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Silverwing #3
Firewing
Goth, the monstrous cannibal bat who plotted to kill the sun, may have been blown to bits at the end of Kenneth Oppel's Sunwing. But this doesn't stop Oppel from including his arch-villain in yet another electrifying sequel to the bat saga he began in 1997 with Silverwing. The most fantastical by far of the three books, Firewing takes its readers on a breathtaking journey into a bat underworld ruled by Cama Zotz and his dreaded Vampyrum Spectrum. While cosmology has always hung in the background of Oppel's bat novels, in Firewing the struggle between the sun god Nocturna and her dark twin Zotz finally comes to the fore. Oppel also introduces a new hero in Griffin, the "newborn" of Shade Silverwing and his mate, Marina.
As this visually thrilling tour-de-force opens, Griffin has been sucked down into the underworld through a suspicious fissure in the earth's crust. Pursued by his father, Shade, but also by the dead Goth who wants to steal his life force, Griffin makes his way over a bizarre landscape to a fiery tree planted by Nocturna. Naturally, he meets a host of memorable characters on his journey, including a giant bat with the face of a fox and Luna, a newly dead silverwing from his own colony, who ends up playing Marina to Griffin's Shade.
Oppel's underworld is a smoke-and-mirrors purgatory where dead bats are tricked into believing they are still alive and where the enlightened "Pilgrims," who seek passage to Nocturna's better afterlife, are despised as radicals. Drawing on ideas from Christianity, Buddhism, and other religions, Oppel constructs an intellectually stimulating fantasy world that will captivate readers as young as eight. --Lisa Alward
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
58 people are currently reading
2041 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Oppel
84 books2,724 followersI was born in 1967 in Port Alberni, a mill town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia but spent the bulk of my childhood in Victoria, B.C. and on the opposite coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia...At around twelve I decided I wanted to be a writer (this came after deciding I wanted to be a scientist, and then an architect). I started out writing sci-fi epics (my Star Wars phase) then went on to swords and sorcery tales (my Dungeons and Dragons phase) and then, during the summer holiday when I was fourteen, started on a humorous story about a boy addicted to video games (written, of course, during my video game phase). It turned out to be quite a long story, really a short novel, and I rewrote it the next summer. We had a family friend who knew Roald Dahl - one of my favourite authors - and this friend offered to show Dahl my story. I was paralysed with excitement. I never heard back from Roald Dahl directly, but he read my story, and liked it enough to pass on to his own literary agent. I got a letter from them, saying they wanted to take me on, and try to sell my story. And they did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
July 11, 2021
wild time. totally forgot how much random existence/death/happiness philosophy is in this book lmao
if u are gonna read this series; i think this book is objectively unnecessary
if u are gonna read this series; i think this book is objectively unnecessary
March 21, 2013
I'm between 2 and 3 stars on this book. I must say I LOVED Silverwing and Sunwing, but I just hated the story (well actually only the ending) of this book!
WARNING: Major spoiler ahead!!! read at your own risk. I'm pretty much reveling the whole ending of this book.
SPOILER:
So yeah that we're my thoughts on that. But actually the rest of the book I really enjoyed. LOL
WARNING: Major spoiler ahead!!! read at your own risk. I'm pretty much reveling the whole ending of this book.
SPOILER:
So yeah that we're my thoughts on that. But actually the rest of the book I really enjoyed. LOL
July 10, 2011
4.5 STARS. Kenneth Oppel is a great author, no doubt about it. He creates characters that feel real, whether they be humans or bats, and weaves a world around them that you feel you inhabit while you read about it. His action sequences are among the best I've read yet he manages to instill such thoughtfulness and heartfelt emotions in his characters that the stories always have a depth that still manages to surprise and impress me even though I've read half a dozen of his books so far.
I wavered between four and five stars for this final book in the Silverwing trilogy. It's told through three main perspectives: that of Shade, the hero bat protagonist of the last two books; his son, Griffin, who gets sucked into the underworld through a fissure in the earth and whom Shade must go to save; and Goth, the evil cannibal bat and Shade's nemesis from the first two books who, though dead, continues to torment Shade and Griffin in the underworld he now inhabits. I must say on one hand it's a pretty genius stroke to kill the villain in one book only to have him stay a villain in his ghost-form in another because the protagonists are in the underworld; but, on the other hand, I also felt a little bit cheated since I had expected an adventure with more new characters.
