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Story Thieves #5
Worlds Apart
Owen and Bethany try to find their way back to each other after the fictional and nonfictional worlds are torn apart in this fifth and final book in the New York Times bestselling series, Story Thieves, from the author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy.
Bethany and Owen have failed. The villain they have come to know as Nobody has ripped asunder the fictional and nonfictional worlds, destroying their connection. Bethany has been split in two, with her fictional and nonfictional selves living in the separate realms.
But weirdly, no one seems to mind. Owen—and every other nonfictional person—have lost their imaginations, so they can’t picture their lives any differently. Then Owen gets trapped in a dark, dystopian reality five years in the future, where nothing is needed more desperately than the power to imagine.
Fictional Bethany is thrilled to be training with her father as his new sidekick, Twilight Girl—until she realizes that the fictional reality will fade away completely without the nonfictional world to hold it together.
In this final installment of the genre-bending Story Thieves series, Owen and Bethany will be forced to risk everything to defeat Nobody and save multiple realities.
Bethany and Owen have failed. The villain they have come to know as Nobody has ripped asunder the fictional and nonfictional worlds, destroying their connection. Bethany has been split in two, with her fictional and nonfictional selves living in the separate realms.
But weirdly, no one seems to mind. Owen—and every other nonfictional person—have lost their imaginations, so they can’t picture their lives any differently. Then Owen gets trapped in a dark, dystopian reality five years in the future, where nothing is needed more desperately than the power to imagine.
Fictional Bethany is thrilled to be training with her father as his new sidekick, Twilight Girl—until she realizes that the fictional reality will fade away completely without the nonfictional world to hold it together.
In this final installment of the genre-bending Story Thieves series, Owen and Bethany will be forced to risk everything to defeat Nobody and save multiple realities.
497 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2018
164 people are currently reading
1766 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
December 24, 2022
finishing a series, you know what that means
rating the series:
4.75 Golden Stars
awww, this cute fun unique series is over, 2 years, great times. thank you for making me happy in this troubled times. (I even read the Acknowledgment! again! so funny!)
I loved how each book had a different theme inside the main plot of the story; the series is fantasy Middle Grade of course, but in the subgenre, each book had a different subplot.
you see?
1) Story Thieves: ★★★★(★)/5 (more explaining about the series & concept of the series, you can start there-Fantasy themed)
2) The Stolen Chapters: ★★★★(★)/5 (Mystery)
3) Secret Origins: ★★★★(★)/5 (superhero theme)
4) Pick the Plot: ★★★★★/5 (interactive sci-fi theme)
5) Worlds Apart: ★★★★★/5 (the End- more author-path oriented! Hah! you don't get it until you read it!)
4.5 Golden Stars
(another 5 stars, I feel so blessed!)
I loved seeing everyone in this last book; a final reunion to beat the Nobody. after what he'd done in the last book, his job isn't done. but first, we should deal with the consequences from last book & make it right, some misfortunes in between (which I loved, so fun!) & then the big boss level.
the end reminded me of The Keys to the Kingdom a little; but better, more interesting concept (sldo very relatable for me!) & characters, better series in general
-
Plot: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★(★)/5
Writing style: ★★★★/5
World Building: ★★★★/5
Concept: ★★★★★/5
rating the series:
4.75 Golden Stars
awww, this cute fun unique series is over, 2 years, great times. thank you for making me happy in this troubled times. (I even read the Acknowledgment! again! so funny!)
I loved how each book had a different theme inside the main plot of the story; the series is fantasy Middle Grade of course, but in the subgenre, each book had a different subplot.
you see?
1) Story Thieves: ★★★★(★)/5 (more explaining about the series & concept of the series, you can start there-Fantasy themed)
2) The Stolen Chapters: ★★★★(★)/5 (Mystery)
3) Secret Origins: ★★★★(★)/5 (superhero theme)
4) Pick the Plot: ★★★★★/5 (interactive sci-fi theme)
5) Worlds Apart: ★★★★★/5 (the End- more author-path oriented! Hah! you don't get it until you read it!)
4.5 Golden Stars
(another 5 stars, I feel so blessed!)
I loved seeing everyone in this last book; a final reunion to beat the Nobody. after what he'd done in the last book, his job isn't done. but first, we should deal with the consequences from last book & make it right, some misfortunes in between (which I loved, so fun!) & then the big boss level.
the end reminded me of The Keys to the Kingdom a little; but better, more interesting concept (sldo very relatable for me!) & characters, better series in general
-
Plot: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★(★)/5
Writing style: ★★★★/5
World Building: ★★★★/5
Concept: ★★★★★/5
April 8, 2018
With the fictional and non-fictional worlds now separate, Owen finds he has lost his imagination, not that he can imagine how that would be a problem. However, when Kara shows up and takes him 5 years into the future, he sees how things have devolved. Meanwhile, Bethany’s fictional half is enjoying her new life until her father is shot by a mysterious ray gun. What is Nobody’s plan doing? Can Owen and Bethany stop him?
If this isn’t making sense to you, don’t jump in here. This is the final book in the series, and it builds on everything that came before it. However, fans who have read the previous four books in the series will be delighted. We get another wild, fast paced ride. Almost all the characters we’ve met along the way are back for this book as well, and I loved seeing them all again. The climax is wonderful and wraps up the series well. Along with the fun and some meta laughs, we get some interesting thoughts on the importance of both imagination and reality.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
If this isn’t making sense to you, don’t jump in here. This is the final book in the series, and it builds on everything that came before it. However, fans who have read the previous four books in the series will be delighted. We get another wild, fast paced ride. Almost all the characters we’ve met along the way are back for this book as well, and I loved seeing them all again. The climax is wonderful and wraps up the series well. Along with the fun and some meta laughs, we get some interesting thoughts on the importance of both imagination and reality.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
June 3, 2025
"'The nonfictional world is one where things make sense, and our children get to grow up safe from impossible things and ideas.... But our world is now threatened by one of the worst evils of our time: the fictional.'" A dictatorial future marked by the destruction of imagination, creativity, and books — "Now you have no imagination, no creativity, no imagination. And what are you without those things? Ordinary, yes. But are you yourself?" Can Owen and his friends preserve the fictional world and alter his future from such devastation, or will both fictional and nonfictional realms fall to a powerful villain?
✏️ Review ✏️
It's over! Wow!! *sighs* I'm still trying to absorb all the crazy, insane possibilities of that ending. 🙃 Like, so much happened in the last 200 or so pages (even to the very "Acknowledgements" section) that it feels a bit overwhelming. At least I can say that, overall, Worlds Apart satisfyingly wraps up the Story Thieves series. There's always room for readers' imaginations to kick in for some minor unfinished aspects but nothing that majorly impairs the series' finale.
At this point in the series, the characters have become quite familiar. No problem connecting with them and having fun traveling with them through this last book. I loved all the OG characters — Owen, Bethany, Kiel, and Charm (although Charm could be annoying at times) — and each one's role in this story. They make such an interesting and complimentary team with all their quirks, personalities, ambitions, strengths, and weaknesses. Ok, yeah, sometimes these characters can seem just a bit stupid at times in their decisions; but this really bugged me only once or twice. And the newer minor characters added more interesting dimension as well. Character development across the entire series might not be the strongest, but for an action-oriented adventure such as the Story Thieves series, I think the amount of character development is sufficient.
Utilizing a dual-POV narrative, the plot of Worlds Apart is pretty much one long sequence of nonstop action. The dual-POV can feel a bit jarring at times because of the abrupt switching, but that did kind of give the delivery a more rushed, realistic feel to it. It definitely kept my attention the entire time. Although I did find that the ending seemed somewhat unnecessarily dragged out, the conclusion is very satisfyingly presented (remember those "Acknowledgements" pages I mentioned??? hint, hint 😄). A very unusual ending for sure....
