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Unwanteds #4
Island of Legends
Uncover adventure and dangerous secrets in book four of the New York Times bestselling Unwanteds series, which Kirkus Reviews called “ The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter.”
When hundreds of lights appear across the sea during Artimé’s first annual masquerade ball, the party is over. Artimé is under attack, and Alex, the magical world’s young mage, must prove he can handle his newfound leadership.
Alex receives no help from Aaron, his scheming twin brother. Instead of rallying Quill to help defend their island, Aaron disappears and happens upon a dangerous secret hidden in the jungle—one with the potential to give him the power he desperately desires.
Even in the midst of battle Alex hasn’t forgotten his promise to rescue his new friend Sky’s mother from the volatile Pirates Island, a rocky volcano that randomly spits fire and sinks beneath the ocean’s surface with little warning. Once the rescue team is on the way, friendships are tested and the stakes are high. Ultimately the team discovers there are more creatures than they ever imagined in the waters surrounding their island chain—and not all of them are friendly.
Adventure, danger, legendary creatures, exotic beasts, and the most unusual island so far rise up to challenge Alex and his friends from Artimé in this thrilling continuation of Lisa McMann’s The Unwanted series.
When hundreds of lights appear across the sea during Artimé’s first annual masquerade ball, the party is over. Artimé is under attack, and Alex, the magical world’s young mage, must prove he can handle his newfound leadership.
Alex receives no help from Aaron, his scheming twin brother. Instead of rallying Quill to help defend their island, Aaron disappears and happens upon a dangerous secret hidden in the jungle—one with the potential to give him the power he desperately desires.
Even in the midst of battle Alex hasn’t forgotten his promise to rescue his new friend Sky’s mother from the volatile Pirates Island, a rocky volcano that randomly spits fire and sinks beneath the ocean’s surface with little warning. Once the rescue team is on the way, friendships are tested and the stakes are high. Ultimately the team discovers there are more creatures than they ever imagined in the waters surrounding their island chain—and not all of them are friendly.
Adventure, danger, legendary creatures, exotic beasts, and the most unusual island so far rise up to challenge Alex and his friends from Artimé in this thrilling continuation of Lisa McMann’s The Unwanted series.
512 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
1219 people are currently reading
5656 people want to read
About the author
Lisa McMann
59 books6,983 followersLisa McMann lives and writes in the Phoenix area. Her newest middle grade fantasy series is called The Forgotten Five. Book one, Map of Flames, was an instant NYT bestseller. It's about five supernatural kids, raised in a deserted hideout, who enter civilization for the first time to search for a hidden stash left behind by their missing, criminal parents.
Book two, The Invisible Spy, is on sale now! Book three, Rebel Undercover, is coming summer 2023, and book 4 will be out in spring of 2024.
Also out now: CLARICE THE BRAVE. It's a story of hope against all odds, about sibling mice who get separated in a mutiny and vow to find one another again.
Lisa's other books include the NYT bestselling THE UNWANTEDS and UNWANTEDS QUESTS series, the GOING WILD trilogy, the YA paranormal WAKE trilogy, the VISIONS trilogy, CRYER'S CROSS, DEAD TO YOU, and INFINITY RING: The Trap Door.
See what's new and where Lisa will be at her
LinkTree.
You can find more info at Lisa'a website, lisamcmann.com, interact with her on Facebook or Twitter, or ask questions on her Instagram.
Book two, The Invisible Spy, is on sale now! Book three, Rebel Undercover, is coming summer 2023, and book 4 will be out in spring of 2024.
Also out now: CLARICE THE BRAVE. It's a story of hope against all odds, about sibling mice who get separated in a mutiny and vow to find one another again.
Lisa's other books include the NYT bestselling THE UNWANTEDS and UNWANTEDS QUESTS series, the GOING WILD trilogy, the YA paranormal WAKE trilogy, the VISIONS trilogy, CRYER'S CROSS, DEAD TO YOU, and INFINITY RING: The Trap Door.
See what's new and where Lisa will be at her
LinkTree.
You can find more info at Lisa'a website, lisamcmann.com, interact with her on Facebook or Twitter, or ask questions on her Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
September 6, 2014
-U------N-------W-------A-------N------T-------E-------D-----S
~Great book wonderful writing and of course this wonderful world everyone should read this!
~Great book wonderful writing and of course this wonderful world everyone should read this!
March 26, 2018
Will somebody just shoot Aaron?
April 15, 2024
if i remember, it was sorta boring tbh sorry
January 19, 2023
A fun, fantastical adventure perfect for middle-grade lovers of fantasy.
This series is so much fun! Am I a middle-grade reader…? Well, no, but still I greatly enjoy this series. It’s a fun, comforting read, and I always look forward to reading the next book.
The pace of this book was pretty good- at the beginning. However, as we got to the end, it seemed like the author was trying very hard to make it longer. It wasn’t that big of a deal, but this book honestly could’ve been shorter.
And the climax… Can a climax come at the very end of a story? I’m not sure. Because if the author did squeeze in a climax, it was pretty um… not exciting. I mean, it was exciting, but not climax exciting. The only thing that did happen that was climax exciting was the ending and it’s probably classified as a cliffhanger, not a climax.