This is a very unusual story and one I am not sure all readers will enjoy or appreciate. Especially the young readers who are, I assume, the target audience. Death and what happens after death are key components, as is a theme of guilt as young Griffin accidentally caused the death of one of his best friends. The book calls into question ideas about "religion" as what the bats where always taught to be true about the afterlife does not seem to be true at first, and even in the afterlife they must have faith that what Nocturna created for them is true and good and that the lord of the dark underworld, Cama Zotz, did not create the ultimate empty existence for eternity. As you may imagine, this is no lighthearted adventurous romp and yet it wasn't quite as dismal as I'd expected it to be. Some of the new supporting characters add a real charm to the story and I think I am satisfied with the ending. And, wow, the book really packs an emotional zing; I never would have thought I'd be tearing up for a middle grade novel about a bunch of bats but Oppel is, as I said, a master! We also have some father/son themes here, such as the worry-wart Griffin feeling that he needs to live up to his heroic father's image and not being certain how he will do it. And Shade, on the other hand, loving his son for who he is and willing to do anything to save him.
This could have easily been a five star book, but ultimately am uncertain how I felt about a few aspects of the journey that I wavered between four and five stars; I think it was all clear in Oppel's mind and he delivers a solid story but I was left with lingering questions--which may have been his intention but I usually like to feel more certain of how I should feel at the end of a book. Also, at times I had to really stop and pay special attention to whether the chapter was starting with Shade or Griffin's perspectives as at times their voices seemed a bit too similar but, again, perhaps that was just my fault as the reader and not Oppel's as the writer. Finally, though the underworld created in this book is fascinating and feels very "real" I'm not sure it was my favorite place to spend 300+ pages so my personal enjoyment diminished a little though, again, this is just personal taste.
All in all, I recommend this series (including this final book) to those who appreciate high-quality middle grade fiction (whether they typically like "animal books" or not) and especially those books that do not pander to young people instead treating children with respect, trusting them with the intellectual and emotional intelligence to give a story that will help them question and form views of the world. That said, I do caution that sensitive young readers may find these books too scary and sad at times and may wish to hold off for reading at a later time.
I wavered between four and five stars for this final book in the Silverwing trilogy. It's told through three main perspectives: that of Shade, the hero bat protagonist of the last two books; his son, Griffin, who gets sucked into the underworld through a fissure in the earth and whom Shade must go to save; and Goth, the evil cannibal bat and Shade's nemesis from the first two books who, though dead, continues to torment Shade and Griffin in the underworld he now inhabits. I must say on one hand it's a pretty genius stroke to kill the villain in one book only to have him stay a villain in his ghost-form in another because the protagonists are in the underworld; but, on the other hand, I also felt a little bit cheated since I had expected an adventure with more new characters.
This is a very unusual story and one I am not sure all readers will enjoy or appreciate. Especially the young readers who are, I assume, the target audience. Death and what happens after death are key components, as is a theme of guilt as young Griffin accidentally caused the death of one of his best friends. The book calls into question ideas about "religion" as what the bats where always taught to be true about the afterlife does not seem to be true at first, and even in the afterlife they must have faith that what Nocturna created for them is true and good and that the lord of the dark underworld, Cama Zotz, did not create the ultimate empty existence for eternity. As you may imagine, this is no lighthearted adventurous romp and yet it wasn't quite as dismal as I'd expected it to be. Some of the new supporting characters add a real charm to the story and I think I am satisfied with the ending. And, wow, the book really packs an emotional zing; I never would have thought I'd be tearing up for a middle grade novel about a bunch of bats but Oppel is, as I said, a master! We also have some father/son themes here, such as the worry-wart Griffin feeling that he needs to live up to his heroic father's image and not being certain how he will do it. And Shade, on the other hand, loving his son for who he is and willing to do anything to save him.