In conclusion: For me personally, some of the magical elements weren't my style. But considering my overall thoughts, I really liked this series (and am so glad I saw the first three books at the thrift store and decided to buy them — they were only $0.10 each 😊). It was a fun, creative, intriguing adventure — everything we booklovers have always dreamed about: having the ability to enter the fictional realm and travel inside of books, meeting all your favorite characters, escaping to that ultimate fictional kingdom, becoming the hero of that epic fantasy series you just read. The possibilities seem endless.... The Story Thieves series kinda has it all.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The familiarity of the characters at this point in the series.
• The action-packed plot — really keeps this story moving at a fast pace.
• The unusual construction of the ending.
• The book-themed vibes.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The fact that the dual-POV can be a bit jarring.
• A few of the magical elements — not my style.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes!*
— To whom? To those who have read books one, two, three, and four of the Story Thieves series.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
• (I don't normally mention this here, but because Worlds Apart is marketed to middle grade readers, I think it requires mentioning: There are several times throughout this book that characters are described as "cursing," "swearing," or using "choice words" [no specific words are ever used, tho].)
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Several scenes of mild action-adventure violence, including brief sequences of peril.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Magic content: Some magic content makes an appearance in Worlds Apart: (1) two of the MCs are mentioned as working together on an experiment to create a "miniature galaxy"; one of the characters suggested "'that the new species that show[s] up worship [them]'"; (2) there are a few times where the characters are described (some in more detail than others) as "murmuring" and casting spells — different spells produce different results; (3) some various other powers are mentioned — but these aren't necessarily magical in nature. (See my reviews' Random Comments section for each book of the Story Thieves series for a book-specific breakdown of that book's magic content.)
• Series overview: Below I will list the books of the Story Thieves series in sequential order followed by my star rating.
— Story Thieves (Book 1) ~ 2.5 ⭐
— The Stolen Chapters (Book 2) ~ 4.5 ⭐
— Secret Origins (Book 3) ~ 3 ⭐
— Pick the Plot (Book 4) ~ 3.5 ⭐
— Worlds Apart (Book 5) ~ 4 ⭐
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
✏️ Review ✏️
It's over! Wow!! *sighs* I'm still trying to absorb all the crazy, insane possibilities of that ending. 🙃 Like, so much happened in the last 200 or so pages (even to the very "Acknowledgements" section) that it feels a bit overwhelming. At least I can say that, overall, Worlds Apart satisfyingly wraps up the Story Thieves series. There's always room for readers' imaginations to kick in for some minor unfinished aspects but nothing that majorly impairs the series' finale.
At this point in the series, the characters have become quite familiar. No problem connecting with them and having fun traveling with them through this last book. I loved all the OG characters — Owen, Bethany, Kiel, and Charm (although Charm could be annoying at times) — and each one's role in this story. They make such an interesting and complimentary team with all their quirks, personalities, ambitions, strengths, and weaknesses. Ok, yeah, sometimes these characters can seem just a bit stupid at times in their decisions; but this really bugged me only once or twice. And the newer minor characters added more interesting dimension as well. Character development across the entire series might not be the strongest, but for an action-oriented adventure such as the Story Thieves series, I think the amount of character development is sufficient.
Utilizing a dual-POV narrative, the plot of Worlds Apart is pretty much one long sequence of nonstop action. The dual-POV can feel a bit jarring at times because of the abrupt switching, but that did kind of give the delivery a more rushed, realistic feel to it. It definitely kept my attention the entire time. Although I did find that the ending seemed somewhat unnecessarily dragged out, the conclusion is very satisfyingly presented (remember those "Acknowledgements" pages I mentioned??? hint, hint 😄). A very unusual ending for sure....
In conclusion: For me personally, some of the magical elements weren't my style. But considering my overall thoughts, I really liked this series (and am so glad I saw the first three books at the thrift store and decided to buy them — they were only $0.10 each 😊). It was a fun, creative, intriguing adventure — everything we booklovers have always dreamed about: having the ability to enter the fictional realm and travel inside of books, meeting all your favorite characters, escaping to that ultimate fictional kingdom, becoming the hero of that epic fantasy series you just read. The possibilities seem endless.... The Story Thieves series kinda has it all.
"'And now it appears, we have finally arrived at the end of your story.... Let's try to make it a good one, shall we?'"
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The familiarity of the characters at this point in the series.
• The action-packed plot — really keeps this story moving at a fast pace.
• The unusual construction of the ending.
• The book-themed vibes.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The fact that the dual-POV can be a bit jarring.
• A few of the magical elements — not my style.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes!*
— To whom? To those who have read books one, two, three, and four of the Story Thieves series.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
• (I don't normally mention this here, but because Worlds Apart is marketed to middle grade readers, I think it requires mentioning: There are several times throughout this book that characters are described as "cursing," "swearing," or using "choice words" [no specific words are ever used, tho].)
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Several scenes of mild action-adventure violence, including brief sequences of peril.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Magic content: Some magic content makes an appearance in Worlds Apart: (1) two of the MCs are mentioned as working together on an experiment to create a "miniature galaxy"; one of the characters suggested "'that the new species that show[s] up worship [them]'"; (2) there are a few times where the characters are described (some in more detail than others) as "murmuring" and casting spells — different spells produce different results; (3) some various other powers are mentioned — but these aren't necessarily magical in nature. (See my reviews' Random Comments section for each book of the Story Thieves series for a book-specific breakdown of that book's magic content.)
• Series overview: Below I will list the books of the Story Thieves series in sequential order followed by my star rating.
— Story Thieves (Book 1) ~ 2.5 ⭐
— The Stolen Chapters (Book 2) ~ 4.5 ⭐
— Secret Origins (Book 3) ~ 3 ⭐
— Pick the Plot (Book 4) ~ 3.5 ⭐
— Worlds Apart (Book 5) ~ 4 ⭐
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
June 28, 2018
KIELANY!
March 4, 2019
Excuse me for a sec . . . *weak smile* *cough* *cough*
*dances around the room screaming my head off*
AND THAT JUST HAPPENED, AND I AM SO HAPPY!!
It might have also been confusing . . . slightly . . . BUT IT MADE SENSE!! AND - AND - AND . . .
*coughs* *glares* Excuse me, I have been waiting FIVE BOOKS for this villain to be destroyed. I deserve some time of celebration.
Anyways, like I was saying . . . I AM SO HAPPY!! AND THAT ENDING WAS PERFECT!! AND IT WAS SO BLASTED CONFUSING!!
I recommend to ~ All who love sic fiction clashed with fantasy clashed with reality. Or, any one who has read the first four books, because it can get confusing around here. *gasp*
I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT MY TORTURE IS OVER! 0.0
*dances around the room screaming my head off*
AND THAT JUST HAPPENED, AND I AM SO HAPPY!!
It might have also been confusing . . . slightly . . . BUT IT MADE SENSE!! AND - AND - AND . . .
*coughs* *glares* Excuse me, I have been waiting FIVE BOOKS for this villain to be destroyed. I deserve some time of celebration.
Anyways, like I was saying . . . I AM SO HAPPY!! AND THAT ENDING WAS PERFECT!! AND IT WAS SO BLASTED CONFUSING!!
I recommend to ~ All who love sic fiction clashed with fantasy clashed with reality. Or, any one who has read the first four books, because it can get confusing around here. *gasp*
I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT MY TORTURE IS OVER! 0.0
March 22, 2018
mind blown
April 1, 2018
I loved this book so much! It was a great ending to one of my favorite series. I'm so happy all of my favorites came back (especially Kiel). It was so much fun to read and I just loved every second.
January 5, 2019
AT LONG LAST!!
THE BOOK CAME AT THE LIBRARY.
LET'S REVIEW IT!
CONS OF WORLDS APART
Pfffffft cons? Such a word doesn't EXIST for this book.
PROS OF WORLDS APART
Where do I begin?
I love how everything from previous stories tied into this final book.