I always love the characters in this book and the author's writing style. I’ve said before that you can kinda see her intentions through her writing, but that issue has mostly gone away- she’s really improved in her writing. However, we don’t really get much depth in the characters. We get their intentions, their crush, and that’s it. I do wish the author got more in-depth with the characters.
The description and plots of these books I always love: they’re exciting, I love how the characters react, and it’s just so fun to see such a unique magic system.
The ending too was done well: left off on a huge cliffhanger leaving me wanting more.
Is this a short review? Yes, it is, but that’s all I really have to say about this book, so I’m not going to try to make it longer.
Now, the three questions…
Would I recommend this book/series?
Yes!! It’s a fun read that I enjoy.
If this was a movie, what would I rate it?
PG. Small violence. Sadness.
Will I read the rest of the series?
Yup! Too far in to stop now! I’m also curious to see how that wild ending gets resolved.
ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
Island of Fire ★★★★
Island of Silence ★★★★
The Unwanteds ★★★★
This series is so much fun! Am I a middle-grade reader…? Well, no, but still I greatly enjoy this series. It’s a fun, comforting read, and I always look forward to reading the next book.
The pace of this book was pretty good- at the beginning. However, as we got to the end, it seemed like the author was trying very hard to make it longer. It wasn’t that big of a deal, but this book honestly could’ve been shorter.
And the climax… Can a climax come at the very end of a story? I’m not sure. Because if the author did squeeze in a climax, it was pretty um… not exciting. I mean, it was exciting, but not climax exciting. The only thing that did happen that was climax exciting was the ending and it’s probably classified as a cliffhanger, not a climax.
I always love the characters in this book and the author's writing style. I’ve said before that you can kinda see her intentions through her writing, but that issue has mostly gone away- she’s really improved in her writing. However, we don’t really get much depth in the characters. We get their intentions, their crush, and that’s it. I do wish the author got more in-depth with the characters.
The description and plots of these books I always love: they’re exciting, I love how the characters react, and it’s just so fun to see such a unique magic system.
The ending too was done well: left off on a huge cliffhanger leaving me wanting more.
Is this a short review? Yes, it is, but that’s all I really have to say about this book, so I’m not going to try to make it longer.
Now, the three questions…
Would I recommend this book/series?
Yes!! It’s a fun read that I enjoy.
If this was a movie, what would I rate it?
PG. Small violence. Sadness.
Will I read the rest of the series?
Yup! Too far in to stop now! I’m also curious to see how that wild ending gets resolved.
ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
Island of Fire ★★★★
Island of Silence ★★★★
The Unwanteds ★★★★
March 24, 2015
I FINALLY BOUGHT THIS BOOK!!!! I went to the bookstore on Wednesday and it wasn't on display yet. I went again on Friday and it still wasn't there!!! But i finally I got it today!!! I'm only on chapter two, but I LOVE it so far!!!!! That last cliff hanger really kept me hanging... For a year :P Lisa McMann is one of my favourite authors and I know this book will be GREAT!!!!!!!!
April 17, 2024
2⭐️ (𝙤𝙧 2.25)
well this was disappointing
this had the potential to be so so good, but fell flat.
🚢 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙩.
~ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨.
i couldn’t stand alex in this one! he started off this one with pretty good character development, but kept getting side tracked by his crush. (poor kid !😀) also aaron was kinda getting on my nerves in this one. (i’m sorry you’re not mysterious bud) BUT! with that said sky, crow, samheed, and meghan were all great :)
~ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚.
ms mcmann, please i’m begging you, CHANGE YO WRITIN STYLE!! it’s so bland, dry, and has no personality whatsoever. (no one cares abt alex’s plans for 27 years down the road)
~ 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙏𝙊𝙊 𝙇𝙊𝙉𝙂!
my copy of this book had 478 pages. did we need that? NO! if we made this a 285-304 page book, it probably would have been a 3 or 3.25⭐️ for me. the whole “island of legends plot line” was thrust into it at THE VERY END and it was sooooo unneeded.
*minor spoiler!*
~other than that, i did enjoy alex and sky’s relationship in the beginning. it was so cute and innocent. but, then again, alex had the breakup coming. (i can’t believe i predicted it in my book 3 review when i said “sky doesn’t deserve alex”)
~also, that one little samheedlani moment we got was precious🥹
well this was disappointing
this had the potential to be so so good, but fell flat.
🚢 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙩.
~ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨.
i couldn’t stand alex in this one! he started off this one with pretty good character development, but kept getting side tracked by his crush. (poor kid !😀) also aaron was kinda getting on my nerves in this one. (i’m sorry you’re not mysterious bud) BUT! with that said sky, crow, samheed, and meghan were all great :)
~ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚.
ms mcmann, please i’m begging you, CHANGE YO WRITIN STYLE!! it’s so bland, dry, and has no personality whatsoever. (no one cares abt alex’s plans for 27 years down the road)
~ 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙏𝙊𝙊 𝙇𝙊𝙉𝙂!
my copy of this book had 478 pages. did we need that? NO! if we made this a 285-304 page book, it probably would have been a 3 or 3.25⭐️ for me. the whole “island of legends plot line” was thrust into it at THE VERY END and it was sooooo unneeded.