This could have easily been a five star book, but ultimately am uncertain how I felt about a few aspects of the journey that I wavered between four and five stars; I think it was all clear in Oppel's mind and he delivers a solid story but I was left with lingering questions--which may have been his intention but I usually like to feel more certain of how I should feel at the end of a book. Also, at times I had to really stop and pay special attention to whether the chapter was starting with Shade or Griffin's perspectives as at times their voices seemed a bit too similar but, again, perhaps that was just my fault as the reader and not Oppel's as the writer. Finally, though the underworld created in this book is fascinating and feels very "real" I'm not sure it was my favorite place to spend 300+ pages so my personal enjoyment diminished a little though, again, this is just personal taste.
All in all, I recommend this series (including this final book) to those who appreciate high-quality middle grade fiction (whether they typically like "animal books" or not) and especially those books that do not pander to young people instead treating children with respect, trusting them with the intellectual and emotional intelligence to give a story that will help them question and form views of the world. That said, I do caution that sensitive young readers may find these books too scary and sad at times and may wish to hold off for reading at a later time.
January 10, 2015
When it comes to the Silverwing series by Kenneth Oppel, I am instantly intrigued and interested. They are spectacular. This one, Firewing, is the last one in the series that is about Shade, is about Shade, who in this book is a father of a child named Griffin. Griffin slips through a rift in the ground into the Underworld, where is is told to find the Tree to return home. However, in this world, he is the only living one. Other bats in the Underworld are dead, and can steal your life. Shade must venture on a journey to the Underworld to find and save his son.
This book was very surprising to me. It was probably the worst book I’ve ever read. The plot is horrible compared to the first two books (which, if I may mention, were phenomenal - definitely go check them out), and the story is confusing and uncaptivating. When reading this, I wanted to throw the book off my bed, it was so bad. The fact that the female main character, Marina, is not even important in Firewing, just makes me cringe. She was the second main character in the first book! The fact that Griffin, being a new character, plays a huge role in this story makes me cringe and shake my head.
The theme of the story is a good theme - it focuses on how Shade goes to save Griffin, his son, from almost certain death, when even his own father abandoned him in a search to satisfy his curiosity. Shade is constantly worrying about his son even though he hadn’t met him yet! The setting of the story is also interesting, because it is set in the land of the dead, whose god is Cama Zotz. The setting makes for an interesting story as it is possible to get your own life ripped out of your body and make someone evil alive once more.
The action was not compelling AT ALL. The fact is that it was only interesting at parts when the gods were mentioned and the “fights” (if you can even call them that) were going on. The whole story was just dull, with the switching of characters at awkward places and not knowing what time is during the story. The fights were not exciting at all, may I mention, involving one character running away while another chases with a murderous intent. Not fun at all.
The setting was extremely unclear. You can get that you are in the Underworld, but the visualization and other literary skills, which usually just come to me, didn’t in this case. It was hard to see where the characters were and their correlation with time compared to the other characters. Since it was a story about journeying, and all of them were on the same route, it was hard to track where they were at specific times when another point of view was introduced.
The “camera switches” were difficult to understand. I think this is the major component in making this title not a fun read. In most stories, you can clearly tell who is the main character. Not in this book. Oh, no, you have to be between Shade and Griffin, and they are both given the same amount of speaking time, so how can you tell who is more important? In the previous two books, it was obvious that Shade was the protagonist and Marina was the sidekick, even though they were traveling together and Marina was older.
The ending, should I say, was absolutely trash. I read it and literally wanted to cry by the way Kenneth Oppel ended the Silverwing trilogy. This was just a horrible ending. You would honestly be better off not reading this book and only reading the first two books.
I would recommend all readers to pick up the first two books in the series, Silverwing and Sunwing. They are absolutely stunning in the way they are written and the way the plot carries out. You won’t be disappointed. This one, though, you will definitely be disappointed. Firewing will crush your hopes and dreams about everything in the Silverwing universe. It wasn’t a fun read, it was confusing and unfollowable, and overall a bad book. I wish to save you the wasted time and energy that will be used to pick up the book and read it. Overall, I believe that Kenneth Oppel could’ve and would’ve and should’ve chose a better ending to the whole series. Firewing was frankly a waste of my time and will be a waste of your too if you read it.
