining and joking every step of the way: Crake the daemonist, Jez the half mane navigator, Malverry the doctor / gunner, Silo the mechanic, Pinn and Harkins the crack fighter pilots, Ashua the punk new recruit, Bess the iron golem and last but not least Slag the tomcat - the ship mascot and pest control officer. I have grown quite fond of all of them over the course of four books, and hope the author will find a way to come back and treat us to more of their adventures, with or without the Century Knights thrown in. The worldbuilding sustaining the plot, with the political conflicts, the religious revolts, the technological advances in firepower and flight machines, the magical forces unleashed by daemonologists, the still unexplored territories, the rich history : all this work seems too good to let it go unused, much as I admire and respect the decision of the author to stop while the going is good.
Another pipedream I have is that the series will be picked up for a movie or TV series adaptation. I believe it has all the hip elements to make it a success: underdogs to cheer for, antisocial / amoral heroes, snappy dialogue, a good dose of horror, cool costumes, wholesale slaughter with cutlasses, pistols, shotguns, autocannons, flamethrowers, dynamite and so on.
So, for a good time, call on Captain Frey and his merry pirate crew. You can start with Retribution Falls, or even with this last book and track backward (the series is episodic, with each book's main plot self-contained, and only the larger political struggle carrying on from one book to the next). I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
November 20, 2015
All paths lead to all out war with the Awakeners, and Frey and Crew are in the midst of destroying yet another city.
I love this book so much because it takes all the good things from previous books and crank them up to 11. The previous books were great in their own rights, but this one blows them all to pieces. It raises the already precarious stakes to new heights. War breaks out. Lives hang in the balance. Another Awakener conspiracy is put into play. Close calls for everyone. Every single character, beloved or scorned, main and supporting alike, is at risk. No one is safe. No guaranteed happily-ever-afters here.
The first half of the book is slow to get going; the gradual build up is near agony as you sit on the edge of your seat and wait for nothing short of total destruction. And the second half is a nonstop roller coaster ride of emotions. And total destruction does come, none too soon. I needed time to work this book out of my system, but I've come to the conclusion that it's gonna stay. It's gonna hang around and haunt me, and I might never get over it.
Review moved to https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
I love this book so much because it takes all the good things from previous books and crank them up to 11. The previous books were great in their own rights, but this one blows them all to pieces. It raises the already precarious stakes to new heights. War breaks out. Lives hang in the balance. Another Awakener conspiracy is put into play. Close calls for everyone. Every single character, beloved or scorned, main and supporting alike, is at risk. No one is safe. No guaranteed happily-ever-afters here.
The first half of the book is slow to get going; the gradual build up is near agony as you sit on the edge of your seat and wait for nothing short of total destruction. And the second half is a nonstop roller coaster ride of emotions. And total destruction does come, none too soon. I needed time to work this book out of my system, but I've come to the conclusion that it's gonna stay. It's gonna hang around and haunt me, and I might never get over it.
Review moved to https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
December 21, 2015
This was a fantastic finish to a great series. The stakes in this book are higher than before on a global and personal level for each of our beloved characters. The book delivers a very satisfying ending and is filled with the typical Ketty Jay humor, action and emotional moments.
We also have many on the minor plotlines wrapped up and some minor characters from the first 3 books of the series make guest appearances.
Of course it is sad to see the series ending, but the narrative comes to a very good ending point and I think it is better this way than to try and stretch it out as so many other series do.
We also have many on the minor plotlines wrapped up and some minor characters from the first 3 books of the series make guest appearances.
Of course it is sad to see the series ending, but the narrative comes to a very good ending point and I think it is better this way than to try and stretch it out as so many other series do.
September 7, 2020
“We a losing’ hand, Cap’n but you the Ace of Skulls. Anyone can turn us to winning’, you can.”
Chris Wooding really aced it. I had so much fun with this series that I think it deserves an overall 5-star rating. It is hard to get a consistent series these days, so to find one that not only maintains the high quality but also gives you the happy sobbing at the end (yes, come and judge me!) — this is truly priceless.
Darian Frey is full of good intentions and bad ideas on how to keep the balance between his personal needs and the well being of his crew, but keeping the equilibrium is becoming more and more difficult these days. His small world and his small responsibilities keep expanding, and it seems there is no end to this inconvenience. How to navigate all these expectations and obligations and at the same time remain true to his course and not get annihilated by the colossal upheaval the Ketty Jay crew has caused?
Solving these dilemmas brings the best elements of the series in an ever-accelerating final tale of the series. Crake’s long-anticipated homecoming takes place while, to the contrary, Jez who does not want to come back, is drifting away and being more in league with the cat than the Captain (but then the cat has its own challenges it must face).
There is the minor operation of infiltrating the Awakeners, some breaking and entering and then strategically withdrawing, wanton property destruction, epic battles, a pleasant swamp field trip, aerial engagements of one against the whole flotilla, a much-awaited comeback of Amalicia Thade (how neatly does Wooding cross all the t’s and dots the I’s!), some healthy competition as to who will emerge victorious from the Marinda-Lisinda-Emanda contest and truly captivating mathematical problems (do two half manes make a whole one?) and linguistic challenges (can the Archduke pronounce Silo’s name?).
Ace of Skulls brings together many background elements, tertiary characters and intertwines the personal dramas with the huge political crises. The protagonists and the relationships between the crew members are written tenderly and with loving care, and not one member of the crew is forgotten, all shine. I am still disappointed that Frey’s mysterious orphanage beginnings did not play out . Still, maybe that would have been too cheesy, even for me. There are some very personal reflections on whether things are becoming perfect only after we have lost them and an exploration of the differences between love and obsession. And then there is a civil war that both is and is not Ketty Jay’s fight (depending on who on the crew you’d ask), so questions of loyalty and things bigger than life are asked.
I think I would be happy if the series went on and on and on. But having read many series that outlasted their initial charm, I am very grateful that Mr Wooding decided not to milk the cow just for the income. Not that I do not hope for a spin-off.
Also in the series:
1. Retribution Falls ★★★★☆
2. The Black Lung Captain ★★★★☆
3. The Iron Jackal ★★★★☆
Chris Wooding really aced it. I had so much fun with this series that I think it deserves an overall 5-star rating. It is hard to get a consistent series these days, so to find one that not only maintains the high quality but also gives you the happy sobbing at the end (yes, come and judge me!) — this is truly priceless.
