Minecraft: The End

Official Minecraft Novels #4

by Catherynne M. Valente

For as long as they can remember, the twin endermen Fin and Mo have lived in the mysterious land of The End. On the outskirts of the great enderman city of Talos, they explore ancient ruins under the watchful gaze of the mighty ender dragon. They have everything they need in the end ship they call home, and know everything there is to know about their world—or so they think until the strangers from another dimension arrive.

The invaders are called humans, and they’ve come to steal artifacts and slay the ender dragon. Fin and Mo are ready to protect their home from the trespassers, but when they come face-to-face with the humans, they discover that they aren’t as prepared for battle as they’d thought. Caught off guard, the twins are trapped in the middle of a war between the endermen and the humans, with the future of their home at stake.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Video Games, Childrens, Middle Grade, Science Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2019

About the author

Catherynne M. Valente was born on Cinco de Mayo, 1979 in Seattle, WA, but grew up in in the wheatgrass paradise of Northern California. She graduated from high school at age 15, going on to UC San Diego and Edinburgh University, receiving her B.A. in Classics with an emphasis in Ancient Greek Linguistics. She then drifted away from her M.A. program and into a long residence in the concrete and camphor wilds of Japan.

She currently lives in Maine with her partner, two dogs, and three cats, having drifted back to America and the mythic frontier of the Midwest.

Reviews

[Kenya Starflight · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you'd have told me a few months back that one of my top ten favorite books this year would be a Minecraft novel, I'd have laughed at you. I don't play Minecraft and am only somewhat familiar with its concepts and gameplay, and the fact that this game has spawned an entire genre of kids' fiction (some official, much not) has always seemed rather silly to me. But when I learned that one of my favorite authors of all time had written a Minecraft novel, I reluctantly decided to pick it up and read it. And honestly, I'm glad I did -- Catherynne Valente is a masterful writer, and has breathed new and fascinating life into the Minecraft world and its creatures.

Valente delves into the world of this game by looking at it from the point of view of some of its most unique and infamous monsters -- the Endermen. Two of these Endermen, the orphaned twins Mo and Fin, are content with their lives aboard a treasure-filled ship, with a grouchy shulker named Grumpo and a music-loving Enderman named Kan as their closest friends. But their lives are turned upside-down by the arrival of a terrible threat from the Overworld -- humans. And as the Endermen prepare for war -- and one of their elders uses said encroaching war as an opportunity to snatch power -- Fin and Mo learn some unsettling truths about themselves and their world, and must decide their own fates and the fate of The End...

A fair warning -- a little bit of familiarity with the game helps before going into this book. Minecraft doesn't have a ton of lore behind it like some other game franchises, but knowing a bit about the creatures and the mechanics of the world beforehand is helpful. Even a brief Google search beforehand wouldn't hurt.

Catherynne Valente has a distinctive, poetic writing style that I love and adore, but she's toned it down a LOT for this book. At first this saddened me, as she's maintained her lovely and poetic style for YA books before (her The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making series). But she makes up for it by keeping the book moving at a steady and exciting pace, and by weaving a compelling and fascinating world and culture for the Endermen, a world and culture with unique touches that still incorporate what's known about these creatures from the game. And there are plenty of moments when the brilliance of Valente's writing has a chance to shine through, giving us some unique turns of phrase and lovely descriptive moments.

The characters are a delightful bunch to get to know as well. Fin and Mo are fleshed out well and nicely complex, as is their friend Kan. The human characters are a little more one-note, but still nicely done, and Valente does a nice job of circumventing the "Humans Are the Real Monsters" trope that's common in stories like this. The villain is unexpected but nicely menacing, and even the side characters such as the Ender Dragon and Grumpo the Shulker are enjoyable and have unexpected surprises in store for the reader. And somehow, Valente manages to make a zombie horse, of all creatures, sweet and adorable. That takes talent.