After the end of book 4,
The acknowledgments were amazing, as always!
Honestly, when I was reading book 2, I kept thinking that these would be the funnest books to write EVER. And now I agree with that thought even more.
I love how the covers on the first and last (this one) book both had dragons on their covers!
And now, some quotes! (please don't read them if you haven't read the book; they're spoilery)
All of those made me squeal and flail so much. ESPECIALLY the first and second ones. And the third one.
OVERALL
You know when people ask bookworms (bookwyrms? this is the best day of my life! we all are book DRAGONS and wyrms are DRAGONS so IT'S PERFECT) what their favorite book is, and you're just like... um, random person, I cannot just choose ONE! You then proceed to mention your top 20 or so favorite book series. And, in fact, I was talking to someone about that just over a week ago. But now??
Guys, I have a top favorite book series.
THIS IS CRAZY.
Let us name some reasons:
-
-Book 3 was done so well I was STRESSING OUT about book 4!
-Everything ties in so nicely throughout the entire series! (see above in the pros section)
-The covers are glorious; I want the person who drew them to do mine.
-*stares at the cover for a minute instead of writing this review* Point made.
-It sucked me in so fast! As soon as book 2 started, I was a gonner. The slowest book for me was book 3, but that was only because I had to get past the beginning. But otherwise, I read them all SUPER fast.
-OWEEEEEEEEEEN (need I say more?)
Okay, so this is basically my longest 'overall' section ever... but I really could rave about this book for a long time!! James Riley, you are a genius, and now have an absolutely devoted fan.
Time to go read Half Upon a Time.
Or draw some fanart.
THE BOOK CAME AT THE LIBRARY.
LET'S REVIEW IT!
CONS OF WORLDS APART
Pfffffft cons? Such a word doesn't EXIST for this book.
PROS OF WORLDS APART
Where do I begin?
I love how everything from previous stories tied into this final book.
After the end of book 4,
The acknowledgments were amazing, as always!
Honestly, when I was reading book 2, I kept thinking that these would be the funnest books to write EVER. And now I agree with that thought even more.
I love how the covers on the first and last (this one) book both had dragons on their covers!
And now, some quotes! (please don't read them if you haven't read the book; they're spoilery)
"If you're going to challenge me," Owen said, Charm's sword arm in his hand, "then I guess I'm going to have to challenge you. Now, like my friend said, come at me"
"But you didn't leave me," she whispered, staring at him. "Everyone leaves me, but not you. I don't... I don't know what to say to that."
"You're going to get us both in trouble, you know," Kiel Gnomefoot said, stepping out of the shadows. "I want your dad to like me!"
She rolled her eyes. "You think I'd forget what you looked like five years ago? Even an alternate evil twin version?" He started to blush, which she loved.
Charm sighed. "I really hate Orion, and we'll never get Kara without him following her like some puppy. Do we really need her help?"
All of those made me squeal and flail so much. ESPECIALLY the first and second ones. And the third one.
OVERALL
You know when people ask bookworms (bookwyrms? this is the best day of my life! we all are book DRAGONS and wyrms are DRAGONS so IT'S PERFECT) what their favorite book is, and you're just like... um, random person, I cannot just choose ONE! You then proceed to mention your top 20 or so favorite book series. And, in fact, I was talking to someone about that just over a week ago. But now??
Guys, I have a top favorite book series.
THIS IS CRAZY.
Let us name some reasons:
-
-Book 3 was done so well I was STRESSING OUT about book 4!
-Everything ties in so nicely throughout the entire series! (see above in the pros section)
-The covers are glorious; I want the person who drew them to do mine.
-*stares at the cover for a minute instead of writing this review* Point made.
-It sucked me in so fast! As soon as book 2 started, I was a gonner. The slowest book for me was book 3, but that was only because I had to get past the beginning. But otherwise, I read them all SUPER fast.
-OWEEEEEEEEEEN (need I say more?)
Okay, so this is basically my longest 'overall' section ever... but I really could rave about this book for a long time!! James Riley, you are a genius, and now have an absolutely devoted fan.
Time to go read Half Upon a Time.
Or draw some fanart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2018
Riley, James Worlds Apart (Story Thieves #5), 479 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2018. $18. Content: PG (some fighting)
Nobody has torn the fictional and non-fictional worlds apart, leaving Owen and all other nonfictionals without any imagination, a splitting Bethany into her two selves. Fictional Bethany is reveling in being free from nonfictional Bethany’s caution, but she is losing her battle against nobody’s machinations. Nobody has a sinister plan to take control of both worlds once and forever. Owen and Bethany will need every one of their friends and foes to defeat the master plot and save both worlds.
Personally, I lost interest after book three as the plots became cluttered with characters and ever convoluted. Kids, of course, will want to read to the end. Heavy on exciting action, but short on character development.
EL, MS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Nobody has torn the fictional and non-fictional worlds apart, leaving Owen and all other nonfictionals without any imagination, a splitting Bethany into her two selves. Fictional Bethany is reveling in being free from nonfictional Bethany’s caution, but she is losing her battle against nobody’s machinations. Nobody has a sinister plan to take control of both worlds once and forever. Owen and Bethany will need every one of their friends and foes to defeat the master plot and save both worlds.
Personally, I lost interest after book three as the plots became cluttered with characters and ever convoluted. Kids, of course, will want to read to the end. Heavy on exciting action, but short on character development.
EL, MS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
August 24, 2025
wow wow wow what a great way to end the series
June 13, 2018
This book was SO GOOD!!!!!! I could not put it down and finished it in two days! It is the best possible ending for a series and I highly reccomend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
CHOWEN FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this book is DEFINITELY my fav of the series....
Action packed, funny, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I"M ALSO HAPPY KARA AND CHARM COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND CHARM FINDS OUT ITS OWEN AND SHE CRIES WHEN HE ALMOST DIES AND AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
CHOWEN FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this book is DEFINITELY my fav of the series....
Action packed, funny, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I"M ALSO HAPPY KARA AND CHARM COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND CHARM FINDS OUT ITS OWEN AND SHE CRIES WHEN HE ALMOST DIES AND AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2018
This series was seriously one of the best ever! It’s just intriguing and action packed with a bit of humor here and there. Not only that but the emotions brought on by the characters are really strong (particularly when they get angry) and you feel as if you are the character while you follow their journey throughout the fictional and non-fictional worlds. Whenever the main characters (Owen, Bethany, Kiel, Kara, Charm..) come busting in ready to bust some villains I seriously get a boost of adrenaline. With the challenge to bring the fictional and non-fictional world back together their story starts out with the challenges of non-fictionals not having their imaginations to trying to put Bethany’s non-fictional and fictional selves together to finally defeating Nobody and saving the fictional world. There are too many problems to count. Another thing I love about this book in particular is the impressions the characters who show up less often leave. It’s the characters you don’t interact with as much (Gwen) who helps Bethany get through many challenges. It’s also crazy how the author incorporated himself in the story in such an impeccable manner- which I have never encountered before- that makes you question who wrote this book ,if you know what I mean, as well as gives it a really nice touch. I promise you won’t be able to put it down! A great end to this series and one you won’t be able to forget!
P.S. If you didn’t understand half the things I just said you should just go read it for yourself and my personal favorite was Story Thieves Pick The Plot.
P.S. If you didn’t understand half the things I just said you should just go read it for yourself and my personal favorite was Story Thieves Pick The Plot.
May 20, 2020
OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE JUST READ!! AGAIN, THIS BOOK BLEW MY MIND!! FANTASTIC, EPIC, UNREAL!! I LOVE IT SOOO MUCH
the previous book ended with OF COURSE a cliffhanger, now bethany is split into two, fictional and non fictional. The book starts with owen back in the nonfictional world and out of London and nonfictional Bethany. Bathany is now her boring rule following version and doesn't want any thing to do with adventure, a box arives with a book but they don't open it. The nonfictional and fictional world is also separated by Nobody. The nonfictional people have lost the ability of imagination, so therefor they can't write or even think about stories. Al of a sudden Kara appears and warns Owen that he wil DIE in the future, she takes him with her to future owen who tells him that his robot heart will stop due using too much of his speed power. Older owen also tells that owen is the only one who can defeat Nobody for thousands of owens has tried but all have failed. He will face Nobody in his own written story (storybook ing) only he will first lose all his friends...