*minor spoiler!*
~other than that, i did enjoy alex and sky’s relationship in the beginning. it was so cute and innocent. but, then again, alex had the breakup coming. (i can’t believe i predicted it in my book 3 review when i said “sky doesn’t deserve alex”)
~also, that one little samheedlani moment we got was precious🥹
September 20, 2014
SPOILER ALERT
Ok, so I'm just gonna review this book here and maybe be super picky, because I'm a total bookworm. This book was fantastic, except for two things. And those two things are...
1. Cliffhanger. Total cliffhanger. I'm usually a sucker for a good cliffhanger if there's another book in the series/trilogy/etc. that's already out. My problem is, they leave Sky knocked out, Artimé needing help, Alex possibly injured (again!), and Kitten being the only one to have seen the seek spell. And where is Simber, who translates for her? Nobody knows.
1a. For crying out loud, Alex, stop getting hurt! You're the mage of Artimé! Mr. Today wasn't constantly getting injured while he was alive, was he?
2. Sky and Alex breaking up. T-T But I liked that pairing! I was already upset when Lani and Alex weren't together anymore, but now this? If they don't get back together in book 5, I will be extremely upset. Because Sky and Alex are awesome.
Tl;dr: SOMEBODY GET SKY AND ALEX BACK TOGETHER!
Ok, so I'm just gonna review this book here and maybe be super picky, because I'm a total bookworm. This book was fantastic, except for two things. And those two things are...
1. Cliffhanger. Total cliffhanger. I'm usually a sucker for a good cliffhanger if there's another book in the series/trilogy/etc. that's already out. My problem is, they leave Sky knocked out, Artimé needing help, Alex possibly injured (again!), and Kitten being the only one to have seen the seek spell. And where is Simber, who translates for her? Nobody knows.
1a. For crying out loud, Alex, stop getting hurt! You're the mage of Artimé! Mr. Today wasn't constantly getting injured while he was alive, was he?
2. Sky and Alex breaking up. T-T But I liked that pairing! I was already upset when Lani and Alex weren't together anymore, but now this? If they don't get back together in book 5, I will be extremely upset. Because Sky and Alex are awesome.
Tl;dr: SOMEBODY GET SKY AND ALEX BACK TOGETHER!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2016
I really had to force myself to finish this one. It seems as if the author is just reaching for anything to make the story last longer. There are too many characters to keep up with. This one just wasn't written very well. Maybe the next one will be better. I have an idea from the reviews what will happen. I'm not sure I want to waste time reading the books. They are so drawn out. It is almost as if the author was getting paid by the word so she added nonsense and extra mini adventures. I'm just not very impressed by this one.
May 19, 2016
My favorite book in the series so far!!
October 17, 2021
“I know it’s hard when things like this happen. It’s painful. Sometimes we make sacrifices. Sometimes we lose dear friends whom we love deeply, and that makes us want to hold our other loved ones closer so we don’t lose them, too.”
~ Stats ~
Title: Island of Legends (Unwanteds series, #4)
The title followed with the theme (Island of __) and made sense.
Author: Lisa McMann
Genre: MG/YA fantasy
Age Recommendation: 10+ (what with relationship drama, death, and monsters, I think 10 year olds and up would be best suited for this installment)
~ Characters ~
★★★✫ -- 3.5 stars
Alex Stowe is the head mage of Artimé. He's... kind of bland. Not much personality. He's powerful but he makes a lot of mistakes and he loves goofing around with his friends and he's crushing hard on Sky.
That's pretty much his character.
Aaron Stowe is Alex's twin brother, and the power-hungry, scheming High Priest of Quill. Aaron is an interesting character. I don't like him, but he has an intriguing internal conflict. As his thirst for power strengthens, it's interesting to see how he reacts to the more and more drastic measures he has to take, and what he's willing to do to get the power he so desperately craves.
Lani Haluki is my favorite character. I love her determination and stubbornness and curiosity and ferocity despite her small size, and the fact that she's a writer. I see myself reflected in her eyes.
Samheed Burkesh is a character I've come to love. His and Lani's relationship I first disliked, but I melt when I read the way they complement each other and the true and earnest way that they care for one another. *cough cough* Alex, take a hint, huh?
Meghan Ranger wasn't in much of this one. Shame. I liked her. We did get a lot of Sky, who is Alex's post-Lani love interest. (I first shipped Alex and Lani, but now I believe Lani deserves better!! Namely, Samheed. *death glares at Alex*) I felt indifferently toward Sky at the beginning of the book
Then there are the other Artiméans: powerful, loving giant stone cheetah Simber, ebony warrior Florence, kindly teacher Ms. Octavia, adventurous Sean Ranger, brave Carina Holiday, medicine expert and Lani's younger brother Henry Haluki, Sky's younger brother Crow, delightful Spike Furious, and the humorous Fox and Kitten.