This book was very surprising to me. It was probably the worst book I’ve ever read. The plot is horrible compared to the first two books (which, if I may mention, were phenomenal - definitely go check them out), and the story is confusing and uncaptivating. When reading this, I wanted to throw the book off my bed, it was so bad. The fact that the female main character, Marina, is not even important in Firewing, just makes me cringe. She was the second main character in the first book! The fact that Griffin, being a new character, plays a huge role in this story makes me cringe and shake my head.
The theme of the story is a good theme - it focuses on how Shade goes to save Griffin, his son, from almost certain death, when even his own father abandoned him in a search to satisfy his curiosity. Shade is constantly worrying about his son even though he hadn’t met him yet! The setting of the story is also interesting, because it is set in the land of the dead, whose god is Cama Zotz. The setting makes for an interesting story as it is possible to get your own life ripped out of your body and make someone evil alive once more.
The action was not compelling AT ALL. The fact is that it was only interesting at parts when the gods were mentioned and the “fights” (if you can even call them that) were going on. The whole story was just dull, with the switching of characters at awkward places and not knowing what time is during the story. The fights were not exciting at all, may I mention, involving one character running away while another chases with a murderous intent. Not fun at all.
The setting was extremely unclear. You can get that you are in the Underworld, but the visualization and other literary skills, which usually just come to me, didn’t in this case. It was hard to see where the characters were and their correlation with time compared to the other characters. Since it was a story about journeying, and all of them were on the same route, it was hard to track where they were at specific times when another point of view was introduced.
The “camera switches” were difficult to understand. I think this is the major component in making this title not a fun read. In most stories, you can clearly tell who is the main character. Not in this book. Oh, no, you have to be between Shade and Griffin, and they are both given the same amount of speaking time, so how can you tell who is more important? In the previous two books, it was obvious that Shade was the protagonist and Marina was the sidekick, even though they were traveling together and Marina was older.
The ending, should I say, was absolutely trash. I read it and literally wanted to cry by the way Kenneth Oppel ended the Silverwing trilogy. This was just a horrible ending. You would honestly be better off not reading this book and only reading the first two books.
I would recommend all readers to pick up the first two books in the series, Silverwing and Sunwing. They are absolutely stunning in the way they are written and the way the plot carries out. You won’t be disappointed. This one, though, you will definitely be disappointed. Firewing will crush your hopes and dreams about everything in the Silverwing universe. It wasn’t a fun read, it was confusing and unfollowable, and overall a bad book. I wish to save you the wasted time and energy that will be used to pick up the book and read it. Overall, I believe that Kenneth Oppel could’ve and would’ve and should’ve chose a better ending to the whole series. Firewing was frankly a waste of my time and will be a waste of your too if you read it.
November 28, 2012
Spoiler Alert!
What a horrible story. Why is it these authors become so despondent by their third book? He should have just stopped with the second book and been done with it. After all the thrilling adventure and the victory of the first 2 books, Shade and his son Griffin end up in hell and are trying to escape. Some of the most compelling images of hell are described here. (Which from that aspect was truly fascinating and great food for thought.) The heroes of the past books that have died end up in hell, for them a sort of purgatory. They have to travel against incredible odds to get to the Tree - the portal into heaven. There are so many traps and deceits along the way that few make it to the Tree. In life these warriors cling to the promise of heaven made by their goddess. When in reality no matter what they did in life they go to hell and have to work (and suffer) to reach heaven. When they finally get to heaven "which was made for all bats" (but few ever find it), it ends up a sad existence. Ultimately the dead, whether in heaven or hell, are longing to be among the living. Throughout the journey the protagonists talk about what they think heaven will be like : no fear, no sadness, surrounded by the people you love. But when they actually get there they can't see or talk to anyone they entered with and are alone being a part of nature but not in it, so they live vicariously through the living. Just goes to show that without Christ any attempt at paradise is still lacking in glory.