I'm not sure if I'll ever pick up another Minecraft novel, but I'm glad I gave this one a shot. It was a fun and unexpectedly sweet read, and gives a new dimension to some of the game's infamous monsters that I enjoyed. Great for kids and middle-schoolers who love the game, but also an enjoyable read for older teens and adults who enjoy stories from the monsters' point of view.

[Emma Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because of my little sister. I wasn’t expecting it to be beautiful and weird and delightfully creepy.

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

'All hail the great Chaos.'



I'm sitting here blinking in shock over how RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING this unassuming book turned out to be . I came for a Minecraft book with a dragon, thinking I'd get a gameplay-style quest thing . . . but no.

From the very first page I was blown away with the lovely, haunting writing style and the way the author took Minecraft, gave it lore, and turned it into a sprawling saga of angst and mind-blowing plot twists that caught me by surprise every 👏🏼 single 👏🏼 time 👏🏼👏🏼!

I really can't say too much without spoiling everything that made this read so enjoyable for me, but even if you don't play Minecraft . . . do give this story a chance. It's not your average "book from a game" and still has me reeling in wonder and awe. I'm gonna buy it. I'm gonna read it many more times. I'm gonna sit and wish there was a movie or something so I can have VISUALS for just how epic this is.

"At the end of every adventure, you must ask if it was ever really your adventure at all. Perhaps you were only an obstacle in someone else's quest."

[Sally L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4/5
If you changed the name of things to not be about Minecraft and then made a movie out of it, it would win academy awards. Genuinely.

It wasn't exactly a perfect book, most of the middle was sort of boring and could have been shaved down, but the ending was like classic literature. Damn. It was genuinely sort of insane how incredible the twist and the ending were.

Catherynne M. Valente has not missed so far.

[Nick Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one went a bit over the kiddo's head - and the big reveal is not really meaningful on the surface, so there's not a lot of emotional investment. I feel like maybe it needs a second read. I love the concept. The idea is so supremely cool and I kinda hope they revisit this storyline later.

[Courteney Hooks]

My students want me to buy this....

[Braxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had a lot of plot twist and I really liked it

[Kronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is existence. We're born, we grow up, we die. This book init of itself, made me question the human cycle. The characters, wow, can I just say, I can't well-crafted (haha, anyway) these complex vessels of human emotions are. The main character, Grimbo, has more depth than my own mother. He experiences love, loss, regret, and solitude. He is born into poverty, and is accepted into the Fire Nation against his own will at a young age. He only knows death. His best friend, Felipe, was his only saving grace, bringing him back down to reality when he let his bloodlust run wild. Felipe, sadly, died of chemical exposure when left in the clothing dryer by the Fire Nation leader, Moses, after being mistaken for clothing. Grimbo's only sense of love in this world was quickly taken away from him. Grimbo, age 7, finally understands what true pain is. After this traumatic experience, he vows to kill every last living soul who ever associated with the Fire Nation. This is a tale of forgiveness. Moses didn't know he was putting Felipe in the dryer, it wasn't his fault. Moses felt sorrow. He didn't wanna die, he had aspirations, he had goals. This is an example of the layered characters you find in Minecraft: The End. I cannot do the dialogue any justice, it is so complex, it brought a single tear to my eye, just one. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others", a beautiful line said exclaimed by Moses on page 532. After reading this line, I had to put the book down and take a walk. A long walk. I did a lot of reflection of this walk, all because of The End. This book has been a continual part of the process of changing my life. I relate to Grimbo, I relate to his struggles, much like him, I want to better myself. This tale of the human condition is one of greatness. Please read this book. I would rank this book along the likes of War and Peace. It is an absolute must read. Thank you Catherynne M. Valente, thank you for everything.

[Sebastian Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book would definitely recommend to other people

[MaKenzie Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mo and Fin are well developed characters and the plot was very good. I like how Kan was different from other endermen and the fact that Grumpo was the Great Chaos. Jax, Jess, Roary, and Koal did good as human roles in the story. The betrayal in the story is great was of giving the charcters reason for what they are doing. It is a great book.