Important Quillens include Eva Fathom, Secretary of the murky intentions, Liam Healy, another facing confusion over good and evil, Governor Strang, a desperate and weak man, and Gondoleery Rattrapp an old woman with burnt eyebrows and a plan.
Overall, I like some of the characters. Some I don't. But there you go.
“Passion is what must take the place of fury. Passion makes us want to live another day, to try to do the right thing. Passion contains love and fear and anger and motivation. Passion keeps you fighting when you want to give up.”
~ Plot ~
★★★ -- 3 stars
Alex faces the daunting task of saving Sky's mom, along with relationship struggles and possible war. Meanwhile, Aaron formulates a deadly plan, while he doesn't know about the schemes that are being planned out behind his back. And everyone wonders what lies beyond the islands...
The plot was interesting and it was obvious that McMann was taking this series in a pointed direction. However, there was something about it that just didn't grab me as much as the first few plots did. Middle-of-series-syndrome, I guess? Still, it was interesting, the way we got to meet so many new characters and learned of new conflicts. It just wasn't quite as page-turning as the first couple books.
At least the cliffhanger ending made me want the next one! lol
~ Setting ~
★★★★✫ -- 4.5 stars
As always, I love love love the world that these books are set in! The creatures, the islands, all the systems that keep Quill and Artimé running. I love this world, I really do.
~ Style/Format ~
★★★ -- 3 stars
As I grow older along with Alex & Friends, I've come to realize that the style of these books, despite them seeming very YA from the outside, is really very MG. The writing is simple and direct, describing exactly what's happening in few words and clearly stating what the characters are feeling. I don't mind it, exactly, but it is rather... middle-grade.
~ Theme ~
★★★ -- 3 stars
Honestly, I don't really know what to think about theme in this book. It had nice themes, including ones about sacrifice, bravery, love, and death, along with creativity, which I love in particular! However, these seemed just a bit too obvious, floating on the top of the story rather than hovering beneath, so to speak. I would have liked a bit more subtlety, but like I said earlier, it's MG, so what am I really expecting?
~ General Thoughts ~
A solid fourth installment.
I do wish this series would not lengthen itself more than it needs, though.
Overall rating -- ★★★ 3 stars
“Even if you made them up, I’d listen to all your stories until there were no more, and then demand you begin again.”
~ Stats ~
Title: Island of Legends (Unwanteds series, #4)
The title followed with the theme (Island of __) and made sense.
Author: Lisa McMann
Genre: MG/YA fantasy
Age Recommendation: 10+ (what with relationship drama, death, and monsters, I think 10 year olds and up would be best suited for this installment)
~ Characters ~
★★★✫ -- 3.5 stars
Alex Stowe is the head mage of Artimé. He's... kind of bland. Not much personality. He's powerful but he makes a lot of mistakes and he loves goofing around with his friends and he's crushing hard on Sky.
That's pretty much his character.
Aaron Stowe is Alex's twin brother, and the power-hungry, scheming High Priest of Quill. Aaron is an interesting character. I don't like him, but he has an intriguing internal conflict. As his thirst for power strengthens, it's interesting to see how he reacts to the more and more drastic measures he has to take, and what he's willing to do to get the power he so desperately craves.
Lani Haluki is my favorite character. I love her determination and stubbornness and curiosity and ferocity despite her small size, and the fact that she's a writer. I see myself reflected in her eyes.
Samheed Burkesh is a character I've come to love. His and Lani's relationship I first disliked, but I melt when I read the way they complement each other and the true and earnest way that they care for one another. *cough cough* Alex, take a hint, huh?
Meghan Ranger wasn't in much of this one. Shame. I liked her. We did get a lot of Sky, who is Alex's post-Lani love interest. (I first shipped Alex and Lani, but now I believe Lani deserves better!! Namely, Samheed. *death glares at Alex*) I felt indifferently toward Sky at the beginning of the book
Then there are the other Artiméans: powerful, loving giant stone cheetah Simber, ebony warrior Florence, kindly teacher Ms. Octavia, adventurous Sean Ranger, brave Carina Holiday, medicine expert and Lani's younger brother Henry Haluki, Sky's younger brother Crow, delightful Spike Furious, and the humorous Fox and Kitten.
Important Quillens include Eva Fathom, Secretary of the murky intentions, Liam Healy, another facing confusion over good and evil, Governor Strang, a desperate and weak man, and Gondoleery Rattrapp an old woman with burnt eyebrows and a plan.
Overall, I like some of the characters. Some I don't. But there you go.
“Passion is what must take the place of fury. Passion makes us want to live another day, to try to do the right thing. Passion contains love and fear and anger and motivation. Passion keeps you fighting when you want to give up.”
~ Plot ~
★★★ -- 3 stars
Alex faces the daunting task of saving Sky's mom, along with relationship struggles and possible war. Meanwhile, Aaron formulates a deadly plan, while he doesn't know about the schemes that are being planned out behind his back. And everyone wonders what lies beyond the islands...
The plot was interesting and it was obvious that McMann was taking this series in a pointed direction. However, there was something about it that just didn't grab me as much as the first few plots did. Middle-of-series-syndrome, I guess? Still, it was interesting, the way we got to meet so many new characters and learned of new conflicts. It just wasn't quite as page-turning as the first couple books.