What a horrible story. Why is it these authors become so despondent by their third book? He should have just stopped with the second book and been done with it. After all the thrilling adventure and the victory of the first 2 books, Shade and his son Griffin end up in hell and are trying to escape. Some of the most compelling images of hell are described here. (Which from that aspect was truly fascinating and great food for thought.) The heroes of the past books that have died end up in hell, for them a sort of purgatory. They have to travel against incredible odds to get to the Tree - the portal into heaven. There are so many traps and deceits along the way that few make it to the Tree. In life these warriors cling to the promise of heaven made by their goddess. When in reality no matter what they did in life they go to hell and have to work (and suffer) to reach heaven. When they finally get to heaven "which was made for all bats" (but few ever find it), it ends up a sad existence. Ultimately the dead, whether in heaven or hell, are longing to be among the living. Throughout the journey the protagonists talk about what they think heaven will be like : no fear, no sadness, surrounded by the people you love. But when they actually get there they can't see or talk to anyone they entered with and are alone being a part of nature but not in it, so they live vicariously through the living. Just goes to show that without Christ any attempt at paradise is still lacking in glory.
April 19, 2014
This book has quite a depressing ending. The entire book just made me sad that the main character was not Shade anymore.Overall,one of the gloomiest books I've ever read.
January 1, 2025
A kid’s book about bat hell that made me surprisingly emotional for about the last 20 pages😮💨
May 6, 2016
This is possibly the worst book ever. And I read Eldest, so I'm one to talk. The storyline itself is darn depressing, but the ending is the worst in the history of literature. Absolutely pathetic. The spoiler is the ending, so don't read it.
Okay, so basically, to repeat, this is a terrible book. Worst ever. Don't read. Leave it at Sunwing and pretend everyone's happy forever, blah, blah.
Okay, so basically, to repeat, this is a terrible book. Worst ever. Don't read. Leave it at Sunwing and pretend everyone's happy forever, blah, blah.
October 29, 2010
Amazing book! Until I got to the end. I mean, for a book so good, shouldn't it have at least HALF as good an ending? I hated the ending because it was like you just finished a chapter. You. Don't. Know. What. Happens. Next. But, NOTHING happens next since it was the end of the series. As you can see, I loved the book but REALLY did not like the ending. What happens to Goth? What happens when Griffin and Luna make it back to Tree Haven? I usually enjoy cliff hangers, but not when you are left hanging off the cliff with nothing to pull you back on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2018
3.5 stars. Although this was an amazing story, I just felt as though there was something missing, especially from the ending. This was the last book in the series and after a Christmas break filled with reading and caring about Shade, Marina and the other characters in this series I thought that this was a bit of a let down. Great book, definitely worth reading (like the whole series, which is excellent ) but be prepared for mixed feelings at the end of this story.
January 5, 2021
People are really beating up this book. In fact, they caused me to almost overlook it altogether and stop at Book Two, which I'm really glad I didn't. This one was, in my opinion, a conclusive and solid ending to the trilogy.
Maybe I never was a cheerleader for Shade or I'm just more accustomed to more depressing themes, but I thought it was played out beautifully. To be honest, I did not think it was depressing at all.
Shade, through his role of a father, is a depiction of a character who has grown and matured through all his experiences. His last dramatic act at the end of the book is the epitome of a character arc being built since the beginning of the series. This change might be unsettling to some readers. But let me tell you, there are some books out there where the characters are 100% exactly the same in book seven as they were in book one, and it is DULL and perfectly monotonous.
Well, the point of this review is to say, READ THE BOOK and form your own opinion. Don't disregard it because of all the negative reviews up here.
Maybe I never was a cheerleader for Shade or I'm just more accustomed to more depressing themes, but I thought it was played out beautifully. To be honest, I did not think it was depressing at all.
Shade, through his role of a father, is a depiction of a character who has grown and matured through all his experiences. His last dramatic act at the end of the book is the epitome of a character arc being built since the beginning of the series. This change might be unsettling to some readers. But let me tell you, there are some books out there where the characters are 100% exactly the same in book seven as they were in book one, and it is DULL and perfectly monotonous.
Well, the point of this review is to say, READ THE BOOK and form your own opinion. Don't disregard it because of all the negative reviews up here.
April 13, 2021
Just plain stupid!