[Michael Hurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was creepy

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not remotely hat I expected - I thought it as a standalone novel - but despite this very readable. Quality writing, however misleading its cover might have been.

[Sri Ganesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accidentally got the wrong book while shipping didn't regret it tho 🔥

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the world-building in this: right off the bat, that was my main takeaway from the book. Valente's explanations about the origin of the end and the habits of endermen were terrific. Stacking, mind telepathy showed through the floating purple particles, and the reason behind why endermen steal blocks. It was all fantastic. And the idea of a bunch of endermen worshipping chaos and entropy makes me want to convert to their religion. Valente created an in-depth world from the original game and fleshed it out in ways that I would never have thought of.

I play Minecraft religiously, and my review comes from someone incredibly familiar with the mobs of the game and from someone who has already loved one of Catherynne Valente's books (Space Opera). That being said, I don't know how well the book would come across for someone who has never played the game. Valente doesn't focus on explaining every minute detail that someone with a general understanding of Minecraft would know, so you don't have to be a hardcore player. Still, you may be confused if you don't know anything about the game.

Regardless, this book blew me away. While I loved the beginning, I began to slump a little in the middle and didn't really like where the story was heading. It felt too much of a departure from the world-building in the beginning and only made me frustrated. But the ending delivered on all of that, combining that epic world-building and lore with a twist that no one could have seen coming. The end destroyed me, and I loved it unconditionally because its a concept that I haven't seen done before, and Valente did it incredibly well.

On top of all of that, I also really love the writing style of this book. There are so many quotes that I want to remember and, while I got this from my library, I might very well buy my copy to tab things out. Most of these quotes have to do with the Great Chaos, and I want a prequel just talking about more lore of the endermen.

[Sean Cozart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second official Minecraft novel I've read and one thing is for sure, I have mixed feelings. Mostly because I liked this book WAY better "The Island" which was garbage but I rating this book only a star higher than that for very specific and good reasons.

Plot: Fin and Mo are twin endermen with no parents living alone on a ship with their hoards of things they collect that is guarded by their shulker Grumpo. Their best friend is Kan who is enderman who's an outcast from society because of his unique eyes. Soon, their world turns upside down when humans come to the End and rumors soar that the war between the humans and endermen will decide the fate of both dimensions... with Fin and Mo in the middle of it.

Here's problem number one and this is the big one for me. The human characters are cardboard. They are forgettable. As I read their conversations, it is all the same person to me because there was no difference in their characters. Most of the endermen in the story had more depth than the humans. Jax and Jess had some decent development later on but Koal and Roary are forgettable. They as characters did nothing to move the plot along and I'm sure if the author had cut them out entirely, the story wouldn't change that much. So lack of character development and unnecessary characters really bugged me.

My second problem is the language used. This is a book targeted for middle schoolers and I'm sorry, I wouldn't want my children that age reading a book designed for them that uses "oh my god", "crap" and "frickin" all the time. Might as well just drop the f-bomb if your going to use that language.

Besides those two aspects, I thought the book was good but only worthy of 3 stars because of the bad things. It was sort of predictable but the ending twist was pretty good, a dark ending but everything is these days.