At least the cliffhanger ending made me want the next one! lol
~ Setting ~
★★★★✫ -- 4.5 stars
As always, I love love love the world that these books are set in! The creatures, the islands, all the systems that keep Quill and Artimé running. I love this world, I really do.
~ Style/Format ~
★★★ -- 3 stars
As I grow older along with Alex & Friends, I've come to realize that the style of these books, despite them seeming very YA from the outside, is really very MG. The writing is simple and direct, describing exactly what's happening in few words and clearly stating what the characters are feeling. I don't mind it, exactly, but it is rather... middle-grade.
~ Theme ~
★★★ -- 3 stars
Honestly, I don't really know what to think about theme in this book. It had nice themes, including ones about sacrifice, bravery, love, and death, along with creativity, which I love in particular! However, these seemed just a bit too obvious, floating on the top of the story rather than hovering beneath, so to speak. I would have liked a bit more subtlety, but like I said earlier, it's MG, so what am I really expecting?
~ General Thoughts ~
A solid fourth installment.
I do wish this series would not lengthen itself more than it needs, though.
Overall rating -- ★★★ 3 stars
“Even if you made them up, I’d listen to all your stories until there were no more, and then demand you begin again.”
September 21, 2014
The cleverness of the other three books seems to have been lost in this book. The characters were a little stiff and the plot a little too predictable. I hope the future books contain more of the unexpected.
Read
November 30, 2020I am not going to rate this book as I had not read the previous books and hence it didn't make much sense. All I could figure was that there was a war going on between lands and also well between two brothers Alex and Aaron. I sensed that Aaron was the undeserving high priest and a coward while Alex was a leader. It was a tale of adventures, friendships, unique creatures, etc. I didn't like the read because I wasn't invested and I pretty much knew nothing about the background of these characters so I might not be the best judge of this book. And a fan of the series might enjoy it so much better than me.
July 22, 2024
The hits keep coming with this series! We’ve got daring rescues, we’ve got trauma, & quarrels, heartache, & new magical characters, & cliff hangers! An absolutely fantastic fantasy adventure so far!
May 6, 2025
The detail and action keep you reading, wanting to know what happens. You can picture the people, animals and living statues as if you were there with them. This whole series is so well written that it is hard to put down.
September 28, 2014
This is the 4th book in the Unwanted series by McMann. There are seven books planned in this series, with the fifth book “Island of Shipwrecks” scheduled for a February 2015 release. This was a good book in this series, my seven year old son really enjoys this series a lot.
I listened to this on audiobook on a roadtrip with my family. The audiobook was very well done. The narrator did an excellent job distinguishing between the different character voices. There are a lot of characters in this book so that’s not an easy thing to do.
Alex is gaining confidence as a mage and makes his first try at bringing a magical creature to life. Him and his friends journey back to the volcanic island in an effort to rescue Sky’s mother. On the way they encounter many fantastical creatures. Meanwhile Aaron is struggling to maintain rule in Quill, but things are looking more intriguing for him when he discovers some secret creature deep in the forest. Gondoleery continues to work on her magic and Eva continues to plot Aaron’s overthrow.
There are a lot of characters in this book and a lot happening. I definitely enjoy Alex’s parts of the book much more than Aaron’s. Aaron is just so unlikable and hard to read about. I also enjoyed that Simber was in the story so much.
Alex struggles with some large issues in this book. He has a budding romance with Sky but is worried that she distracts him too much from his job of ruling Artime. He also has some struggles with bringing a magical creature to life and second guesses himself a lot. However, Alex is growing and learning and becoming a better leader.
It was nice to have the group of friends back together in this book. We meet a lot of fascinating new creatures and journey to interesting new places. I go love this world and enjoy how it has been gradually getting bigger and bigger.
As mentioned above my seven year old son loves these books (he says 5 stars). ..me and my husband think they are okay (3.5 stars)...so we settled on 4 stars. There are a lot of characters in here and the story jumps around a lot; so I feel like it’s hard to get really engaged with the story or characters. I honestly find the books to be a bit boring and had some trouble with falling asleep while listening to them in the car. I have felt like this about all the books in this series, so I think if you are a long time fan of The Unwanteds series you will enjoy this book. If you haven’t enjoyed previous books you probably won’t enjoy this one.
The book ends on an absolutely horrible cliffhanger which everyone in my family hated. So...you have been warned.
Overall a good continuation of this series. Great for all ages. The world is really interesting and I love the magical creatures. There are a lot of characters to follow and I never found any of them to be all that engaging. I also thought the plot was a bit all over the place. All that being said my son loves this series, so I guess I would recommend for middle grade readers.
