The Fiend and the Forge

The Tapestry #3

by Henry H. Neff

The Tapestry series continues to weave threads of fantasy, mythology, science fiction, and mystery into a wholly original adventure that appeals to fans of everything from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to The X-Men. Genre-blending and fully illustrated, The Tapestry novels have caught the attention of middle-grade and young adult readers alike—and the series is only getting bigger.

Book One, The Hound of Rowan, was a boarding-school fantasy that School Library Journal called “a solid and worthwhile beginning . . . [that] should help ease the suffering once Harry Potter withdrawal sets in.” Book Two, The Second Siege, was an epic quest about which Kirkus Reviews said, “After devouring this title, young fans will clamor for more.”

Book Three, The Fiend and the Forge, is an unforgettable dystopian adventure across a landscape overrun with goblins and trolls. The world has changed almost beyond recognition, for with the Book of Origins firmly in his possession, the villainous Astaroth now has the power to reshape history at will. Plucking pivotal discoveries from mankind’s past, he has reduced the world to a preindustrial nightmare.

But while most humans toil as slaves within four demonic kingdoms, Astaroth allows those at Rowan to thrive in peaceful isolation. Theirs is a land where magic and nature flourish . . . so long as none dare oppose the new order.

That proves too steep a price for Max McDaniels. Unsure of his place at Rowan, Max sets out to explore the shifting landscape of the world beyond. In the course of his travels, he will become many things: Prisoner. Gladiator. Assassin. But can he become the hero that mankind so desperately needs?

In the third book of The Tapestry, author–illustrator Henry H. Neff takes the series in an exciting new direction, creating a fascinating dystopia in which myth, history, and monsters collide.

Visit www.rowanacademy.com for original content, exclusive artwork, and more!


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Fiction, Magic, Mythology, Middle Grade

547 pages, Hardcover

First published November 23, 2010

Reviews

[Kyriaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Τη σειρά αυτή την είχα ξεκινήσει όταν πήγαινα γυμνάσιο και ήταν από τις πολύ αγαπημένες μου! Είχα διαβάσει τα δύο πρώτα βιβλία και μετά σταμάτησα γιατί τα υπόλοιπα δεν μεταφράστηκαν ποτέ στα ελληνικά...ε και επειδή τότε το να διαβάσω το οτιδήποτε στα αγγλικά μου ήταν τουλάχιστον αδιανόητο σταμάτησα.....
Από όταν λοιπόν ξεκίνησα να διαβάζω βιβλία και στα αγγλικά έλεγα ότι ήθελα κάποια στιγμή να την τελειώσω, να δω επιτέλους τι γίνεται παρακάτω....αλλά δεν το έπαιρνα απόφαση.....μέχρι τώρα!

Ξεκίνησα λοιπόν με ενθουσιασμό.......ο οποίος σιγά σιγά έφθινε........

Η αλήθεια είναι πως το βιβλίο αυτό, η μάλλον καλύτερα όλη η σειρά, δεν είναι πολύ της ηλικίας μου. Εντάξει το ήξερα από πριν αυτό. Υποψιαζόμουν ότι ίσως να το βρω λίγο παιδικό. Ότι ίσως κάποια πράγματα να είναι πιο απλοϊκά δοσμένα. Αλλά δεν περίμενα και αυτή την κατάσταση! Τι ήταν αυτό τώρα; Πηγή όλων μου των προβλημάτων ήταν ότι ο συγγραφέας έκανε ό,τι του κατέβαινε στο κεφάλι!!!
Και θα εξηγήσω ευθύς αμέσως τι εννοώ!

1. Ναι είναι βιβλίο φαντασίας, ναι έχει μαγεία. Αλλά τι σημαίνει αυτό τώρα; Ότι δεν υπάρχουν όρια; Ότι δεν υπάρχουν κανόνες; Πού είναι οι κανόνες;; Μέχρι πού μπορούν να φτάσουν οι δυνατότητες αυτών που χειρίζονται τη μαγεία; Σε αυτό το κομμάτι επικρατούσε το χάος! Βόλευε την πλοκή μπορούσε να γίνει. Δεν βόλευε; ξαφνικά οι χαρακτήρες δεν μπορούσαν να το κάνουν κι ας είχαν κάνει κάτι πιο δύσκολο πιο πριν. Γιατί δεν μπορούσαν; δεν ξέρουμε! Απλά δεν μπορούσαν! Έτσι χωρίς λόγο. Βάλε κανα κανόνα άνθρωπέ μου!
Αυτό το πράγμα με εκνεύριζε απίστευτα πολύ! Με εκνεύριζε πού δεν ήξερα πώς λειτουργεί η μαγεία ουσιαστικά! Με εκνεύριζε που έμπαιναν όρια μόνο όταν ο συγγραφέας ήθελε να βάλει εμπόδια για να βοηθήσει την πλοκή! Ναι μεν φαντασία και μαγεία, αλλά θέλω και κανά κανόνα να ξέρω τι μου γίνεται!