[Awiatka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niezwykle…wrażliwa książka? Cholernie wnikliwa i szczegółowa, choć krótka. Opisuje pewnego rodzaju mechanizm funkcjonowania endermana, którego (mechanizm) w zasadzie ciężko jest podjąć jakiejkolwiek „analizie pisanej”. Choć wspomniany enderman ma pewnego rodzaju „rozum”, tak jednocześnie sprawia wrażenie niezwykle „robotycznego”, jak gdyby poddanym jakiemuś stałemu schematowi; powtarzalna codzienność, niejako pewnego rodzaju osobliwy rytuał, miłość do „Chaosu”, który właściwie zdaje się przeczyć tej monotonnej, niezmiennej rutynie! skąd ta czystość i porządek w codzienności rozkochanych w nieładzie Endermanów?! sam w sobie „chaos” jest niezwykle fascynującym zagadnieniem, które nieprzerwanie błądzi po książce…Mimo tajemnicy endermanów i mrocznej aury, okazują się być niezwykle słabymi istotami; istotami niezdolnymi przezwyciężyć „ludzkiej” siły. co ciekawe, to nie ich fizyczność zdaje się stać na przeszkodzie, a właściwie skomplikowana bariera psychiczna, która jak gdyby nie obejmuje ALTERNATYWNEGO ROZWIĄZANIA…? jest niezwykle jednostajna, czyli taka, jak oni. sięgając po „kres”, spodziewałam się ordynarnej historii sześciennych bohaterów wędrujących po piekielnych czeluściach netheru, a, zamist tego, dostałam książkę, w której autorka zawarła wiele głębokich dylematów. choć te ściśle pozostawały w powiązaniu z fikcyjnym obrazem endermanów, tak zdawały się jednocześnie stykać z…ludzkim losem.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Order was so boring. Wasn't life so much more interesting once you let the Chaos in?"

"Life is very difficult and complex above and below. In the End and in the Beginning. You must make your own decision, and not rely on the world to tell you what to do that you do not have to think. Nevertheless, there is a path, you are always on it. Your choices created it. Your actions move it beneath your feet. You have crafted it as surely as any iron sword. The future is uncertain-up to a point."

"If you're a greenboy, I'm a greengirl. Our eyes are exactly the same. If you're a freak, I'm a freak. Freak Club. Population two."

"I hate you with such passionate intensity I cannot let you out of my sight. You really cannot imagine how much I hate you."

"Please, my children. Remember, no matter what happens, no matter what you do orsay, no matter if you live or die, no matter if tou achieve your dreams or drink their ashes, I will always, always hate you. Until the end of time, I will hate you more than anything in the cosmos."

Grumpo :(((

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit I've never played Minecraft and I'm only vaguely familiar with the lore, so I went into this mainly because Cat put an excerpt on her Patreon and it was enough to reel me in.

It's a good story for younger readers, with interesting main characters very much of the "we don't fit" mold - and which player, especially online gamers, hasn't felt like that at least once in their life?
I suspect there Minecraft players will get slightly more enjoyment out of it, mainly by figuring out all the references that I missed, but it's pretty good as a standalone as well.

Veery mild spoilers: as other readers said, the humans don't get very much development, but it's also true that this is not their story for the most part, and most of all, it's clear that they were meant to stand in for the most commonly known player archetypes: the Warrior, the Builder, the Explorer, the Hoarder.

Recommended for a quick summer read.
3.5/5 rounded up

[Michelle Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

All hail the great chaos.

One of the things about Cat Valente I always admire is her ability to modulate her writing for reading level without losing the wonder or fascination of her story.
I was first introduced to her with Deathless and to this day it’s one of my favorite books ever. And this book is no different.

I won’t pretend it wasn’t a quick read for me, but I was invested in Fin and Mo from the very beginning. And don’t even get me started on Grumpo. I love Grumpo. Grumpo hates you.😁

I did enjoy the Kan misdirect, but also, just let that precious child play his note block.

This book is definitely an excellent addition to the pantheon for Minecraft fans, but I would argue that you absolutely don’t have to play to become attached to Cat’s wonderful portrayal of the world and the stories of those within it.

[Bridgette Portman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, Catherynne Valente wrote a Minecraft novel. For that reason alone, I had to read it.

I was not disappointed. It reads like you would expect a Minecraft novel written by Catherynne Valente to read. It's often lyrical, populated by interesting and weirdly charming characters (<3 Loathsome), doesn't always make a ton of sense, and is incredibly creative. I loved that the focus was on endermen (at least initially), not humans. If you haven't played Minecraft, you might find it a little too bizarre, but my ten-year-old son and I both enjoyed it.