Darian Frey is full of good intentions and bad ideas on how to keep the balance between his personal needs and the well being of his crew, but keeping the equilibrium is becoming more and more difficult these days. His small world and his small responsibilities keep expanding, and it seems there is no end to this inconvenience. How to navigate all these expectations and obligations and at the same time remain true to his course and not get annihilated by the colossal upheaval the Ketty Jay crew has caused?
Solving these dilemmas brings the best elements of the series in an ever-accelerating final tale of the series. Crake’s long-anticipated homecoming takes place while, to the contrary, Jez who does not want to come back, is drifting away and being more in league with the cat than the Captain (but then the cat has its own challenges it must face).
There is the minor operation of infiltrating the Awakeners, some breaking and entering and then strategically withdrawing, wanton property destruction, epic battles, a pleasant swamp field trip, aerial engagements of one against the whole flotilla, a much-awaited comeback of Amalicia Thade (how neatly does Wooding cross all the t’s and dots the I’s!), some healthy competition as to who will emerge victorious from the Marinda-Lisinda-Emanda contest and truly captivating mathematical problems (do two half manes make a whole one?) and linguistic challenges (can the Archduke pronounce Silo’s name?).
Ace of Skulls brings together many background elements, tertiary characters and intertwines the personal dramas with the huge political crises. The protagonists and the relationships between the crew members are written tenderly and with loving care, and not one member of the crew is forgotten, all shine. I am still disappointed that Frey’s mysterious orphanage beginnings did not play out . Still, maybe that would have been too cheesy, even for me. There are some very personal reflections on whether things are becoming perfect only after we have lost them and an exploration of the differences between love and obsession. And then there is a civil war that both is and is not Ketty Jay’s fight (depending on who on the crew you’d ask), so questions of loyalty and things bigger than life are asked.
I think I would be happy if the series went on and on and on. But having read many series that outlasted their initial charm, I am very grateful that Mr Wooding decided not to milk the cow just for the income. Not that I do not hope for a spin-off.
Also in the series:
1. Retribution Falls ★★★★☆
2. The Black Lung Captain ★★★★☆
3. The Iron Jackal ★★★★☆
May 16, 2015
Oh my goodness... THIS BOOK and this series is SO GOOD! I literally just finished up this book and I still have all the feelings and adrenalin from the ending of an era. I have to say I am so sad that I won't get to see any more of these truly magnificent characters again, but I felt that the ending of the series and the way things were left was brillantly crafted and handled.
This is a series which follows the crew of the Ketty Jay, a kind of steampunk airship in a world full of crazy religion, various races (some who hate others), slaves, pirates and much more. The crew is a key focus of the book with each and every character being fully fleshed out, vividly described and fully believeable. Through the 4 books of the series we get to see their backstories, their passions, their motives and their persoanlities. We also get to see how a bunch of misfits can come together to be one of the most heroic and catastrophic things to rock the world they live in.
The crew consists of:
Darian Frey - the unwitting Cap'n who has a rather troubled past and is now a pirate seeking to make a living. He's a very reluctant character at the start of the series but over the course of the books as his alliances are tested and betrayed and his crew evolves, expands and stands by him, he really develops into one of the best characters I've read about in a long time. He's witty and intelligent, but equally he's stubborn and fiery. He's not someone you want to cross, but he has a soft spot too and he's a brilliant leader whether in times of trouble or harmony.
Jez - a woman who has a rather murky background when she joins the crew but has some wonderful skills such as healing super fast and having wonderful night vision so as to make a great navigator. She joins the crew at the start of book 1 and by the ending of book 4 her character has become someone so much more developed and interesting that her story was great to read. She's a friend to all and a loyal member of the crew and she learns on the job that these are people you can be friends with for life - if that's what she wants...
Silo - is the engineer for the crew (and and ex-slave) and initially he's a very reserved type with little to say, but a lot of presence. He's sort of like the silent glue that binds everyone together and despite the mystery of how he came to join up, over the books his personality broadens into someone I admire and appreciate absolutely. Silo is one of the quieter members, but his ideas and morals are brilliant, and when he chooses to speak it's usually with good reason and logic behind it.
Malvery - is the doctor on board the Ketty Jay but actually he's more of a friend of the Captain and a drunkard when his story begins. He's a fairly friendly chap, who has a lot of good ideas, but tends to lose himself in drowning his problems and can, at times, suffer because of this. Despite his alcoholism he's still a wonderful crew mate and he's an essential part of the crew and story for his past and the way that he grows stronger once he opens up to his friends.
Crake - is the resident Daemonist on board. Daemonism is the magic of this world and revolves around the capturing and binding of demons to your will. it's a very dangerous field of study and most people fear or despise it so it has to be kept secret, especially since things can go wrong easily. Crake has a companion golem called Bess who is always with him and together they are a fine duo. Whilst Crake is of the nobility and really only on the crew to escape some nasty secrets of his past, Bess is a fighter and she's pretty integral every time that they encounter a problem (which is a lot over the course of the series).
Harkins - is an ex-Soldier who fought in the war and now is an out-flyer for the Ketty Jay. He's a very scared and damaged character due to the post-traumatic stress of the war, and so he's actually a very interesting character to read about. I think his story may have been one of the ones I truly loved watching and seeing him develop and relapse over the course of the books was truly moving at some moments. I always wanted to cheer him on whenever he gained enough courage to do anything, and I loved seeing him face his fears (no matter how odd they may be).
Pinn - is a young 'wannabe hero' who is the other out-flyer for the Ketty Jay crew. He's always dreamed about becoming a hero and after being too young to fight in the war (the one Harkins fought in) he's always looking for any sign of trouble and has a lot to prove. He's a silly and humorous member of the crew and he unwittingly gives us many moments of laughter over the series. I loved seeing the relationship between him and Harkins as they constantly bickered and argued over any and everything.
Slag - is the resident cat on board the Ketty Jay and whilst his story may not be integral to the plot, he is a rather amusing one to read about. We see a lot of rat hunting and stalking of various characters over the course of the series, and even such a minor character plays a big part in showing the evolution of the crew and the roles they play.
Ashua - is a character who we meet in book 3 but she becomes ever more important from then on. When she meets the crew she is a street rat and is living a rather grotty life, but as the books go on and she's offered a new chance at shaping her destiny we get to see her become her own character and affect the story in her own way.
Trinica - is not a member of the Ketty Jay but rather a member of a rival crew, the Delirium Trigger. She's feared by all for her shocking looks and cutthroat ways, but one member of our crew knows a much softer and very different side of her. She's a complex character who has been through an awful lot which affects who she is and the way she chooses to present herself. She's the dread-pirate to many, but as the reader we also see snapshots and glimpses at the other facets of her personality as the series goes, and I have to say I really loved reading about her.