2. Χαρακτήρες. Ουσιαστικά μόνο για δύο χαρακτήρες μπορώ να μιλήσω γιατί οι υπόλοιποι έκαναν λίγο πολύ τις γλάστρες!
Ο πρωταγωνιστής: ο πρωταγωνιστής μας, ο Max, με εκνεύριζε! (Δεν έφταιγε βέβαια τόσο αυτός όσο ο συγγραφέας). Τις μισές φορές συμπεριφέρονταν τελείως παιδιάστικα! Αυτοσυγκράτηση μηδέν! Και μετά ξαφνικά πάθαινε κρίσεις ωριμότητας. Ήξερε πότε έπρεπε να συγκρατήσει το θυμό του, πότε να μιλήσει και πότε όχι. Αλλά βέβαια τότε βόλευε την πλοκή να γίνει έτσι! Ή το άλλο! Όταν ήταν μόνος του ο Max και έπρεπε να αντιμετωπίσει τις όποιες δυσκολίες ή να προστατέψει κανέναν ο συγγραφέας τον παρουσίαζε μια χαρά έξυπνο και ικανό. Έτσι κι ήταν με κανέναν άλλον, ειδικά όταν ήταν μαζί με τον David, ξαφνικά, δεν ξέρω, γίνονταν χαζός! Τι να πω; ίσως για να φαίνεται ο David πιο έξυπνος ο Max ξαφνικά άρχιζε να μην τα πιάνει και να είναι άσχετος; τι σόι λογική είναι αυτή; Εντάξει προφανώς και δεν έχω την απαίτηση ο πρωταγωνιστής του κάθε βιβλίου να είναι ο πιο έξυπνος ή ο πιο δυνατός αλλά θέλω να έχει μια σταθερή προσωπικότητα, να είναι χρήσιμος και να τον υπολογίζουν! Όχι μόνο όταν βολεύει!
Ο David: Ο David θα μπορούσε να είναι από τους καλύτερους χαρακτήρες σε αυτή τη σειρά! Από τους πιο πολύπλοκους και τους πιο ενδιαφέροντες! Το μόνο όμως που καταφέρνει είναι να είναι απλά εκνευριστικά μυστικοπαθής! Αυτό όμως που μου δημιουργούσε την μεγαλύτερη αγανάκτηση είναι το εξής: όποτε βόλευε την πλοκή ο David ήταν ένας πανίσχυρος μάγος που ήξερε και έβλεπε τα πάντα και που μπορεί να κάνει απίθανα πράγματα εντελώς μόνος του. Όταν όμως δεν βόλευε, αχ ξαφνικά δεν μπορεί να τα καταφέρει μόνος του και χρειάζεται βοήθεια! Από πού τα ξέρει όλα αυτά, πού τα μαθαίνει,μόνος του, του τα είπε κάποιος; δεν ξέρουμε! Και γιατί ξαφνικά δεν μπορεί; ποιος να ξέρει; Φυσικά αυτό έρχεται να συμπληρώσει και να επιβεβαιώσει αυτό που έλεγα πιο πάνω για τους ανύπαρκτους κανόνες στη μαγεία!
Άντε θα πω και για έναν τρίτο χαρακτήρα: Ο Prusias σαν κακός είχε ενδιαφέρον, ελπίζω να μην μου τα χαλάσει στη συνέχεια. Μπορώ να πω ότι σε αυτό το βιβλίο τουλάχιστον μου άρεσε πιο πολύ από τον Astaroth τον οποίο και δεν είδαμε πολύ...

3. Η πλοκή: σαν υπόθεση δεν μπορώ να πω καλή ήταν. Και εξελίξεις είχαμε και ανατροπές και δράση είχαμε. Στην αρχή ήταν ίσως λίγο αργό αλλά αυτό είναι κάτι που μπορώ να δικαιολογήσω. Από το προηγούμενο βιβλίο τα πράγματα έχουν αλλάξει, ο κόσμος όλος έχει αλλάξει και πρέπει να τον γνωρίσουμε. Και για να γίνει αυτό χρειάζεται χρόνος. Δόξα το θεό λοιπόν ο συγγραφέας φαντασία έχει, στην εφαρμογή δεν τα πάει καλά! Λίγο πολύ τα είπα και πιο πάνω....το ότι ό συγγραφέας έβαζε όρια μόνο όταν βόλευε την υπόθεση δημιουργούσε τρύπες και απορίες παντού. Συνέβαιναν πράγματα τυχαία ή ανεξήγητα απλά και μόνο γιατί έτσι εξυπηρετούνταν η εξέλιξη της ιστορίας. Τέτοια παραδείγματα έχω δυστυχώς πολλά αλλά δεν πρόκειται να κάτσω να τα αναφέρω, τζάμπα θα συγχυστώ και κρίμα είμαι.
Είχες κάποιες πολύ καλές στιγμές και ένα καλό cliffhanger στο τέλος που σίγουρα δεν το περίμενα! Βέβαια για το πώς και το γιατί δεν μας λέει.....ελπίζω να μας πει στο επόμενο και να μην μπει κι αυτό στη λίστα με τα τυχαία και τα ανεξήγητα!