[Taiton Cristello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book... It was a really good story with a bunch of parts grabbing the reader's attention. The characters are unique and the images in the reader's mind are clear and understandable. I hope if you read this book other people, you will enjoy it, if not more than I did!

[Keefe Sencen · Rating 3 out of 5]

mneh

[Майя Ставитская · Rating 4 out of 5]

The End, а по-русски "Край"
Люди злые и глупые, чтобы общаться, им приходится говорить вслух, как животным. А ртом они не только говорят, но еще и едят. Никакое существо, общающееся с помощью дырки в голове, куда оно запихивает еду, не сможет превзойти достойного странника Края.
Это Minеcraft Original - проект одной из самых успешных игровых вселенных Minесraft: пригласить интересных авторов фантастики и фэнтези для литературного воплощения отдельных игровых локаций. Трейси Батист написала "Аварию", Макс Брукс "Остров", Мер Лафферти "Утерянные дневники". Кэтрин Валенте достался The End - самое мрачное и опасное из игровых измерений, где обитает главный противник Maincraft - Эндер Драгон (в книге Дракон Края).

Математик Эйлер для наглядной иллюстрации понятий конъюнкции и дизъюнкции использовал графическое изображение множеств в виде овалов, их еще называют Эйлеровыми огурцами. Два множества могут: 1. быть автономными; 2. в точности совпадать; 3. одно может полностью включать другое и некоторое количество собственных элементов; 4. пересекаться. Так вот, со множеством игроков в Майнкрафт я даже никогда не пересекалась, хотя игра более, чем популярна, достаточно сказать, что Майкрософт еще в 2014 приобрел права на нее за два с половиной миллиарда долларов.

Зато я во множестве поклонников Валенте и ради ее новой книги не сочла за труд прочитать статью Вики об игре. Советую всем не игроманам, которые тоже любят Кэтрин - много времени не возьмет, а представление об устройстве мира, куда предстоит отправиться, и об управляющих им законах, получите. Кажется, "Край" удачный вариант перевода названия. В нем и конец, и краешек чего-то большего, и край родной.

Двенадцатилетние близнецы Фин и Мо особые существа, странники Края, живут на превращенном в дом корабле, не помня ни своего прошлого, ни родителей, в обществе одного лишь Ворчуна (это такая местная животинка). Ни в какую из стай их не принимают, да они и сами не пошли бы. Край - территория Хаоса, изначально враждебного Порядку, и близнецы чтут Хаос, не желая подчиняться чужим правилам. В гости к ним часто заглядывает зеленоглазый Кэн, прочие странники относятся к нему настороженно. Тамошний стандарт красоты гладкая черная кожа, большая, преимущественно квадратная голова без волос и розово-фиолетовые г��аза.

Но близнецы и даже ворчун, который всех ненавидит, любят Кэна. К тому же он так чудесно играет музыку собственного сочинения. Краефраги (жители Края, буквально - его частицы, фрагменты) люто ненавидят людей. Люди злы, приходят из Верхнего Мира, чтобы грабить Край, убивать его обитателей ради сердечных жемчужин, возводить свои уродливые постройки во славу Порядка

Все изменится, когда в Край действительно придут люди. Все окажется совсем не таким, каким изначально представлялось. Тыква, будучи надетой поверх человеческой головы, оказывается, не без успеха имитирует голову краефрага. Книги, которых ты даже не можешь прочесть, в самый значимый, момент могут оказаться полезными.

А отвратительно воняющую зомби-лошадь, которая вылупится из яйца, тотчас же начав называть тебя мамой (салют, "Игра Престолов"), можно полюбить. Что не помешает тебе наречь ее Гадостью - вот за это особенно люблю Валенте, она мастер совмещать несовместимое, находить прекрасное в уродстве.