Samandra - is a Century Knight which is an elite guard. They are super bad-ass fighters and Samandra is a character who you instantly like when you meet her because whether she's on their side or not she's quick to make you smile and fast with witty retorts. I very much enjoyed her role in the last book and getting to see a bit more of her, but she pops up in many of the adventures and often takes a role in the main storyline.
I have given all 4 books in this series a solid 5* rating which is something that doesn't happen too often with series. I think that if you've not read this series then you're certainly missing out, and I have already bought
in order to still have some Chris Wooding in my life :) He's an incredible writer filled with wonderful ideas, and they blossom out so incredibly well throughout the pages of the Ketty Jay books. He manages to tackle difficult topics with seeming ease and also bring in a fun and humorous element too.
These books are all brilliant - if you have yet to pick them up I strongly urge you to do so soon :D You shouldn't regret it!!
This is a series which follows the crew of the Ketty Jay, a kind of steampunk airship in a world full of crazy religion, various races (some who hate others), slaves, pirates and much more. The crew is a key focus of the book with each and every character being fully fleshed out, vividly described and fully believeable. Through the 4 books of the series we get to see their backstories, their passions, their motives and their persoanlities. We also get to see how a bunch of misfits can come together to be one of the most heroic and catastrophic things to rock the world they live in.
The crew consists of:
Darian Frey - the unwitting Cap'n who has a rather troubled past and is now a pirate seeking to make a living. He's a very reluctant character at the start of the series but over the course of the books as his alliances are tested and betrayed and his crew evolves, expands and stands by him, he really develops into one of the best characters I've read about in a long time. He's witty and intelligent, but equally he's stubborn and fiery. He's not someone you want to cross, but he has a soft spot too and he's a brilliant leader whether in times of trouble or harmony.
Jez - a woman who has a rather murky background when she joins the crew but has some wonderful skills such as healing super fast and having wonderful night vision so as to make a great navigator. She joins the crew at the start of book 1 and by the ending of book 4 her character has become someone so much more developed and interesting that her story was great to read. She's a friend to all and a loyal member of the crew and she learns on the job that these are people you can be friends with for life - if that's what she wants...
Silo - is the engineer for the crew (and and ex-slave) and initially he's a very reserved type with little to say, but a lot of presence. He's sort of like the silent glue that binds everyone together and despite the mystery of how he came to join up, over the books his personality broadens into someone I admire and appreciate absolutely. Silo is one of the quieter members, but his ideas and morals are brilliant, and when he chooses to speak it's usually with good reason and logic behind it.
Malvery - is the doctor on board the Ketty Jay but actually he's more of a friend of the Captain and a drunkard when his story begins. He's a fairly friendly chap, who has a lot of good ideas, but tends to lose himself in drowning his problems and can, at times, suffer because of this. Despite his alcoholism he's still a wonderful crew mate and he's an essential part of the crew and story for his past and the way that he grows stronger once he opens up to his friends.
Crake - is the resident Daemonist on board. Daemonism is the magic of this world and revolves around the capturing and binding of demons to your will. it's a very dangerous field of study and most people fear or despise it so it has to be kept secret, especially since things can go wrong easily. Crake has a companion golem called Bess who is always with him and together they are a fine duo. Whilst Crake is of the nobility and really only on the crew to escape some nasty secrets of his past, Bess is a fighter and she's pretty integral every time that they encounter a problem (which is a lot over the course of the series).
Harkins - is an ex-Soldier who fought in the war and now is an out-flyer for the Ketty Jay. He's a very scared and damaged character due to the post-traumatic stress of the war, and so he's actually a very interesting character to read about. I think his story may have been one of the ones I truly loved watching and seeing him develop and relapse over the course of the books was truly moving at some moments. I always wanted to cheer him on whenever he gained enough courage to do anything, and I loved seeing him face his fears (no matter how odd they may be).
Pinn - is a young 'wannabe hero' who is the other out-flyer for the Ketty Jay crew. He's always dreamed about becoming a hero and after being too young to fight in the war (the one Harkins fought in) he's always looking for any sign of trouble and has a lot to prove. He's a silly and humorous member of the crew and he unwittingly gives us many moments of laughter over the series. I loved seeing the relationship between him and Harkins as they constantly bickered and argued over any and everything.
Slag - is the resident cat on board the Ketty Jay and whilst his story may not be integral to the plot, he is a rather amusing one to read about. We see a lot of rat hunting and stalking of various characters over the course of the series, and even such a minor character plays a big part in showing the evolution of the crew and the roles they play.
Ashua - is a character who we meet in book 3 but she becomes ever more important from then on. When she meets the crew she is a street rat and is living a rather grotty life, but as the books go on and she's offered a new chance at shaping her destiny we get to see her become her own character and affect the story in her own way.
Trinica - is not a member of the Ketty Jay but rather a member of a rival crew, the Delirium Trigger. She's feared by all for her shocking looks and cutthroat ways, but one member of our crew knows a much softer and very different side of her. She's a complex character who has been through an awful lot which affects who she is and the way she chooses to present herself. She's the dread-pirate to many, but as the reader we also see snapshots and glimpses at the other facets of her personality as the series goes, and I have to say I really loved reading about her.
Samandra - is a Century Knight which is an elite guard. They are super bad-ass fighters and Samandra is a character who you instantly like when you meet her because whether she's on their side or not she's quick to make you smile and fast with witty retorts. I very much enjoyed her role in the last book and getting to see a bit more of her, but she pops up in many of the adventures and often takes a role in the main storyline.
I have given all 4 books in this series a solid 5* rating which is something that doesn't happen too often with series. I think that if you've not read this series then you're certainly missing out, and I have already bought
in order to still have some Chris Wooding in my life :) He's an incredible writer filled with wonderful ideas, and they blossom out so incredibly well throughout the pages of the Ketty Jay books. He manages to tackle difficult topics with seeming ease and also bring in a fun and humorous element too.These books are all brilliant - if you have yet to pick them up I strongly urge you to do so soon :D You shouldn't regret it!!
April 26, 2020
‘see what you set off?’ she said, nudging him. ‘not bad for a bunch of reprobates with a galaxy of personality disorders.’