Meanwhile fictional bethany is now Twilight girl training with her father in the comic book world Jupiter city. She fights villains until one villain changes his appears in the weirdest ways. He has a weapon (ray gun) that has the power of possibilities. He shoots Doc Twilight and he changes again in the Dark. She locks him and Kid up in a frozen in time chamber.
Men carry boxes with the same ray guns in them, but who put them there? The man jumps in the portal with beth following. They land in Quanterium!!! The city is destroyed and the buildings full of possibilities. AND KIEL IS BACK!! he was kidnapped by Nobody. They fly in charm's spaceship and find videotapes of her. SHE MADE THE RAY GUNS!! to use agains Nobody, then nobody showed up and stole the weapons. He destroyed Quanterium and the Magister TRAPPED HER AND ALL PEOPLE INTO BOOKS !!!. Kiel and Beth go to the magister's tower in Beth's world. Through the mirror portal. Bethany also discovers that she can rewrite herself but therefor slowly disappears...
Owen visited his older self but got taken away and tested if he is fictional by the PPFIA. They let everybodthink that the fictional are the enemy for a group had invaded the nonfictional world. DR. VERITY APPEARS AND DOES HIS CREEPY SURGERY ON HIM!! he discovers he isn't kiel and he fixes his heart. Verity still wants his revenge on magic and the magister and to destroy Nobody himself. HE BRAINWASHED ALL THE QUANTERIUM PEOPLE SO THEY WERE THR GROUP WHO INVADED!!! (Black helmets)he made a time bracelet. Owen locks him the freezing time chamber meant for him. CHARM SAVED HIM from the science police!! He at last tells him that he pretended to be Kiel. She is not amused
Kiel en beth meet the magister who rewrote himself and has no chamged for the better. His new apprentice is FOWEN!!! he was the same man who brought the ray guns in disguise And brought thr book with instructions in it to the nonfictional world. They never opened it. He also did set Kiel free!! He tells beth that she and her nonfictional self must be one, cause she is her anchor or else she disappears. Fowen also wants to be the hero who destrlys Nobody.
Next, owen tries to convice nonfictional beth to come be one again with the other beth, she declines and destroys with a hammer THE MIRROR PORTAL!! still owen goes through with beth. Nobody appears again and verity shoots him with the gun but it doesn't work and he shoots verity, now he is 'decent' the new verity tells them he understands the real plan
Nobody wants to EREASE THE FICTIONAL WORLD by shooting possibilities and to MAKE A NEW FICTIONAL WORLD not controled by anything - join the club we are all created BY PARENTS!!
He kipnapped fictional beth who is almost entirely gone. He traps her in a cylinder so she can't disappear.
Owen opens the page and throws everyone in his story. He screams CHAPTER so they skip faster through the book. They fight a scribble monster, bookdragons. Where he each loses a friend. Owen at last faces Nobody who also holds Doc and non fictional beth. He first meets FOWEN!! he decieves him to switch places (so fowen will have speed power) only to die because his robot hears stops. Owen however saved him and throws him TO THE TIME PRISON!!! now Nobody is in the throonroom. Owen shoots his possibility gun to take away Mr Black who is his anchor (verity's idea) but he reforms again for he isn't his only anchor JAMES RILEY HIMSELF IS TRAPPED IN HIM TOO!!! WHATTT!! He makes Beth's father DISAPPEAR!! AND now Nobody traps owen too!! AT LAST the 2 bethany become one. They fight by rewriting themselves and suddenly nobody grows multiple heads!! Because inside him, owen rewrites himself too IN NOBODY'S AUTHOR!! he uses his IMAGINATION for possibilities to rewrite Nobody and free mr black and james. Until he himself is disappearing too. His last shot is Nobody turns into Possibilities and they disappear!!! the nothingness wave is growing over the world. To save the fictional world bethany must rewrite herself into Possibilities for fear to disappear too... she soars up the wave and is gone... however her imagination in the form of her father convinces her to bring owen back and the make all fictional world and portals. To come back herself at last!!! Epiloque: bethany closes the book for she was reading it to gwen and had it published with help of riley in the nonfictional world. Her father and mother are together again and. She meets kiel who brought her her own wand kife's and spells fireworks!!
He brought her a new copy of kiel gnomenfood the source of magic to. Where owen and charm are. Charm sees Fowen in the crowed and Owen and Charm go after him to a new adventure!!
SOOO SAD THE SERIES IS FINISHED I CAN'T
the previous book ended with OF COURSE a cliffhanger, now bethany is split into two, fictional and non fictional. The book starts with owen back in the nonfictional world and out of London and nonfictional Bethany. Bathany is now her boring rule following version and doesn't want any thing to do with adventure, a box arives with a book but they don't open it. The nonfictional and fictional world is also separated by Nobody. The nonfictional people have lost the ability of imagination, so therefor they can't write or even think about stories. Al of a sudden Kara appears and warns Owen that he wil DIE in the future, she takes him with her to future owen who tells him that his robot heart will stop due using too much of his speed power. Older owen also tells that owen is the only one who can defeat Nobody for thousands of owens has tried but all have failed. He will face Nobody in his own written story (storybook ing) only he will first lose all his friends...
Meanwhile fictional bethany is now Twilight girl training with her father in the comic book world Jupiter city. She fights villains until one villain changes his appears in the weirdest ways. He has a weapon (ray gun) that has the power of possibilities. He shoots Doc Twilight and he changes again in the Dark. She locks him and Kid up in a frozen in time chamber.
Men carry boxes with the same ray guns in them, but who put them there? The man jumps in the portal with beth following. They land in Quanterium!!! The city is destroyed and the buildings full of possibilities. AND KIEL IS BACK!! he was kidnapped by Nobody. They fly in charm's spaceship and find videotapes of her. SHE MADE THE RAY GUNS!! to use agains Nobody, then nobody showed up and stole the weapons. He destroyed Quanterium and the Magister TRAPPED HER AND ALL PEOPLE INTO BOOKS !!!. Kiel and Beth go to the magister's tower in Beth's world. Through the mirror portal. Bethany also discovers that she can rewrite herself but therefor slowly disappears...
Owen visited his older self but got taken away and tested if he is fictional by the PPFIA. They let everybodthink that the fictional are the enemy for a group had invaded the nonfictional world. DR. VERITY APPEARS AND DOES HIS CREEPY SURGERY ON HIM!! he discovers he isn't kiel and he fixes his heart. Verity still wants his revenge on magic and the magister and to destroy Nobody himself. HE BRAINWASHED ALL THE QUANTERIUM PEOPLE SO THEY WERE THR GROUP WHO INVADED!!! (Black helmets)he made a time bracelet. Owen locks him the freezing time chamber meant for him. CHARM SAVED HIM from the science police!! He at last tells him that he pretended to be Kiel. She is not amused
Kiel en beth meet the magister who rewrote himself and has no chamged for the better. His new apprentice is FOWEN!!! he was the same man who brought the ray guns in disguise And brought thr book with instructions in it to the nonfictional world. They never opened it. He also did set Kiel free!! He tells beth that she and her nonfictional self must be one, cause she is her anchor or else she disappears. Fowen also wants to be the hero who destrlys Nobody.
Next, owen tries to convice nonfictional beth to come be one again with the other beth, she declines and destroys with a hammer THE MIRROR PORTAL!! still owen goes through with beth. Nobody appears again and verity shoots him with the gun but it doesn't work and he shoots verity, now he is 'decent' the new verity tells them he understands the real plan
Nobody wants to EREASE THE FICTIONAL WORLD by shooting possibilities and to MAKE A NEW FICTIONAL WORLD not controled by anything - join the club we are all created BY PARENTS!!