Не будучи фанатом игры, в реалии книги трудно входить. Но когда вчитаетесь, удовольствие гарантировано. Кэтрин Валенте умеет создавать миры, которые хочется рассматривать под всеми возможными углами.

[Maya Callaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The End is an unassuming book upon first glance. That's why I picked it: the understanding and expectation that this book would be overall lighthearted, mindless fun with little to no plot. That is where I was *delightfully* suprised.

The End is a deceptively well-written romp of a story, complete with excellent foreshadowing, environmental storytelling, dire, *dire* implications, and many mysteries to solve and uncover. The book is laden with twists and turns, some simple and (embarassingly) predictable (guess who fell for it), while others take so long to build up to, you can't believe its happening until you're reading it.

The characters are interesting, if a bit too many. Some characters feel like they could have been cut or reworked, but its not a big deal. I found myself invested in the worldbuilding, as easy as it is to understand. Characters like Kan are highly empathetic, and the story doesn't shy away from the brutality that these characters face when they're discriminated against. They feel real, and impactful, and when they fall down, all you wanna do is scoop them up, bandage their knees, and tell them its all gonna be ok. But its not. It will never be ok.

A part of the story that I found absolutely *delicious* was the incorporation of game mechanics into the story itself. Items and their placement/frequency, direct reference to inventory mechanics, habits and common ground that most players use-- all work well to create a familiar yet engaging set of storytelling tools. It's a little cheesy at times, but given the title, I can fully forgive it. Theres a point in the book where I started listening to the game soundtrack that occurs in the area that the characters are in. It elevated the experience so much I genuinely was losing my mind. It was also 4 am, so that might also be a factor. Sue me.

The book is a little plot-heavy near the end, as it scrambles a little bit to pick up every loose end, but in my opinion, that crescendo of confusion fits well within the story that Catheryne is telling. It's clear that Catheryne's skill lies in sowing the seeds of mystery so deep and strange, that it almost seems absurdist when they all come to pass. Her haunting use of prose, narration and personification makes the world of Minecraft come to life exactly how you imagine it, with all the eerie trappings that it never outright tells you in canon. The book almost *dares* you to read it over again, to understand all the pieces that you may have missed. And believe me-- you've missed some pieces.

It has influenced the way I play this game permanently, I fear.

This place will change you. Do not linger. Do not wander. Do not gloat. All hail the great Chaos.

[Angela Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

A middle-range Middle Grade fantasy romp, written for enthusiastic gamers while remaining accessible to the Minecraft unfamiliar. The worldbuilding is simplistic, and the story itself is presented with a balance of humor and heart.

Note: This is my first Minecraft book. I've only played the game for a few hours, but I know enough from walkthroughs (and the ongoing dialogue between my kids and husband) to have a decent grasp of both relevant game mechanics and lore. And while there were some liberties taken that certain die-hard fans might take issue with, I suspect most will be able to appreciate this story for what it is.

The tale is told from the POVs of a young brother and sister set of Endermen named Mo and Fin--inhabitants of a dark dimension called The End. They have always been outsiders amongst the Endermen, due to their orphaned state. Their best and only friend Kan shares their outcast status, but because he has the unusual trait of green eyes. (As it turns out, Endermen on the whole score pretty low on empathy.) Their only other companion is their pet, Grumpo--a box-dwelling creature of limited vocabulary and infinite orneriness.

Grumpo Sidenote:
Gumpo hates everyone and everything. But you can't really help but love him for it. <3

When a roving pack of humans arrives from The Overworld dimension to pillage Then End and kill their beloved Ender Dragon, their disruption reveals things about Mo and Fin's past that they must confront. And none of them are prepared for the hostilities of the rest of the Endermen, as their elders make a power grab and their people prepare to go to war against all humans.

"At the end of every adventure, you must ask if it as ever really your adventure at all. Perhaps you were only an obstacle in someone else's quest."