‘aren’t you dating one of those reprobates?’
she snorted. ‘someone has to keep you classy.’
this is the final adventure of the crew of the ketty jay, a rickety airship captained by everyone’s favorite lovestruck scoundrel: the daring mr. frey.
most of this series’ plots involve the ketty jay taking on a dubious request from a shady character which eventually pays way too little for the trouble it causes. from an accidental assasination in retribution falls and nearly aiding in the death of thousands by undead zombie horde in the black lung captain, to inadvertently causing a demon to hunt down frey after ‘retrieving’ an artefact in the iron jackal.
but this time around, they’ve really royally fucked up: events from the previous book have caused an all-out civil war between the government and a powerful, pushy religion. of course, frey wants fuck-all to do with it and would rather seek out his troubled sweetheart, but this causes dissidence amongst a crew of which some members still possess a moral compass.
in my humble opinion, the enjoyment of a series such as this one hinges on two things: (1) FUN, in the shape of battles filled with humor and banter, and a bunch of mangy pirates going on an excellent action-adventure quest; and (2) characterization, in showcasing how a bunch of maladapted, dysfunctional people all use their unique talents to work together and form a chaotic found-family crew.
wooding reached an excellent and comfortable height with this in book three, and could have written many more serial adventures in much the same vein. instead, he abandons this familiar formula in book four in favor of taking the carefully built trust between the crew apart.
and in doing so, he sacrifices something of the Fun and the Characterization. enter unnecessary relationship drama and a failed attempt at Face The Consequences Of Your Actions! without any big, uh, consequences.
some of this ends up working out pretty well in hindsight: crake goes out on his own after a spat with frey and resolves his arc regarding the troubles he had with his family, as well as discovering something relevant to the main plot. silo shows he’s truly the best fit to bear the title of first mate, developing himself as a leader and keeping the crew together.
however, jez’s descent into madness is executed poorly. her ending didn’t surprise me, but after the many meaningful moments she had with frey, silo, and crake, i expected a lot more in the way of conversation than, “they thought her powers were scary so they distanced themselves and jez didn’t care anymore” repeated ad nauseam.
pinn and harkins keep up the same little troubles and arcs they already had in previous books, making their development negligible. though i have to admit, harkins preferring a life of order and rules to that of the chaos aboard the ketty jay was a nice touch.
malvery and ashua mostly develop together, figuring out how to build up a father-daughter dynamic with a civil war as a backdrop, and deal with subsequent betrayal, near death experiences, etc.
and that brings us to frey. i say this with finality and a very tired sigh.
listen, i loved seeing his more affectionate, tender side in the previous book, and it was a relief when he finally admitted he still loved one trinica dracken, feared pirate queen. but in this book, he is completely off the wall -- his quest for trinica’s love turns into an obsession at the expense of EVERYTHING else, and it completely destroys his crew.
and trinica, who gave some much needed perspective on their relationship in book three, is barely present for the story. so there’s no balance, no insights; she’s just there to be in danger, pursued by frey, or both.
what saves this book, funnily enough, are the century knights: the special forces of the government who’ve popped up in earlier books. also a ragtag bunch of fighters (albeit more organized, lawful, and funded), they embody the cheeky banter and close-knit relationships of the ketty jay crew in the previous books as well as bringing new, gimmick-y ways to the table that’ll win you a battle.
combine this with the rest of this series’ trademarks -- close fights, aerial chases, games of airship chicken, big booming cannons, and non-stop action -- and it still makes for an entertaining adventure to read despite the artless regression of frey’s relationship with his crew.
crake also carried a big part of the narrative for me, and it almost felt like he replaced frey as the True Main Character. his is the only arc that gets wrapped up so completely and satisfyingly that you fully buy it (including a lovely romance!), and his inner monologue feels real and honest.
what was the root of courage? the art of forgetting what you’d lose if you failed?all that said, wooding does take care to resolve every dangling plot thread and give you a badass, blow-everything-up finale that marks a fitting end for the series. it goes out with a bang and most characters get the happily ever after they were hurtling towards.
so i did like it, but i just thought it could be better -- its predecessor is definitely the highest point in the series for me.
✎ 3.0 stars.
October 6, 2013
5 Stars
This is a series that deserves full marks just for the fun and the adventure that it will bring to your life. Darian Frey and the gang will capture your love for action, camaraderie, and pirating to boot. I am not going to go into great summaries here, as if you are reading this review than you are probably already familiar with this series and are more than likely a fan.
Ace of Skulls is an amazing end to an incredible steampunk, space pirating, action packed series. Wooding has a created a cast that had me hooked from the start. I loved all of the ship flying, golem smashing, kitty cat pouncing, sabre stabbing, daemon thralling, wise cracking, pirate looting, and much more....this series was just damn fun to read.
An overlying story theme:
““Once upon a time, before the days of guns and drink and treachery, he’d run in a meadow with a woman he loved entirely. Those days were gone. He wanted them back. It had been that way once; he had to believe it could be so again.
If he could find her.
If he could change her mind.”
Friendly advice:
“‘And someday someone will take it from you,’ said Frey. ‘You know what happens to pirates in the end. They don’t live out their lives counting their ducats. They don’t retire to Retribution Falls. They hang on too long and they bloody die, whether it’s fast from a bullet or slow from the grog.’”
The reason to push on and to see things through. The apex of the series:
“He put his hand on Frey’s shoulder. Frey felt the warm strength of it through his coat.
‘We a losin’ hand, Cap’n,’ he said. ‘But you the Ace of Skulls. Anyone can turn us to winnin’, you can.’
Frey stared out through the windglass a long time. His face was grim, but there was something new in his eyes. Something that hadn’t been there since they’d left the Awakener camp in the Barabac Delta.
Determination. Cold, hard purpose.
‘Reckon some things are worth risking everything for,’ said Frey.”
If you were a fan of Firefly than this is a must for you. If you like to route for a band of misfit outlaws, than this is a must read series. If you like well written action adventures that are twisted with science fiction and fantasy, than go out and get this series.
One of my all time favorite series now. My highest recommendations!!!
This is a series that deserves full marks just for the fun and the adventure that it will bring to your life. Darian Frey and the gang will capture your love for action, camaraderie, and pirating to boot. I am not going to go into great summaries here, as if you are reading this review than you are probably already familiar with this series and are more than likely a fan.
Ace of Skulls is an amazing end to an incredible steampunk, space pirating, action packed series. Wooding has a created a cast that had me hooked from the start. I loved all of the ship flying, golem smashing, kitty cat pouncing, sabre stabbing, daemon thralling, wise cracking, pirate looting, and much more....this series was just damn fun to read.
An overlying story theme:
““Once upon a time, before the days of guns and drink and treachery, he’d run in a meadow with a woman he loved entirely. Those days were gone. He wanted them back. It had been that way once; he had to believe it could be so again.
If he could find her.
If he could change her mind.”