He kipnapped fictional beth who is almost entirely gone. He traps her in a cylinder so she can't disappear.
Owen opens the page and throws everyone in his story. He screams CHAPTER so they skip faster through the book. They fight a scribble monster, bookdragons. Where he each loses a friend. Owen at last faces Nobody who also holds Doc and non fictional beth. He first meets FOWEN!! he decieves him to switch places (so fowen will have speed power) only to die because his robot hears stops. Owen however saved him and throws him TO THE TIME PRISON!!! now Nobody is in the throonroom. Owen shoots his possibility gun to take away Mr Black who is his anchor (verity's idea) but he reforms again for he isn't his only anchor JAMES RILEY HIMSELF IS TRAPPED IN HIM TOO!!! WHATTT!! He makes Beth's father DISAPPEAR!! AND now Nobody traps owen too!! AT LAST the 2 bethany become one. They fight by rewriting themselves and suddenly nobody grows multiple heads!! Because inside him, owen rewrites himself too IN NOBODY'S AUTHOR!! he uses his IMAGINATION for possibilities to rewrite Nobody and free mr black and james. Until he himself is disappearing too. His last shot is Nobody turns into Possibilities and they disappear!!! the nothingness wave is growing over the world. To save the fictional world bethany must rewrite herself into Possibilities for fear to disappear too... she soars up the wave and is gone... however her imagination in the form of her father convinces her to bring owen back and the make all fictional world and portals. To come back herself at last!!! Epiloque: bethany closes the book for she was reading it to gwen and had it published with help of riley in the nonfictional world. Her father and mother are together again and. She meets kiel who brought her her own wand kife's and spells fireworks!!
He brought her a new copy of kiel gnomenfood the source of magic to. Where owen and charm are. Charm sees Fowen in the crowed and Owen and Charm go after him to a new adventure!!
SOOO SAD THE SERIES IS FINISHED I CAN'T
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2019
That was. Wild. I know I am repeating myself but I seriously loved this series. Each book was phenomenal!! Just total insanity trying to follow along with all the chaos. But just. So, so good!!!
Also, while reading (and absolutely enjoying) the acknowledgements section, I have to complain that book 4 had no acknowledgments and I really missed that!! I read it on my Kindle and am hoping maybe somehow a physical copy has the acknowledgements!
Also, while reading (and absolutely enjoying) the acknowledgements section, I have to complain that book 4 had no acknowledgments and I really missed that!! I read it on my Kindle and am hoping maybe somehow a physical copy has the acknowledgements!
January 20, 2025
bethany ate ngl but unfortunately she can't save the entire book. I wish kiel was in this more too
man oh man I can't say it enough I really hate owen. how is he this annoying for the whole series???
man oh man I can't say it enough I really hate owen. how is he this annoying for the whole series???
book-i-dnfed
March 24, 2020DNF, ill go back to it one day
March 28, 2025
A nice ending. Great to have Kiel back.
November 24, 2023
I loved this book its one of my favorite books I've read this year
September 22, 2024
A beautiful ending to this series that consumed my every waking moment. The general plot and idea of this series was intriguing, and definitely called out writers all around. Thanks, James Riley. (Or should it be Nobody?)
March 24, 2018
It was great!!!
Great
Great
GREAT!
Fsghbagagagsvvavava. Available again again wow was gas gas awww vs ava w wav a awesome. What www
Great
Great
GREAT!
Fsghbagagagsvvavava. Available again again wow was gas gas awww vs ava w wav a awesome. What www
July 4, 2019
As a whole, I really enjoyed this series. I will say that by the 5th book, things were getting complex and difficult to follow (time travel, portals, doppelgangers, multiverse, etc.), especially since it had been awhile since I read the first four. So I highly recommend reading them back to back. I do love how this final book tied in all the main characters we had interacted with through out the series. It definitely takes a good imagination to really experience this story.
June 18, 2025
The begining of this book was slow but it picked up speed just a few chapters in.
*deep exhale* I don't even know what to say, it just ended so well with everyone ending up with who they should! I am just gonna list (some) of my favorite scenes.
A) First off I love how Kara just shows up, says how Owen is gonna die, and then takes Owen five years into the future. That's true friendship right there.
B) PLOT TWIST! Owen and everyone have to go into Owen's book (the one he wrote in book 3) to defeat Nobody!
C) *does best to stop smiling and get serious*
D) Fowen shows up and ENDS a perfectly FINE character!? After the end of this book, I'm ready to go with Owen and hunt him down too....😈
E) I'm gonna be honest. Fictional Bethany was my least favorite character in this whole book. (her and Nobody)
F) In the ending (be still my heart) everyone gets picked off one by one. When Kiel left, he still had to be heroic and survive didn't he? When Charm's turn came I CRIED! I HATE FOWEN! And Kara, guess Owen didn't sacrifice himself this time.... *tears for all three of them*
Any way, all in all this was a SPECTACULAR ending to this EPIC series. I just wish there was more!😟😌Still, I feel content knowing everyone is happy now. Bethany with her dad, Owen with Charm, Charm with Owen, Kiel wanting to get on Bethany's dad's good side! *internal screams of joy*
(ALSO! )
*sigh of content as I glance at cover one last time, and slide it into place beside its other friends on my shelf* "I'll reread you again...." *looks out window and sees Owen and Bethany walking on the street, holding a book* "Soon." I finish.*Grins and sprints downstairs to the front door*
*deep exhale* I don't even know what to say, it just ended so well with everyone ending up with who they should! I am just gonna list (some) of my favorite scenes.
A) First off I love how Kara just shows up, says how Owen is gonna die, and then takes Owen five years into the future. That's true friendship right there.
B) PLOT TWIST! Owen and everyone have to go into Owen's book (the one he wrote in book 3) to defeat Nobody!
C) *does best to stop smiling and get serious*
D) Fowen shows up and ENDS a perfectly FINE character!? After the end of this book, I'm ready to go with Owen and hunt him down too....😈
E) I'm gonna be honest. Fictional Bethany was my least favorite character in this whole book. (her and Nobody)
F) In the ending (be still my heart) everyone gets picked off one by one. When Kiel left, he still had to be heroic and survive didn't he? When Charm's turn came I CRIED! I HATE FOWEN! And Kara, guess Owen didn't sacrifice himself this time.... *tears for all three of them*
Any way, all in all this was a SPECTACULAR ending to this EPIC series. I just wish there was more!😟😌Still, I feel content knowing everyone is happy now. Bethany with her dad, Owen with Charm, Charm with Owen, Kiel wanting to get on Bethany's dad's good side! *internal screams of joy*
(ALSO! )
*sigh of content as I glance at cover one last time, and slide it into place beside its other friends on my shelf* "I'll reread you again...." *looks out window and sees Owen and Bethany walking on the street, holding a book* "Soon." I finish.*Grins and sprints downstairs to the front door*
July 31, 2018
With Worlds Apart, Riley brings his Story Thieves series to an end. As expected, he takes the threads from the previous books and winds them back together into a single strand. Most of the characters from the previous books find their way into the story, and they interact in ways both expected and not. The book feels familiar in style and tone, but it isn't as compelling as the other books, which surprises me, since this is the culmination of the series, and the stakes are high.
At the end of Pick the Plot, the fictional and nonfictional worlds had been separated, and Worlds Apart shows what happens when they no longer interact. In the nonfictional world, imagination is stifled, and people are boring. When Owen finds himself drawn back into fictional events, everything starts to come together as he risks everything -- quite literally -- to deafeat Nobody and rejoin the two worlds.