The story itself is surprisingly thoughtful at points, particularly in what it conveys about concepts like loyalty and perspective. Mo and Fin have a flawed likeability to them, and their plight is easy enough to feel invested in. The humans, however, lacked more depth and complexity than this reader would have preferred. There are just 4 of them, but that often feels like 2 too many--as their personalities aren't nearly as fleshed out as other characters. Although, that is a nuance young readers may not be bothered by.

Content Note: Dialogue oaths include "oh my g*d", with euphemisms such as "crap" and "frickin." (I wouldn't normally balk, but given this book seems aimed at the younger end of the MG spectrum, I thought some parents/guardians might want to be informed.)

[Teddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"See you on the other side, Ultimo"

i want to write a big long review about how good this book is, i really do. because this book deserves it. but i think it'd be better to just hand it to you, and let you go in utterly blind. i completely loved it, and recommend it to anyone who thinks it's something they'd enjoy.

it's an absolutely perfect extension of a culture the original game doesn't touch on. the worldbuilding is exquisite, and it makes for an absolutely gorgeous first act. i will admit, the middle doesn't have the same spark, and focuses a lot more on characters that i didn't care for all that much. but the ending is where this book truly shines.

i won't delve into too deep spoilers, but the twist near the end was heart-wrenching. the futility of the final battle felt raw and real, as we watch our protagonists lose everything they've built up over the middle act. the reveal over the final twist was a bit sloppy, i won't lie, and i feel like more could've been done with the great chaos as.. what it is at the end.

i've read that some people feel the final chapter erases the whole story and makes the adventure for naught, but i believe that was valente's intention. our characters are trapped in a time loop, so it would only make sense for it to return at the end, surely? it sets up a potential sequel, but i wouldn't be holding my breath for one. the ending is hard-hitting and, at the end of the day, rather bleak. which isn't at all what i expected from a book aimed at a younger age - but i loved it all the same, a real page-turner.

overall, if you're interested at all in this book's premise, i absolutely encourage you to read it. it's a shorter book, but the content within is absolutely magnificent. i can assure you the ending is not at all what you'd expect.

"See you on the other side, El Fin."

[Athousandeyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so conflicted over this book. There are a lot of little plot holes and inconsistencies that nag at me, some of the twists feel kinda,,, eh, but fuck if I don’t love a good time loop story, especially one that invokes a sense of dread like this one.

There’s so much going on here and I can’t stop thinking about it. Two folk heroes get sucked into a time loop that wipes their memory and effectively renders them powerless. They are placed into a foreign civilization they assume is their home and can’t figure out why they don’t fit in. They slowly unravel the mystery of their situation, as they’ve done so a thousand times before, and in the process four bystanders ALSO get sucked into the time loop. Just the slow horror of realizing that these exact events have played out before, and will continue to play out, and there’s nothing any of them can do about it,,, Journals written in verbatim of each other to emphasize that their fate is predetermined.

I just really can’t figure out why this is a minecraft novel. A lot of the plot points I took issue with felt that they didn’t make sense in the world of minecraft and the details that are minecraft specific are generic enough that they could be swapped out for other names. Valente built a lot of lore into enderman civilization, but the game shows no actual indication that they even have any sort of civilization. It would be so easy to replace enderman for some other fantasy race, or even just any group or faction. All the lore she creates doesn’t have to be minecraft specific. It feels like she had an idea for a story, was approached to write a minecraft book (or however she got the gig), and twisted that idea to fit the project.