April 7, 2021
Not quite a Princess Bride ending and not quite a Blake's 7 ending either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2021
Liked the book as a story, but it is not a good third book. Griffin is a sweetie, and I enjoyed interactions between him and Luna. However, I grew fond of Shade and Marina, and it was sad not seeing Marina for most of this book. And this owl vs. bat conflict only briefly comes up in conversation. I was feeling the third book would've resolved the politics into something more substantial than removing the day-time bans. Bats still seemed to be considered some kind of sub-animal species at least to owls who seemed to be in charge.
All in all, I enjoyed the story even if most of it was filled with new characters and a new plot.
All in all, I enjoyed the story even if most of it was filled with new characters and a new plot.
May 11, 2022
I really enjoyed this book right from the start!! It was entertaining and honestly thought provoking from such an interesting perspective. It is part of a series that I haven't read but it didn't seem to matter. I cared about the characters and the plot was fast but easy to follow. :)
December 29, 2023
this was DAMN good! and fucking adorable. god i love bats
February 17, 2013
A disappointing conclusion to Shade's journeys (as I understand the last book in the series is actually a far past prequel), and seems to argue the point with the Airborn series that Oppel chokes after the second book in a series. Altogether, it does have a cohesive, interesting plot, but suffers many other problems. Nearly all the book happens in the land of the dead, so it is more surreal than the previous books, which is a good and bad thing (land of the dead should be weird to the living, but as the previous books dealt primarily with the goings on in this world, it felt weird to abandon it for nearly a whole book).
My second biggest problem, is that Griffin never really steps up as the great protagonist character that Shade is, added to that, a lot of favorite characters from the past books get maybe a scene, and that with the notable exceptions of Java and Luna, all the new characters are flat/boring caused a weak showing for characters (and Goth is back... again! New bad guy please!).
My biggest problem is the horrible payoff, (I can put up with characters going through some seriously rotten times, but they had better get a good return, even if it's just a lesson learned, for all their suffering!) Worst. Ending. Ever.
May 13, 2016
Major Spoilers Rant!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't read if you don't want to know or don't already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW COULD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME KENNETH OPPEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????? HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? YOU HAVE BETRAYED MY TRUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU END THIS BOOK THAT WAY!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????????? THE ENDING COMPLETELY RUINS THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BAD GUY IS NOT SUPPOSED TO LIVE AND ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW..HOW COULD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!? NO!!! SHADE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET GRIFFIN'S LIFE FORCE BACK, LUNA AND GRIFFIN WERE SUPPOSED TO BOTH INHALE GRIFFIN'S LIFE FORCE,AND GOTH WAS SUPPOSED TO GET SUCKED INTO THE TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU LET THE CHARACTER I'VE BEEN GETTING TO KNOW AND CARE ABOUT FOR THREE BOOKS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????? I HAVE BEEN SOBBING FOR TEN MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW I WILL EVER READ ANOTHER OF YOUR BOOKS EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AS I SAID BEFORE, YOU HAVE BETRAYED MY TRUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW COULD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME KENNETH OPPEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????? HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? YOU HAVE BETRAYED MY TRUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU END THIS BOOK THAT WAY!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????????? THE ENDING COMPLETELY RUINS THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BAD GUY IS NOT SUPPOSED TO LIVE AND ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW..HOW COULD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!? NO!!! SHADE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET GRIFFIN'S LIFE FORCE BACK, LUNA AND GRIFFIN WERE SUPPOSED TO BOTH INHALE GRIFFIN'S LIFE FORCE,AND GOTH WAS SUPPOSED TO GET SUCKED INTO THE TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU LET THE CHARACTER I'VE BEEN GETTING TO KNOW AND CARE ABOUT FOR THREE BOOKS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????? I HAVE BEEN SOBBING FOR TEN MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW I WILL EVER READ ANOTHER OF YOUR BOOKS EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AS I SAID BEFORE, YOU HAVE BETRAYED MY TRUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2011
I think that Griffin will steal fire from the humans because he is tiered of being thought of as boring.
pg46 12/4/10 This book is very confusing but is very exciting to read. Like when Shade woke up and his heart wasnt beating but he felt like he was still alive. But it was only a dream.