October 19, 2015
Camden Henson
“Unwanteds Island of Silence”-Lisa McMann
The people of Artime are preparing for a battle against queen Eagala from Warbler Island. Alex and his friends also go to Pirate Island to rescue Sky and Crow’s mom. Alex is having to go through internal and external feelings but having to stay on track because he is mage and doesn’t want to screw anything up. While his brother Aaron is plotting against Alex and is trying to get Artime with a secret creature that only he knows about.This story doesn’t seem very realistic to me in most ways. There is magic and supernatural creatures but the humans are pretty real as long as they aren’t doing spells. In Quill the setting is more realistic than in Artime because there is water and food shortages plus they don’t have creatures or magic. The only thing that strikes me as weird in Quill is that only professors and the High Priest can write or draw anything.In my opinion Alex is the main character because he is head mage of Artime so he is almost always involved in something. Or he is getting into situations and such or having to deal with his twin brother Aaron that is the High Priest of Quill. “I think it sounds good” Alex said. “I’ll check with Simber to see if he has any concerns. If he feels good about it , we’ll do it.” Pg 440 This quote is significant because it shows that Alex likes to know other people’s opinions before charging out into the unknown and risking people’s lives.
Spoiler Alert:In the story Lani and Henry notice that the pirates look like them so Sky comes up with an ingenious plan to sneak them in looking like pirates. But before they sneak in Sky and Alex go into Pirate Island and get swimsuit like clothes to wear over their pirate outfits so they aren’t wet and stand out. So Alex agrees with it showing his leadership and bravery risking his own life even being head age instead of having someone else do it.
This book was very enjoyable and all of the previous ones as well. I liked the book because there was mystery, suspense, and action fantasy. Plus it was like there was never any uninteresting or boring parts.
Spoiler Alert:The theme of this book is perseverance. It is perseverance because in the book there were many obstacles and discouragement. An example of this is when Alex and the people he chose for his journey to save Sky and Crow’s mom were attacked by a giant eel that nearly capsized their ship. In the end Florence sacrificed herself to save the ship and everyone on it. This shows an obstacle and discouragement because without Florence it makes a lot of things hard.
“Unwanteds Island of Silence”-Lisa McMann
The people of Artime are preparing for a battle against queen Eagala from Warbler Island. Alex and his friends also go to Pirate Island to rescue Sky and Crow’s mom. Alex is having to go through internal and external feelings but having to stay on track because he is mage and doesn’t want to screw anything up. While his brother Aaron is plotting against Alex and is trying to get Artime with a secret creature that only he knows about.This story doesn’t seem very realistic to me in most ways. There is magic and supernatural creatures but the humans are pretty real as long as they aren’t doing spells. In Quill the setting is more realistic than in Artime because there is water and food shortages plus they don’t have creatures or magic. The only thing that strikes me as weird in Quill is that only professors and the High Priest can write or draw anything.In my opinion Alex is the main character because he is head mage of Artime so he is almost always involved in something. Or he is getting into situations and such or having to deal with his twin brother Aaron that is the High Priest of Quill. “I think it sounds good” Alex said. “I’ll check with Simber to see if he has any concerns. If he feels good about it , we’ll do it.” Pg 440 This quote is significant because it shows that Alex likes to know other people’s opinions before charging out into the unknown and risking people’s lives.
Spoiler Alert:In the story Lani and Henry notice that the pirates look like them so Sky comes up with an ingenious plan to sneak them in looking like pirates. But before they sneak in Sky and Alex go into Pirate Island and get swimsuit like clothes to wear over their pirate outfits so they aren’t wet and stand out. So Alex agrees with it showing his leadership and bravery risking his own life even being head age instead of having someone else do it.
This book was very enjoyable and all of the previous ones as well. I liked the book because there was mystery, suspense, and action fantasy. Plus it was like there was never any uninteresting or boring parts.
Spoiler Alert:The theme of this book is perseverance. It is perseverance because in the book there were many obstacles and discouragement. An example of this is when Alex and the people he chose for his journey to save Sky and Crow’s mom were attacked by a giant eel that nearly capsized their ship. In the end Florence sacrificed herself to save the ship and everyone on it. This shows an obstacle and discouragement because without Florence it makes a lot of things hard.
March 14, 2015
I will admit that I never really finished The Unwanteds, Book 3, Island of Fire. I knew it was going to end and I couldn't stand the cliffhanger, so I stopped on the last track of the last disc. That worked well for me. I was looking forward to this new installment, but I wasn't crushed waiting for the release. Now books four and five of The Unwanteds books are out, so I didn't feel the panic of stopping the final track of book four, Island of Legends. I finished the entire story and now wait on pins and needles for the next book. (I need to finish some other titles before delving into book five.)
Each installment of The Unwanteds begins where the previous title left off. It's like one giant book and I'm on the edge of my seat! There were some unexpected twists as always, but I didn't find myself mouthing a moment with the reader as a scene unfolded. That was neat. I'm not going to share too much of the story, because I don't want to give away any spoilers. It's captivating and creative. Each book opens the world of the Unwanteds wider and wider, but still leaving mystery in its wake. If you're a fantasy fan, I would highly recommend this series. I would suggest middler schoolers and up.