Essentially, most of the problems I have with this book are liberties the author took so she could make that sweet sweet mojang money and I have nothing but respect for her. 10/10

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike some books based on computer or video games, this one does not read like the narration of a particular episode or adventure. Instead, the author has taken creatures that are normally considered mindless monsters within the game, and used them as the central characters...or are they, because almost nothing in this story is what it first appears to be. Mo and Fin are the survivors of a “family group” of Endermen, living on their own, gathering their own hoard of loot. Oddly, they haven't been raided by invading humans and had their stuff stolen. They are considered outsiders by the other Endermen, though, because they are no longer a complete set, and are viewed as odd outsiders in a society that does not value difference or oddity. One of their few friends is also an oddity, an Enderman who can make music, and who does not lose mental focus when separated from others of his own group. Their pet is a grouchy creature who lives in a box and claims to hate everyone. And all that is where the story really begins, as one of the ranking Endermen claims that humans are about to invade, and that the Endermen need to gather and arm, a thing previously unheard of.
Catherynne Valente has written some outstanding fiction for both kids and adults. This is more approachable and easier to read than most of her fiction, but has at least some of the complexity of the books in the Fairyland series. For Minecraft gamers who want a good books to read that relates to the game, this would be an excellent choice, and it might serve as an entry point to her other fiction.

[Kobietaczytajaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Książka swoją premierę miała 13 maja, ja wczoraj wieczorem wzięłam się za jej przeczytanie i mile byłam zaskoczona, kiedy okazało się, że mnie zaciekawiła. Pochodzi ona z gatunku fantasy więc ja akurat czytam go rzadko i niewiele pozycji potrafi mnie z niego zaciekawić. Książka jest dedykowana młodzieży i myślę, że jest w stanie nie jednego młodego czytelnika zainteresować, a zwłaszcza że ta gra wśród nich jest bardzo dobrze znana. Kiedy książka przyszła córki od razu wytłumaczyły mi jej nazwę. Mamy tu bliźniaki Fina i Mo, którzy są edermanami i zamieszkują krainę End-Kres. Górny świat natomiast należy do ludzi nazywanych przez edermanów najeźdźcami, to przed nimi chronią swój świat. Rodzeństwo mieszka na statku i są inni niż wszyscy. Kiedy do ich świata wkraczają ludzie okazuje się, że Fin i Mo nie wiedzą o swoim świecie wszystkiego. Ludzie przybyli, aby zabić smoka i zrabować skarby, a rodzeństwo nie jest przygotowane na walkę. Początek jak dla mnie był nieco ciężki do przebrnięcia natomiast później poszło jak spłatka, im dalej, tym lepiej, akcja się rozkręciła a rodzeństwo miało sporo przygód. Mamy tu portale, teleportacje, smoka krążącego nad miastem, świat Ładu i Chaosu, porozumiewanie się poprzez myśli. Książka potrafi nie tylko zaciekawić, ale były w niej też moment wywołujące śmiech oraz niepokój. Litery są duże co ułatwia czytanie, no i ta śliczna kolorowa okładka przyciągająca wzrok. Jeżeli macie dzieci, które kochają ten gatunek podsuńcie im tę książkę. Moja ocena 7/10.

[Recoco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I played a lot of Minecraft. To be honest, it was better than a lot of the other books in the "Mojang Officially approved" series. The story is told mainly from the endermen of the world called The End. Two of these Endermen, supposedly twins Mo and Fin, are content with their lives aboard a treasure-filled ship, with a grouchy shulker named Grumpo who "hates everything", and a music-loving Enderman named Kan as their closest friends. They do not have an "End" which is the enderman equivalent of a family and they don't ever remember having families or where they come from. But their lives are turned upside-down by the arrival of a terrible threat from the Overworld -- humans. And as the Endermen prepare for war -- and one of their elders uses said encroaching war as an opportunity to snatch power -- Fin and Mo learn some unsettling truths about themselves and their world. The evil "villians" are basically humans which the endermen despise. All hail the great chaos ;). The ending is a bit unexpected but that's what makes this book by Catherynne M. Valente so great. Its also kind of sad but I don't want to give out too many spoilers:). It isn't super long, around 250 pages, but I would recommend this to any kid (or adult if your interested in Minecraft), even if you have no background of this game, though it would be nice to have a little knowledge about this game before reading.