The book brings the series to a satisfying close, but it wasn't the BOO-YAH ending I expected. It didn't help that Pick the Plot was creative and exciting, both in structure and story, and Worlds Apart seemed to plod along in parts. I found myself having to force myself to return to the book, when the previous book had been one I hadn't been able to put down.
Obviously, anyone who's come this far with the series will want to see how it concludes, and I can't say that I didn't like the book, but it wasn't as fun as the previous books in the series. I'd still recommend the series to younger readers, and to older readers who enjoy the cleverness of books like the Thursday Next series. It falters a bit near the end (which is exacerbated by the Return of the King syndrome, where we get two endings too many), but the rest of the journey is a lot of fun, and it would be a shame to pass up the whole thing for that reason alone.
At the end of Pick the Plot, the fictional and nonfictional worlds had been separated, and Worlds Apart shows what happens when they no longer interact. In the nonfictional world, imagination is stifled, and people are boring. When Owen finds himself drawn back into fictional events, everything starts to come together as he risks everything -- quite literally -- to deafeat Nobody and rejoin the two worlds.
The book brings the series to a satisfying close, but it wasn't the BOO-YAH ending I expected. It didn't help that Pick the Plot was creative and exciting, both in structure and story, and Worlds Apart seemed to plod along in parts. I found myself having to force myself to return to the book, when the previous book had been one I hadn't been able to put down.
Obviously, anyone who's come this far with the series will want to see how it concludes, and I can't say that I didn't like the book, but it wasn't as fun as the previous books in the series. I'd still recommend the series to younger readers, and to older readers who enjoy the cleverness of books like the Thursday Next series. It falters a bit near the end (which is exacerbated by the Return of the King syndrome, where we get two endings too many), but the rest of the journey is a lot of fun, and it would be a shame to pass up the whole thing for that reason alone.
May 1, 2020
Owen and nonfictional Bethany are safe in their real world while fictional Bethany fights crime with her father and Kid Twilight. Unfortunately, as their worlds begin to fall apart, they realize that only by finally stopping Nobody can they hope to save their lives - and the universe! Riley brings this epic, if not a tad bit meta, series to a heart stopping close that is jammed packed full of action and surprises. An entertaining and heartwarming read that is sure to please fans of all ages!
June 20, 2018
Book five of the Story Thieves series does not disappoint! James Riley continues with this meta examination of stories from both inside and outside, all wrapped in a non-stop adventure that will keep readers engaged. Includes some important commentaries on our times as well. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up. Must read the series in order.
January 3, 2022
It was a good book and I liked the ending to. It took a long time because it doesn't want you to keep pn reading like in the middle of the book. But I liked it!
May 23, 2019
Christopher Barney Yellow 3 05.28.2019
After 4 books, James Riley is going to end the fantasy and action-packed series with a bang, in the 5th and final Story Thieves book, Worlds Apart.
After Owen has escaped the Pick The Plot book that Nobody put him into, things have gone TERRIBLY wrong. Bethany’s power to jump into books has now been taken away. Bethany has been split into two. Her fictional self, and her non-fictional self. They are two different people, in two separate realities, with two separate personalities and two separate adventures. This is all because of Nobody, who ripped the worlds apart. And as the title says, Nobody really did rip the worlds apart.
Now, Owen and Bethany have decided to give up and it may be better this way. It’s over. But, something is still stirring between the two realms. It seems that Owen has lost his imagination along with every other person in the nonfictional realm. The doctor explains to Owen and his mother that this can happen, but he’s not sure why it’s happening to everyone.
Then, one day, Kara somehow pops into the non-fictional world and drags Owen into the same world he’s always lived in, but 5 years in the future. The entire town hates books and burns them. Owen’s mom’s library is destroyed. Everything is just so...different. Kara didn’t mean to bring him here, but they are trapped here now.
Back in the regular non-fictional world, Bethany is unable to figure what just happened to Owen. And then, Kiel and Charm appear. Her old friends that she thought were gone. What is happening? Bethany knows something is wrong, and Owen and her will have to stop it.
In the fictional world, fictional Bethany is fighting crime as Twilight Girl, her father’s new sidekick. Together, they fight with Twilight Boy, to stop crime in Jupiter City. But when Bethany realizes that something is going wrong in the non-fictional world, she knows she has to do something. After destroying a villain, another one pops up and teleports to the non-fictional world. Fictional Bethany grabs on to this villain and is teleported to the non-fictional world.
After a long adventure, the two Bethanys are finally together and are ready to fight Nobody with their team: Owen, Kiel, Charm, Kara and themselves. Something needs to anchor down both Bethany’s before both of them are destroyed forever and the worlds will never join back together. Both Bethany’s need to bring the world’s back together before both realm fade forever.
Owen and his friends go into a book that he wrote himself to battle Nobody. And when a big battle like this happens, everything goes down-hill. Ah! Kara is getting sucked into the endless wall of white, which will make everything it touches disappear forever. Woah! Kiel is about to fall into a big bowl of soup. Ouch! Charm has been shot and has disappeared by a ray gun. Oh, boy-Owen meets someone he never expected to see in a place like this-Fowen, Owen’s evil fictional twin. And of course, both Bethany’s are captured and slowly disappearing.
Does this mean the end of the worlds? Does this mean Nobody has won? Does this mean Fowen will replace Owen? It’s all about to end now, and the worlds are bound to always be apart.
Right off the bat, this book truly was one of the best books I’ve ever read. The momentum of the story kept a steady pace, and if not that, it kept rising, wanting to make the readers keep reading. The book was very suspenseful and it really made me not want to stop reading. When I had to go out somewhere, I didn’t want to stop reading. I just loved all the disbelief in the book and I couldn’t stop reading! So, that’s why I brought it in the car with me… ;)
After reading an entire series and you’ve finally reached the final book, you really get connected to the characters. It was amazing to see how the story first started and how Riley was able to keep the adventure going, even when you thought it was over.
The characters were super well described, and it really helped me to picture them in my mind. A lot of action took place, with many battles. I enjoyed how Riley kept switching whos perspective the story was from every other chapter. Owen’s perspective, Bethany’s perspective, Owen’s perspective, Bethany’s perspective, and so on. Even though this book is written in 3rd person, each chapter only explains what is happening to Owen currently, or Bethany currently. I really enjoyed that and it was suspenseful when something bad happened to one of them at the end of the chapter, but you had to wait for another chapter before you could get back to that part again.
I normally don’t enjoy 3rd person books, only because I like having one person tell the story so you can see what their side of the story was instead of having one person tell everything when they didn’t experience. Or did they…? And that brings me to why I enjoyed this 3rd person book! James Riley is actually a character inside of the book, experiencing everything, so when you were reading the book, you knew you were getting the full account of what was happening and I thought it was really cool for Riley to be slick about slipping himself into the story.
There was a certain idea in this book that made me stop and really think about it. What if there really were two worlds? Two worlds that we could travel between to, jumping into our favorite books to meet our favorite book characters. I understand that this entire series has been about the two realms, fictional and non-fictional, but this book really revolved around that, since the main idea of the 5th book was to connect the worlds back together again once and for all.
I mean, every once and while I really did stop and think about that. There could be so many more universes out there. There could be a real-life Star Wars happening somewhere, right at this moment! I mean, think about aliens and cool space creatures. What if we could jump into books and meet our favorite characters? I mean, I would to jump into a Percy Jackson book and meet all the characters in those books, especially Percy!
Anyways, let’s not get too much out of the book I’m supposed to be writing a review on and instead of talking about other books. But, just imagine that. There are endless possibilities waiting out there for us, for us to find, enjoy, and live in them. Different worlds than we know of. More species to discover. And most importantly, having the power to jump into books! :D
If you think I’m insane, think it. But no one knows for sure what’s out there. I believe that there are infinite universes out there, just waiting to be discovered. And when you really think about it, there’s a lot you can picture in your head, just like I did.