Steve West returned to narrate the fourth Unwanteds book! He's originally from London and his British accent adds a bit of other worldliness to the Unwanteds series. Every once in a great while, his pronunciations of certain words tickle my funny bone, but it's not a negative to the narration. Each character has their own voice which is appreciated. From the last title (Island of Fire), I think Mr. West maintained his characters voices very well. The next installment of the Unwanteds - Island of Shipwrecks - is out now and I'm looking forward to hearing Mr. West's voice again.
The audiobook did have beginning and ending music. Each CD picked up the story from the previous disc without another narrator sharing the disc number or to ask to change discs. It's a smooth story from one disc to the next. The last CD only had a few minutes of story on it before it went into the credits. I wish the whole story could have fit onto 8 discs, but working with media, I understand that it doesn't always fit. If the quality is better on 9 CDs instead of 8 CDs, the product should be on 9 discs.
Reviewed from a library copy.
Each installment of The Unwanteds begins where the previous title left off. It's like one giant book and I'm on the edge of my seat! There were some unexpected twists as always, but I didn't find myself mouthing a moment with the reader as a scene unfolded. That was neat. I'm not going to share too much of the story, because I don't want to give away any spoilers. It's captivating and creative. Each book opens the world of the Unwanteds wider and wider, but still leaving mystery in its wake. If you're a fantasy fan, I would highly recommend this series. I would suggest middler schoolers and up.
Steve West returned to narrate the fourth Unwanteds book! He's originally from London and his British accent adds a bit of other worldliness to the Unwanteds series. Every once in a great while, his pronunciations of certain words tickle my funny bone, but it's not a negative to the narration. Each character has their own voice which is appreciated. From the last title (Island of Fire), I think Mr. West maintained his characters voices very well. The next installment of the Unwanteds - Island of Shipwrecks - is out now and I'm looking forward to hearing Mr. West's voice again.
The audiobook did have beginning and ending music. Each CD picked up the story from the previous disc without another narrator sharing the disc number or to ask to change discs. It's a smooth story from one disc to the next. The last CD only had a few minutes of story on it before it went into the credits. I wish the whole story could have fit onto 8 discs, but working with media, I understand that it doesn't always fit. If the quality is better on 9 CDs instead of 8 CDs, the product should be on 9 discs.
Reviewed from a library copy.
June 14, 2016
Okay, let me just say the cover on this book is super cool. The fact that I loved the first book so much, and because of the cover, I can't seem to give this book lower than a 3 star rating. I was pretty dissapointed by many things in this book, which makes me want to cry! With book one being so good, I guess I was just expecting more.
Problem number one:
I felt that this book was very repetitive. The Artimeians would go somewhere, something bad would happen, someone would get really hurt or lost, and then everything would be magically fixed by the next chapter. I'm not saying it was all bad, but it just got boring having that happen so often.
Problem number two:
Simber was so mean. This book ruined my image of him being this stong, humble and kind fighter. He mostly just bashed Alex, yelled at Fox, and grumbled in this book. He was totally one of my favorite characters, and it pains me to see him like that.
Problem number three:
Florence is this amazing warrior and I thought the mushy scenes with Talon were not needed.
Problem number four:
I'm so done with the never ending DRAMA with Sky and Alex. Seriously I can't take it any more. I kinda thought I would be okay with them being together, but if this goes on much longer, I might just stop reading.
Problem number five:
Where was Meghan? I felt that she was just an afterthought to everyone. Isn't she Alex's best friend? Did he just not even consider what might be going on in her head because they were gone so long? I really liked her, and I felt that when Lani and Samheed got together, she was left out. (If the Sky/Alex drama doesn't get better, I want Meghan and Alex to be together.) ;P
Well, I can't expect everything to fix itself in the next book, but I just can't help but hope it does!!!
Problem number one:
I felt that this book was very repetitive. The Artimeians would go somewhere, something bad would happen, someone would get really hurt or lost, and then everything would be magically fixed by the next chapter. I'm not saying it was all bad, but it just got boring having that happen so often.
Problem number two:
Simber was so mean. This book ruined my image of him being this stong, humble and kind fighter. He mostly just bashed Alex, yelled at Fox, and grumbled in this book. He was totally one of my favorite characters, and it pains me to see him like that.
Problem number three:
Florence is this amazing warrior and I thought the mushy scenes with Talon were not needed.
Problem number four:
I'm so done with the never ending DRAMA with Sky and Alex. Seriously I can't take it any more. I kinda thought I would be okay with them being together, but if this goes on much longer, I might just stop reading.
Problem number five:
Where was Meghan? I felt that she was just an afterthought to everyone. Isn't she Alex's best friend? Did he just not even consider what might be going on in her head because they were gone so long? I really liked her, and I felt that when Lani and Samheed got together, she was left out. (If the Sky/Alex drama doesn't get better, I want Meghan and Alex to be together.) ;P
Well, I can't expect everything to fix itself in the next book, but I just can't help but hope it does!!!
November 20, 2016
Ok by now the characters are being more and more childish and simplified.
The world of Artime is not as satisfying as Hogwarts. The adults don't act like adults and instead let some little kids boss everyone around. It was all fine while Mr. Tomorrow was around. Now it's all stupid.