pg103 12/12/10 In Firewing Griffin wishes his father(Shade) was there to help. In Sunwing Shade wishes that his friend Chinook was there to help him.
pg 12/18/10 In Firewing Griffin is aggravated with Frieda (Elder) because she is not helping him as much as he hoped she would. Once when my dad was helping me with my homework but i didn't understand so I wasn't receiving as much help as I hoped.
pg166 1/9/11 I predict that Shade will make friends with Murk and they will travel together because there god made the place they are traveling too for all bats.
pg46 12/4/10 This book is very confusing but is very exciting to read. Like when Shade woke up and his heart wasnt beating but he felt like he was still alive. But it was only a dream.
pg103 12/12/10 In Firewing Griffin wishes his father(Shade) was there to help. In Sunwing Shade wishes that his friend Chinook was there to help him.
pg 12/18/10 In Firewing Griffin is aggravated with Frieda (Elder) because she is not helping him as much as he hoped she would. Once when my dad was helping me with my homework but i didn't understand so I wasn't receiving as much help as I hoped.
pg166 1/9/11 I predict that Shade will make friends with Murk and they will travel together because there god made the place they are traveling too for all bats.
June 30, 2015
One of the things I enjoyed about this installment in the Silverwing saga was the fantastical nature of the plot. The earlier ones were just slightly off on the believable aspect, but because this one delved into a whole new world where anything could happen (and frequently did), it did not jar with me. Griffin's personality also struck a chord, I think because he was so different from his father. Indeed, the only thing that really bugged me was the corny nature of the ending (the sacrifice bit). Also, it seemed to be planning for another series?
February 15, 2017
I've read some emotional books in my lifetime. And as a writer myself, I really believe in investing emotions into literature. But after over a decade, this is the only book I've ever cried over. Yes: I profusely cried when reading the "Homecoming" chapter. AND IT WAS ABOUT BATS. I've never cried over another piece of literature. Kenneth Oppel--you've accessed a deep part of my emotions via compelling bat characterization that humans, to this point, haven't been able to reach. Well done. This has inspired my writing like nothing else.
March 27, 2018
3.5 stars
What a throwback to my childhood. The scene where Shade sacrificed himself for Griffin made me cry as a kid, and has stuck with me since I read it for the first time. This time, I wasn't as taken with it, perhaps because I binged the first two and was reaching a bit of Silverwing fatigue. Goth as an antagonist seemed tired and overdone; and I didn't particularly like the pacing either. I still think the first book is the strongest, but this one will always have a soft spot in my heart as the first book to make me cry.
What a throwback to my childhood. The scene where Shade sacrificed himself for Griffin made me cry as a kid, and has stuck with me since I read it for the first time. This time, I wasn't as taken with it, perhaps because I binged the first two and was reaching a bit of Silverwing fatigue. Goth as an antagonist seemed tired and overdone; and I didn't particularly like the pacing either. I still think the first book is the strongest, but this one will always have a soft spot in my heart as the first book to make me cry.
July 28, 2020
Very good
This review is for the entire trilogy. At first, I wasn't very impressed. It seemed a bit boring at times, and the writing seemed forced. But, as I came to know the characters and to care about them, it became more intriguing and I couldn't stop reading. The descriptions got better, more intense, more visible, and the story came alive in my mind's eye. Perhaps the writer got better at his craft, or more inspired, but gets better and better. Funny, exciting, life-affirming, absorbing and uplifting, I highly recommend the Silverwing Trilogy.
This review is for the entire trilogy. At first, I wasn't very impressed. It seemed a bit boring at times, and the writing seemed forced. But, as I came to know the characters and to care about them, it became more intriguing and I couldn't stop reading. The descriptions got better, more intense, more visible, and the story came alive in my mind's eye. Perhaps the writer got better at his craft, or more inspired, but gets better and better. Funny, exciting, life-affirming, absorbing and uplifting, I highly recommend the Silverwing Trilogy.
January 1, 2018
I have enjoyed each book of this series. Though Firewing takes place mainly in the underworld, it is rich in imagination and characterization. Even the evil Zotz has a humane side. Throughout the underworld nothing is ever what it seems to be which is too much like life. I think my favorite thing about Kenneth Oppel’s works is how he can make the most unnatural characters and events seem so natural.