Friendly advice:
“‘And someday someone will take it from you,’ said Frey. ‘You know what happens to pirates in the end. They don’t live out their lives counting their ducats. They don’t retire to Retribution Falls. They hang on too long and they bloody die, whether it’s fast from a bullet or slow from the grog.’”
The reason to push on and to see things through. The apex of the series:
“He put his hand on Frey’s shoulder. Frey felt the warm strength of it through his coat.
‘We a losin’ hand, Cap’n,’ he said. ‘But you the Ace of Skulls. Anyone can turn us to winnin’, you can.’
Frey stared out through the windglass a long time. His face was grim, but there was something new in his eyes. Something that hadn’t been there since they’d left the Awakener camp in the Barabac Delta.
Determination. Cold, hard purpose.
‘Reckon some things are worth risking everything for,’ said Frey.”
If you were a fan of Firefly than this is a must for you. If you like to route for a band of misfit outlaws, than this is a must read series. If you like well written action adventures that are twisted with science fiction and fantasy, than go out and get this series.
One of my all time favorite series now. My highest recommendations!!!
October 7, 2017
They've been shot down, set up, double-crossed and ripped off. They've stolen priceless treasures, destroyed a ten-thousand-year-old Azryx city and sort-of-accidentally blew up the son of the Archduke. Now they've gone and started a civil war. This time, they're really in trouble.
This is the last book in the Tales of the Ketty Jay series. Overall this book pretty much lived up to my expectations, although I do feel like some characters didn't live up to their potential. Jez in particular became less likable to me and I can't say that I really liked the way her story ended, although I was not surprised. I just feel like there was wasted potential there. Frey annoyed me a bit with his obsession over Trinica, although I understood the root of it and what it meant to him personally to win her back. I did like his story arch overall (the man who sets out to redeem himself after being a huge jerk and a womanizer). He learned some things and that was good, but I don't feel like he learned enough. Did he ever feel badly about the way he treated anyone else? I'm not sure, but he ended up better than he was before and that was good.
Mostly I enjoyed reading about these characters and their adventures. They were all flawed, but for the most part they were engaging. There was some humor that I appreciated as well, especially in book three. I recommend this series if you are looking for some light fantasy adventure with a steampunk flare to it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
This is the last book in the Tales of the Ketty Jay series. Overall this book pretty much lived up to my expectations, although I do feel like some characters didn't live up to their potential. Jez in particular became less likable to me and I can't say that I really liked the way her story ended, although I was not surprised. I just feel like there was wasted potential there. Frey annoyed me a bit with his obsession over Trinica, although I understood the root of it and what it meant to him personally to win her back. I did like his story arch overall (the man who sets out to redeem himself after being a huge jerk and a womanizer). He learned some things and that was good, but I don't feel like he learned enough. Did he ever feel badly about the way he treated anyone else? I'm not sure, but he ended up better than he was before and that was good.
Mostly I enjoyed reading about these characters and their adventures. They were all flawed, but for the most part they were engaging. There was some humor that I appreciated as well, especially in book three. I recommend this series if you are looking for some light fantasy adventure with a steampunk flare to it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
December 30, 2018
The conclusion to the series about the Ketty Jay & her crew.
It’s been a journey, for the most part very enjoyable, bar in truth the Captain’s lovelorn puppy dog moods that occasionally assault the reader, which with this final part we find out early on will likely be front & centre of the story....... I tend to spot them coming by now & jus skip read over his mooning (Come the end there not as often as it first appeared it might be & fits perfectly with the storyline concerning Trinica)
That aside, the gang are all with us, which makes for the series in my eyes, enjoying all their interactions with each other. All give a little something to the story in this one & it’s hard not to root for the crew.... maybe because you know it’s the last in the series it’s a little more obvious? I’d like to think in truth its the writing which seems to improve each outing & certainly the last two books have been much better balanced in terms of the crew’s stories.
We have an additional (MC) face in this story, also the “Awakeners” feature as do the “Century knights” of the coalition as the war between them escalates, coming to a head. It’s inevitable I s’ppose that eventually the Jetty Kay would become embroiled in the conflict in a majorly way..... there is a reason to this though..... which I’ll let you work out, although it’s not really a stretch..... think mooning Puppy dog & you’ll get it!
It’s a really well paced story, with action early on.... no long wide ups here! And the threads for each of the crew are well balanced as their roles become clear. I’ll admit I’ve grown fond of them all through the series & come journeys end I’m a little sad that that’s our lot with the crew of the Jetty Key.
What happens you all scream......?
Well that would spoil it all, wouldn’t it!
5 Star conclusion (Rounded up from 4.5 stars) to a series which scored well for me with only the Iron Lung Captain being a bit of a drag (In places), so a 4 star score overall for the series (get through the 2nd book & it’s grand)
It’s been a journey, for the most part very enjoyable, bar in truth the Captain’s lovelorn puppy dog moods that occasionally assault the reader, which with this final part we find out early on will likely be front & centre of the story....... I tend to spot them coming by now & jus skip read over his mooning (Come the end there not as often as it first appeared it might be & fits perfectly with the storyline concerning Trinica)
That aside, the gang are all with us, which makes for the series in my eyes, enjoying all their interactions with each other. All give a little something to the story in this one & it’s hard not to root for the crew.... maybe because you know it’s the last in the series it’s a little more obvious? I’d like to think in truth its the writing which seems to improve each outing & certainly the last two books have been much better balanced in terms of the crew’s stories.
We have an additional (MC) face in this story, also the “Awakeners” feature as do the “Century knights” of the coalition as the war between them escalates, coming to a head. It’s inevitable I s’ppose that eventually the Jetty Kay would become embroiled in the conflict in a majorly way..... there is a reason to this though..... which I’ll let you work out, although it’s not really a stretch..... think mooning Puppy dog & you’ll get it!
It’s a really well paced story, with action early on.... no long wide ups here! And the threads for each of the crew are well balanced as their roles become clear. I’ll admit I’ve grown fond of them all through the series & come journeys end I’m a little sad that that’s our lot with the crew of the Jetty Key.
What happens you all scream......?
Well that would spoil it all, wouldn’t it!
5 Star conclusion (Rounded up from 4.5 stars) to a series which scored well for me with only the Iron Lung Captain being a bit of a drag (In places), so a 4 star score overall for the series (get through the 2nd book & it’s grand)
September 13, 2015
If you have already read the first books of the series you won't need me to tell you how good this story is. If you haven't read book one in this series and you enjoy a rollicking good adventure story, then get off your arse and add it to your list. Even if you are not a steampunk fan (and I am not, or at least wasn't, a steam punk fan) I am sure you'd enjoy this story.