These teens act almost adult one minute, then like puppets the next. I mean, hormones don't come up once in this book! Liking someone is an indefinable thing in their heads. Bigger then they can explain and yet, a poor imitation of what it's really like.
Alex likes Sky but is being ridiculously over dramatic about it. He's not blind to it like Ron was with Hermione, instead he's creating over emotional dramatic reasons for not simply liking her and being partners in things. Instead it all, "I'm a mage, too much responsibility, I can't have a relationship!"
I don't like books that so full of emotions and so little common sense or realistic human reactions.
The world of Artime is not as satisfying as Hogwarts. The adults don't act like adults and instead let some little kids boss everyone around. It was all fine while Mr. Tomorrow was around. Now it's all stupid.
These teens act almost adult one minute, then like puppets the next. I mean, hormones don't come up once in this book! Liking someone is an indefinable thing in their heads. Bigger then they can explain and yet, a poor imitation of what it's really like.
Alex likes Sky but is being ridiculously over dramatic about it. He's not blind to it like Ron was with Hermione, instead he's creating over emotional dramatic reasons for not simply liking her and being partners in things. Instead it all, "I'm a mage, too much responsibility, I can't have a relationship!"
I don't like books that so full of emotions and so little common sense or realistic human reactions.
February 3, 2015
Island of Legends is the forth book of the The Unwanteds series
So basically to sum the novel up. Aaron is impersonating Alex, again, Alex and friends made a plan to rescue Crow and Sky's mum, Warbler attacks Artime, etc.
I feel like the first and second book were real good but now the series is dragging along and Lisa McMann is writing the series to make money. Though I'm still going to continue reading the series either way Its Interesting and Original.
So basically to sum the novel up. Aaron is impersonating Alex, again, Alex and friends made a plan to rescue Crow and Sky's mum, Warbler attacks Artime, etc.
I feel like the first and second book were real good but now the series is dragging along and Lisa McMann is writing the series to make money. Though I'm still going to continue reading the series either way Its Interesting and Original.
January 17, 2017
This book of the series is about Alex and his friends going on the adventure to rescue Sky's mother. Along the adventure, they find a new island, The Island of Legends. But they also learn that not all the underwater creatures are friendly. Meanwhile, Aaron has stumbled upon a secret jungle, with creatures that might give him the power he needs to destroy Artimé. I really liked this book because it was well written. It made me feel awesome because of how much stuff is going on, but also made me feel suspenseful, because who knows what Aaron's planning? I recommend this book for anyone who likes The Unwanteds series book 1-3. This series is a mix of Harry Potter And The Hunger Games . This book is really good for people who like magic and creativity.
March 23, 2016
I thought this book was a good book, but in my opinion this was one of the more boring of the books. It kind of dragged throughout the whole book and took a while to pick up speed. After spending time learning magic as a mage Alex decides he wants to make something come to life. He makes a beautiful whale named Spike. Time has come to rescue Sky and Crows mom. Him and a few others travel to pirates island to save her. This book was really good. At one point I was supposed to stop reading and there was a really suspenseful part so I had to finish the chapter. I thought this was a good book but not as good as the other ones.
January 20, 2023
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! This is another incredible, adventurous, colorful, fun, "Unwanteds" book. There are new characters and old, and there are MANY surprises. At the end of the book I felt very satisfied with how everything turned out, but still sad about the book being over. I'm sure the next book will be fantastic, and I cannot wait to read more "Unwanteds" books!
May 1, 2016
3.5 stars. I didn't find this one as suspenseful, although it was enjoyable. I couldn't really have cared less what Aaron was up to, and I wasn't that intrigued by the Island Legends. I did like the rescue mission to Pirate Island, though, and liked Spike Furious. And Fox and Kitten always crack me up. It also looks like it is well set up for a good fifth book.
November 6, 2014
I've enjoyed the Unwanteds Series. However, I wish the author would tie things up and finish the story. This book was not as good as the others and I'm ready for a resolution and conclusion. Why do so many authors think they have to have so many books? Are trilogies becoming a thing of the past?
June 20, 2015
This book was a bit of a let down. I couldn't understand why Alex and his friends kept exploring other islands when the trouble between Quill and Artime hadn't been settled. Hopefully the next book will be stronger.
May 7, 2015
Another good one in the series. My son and I are enjoying these together - comparing notes on the characters and the development of the story. The suspense definitely keeps us reading.
August 27, 2015
At this point I'm invested in the series and since it's one long story I won't give each book an individual rating. 5 stars it is all around, unless the ending of the final one brings it down.
August 28, 2024
I’m really liking how this series is developing. Each book is like a completely new adventure with all the discoveries Alex and his friends are making—of course the threat of Quill still looms, but that’s the overarching plot. By itself, Island of Legends is a swashbuckling adventure on the sea that introduces new magic and new characters. The ending in my opinion was perfect and like the rest of the Unwanteds series has, sets up the next book nicely.
October 18, 2024
I enjoyed this alright, but I wish the plot/setting bit was a little bit less basic. I feel like the plot of just discovering new island after new island could be switched out for something stronger. Though, I do think the Alex and Aaron conflict is getting stronger and more interesting. I'm curious where it will go!
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