So, I hope you’ve learned a lot about this book just by this review. If you have not read the book, and you are scrolling through the reviews to see if it’s a good book to read, well, the answer is: YES! IT’S AMAZING! READ!!! I highly recommend this book to people who love cliff-hangers and action-packed stories!
I would recommend reading the first four books in the Story Thieves series first and then reading this one. This is just so you can get a better understanding of the book. The Story Thieves series has just been an absolutely amazing experience to read through.
I wish Riley could make more books in the series, or a movie, a musical, anything! Just something to continue the story of the characters. Maybe something showing what happens when the characters grow up, or if another adventure happened, what would it be? What would have caused it? How would the problem start? How would the problem get worse? How would the problem be solved?
There are so many questions that can be answered in a different story, so I’m praying something to go with the Story Thieves series will come out soon. Maybe even their own TV show! That would be sick! :3
In summary, I would definitely recommend this book to people who are a fan of the Story Thieves series. This will not be a good book if you don’t dive deep down inside the book and really analyze what you’re reading.
Though, this absolutely does not apply to you if you love the series as I do! I hope you enjoy this book and it turns how pretty darn good in the end, depending on how you interpret the cliff-hanging ending! Happy reading! <3
After 4 books, James Riley is going to end the fantasy and action-packed series with a bang, in the 5th and final Story Thieves book, Worlds Apart.
After Owen has escaped the Pick The Plot book that Nobody put him into, things have gone TERRIBLY wrong. Bethany’s power to jump into books has now been taken away. Bethany has been split into two. Her fictional self, and her non-fictional self. They are two different people, in two separate realities, with two separate personalities and two separate adventures. This is all because of Nobody, who ripped the worlds apart. And as the title says, Nobody really did rip the worlds apart.
Now, Owen and Bethany have decided to give up and it may be better this way. It’s over. But, something is still stirring between the two realms. It seems that Owen has lost his imagination along with every other person in the nonfictional realm. The doctor explains to Owen and his mother that this can happen, but he’s not sure why it’s happening to everyone.
Then, one day, Kara somehow pops into the non-fictional world and drags Owen into the same world he’s always lived in, but 5 years in the future. The entire town hates books and burns them. Owen’s mom’s library is destroyed. Everything is just so...different. Kara didn’t mean to bring him here, but they are trapped here now.
Back in the regular non-fictional world, Bethany is unable to figure what just happened to Owen. And then, Kiel and Charm appear. Her old friends that she thought were gone. What is happening? Bethany knows something is wrong, and Owen and her will have to stop it.
In the fictional world, fictional Bethany is fighting crime as Twilight Girl, her father’s new sidekick. Together, they fight with Twilight Boy, to stop crime in Jupiter City. But when Bethany realizes that something is going wrong in the non-fictional world, she knows she has to do something. After destroying a villain, another one pops up and teleports to the non-fictional world. Fictional Bethany grabs on to this villain and is teleported to the non-fictional world.
After a long adventure, the two Bethanys are finally together and are ready to fight Nobody with their team: Owen, Kiel, Charm, Kara and themselves. Something needs to anchor down both Bethany’s before both of them are destroyed forever and the worlds will never join back together. Both Bethany’s need to bring the world’s back together before both realm fade forever.
Owen and his friends go into a book that he wrote himself to battle Nobody. And when a big battle like this happens, everything goes down-hill. Ah! Kara is getting sucked into the endless wall of white, which will make everything it touches disappear forever. Woah! Kiel is about to fall into a big bowl of soup. Ouch! Charm has been shot and has disappeared by a ray gun. Oh, boy-Owen meets someone he never expected to see in a place like this-Fowen, Owen’s evil fictional twin. And of course, both Bethany’s are captured and slowly disappearing.
Does this mean the end of the worlds? Does this mean Nobody has won? Does this mean Fowen will replace Owen? It’s all about to end now, and the worlds are bound to always be apart.
Right off the bat, this book truly was one of the best books I’ve ever read. The momentum of the story kept a steady pace, and if not that, it kept rising, wanting to make the readers keep reading. The book was very suspenseful and it really made me not want to stop reading. When I had to go out somewhere, I didn’t want to stop reading. I just loved all the disbelief in the book and I couldn’t stop reading! So, that’s why I brought it in the car with me… ;)
After reading an entire series and you’ve finally reached the final book, you really get connected to the characters. It was amazing to see how the story first started and how Riley was able to keep the adventure going, even when you thought it was over.
The characters were super well described, and it really helped me to picture them in my mind. A lot of action took place, with many battles. I enjoyed how Riley kept switching whos perspective the story was from every other chapter. Owen’s perspective, Bethany’s perspective, Owen’s perspective, Bethany’s perspective, and so on. Even though this book is written in 3rd person, each chapter only explains what is happening to Owen currently, or Bethany currently. I really enjoyed that and it was suspenseful when something bad happened to one of them at the end of the chapter, but you had to wait for another chapter before you could get back to that part again.
I normally don’t enjoy 3rd person books, only because I like having one person tell the story so you can see what their side of the story was instead of having one person tell everything when they didn’t experience. Or did they…? And that brings me to why I enjoyed this 3rd person book! James Riley is actually a character inside of the book, experiencing everything, so when you were reading the book, you knew you were getting the full account of what was happening and I thought it was really cool for Riley to be slick about slipping himself into the story.
There was a certain idea in this book that made me stop and really think about it. What if there really were two worlds? Two worlds that we could travel between to, jumping into our favorite books to meet our favorite book characters. I understand that this entire series has been about the two realms, fictional and non-fictional, but this book really revolved around that, since the main idea of the 5th book was to connect the worlds back together again once and for all.
I mean, every once and while I really did stop and think about that. There could be so many more universes out there. There could be a real-life Star Wars happening somewhere, right at this moment! I mean, think about aliens and cool space creatures. What if we could jump into books and meet our favorite characters? I mean, I would to jump into a Percy Jackson book and meet all the characters in those books, especially Percy!
Anyways, let’s not get too much out of the book I’m supposed to be writing a review on and instead of talking about other books. But, just imagine that. There are endless possibilities waiting out there for us, for us to find, enjoy, and live in them. Different worlds than we know of. More species to discover. And most importantly, having the power to jump into books! :D
If you think I’m insane, think it. But no one knows for sure what’s out there. I believe that there are infinite universes out there, just waiting to be discovered. And when you really think about it, there’s a lot you can picture in your head, just like I did.
So, I hope you’ve learned a lot about this book just by this review. If you have not read the book, and you are scrolling through the reviews to see if it’s a good book to read, well, the answer is: YES! IT’S AMAZING! READ!!! I highly recommend this book to people who love cliff-hangers and action-packed stories!
I would recommend reading the first four books in the Story Thieves series first and then reading this one. This is just so you can get a better understanding of the book. The Story Thieves series has just been an absolutely amazing experience to read through.
I wish Riley could make more books in the series, or a movie, a musical, anything! Just something to continue the story of the characters. Maybe something showing what happens when the characters grow up, or if another adventure happened, what would it be? What would have caused it? How would the problem start? How would the problem get worse? How would the problem be solved?
There are so many questions that can be answered in a different story, so I’m praying something to go with the Story Thieves series will come out soon. Maybe even their own TV show! That would be sick! :3
In summary, I would definitely recommend this book to people who are a fan of the Story Thieves series. This will not be a good book if you don’t dive deep down inside the book and really analyze what you’re reading.
Though, this absolutely does not apply to you if you love the series as I do! I hope you enjoy this book and it turns how pretty darn good in the end, depending on how you interpret the cliff-hanging ending! Happy reading! <3
July 23, 2024
Wow.
I did it.
This book was a little slow at first, and I almost considered *gasp* giving it four stars. But then the action and excitement picked up again, and I raced through the pages, finally finishing it at about eleven p.m., close to tears.