The characters in this series have continued to develop into favourites and I have gotten to a stage where I have really connected with each of them and their place in the crew. Just like the Expanse crew, they work together like a well oiled machine. Unlike the Expanse crew though, the Ketty Jay are a bunch of misfits with all the problems of the world on their shoulders.
There is even a love story angle in this series with our intrepid Captain and at times it is cringe worthy, but not so much in the writing style, just that the character of the Captain is at times a hopeless dick and at others narcissistically dashing and cowardly at the same time.
As I read more and more of this series, I started to realise the depth of the traits Wooding has given each of the main characters and have rally grown to appreciate what I accepted as somewhat an easy, adventure story in book 1, to become a decently written series with foreshadowing and a decent plot.
With my 2015 being dominated by disappointing book threes in series I have been waiting for, this has been an absolute breath of fresh air!
Big fan of Wooding, can't wait for more.
Go and buy the series.
The characters in this series have continued to develop into favourites and I have gotten to a stage where I have really connected with each of them and their place in the crew. Just like the Expanse crew, they work together like a well oiled machine. Unlike the Expanse crew though, the Ketty Jay are a bunch of misfits with all the problems of the world on their shoulders.
There is even a love story angle in this series with our intrepid Captain and at times it is cringe worthy, but not so much in the writing style, just that the character of the Captain is at times a hopeless dick and at others narcissistically dashing and cowardly at the same time.
As I read more and more of this series, I started to realise the depth of the traits Wooding has given each of the main characters and have rally grown to appreciate what I accepted as somewhat an easy, adventure story in book 1, to become a decently written series with foreshadowing and a decent plot.
With my 2015 being dominated by disappointing book threes in series I have been waiting for, this has been an absolute breath of fresh air!
Big fan of Wooding, can't wait for more.
Go and buy the series.
February 6, 2017
7.5/10
Possibly the weakest of the series but still a great way to bow out. Every instalment in this series has been fun to read, this one is no different but I couldn’t help feel there was maybe 100 pages too many and a little bit too much romance going on which detracted from the usual witty back and fourths.
The series plot has been simmering since the first book to get to this stage of full on civil war, which is all well and good but I’m more interested in what the Ketty Jay are up to and what quick fix mission they’re on. The characters are as good as ever with the usual witty banter and no shame in being in it for themselves/the crew. There are the usual highs and lows with a number of the crew going through different emotions which make entertaining read.
There is some intense action at the end, which is entertaining to read but didn’t feel in the right context of the series. Like I mentioned, I more care about the little things and the character interactions. There was too much moping with Darien and Trinica and that’s one plot aspect that has escalated through the series and not a positive. I’ve seen it’s irked a number of reviewers and a shame that the series has ended with a slight negative view.
Forget though, pick up this series. It’s entertaining, fun and written in with flair. I’ll be keen to read more by Chris Wooding.
Possibly the weakest of the series but still a great way to bow out. Every instalment in this series has been fun to read, this one is no different but I couldn’t help feel there was maybe 100 pages too many and a little bit too much romance going on which detracted from the usual witty back and fourths.
The series plot has been simmering since the first book to get to this stage of full on civil war, which is all well and good but I’m more interested in what the Ketty Jay are up to and what quick fix mission they’re on. The characters are as good as ever with the usual witty banter and no shame in being in it for themselves/the crew. There are the usual highs and lows with a number of the crew going through different emotions which make entertaining read.
There is some intense action at the end, which is entertaining to read but didn’t feel in the right context of the series. Like I mentioned, I more care about the little things and the character interactions. There was too much moping with Darien and Trinica and that’s one plot aspect that has escalated through the series and not a positive. I’ve seen it’s irked a number of reviewers and a shame that the series has ended with a slight negative view.
Forget though, pick up this series. It’s entertaining, fun and written in with flair. I’ll be keen to read more by Chris Wooding.
August 11, 2016
perf.
5
5
May 2, 2016
“Third time's the charm” with this series, for me. This fourth time out was... tired. Or maybe it's just this bug I've been having trouble shaking. At any rate, the pleasing character growth I noted in The Iron Jackal has faltered in this book, at least for Captain Darian Frey, and Jez has also become flat and uninteresting. Malvery, Crake, and Silo continue to be engaging, and I finished the book to find out how things worked out for them. The Century Knights are also particularly fun in this one. Frey's inexplicable passion for the fickle Trinica Dracken has become a wearisome obsession, with the sort of wild emotional swings one might tolerate in a teenager, but which seem just pathetic in an adult character. It takes quite a while for the action to build – the first three-quarters was a bit of a slog – but it does eventually gain some momentum. Anyway, I wish Wooding had wrapped this up at #3 and left me wanting more, but long series seem to be the thing these days. 3 ½ stars, rounded up to 4 for old times' sake and because in the end he does draw all the strands together and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.
July 22, 2018
What a ride! This was the last book of the Ketty Jay series ending with a bang. I enjoyed the series from the start, but it still got better and better. While each book manages to stand on its own, this final instalment wraps up loose ends perfectly. In the end we have it all: complex world-building, interesting magic system coupled with sciences, steampunk air fights and above all likeable but flawed characters that stand up for each other. I enjoyed every second of this feel-good and action-packed tale of these heroic pirates who just manage to stay within a whisker of catastrophe.
This is definitively a rare and underrecognized gem in fantasy that deserves more attention, though I think, it should probably be read with a certain lightness for a fresh fantastic tale. In the end it will distract us from all the dark ones (you know Sauron and Co) and pending doom out there… and maybe you’ll find out that life is worth living.
This is definitively a rare and underrecognized gem in fantasy that deserves more attention, though I think, it should probably be read with a certain lightness for a fresh fantastic tale. In the end it will distract us from all the dark ones (you know Sauron and Co) and pending doom out there… and maybe you’ll find out that life is worth living.
August 31, 2017
***Actual rating: 4,00***
Very good conclusion to a series I increasingly loved.
This novel has all the treats of the other books, but stakes are so much bigger now. Each of the crew members of the Ketty Jay faces personal struggles as well as epic battles. I did have some issues with the ending for some characters but I can understand why the author made this choice. I would, without any doubt, recommend this series. Mr. Wooding caught my attention as a great storyteller and I will definitly check out his new epic series starting with The Ember Blade to be released in april 2018.
Very good conclusion to a series I increasingly loved.
This novel has all the treats of the other books, but stakes are so much bigger now. Each of the crew members of the Ketty Jay faces personal struggles as well as epic battles. I did have some issues with the ending for some characters but I can understand why the author made this choice. I would, without any doubt, recommend this series. Mr. Wooding caught my attention as a great storyteller and I will definitly check out his new epic series starting with The Ember Blade to be released in april 2018.