June 9, 2021
I remember this book traumatizing me as I read it in bed staying up late to finish it. I loved the Silverwing series and was excited to where it would pick up with the son. Well, it was a little bit slow paced then BAM awful upsetting ending I won't spoil but ruined my night and I couldn't go to sleep because of how upset I was. Anyway thanks for coming to my TED talk.
March 28, 2025
This book was amazing OMG IT WAS AMAZING!!!!! The ending. OMG I did not see that coming. LOVE GRIFFIN (Shade son) it was a 5/5 for sure all love the book series too.🦇💗🥹 AND ONE MORE THING GOTH IS STILL THE WORST CHARACTER EVER IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!
July 29, 2018
I cried
April 24, 2022
Then the bats go to hell and fight bat satan and shit.
January 7, 2023
I did not like the ending. I felt like it was a little stupid. Goth is definitely a Karen. I have to admit it was cool to see Frieda again.
June 3, 2025
So Firewing is a weird one. It’s the third book in the Silverwing trilogy, and while it definitely wraps things up, it also takes a hard turn into darker, heavier territory. If you’re expecting another light animal adventure like the first two, brace yourself; this one dives straight into the bat version of the afterlife, with death, ghosts, and some seriously emotional stuff.
The story follows Griffin, Shade’s son, who accidentally causes a friend’s death and ends up falling into the Underworld. Shade, now a father, jumps in after him, trying to save him before it’s too late. Meanwhile, their old enemy Goth (yes, the evil cannibal bat) is somehow still around as a creepy ghost villain. It’s intense.
There’s a lot to like here. The themes—guilt, sacrifice, belief, fatherhood—are handled in a surprisingly thoughtful way for a middle grade book. Shade’s journey as a father is pretty touching, and Griffin’s struggle to feel worthy of him adds a lot of emotional weight. Oppel doesn’t talk down to kids, which I respect.
But I’ll be honest: the book also gets a bit messy. The Underworld setting, while creative, isn’t the easiest place to spend a whole book. It can feel a little gloomy and repetitive after a while. Also, the story jumps between characters a lot—Shade, Griffin, and Goth—and it’s not always clear whose head we’re in at first. I had to backtrack a few times to figure it out.
I also kind of missed Marina, who was a big deal in the first two books but barely gets a role here. And while the ending hits hard emotionally, I’m still not totally sure how I feel about it. Shade’s final act is powerful, but man, it’s dark. Might be a bit much for younger readers.
Still, there’s no denying that Oppel went for something big here. Firewing isn’t perfect, but it sticks with you. If you’ve read the first two books, I’d say it’s definitely worth reading; just be prepared for something deeper and heavier than you might expect.
The story follows Griffin, Shade’s son, who accidentally causes a friend’s death and ends up falling into the Underworld. Shade, now a father, jumps in after him, trying to save him before it’s too late. Meanwhile, their old enemy Goth (yes, the evil cannibal bat) is somehow still around as a creepy ghost villain. It’s intense.
There’s a lot to like here. The themes—guilt, sacrifice, belief, fatherhood—are handled in a surprisingly thoughtful way for a middle grade book. Shade’s journey as a father is pretty touching, and Griffin’s struggle to feel worthy of him adds a lot of emotional weight. Oppel doesn’t talk down to kids, which I respect.
But I’ll be honest: the book also gets a bit messy. The Underworld setting, while creative, isn’t the easiest place to spend a whole book. It can feel a little gloomy and repetitive after a while. Also, the story jumps between characters a lot—Shade, Griffin, and Goth—and it’s not always clear whose head we’re in at first. I had to backtrack a few times to figure it out.
I also kind of missed Marina, who was a big deal in the first two books but barely gets a role here. And while the ending hits hard emotionally, I’m still not totally sure how I feel about it. Shade’s final act is powerful, but man, it’s dark. Might be a bit much for younger readers.
Still, there’s no denying that Oppel went for something big here. Firewing isn’t perfect, but it sticks with you. If you’ve read the first two books, I’d say it’s definitely worth reading; just be prepared for something deeper and heavier than you might expect.
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