Spoiler free review:
Alternating between different character's PoVs, this book follows the ultimate fight against Nobody, who has succeeded in separating the fictional and nonfictional worlds. He believes it will be better for everyone. But the characters, with the odds stacked against them, have to really put their imaginations to the test to defeat him and thwart his evil plot.
As usual, James Riley delivers a beautiful story, full of action and humor and emotionally charged moments. The plot is seamless, bringing back mentions of things from previous books to be used in the ultimate finale. It doesn't feel right to give this book any less than five stars.
Alright, here's the spoiler part of the review.
LAST CHANCE! MASSIVE SPOILERS BELOW!
Ready? Here we go.
SPOILER WARNING
This book was a little slow at first. It's a lot thicker than the others in the series, and the plot took a while to develop: Bethany's two selves in the different worlds, Owen and Kara getting stuck in the future, Bethany and Kiel figuring out Nobody's plan in Quanterium. Then the full gravity of the situation crashed down, and the characters were fighting for their lives to stop Nobody before pure possibility swallowed every single fictional world.
When we finally get to the end battle, every time the characters think they have a chance, it turns out Nobody is five steps ahead of them. And this repeats a lot.
Owen is warned by his future self that every single version of him has failed before, and he has to break the cycle to defeat Nobdy.
"You'll have to fight your way to the Storybook Castle at the end of the story, but one by one, you'll lose your friends along the way, until finally it's just you against Nobody. And that's a fight that no Owen Conners has ever won yet."
During the climax, so much is going on, it's impossible to stop.
We've got Nobody holding both Bethanys hostage, offering her a deal: If she promises to never merge with her other half again, he'll let her father live.
We've got Owen, Kara, Charm, and Kiel making their way to Storybook Castle, with Kara sacrificing herself to let them move on.
We've got Kiel distracting a crowd so Charm and Owen can continue.
We've got Charm almost being killed by bookwyrms, just like Owen's older self warned him, before Owen risks his life to make sure she survives.
We've got Charm being turned into pure possibility by Fowen, who then switches bodies with Owen so he can use his time powers against Nobody.
We've got Owen tricking him, now in a body without heart problems, with one shot left on the possibility ray gun.
We've got Owen trying to get rid of Nobody's nonfictional anchor, but his plan fails almost immediately, causing Nobody to absorb him.
And then even more heartbreaking moments come, and the story finally ends with a rewritten version of the epilogue to the Kiel Gnomenfoot books, where Fowen escapes time prison, and Owen and Charm go after him.
And then it's over.
Such a good book.
I did it.
This book was a little slow at first, and I almost considered *gasp* giving it four stars. But then the action and excitement picked up again, and I raced through the pages, finally finishing it at about eleven p.m., close to tears.
Spoiler free review:
Alternating between different character's PoVs, this book follows the ultimate fight against Nobody, who has succeeded in separating the fictional and nonfictional worlds. He believes it will be better for everyone. But the characters, with the odds stacked against them, have to really put their imaginations to the test to defeat him and thwart his evil plot.
As usual, James Riley delivers a beautiful story, full of action and humor and emotionally charged moments. The plot is seamless, bringing back mentions of things from previous books to be used in the ultimate finale. It doesn't feel right to give this book any less than five stars.
Alright, here's the spoiler part of the review.
LAST CHANCE! MASSIVE SPOILERS BELOW!
Ready? Here we go.
SPOILER WARNING
This book was a little slow at first. It's a lot thicker than the others in the series, and the plot took a while to develop: Bethany's two selves in the different worlds, Owen and Kara getting stuck in the future, Bethany and Kiel figuring out Nobody's plan in Quanterium. Then the full gravity of the situation crashed down, and the characters were fighting for their lives to stop Nobody before pure possibility swallowed every single fictional world.
When we finally get to the end battle, every time the characters think they have a chance, it turns out Nobody is five steps ahead of them. And this repeats a lot.
Owen is warned by his future self that every single version of him has failed before, and he has to break the cycle to defeat Nobdy.
"You'll have to fight your way to the Storybook Castle at the end of the story, but one by one, you'll lose your friends along the way, until finally it's just you against Nobody. And that's a fight that no Owen Conners has ever won yet."
During the climax, so much is going on, it's impossible to stop.
We've got Nobody holding both Bethanys hostage, offering her a deal: If she promises to never merge with her other half again, he'll let her father live.
We've got Owen, Kara, Charm, and Kiel making their way to Storybook Castle, with Kara sacrificing herself to let them move on.
We've got Kiel distracting a crowd so Charm and Owen can continue.
We've got Charm almost being killed by bookwyrms, just like Owen's older self warned him, before Owen risks his life to make sure she survives.
We've got Charm being turned into pure possibility by Fowen, who then switches bodies with Owen so he can use his time powers against Nobody.
We've got Owen tricking him, now in a body without heart problems, with one shot left on the possibility ray gun.
We've got Owen trying to get rid of Nobody's nonfictional anchor, but his plan fails almost immediately, causing Nobody to absorb him.
And then even more heartbreaking moments come, and the story finally ends with a rewritten version of the epilogue to the Kiel Gnomenfoot books, where Fowen escapes time prison, and Owen and Charm go after him.
And then it's over.
Such a good book.
October 2, 2021
I loved this book! I'm so happy that I finally got around to completing this series! I have waited years for this moment, and, I have to admit, that now that it's all over I am kind of sad. I have loved all of the characters since the beginning, and I love them all now. I have seen so much growth in all of them over the course of the series. I loved getting to see the two Bethany's interact with each other, and I thought that this aspect really added depth to the story. I also thought that Owen learned a lot about himself in this book, and his character evolved so much. I loved the return of certain characters from the past, and they were fantastic! It was a great way to pull the whole series together. The plot was fantastic! There was so much action, and there was never a moment where I was bored or unentertained. I love all the directions that the author went in, and I thought that he made some fantastic choices. There were some twisty twists, and I was definitely surprised a few times while reading. The ending was impeccable! I do wish that one thing would have occurred, but the fact that it didn't doesn't detract from how good the ending is. All of our characters truly got what they needed and deserved. There is no cursing in this book and no sexual content. There is some violence, but nothing overly graphic. This book, along with the rest of the series, fits best in the middle-grade category. However, I think that people of all ages would love this series! I highly highly recommend this series! I started it when I was much younger, but I loved it just as much reading it when I was older. These books are fast-paced, fun, and fantastic! I'm sad that this series is over, but I'm so glad that I read it and that it was a part of my life. I'm going to miss these characters, and I need to pick something else up from James Riley as soon as possible.
October 21, 2025
Both the fictional and real world has been torn apart by the villainous Nobody, destroying the connection between them. Bethany is split in two between two worlds, people in the real world has lost their imagination and so can't so Owen can't see anything differently then how things are in reality. Until he is thrust into in a bleak imaginationless dystopian future. Bethany is the superhero comics fighting and training alongside her father until she realizes her fictional world is in danger without the real world.
Owen and Bethany must now risk everything to stop Nobody and save both their realities from a terrible fate.
It is a dual narrative story that follows the perspective of Owen and fictional Bethany, it has a fast paced and features some fun action scenes. It has just as much humorous moments as the rest of the series, continuing to poke fun in a meta sense at tropes of storytelling.
It concludes both Owen and Bethany's character arcs that developed throughout the books perfectly, wrapping up all the loose ends as well.
It is a book that shows the importance of imagination and how reality and fiction is connected in many ways. It's a fitting end to a genre bending series.
Owen and Bethany must now risk everything to stop Nobody and save both their realities from a terrible fate.
It is a dual narrative story that follows the perspective of Owen and fictional Bethany, it has a fast paced and features some fun action scenes. It has just as much humorous moments as the rest of the series, continuing to poke fun in a meta sense at tropes of storytelling.
It concludes both Owen and Bethany's character arcs that developed throughout the books perfectly, wrapping up all the loose ends as well.
It is a book that shows the importance of imagination and how reality and fiction is connected in many ways. It's a fitting end to a genre bending series.
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