October 6, 2025
С удоволствие затварям последната страница на една тетралогия, която с години стоеше на рафта ми. Крис Удинг е създал една динамична, пълнокръвна и същевременно сладка история. Сладка, защото е много различна от бруталните, реалистични фентъзита, където си знаеш, че ще ти се разбие сърцето. Авантюрите на Кети Джей и нейния екипаж, са нещо по-идеализирано, към което да посегнеш, когато имаш нужда от малко свежи приключения, с леко старомоден привкус, където доброто ще победи и накрая всички ще са щастливи. Героите в никакъв случай не са черно-бели или идеални, но основното усещане е леко, приповдигнато и в същината си - добро. И въпреки това, авторът успява и да предаде ненатрапчиво, простички истини за живота и света. Има нужда и от такова фентъзи, има нужда.
"Страхливец, така го беше нарекъл баща му. Е, ако имаше едно нещо, което бе научил от капитана си, то беше следното - обвинението в малодушие винаги бе последната обида, отправена от смелите, преди да ги застрелят."
"Ашуа подсвирна и погледна към Фрей.
- Босът? Когато ни насадиш на пачи яйца, наистина ни насаждаш на пачи яйца, нали така, Кап'тане?
- Да не каже някой, че не ви водя на най-добрите места - отговори Фрей. "
"Знаеше, че няма време за губене, никой нямаше време за губене, и че всичко може да им бъде отнето само за миг."
"Човек трябва да направи това, което трябва да направи - каза Малвъри. - Изглежда днес е денят за това."
"Беше време, когато нямаше стремежи и не съществуваше възможност за разочарование, но през последните няколко години бе започнал да се залъгва с илюзии за величие и преследването на слава, богатство и любов. Хората казваха, че е по-добре да опиташ и да се провалиш, отколкото изобщо да не опитваш, но тези хора очевидно не се бяха проваляли достатъчно сериозно. Надеждата го беше издигнала по-високо, отколкото си беше представял, че е възможно, но падането от там беше осакатяващо."
"- Кап'тане - каза най-после Сайло. - Познавам те отдавна. И никога не съм срещал човек, който може да прецака печеливша ръка по-добре от тебе.
Фрей примигна. Не бе очаквал това.
- Но също така не съм срещал и друг, който може по-добре от тебе да обърне губеща ръка - продължи Сайло. - Ти събра екипаж от бездомници и аутсайдери, хора без място в тоя свят и ни превърна в нещо. Не помниш ли Кап'тане? Веднъж вече спечелихме срещу Будителите в Ретрибюшън Фолс. Тогава спасихме кожата на Ерцхерцога - гласът му стана неочаквано пламенен, когато продължи, а това не беше нещо, което Фрей бе свикнал да чува от първия си помощник. - Бихме се с Гривите, Кап'тане! Летяхме отвъд развалината, погледнахме ги в очите и се върнахме, за да разкажем това. А после какво мислиш, че направихме? Тази група от алкохолици, безделници и дявол знае какво още, която ти събра? Открихме проклетия азрикски град в сърцето на Самарла. Видяхме джагърнот! А онова, което донесохме, то повече или по-малко беше началото на цялата тая война, която водят сега! Всеки един от нас беше нищо сам, но благодарение на тебе, разтърсихме проклетия свят!
Той сложи ръка на рамото на Фрей. Фрей усети топлината и силата й през палтото си.
- Имаме губеща ръка, Кап'тане - каза Сайло. - Но ти се Асото Черепи. Ако някой може да обърне ръката, това си ти."
"- Предполагам, че за някои неща си струва да се рискува всичко - каза Фрей.
- Дяволски си прав - съгласи се Сайло, докато Фрей обръщаше Кети Джей обратно."
"Крейк беше педантично настроен човек, внимателен човек, човек който се замисляше за последствията и презираше безразсъдството. Но в този момент разбра какво е да си като Кап'тана или Пин, или дори Малвъри. Да не се интересуваш от бъдещето, дори да го отхвърлиш напълно, да си безразличен и да действаш инстинктивно като животните. Просто да действаш и нищо повече."
"Войната беше трик. Илюзия, която да накара хората да вършат неща, които обикновено не можеха. Въпреки всичките патриотични приказки, целия прекрасен плам на справедливата кауза, всеки човек се изправяше пред смъртта си сам. Само когато се взираш в края, разбираш, че цялото това другарство не означава нищо, но тогава е прекалено късно да промениш нещо."
"Страхливец, така го беше нарекъл баща му. Е, ако имаше едно нещо, което бе научил от капитана си, то беше следното - обвинението в малодушие винаги бе последната обида, отправена от смелите, преди да ги застрелят."
"Ашуа подсвирна и погледна към Фрей.
- Босът? Когато ни насадиш на пачи яйца, наистина ни насаждаш на пачи яйца, нали така, Кап'тане?
- Да не каже някой, че не ви водя на най-добрите места - отговори Фрей. "
"Знаеше, че няма време за губене, никой нямаше време за губене, и че всичко може да им бъде отнето само за миг."
"Човек трябва да направи това, което трябва да направи - каза Малвъри. - Изглежда днес е денят за това."
"Беше време, когато нямаше стремежи и не съществуваше възможност за разочарование, но през последните няколко години бе започнал да се залъгва с илюзии за величие и преследването на слава, богатство и любов. Хората казваха, че е по-добре да опиташ и да се провалиш, отколкото изобщо да не опитваш, но тези хора очевидно не се бяха проваляли достатъчно сериозно. Надеждата го беше издигнала по-високо, отколкото си беше представял, че е възможно, но падането от там беше осакатяващо."
"- Кап'тане - каза най-после Сайло. - Познавам те отдавна. И никога не съм срещал човек, който може да прецака печеливша ръка по-добре от тебе.
Фрей примигна. Не бе очаквал това.
- Но също така не съм срещал и друг, който може по-добре от тебе да обърне губеща ръка - продължи Сайло. - Ти събра екипаж от бездомници и аутсайдери, хора без място в тоя свят и ни превърна в нещо. Не помниш ли Кап'тане? Веднъж вече спечелихме срещу Будителите в Ретрибюшън Фолс. Тогава спасихме кожата на Ерцхерцога - гласът му стана неочаквано пламенен, когато продължи, а това не беше нещо, което Фрей бе свикнал да чува от първия си помощник. - Бихме се с Гривите, Кап'тане! Летяхме отвъд развалината, погледнахме ги в очите и се върнахме, за да разкажем това. А после какво мислиш, че направихме? Тази група от алкохолици, безделници и дявол знае какво още, която ти събра? Открихме проклетия азрикски град в сърцето на Самарла. Видяхме джагърнот! А онова, което донесохме, то повече или по-малко беше началото на цялата тая война, която водят сега! Всеки един от нас беше нищо сам, но благодарение на тебе, разтърсихме проклетия свят!
Той сложи ръка на рамото на Фрей. Фрей усети топлината и силата й през палтото си.
- Имаме губеща ръка, Кап'тане - каза Сайло. - Но ти се Асото Черепи. Ако някой може да обърне ръката, това си ти."
"- Предполагам, че за някои неща си струва да се рискува всичко - каза Фрей.
- Дяволски си прав - съгласи се Сайло, докато Фрей обръщаше Кети Джей обратно."
"Крейк беше педантично настроен човек, внимателен човек, човек който се замисляше за последствията и презираше безразсъдството. Но в този момент разбра какво е да си като Кап'тана или Пин, или дори Малвъри. Да не се интересуваш от бъдещето, дори да го отхвърлиш напълно, да си безразличен и да действаш инстинктивно като животните. Просто да действаш и нищо повече."
"Войната беше трик. Илюзия, която да накара хората да вършат неща, които обикновено не можеха. Въпреки всичките патриотични приказки, целия прекрасен плам на справедливата кауза, всеки човек се изправяше пред смъртта си сам. Само когато се взираш в края, разбираш, че цялото това другарство не означава нищо, но тогава е прекалено късно да промениш нещо."
July 1, 2015
Perfect ending to a wonderful series. I'm looking forward to go back and read those books again someday!
November 27, 2017
Aventurile echipajului de pe aeronava Ketty Jay ajung la final. Și ce final! (Detalii la Țesătorul.)
http://tesatorul.blogspot.ro/2017/11/...
http://tesatorul.blogspot.ro/2017/11/...
January 25, 2015
A fitting end to a series which I have enjoyed. Lots of action, good dialogue, plot twists and complications, character growth--the whole shebang. The writing was clear and professional, noteworthy given the complex mix of multiple character POVs, elaborate battles, politics, and mechanics of demonology. Nice, too, that it was not YA. Only one young character graced the crew; most focus was on folks who have been around the block a few times. Instead of wide-eyed-wonder, "who am I" rehash that floods current novels, we have characters with experience and battle scars. I like that.
Chris Wooding was kind to his characters, and towards his readers, by extension. For those who love low-tech, highly characterized steampunk fantasies, this is the series for you.
June 27, 2017
Well that was a humdinger of a book. Admittedly some of the battle scenes went on a little too long - or maybe that was just me wanting to get back to the more character driven, emotional beats - but I suppose it all evened out in the end. This book, like the series, had a little bit of everything: action, humor, friendship, romance, and the inevitability of change. So a big shout out to Mr. Wooding as well as to Captain Frey, Malvery, Crake, Jez, Silo, Harkins, Trinica, Samandra, Slag, and Grudge. Thanks for the ride. It was a blast.
May 16, 2019
3.5🌟
Another tight story, and I'm sad the series has come to a close. I reduced my rating cuz it lacked the readability that was so great throughout the whole series. I also found myself becoming bored and disengaging unlike the previous books that had my eyes feeling glued to the page.
Full RTC
Another tight story, and I'm sad the series has come to a close. I reduced my rating cuz it lacked the readability that was so great throughout the whole series. I also found myself becoming bored and disengaging unlike the previous books that had my eyes feeling glued to the page.
Full RTC
October 30, 2019
Very nice ending to the series. The books all flowed well together and the plot built well throughout the series. If you are looking to try a new Steampunk series or break into Steampunk stories I think this would be a great set of books for ya. Nice humor and good action throughout. Very recommended
March 9, 2016
What a perfect ending to an exciting, original, and plain ol' badass series.
The final adventure of the crew of the Ketty Jay pulls no punches. Everything, and I mean goddamned EVERYTHING, comes to head. The plot from all three preceding stories gets pulled into the tapestry of these characters. Shit hits the fan, in a climactic scene that seemed to take a third of the book, and left me feeling physically exhausted once I reached the end. (That's physically exhausted in a good way, like after a marathon night with the lover of your dreams. Or, like, running after and then finally catching the ice-cream truck.)
I couldn't have asked for a better finale in what has become, almost unnoticed, one of the best series I've ever read. Pirates and war and lost loves and outer-space espionage and daemonic possession and giant metal monsters and a really, really tough old tomcat.
Just....just read them. All of them.
The final adventure of the crew of the Ketty Jay pulls no punches. Everything, and I mean goddamned EVERYTHING, comes to head. The plot from all three preceding stories gets pulled into the tapestry of these characters. Shit hits the fan, in a climactic scene that seemed to take a third of the book, and left me feeling physically exhausted once I reached the end. (That's physically exhausted in a good way, like after a marathon night with the lover of your dreams. Or, like, running after and then finally catching the ice-cream truck.)
I couldn't have asked for a better finale in what has become, almost unnoticed, one of the best series I've ever read. Pirates and war and lost loves and outer-space espionage and daemonic possession and giant metal monsters and a really, really tough old tomcat.
Just....just read them. All of them.
January 23, 2024
Frey takes his crew on a rescue mission for a whispermonger’s business partner who went missing looking for a treasure cache. Only thing is, it is in the war zone of Korrene, strife with Knights and the Awakeners. The civil war the crew of the Ketty Jay were responsible for.
Maybe it’s because I binged this series back-back-back, but this last story felt too repetitive and didn’t engage me.
Character motivations felt unrealistic or backwards, and everything the series has been building towards character-wise seems to have been reversed even though the plot points all come together.
Overall, yes, I would recommend this series, but I did feel slightly let down by this last instalment. It might have worked better as a trilogy.
’We a losin' hand, Cap'n, he said. 'But you the Ace of Skulls. Anyone can turn us to winnin', you can.'
Bookstagram
Maybe it’s because I binged this series back-back-back, but this last story felt too repetitive and didn’t engage me.
Character motivations felt unrealistic or backwards, and everything the series has been building towards character-wise seems to have been reversed even though the plot points all come together.
Overall, yes, I would recommend this series, but I did feel slightly let down by this last instalment. It might have worked better as a trilogy.
’We a losin' hand, Cap'n, he said. 'But you the Ace of Skulls. Anyone can turn us to winnin', you can.'
Bookstagram
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