Απογοητεύτηκα είναι η αλήθεια, περίμενα κάτι καλύτερο. Εντάξει είναι παιδική σειρά και κάποια πράγματα μπορώ να τα συγχωρήσω. Δεν περιμένω τέλεια σκιαγράφηση χαρακτήρων ή πανέξυπνα plot twist. Καταλαβαίνω ότι οι πολλές περιγραφές θα κούραζαν ίσως τις μικρότερες ηλικίες και θα μπορούσα να προσπεράσω κάποιες εύκολες λύσεις. Αλλά όχι κι έτσι! Κάποια πράγματα τα θεωρώ αυτονόητα! Εδώ ο συγγραφέας έκανε ό,τι του κατέβαινε στο κεφάλι! Προφανώς και είναι δικιά του η ιστορία. Αυτός αποφασίζει τι θα γίνει! Αυτός θα βάλει τους κανόνες και τα όρια! Αλλά να τα βάλει!! όχι όπως εδώ!!

Τέλος πάντων......τώρα που το αποφάσισα θα την τελειώσω τη σειρά. Βελτίωση δεν περιμένω να δω, αλλά τουλάχιστον θα μάθω τι γίνεται στο τέλος...


“Aren’t we monsters, too?” he asked. “What’s happening to the rest of humanity while we hide behind our walls and gates and treaties? Doesn’t our order exist to protect those who can’t protect themselves?”

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recent events have not favored Rowan Academy as we move into book three of the Tapestry series, but the bad times aren't limited to the enchanted school. Released from centuries of confinement, Astaroth the Demon has gathered his evil powers against young Max McDaniels and everyone else at Rowan, forcing them under his control. The outside world now lies in ruins, but at least Max, his roommate David Menlo, and their peers have relatively free run of Rowan's grounds; that is, until Astaroth sends one of his demon kings on an ambassadorial trip to Rowan to implement new rules. Max and David are champions to be reckoned with despite their youth, but can they avoid being crushed when Astaroth puts the squeeze on them?

King Prusias of Blys puts on a convincing show at Rowan Academy. He leaves no doubt that he's stronger than anyone there, and that Astaroth is stronger still. Max hates Prusias's treatment of Rowan's traumatized population, but worse is the behavior of Vyndra, a duke in Prusias's kingdom. Rowan's leaders beg Max not to antagonize Prusias, for doing so might result in the extermination of everyone at the academy. Max barely controls his rage, but David is less compliant. The greatest sorcerer the school has seen since its founder—Elias Bram—David feigns obedience to Astaroth while secretly defying him in ways that are sure to grab the Demon's attention eventually. David holds some information back from Max while freely elaborating on other aspects of his plan, but Max fears the consequences of David's seditious actions. Everything changes in a single night for Max, though, who must depart what safety remains at Rowan to roam the world in search of a monster who took something from Max that can never be restored. The Hound's odyssey has begun.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood..."

—Teddy Roosevelt, quoted on P. 407 of The Fiend and the Forge

The Fiend and the Forge is easily the longest novel of this series, and storylines abound. Max borrows an enchanted ship called the Ormenheid to sail the oceans in pursuit of the demon he must avenge himself upon, and the ship takes him to unexpected places. The entire world after Astaroth's coming is a shell of what it was. Goblins and trolls rule over the terrified humans of Italy, and children are exploited by self-serving adults. Max has the skills to defend the weak and rid the land of a few monsters, but his bigger goal is revenge; how can he achieve it by tarrying in Italy to pick fights with local boogeymen? His accomplishments will only go unnoticed for so long before Astaroth hears and sends someone to investigate. A big night is approaching for the Demon, the festival of Walpurgisnacht, but Max hasn't the power to seriously challenge Vyndra or Prusias, let alone Astaroth. Even David's cunning plan to strike the Demon in the only area he's vulnerable is doomed to failure, and Max watches helplessly as the last people he cares about in the world head toward extermination. Is there any restoring Rowan Academy and the world at large to its halcyon days, or is the future destined to grow bleaker under Astaroth's relentless rule?

In the Acknowledgements, Henry H. Neff admits The Fiend and the Forge is "more ambitious than its predecessors". The scope of the action is wide and deep, the protagonists' mental stability is severely tested, and the oppression under Astaroth feels more uncomfortable than in the previous books. I'd rate The Fiend and the Forge two and a half stars, but can't bring myself to round up to three. If the story were more cohesive and efficient, I would round up; the raw elements are all in place for a tremendous novel. This is Henry H. Neff's best work so far in the series, and if that upward trend continues, I expect a memorable end to the five-part Tapestry saga. What will Rowan's young guardians do next?

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far be it from me to blaspheme but sometimes I like this series better than Harry Potter. I think this book is one of those examples. Granted, the plot sometimes moves too fast and other times too slow. I won't say that there aren't little things that I would change. But the story itself is just great. I loved the end of the second one with Rowan completely losing the war and I thought that this book was a great change from every other fantasy and fantasy school book. What happens in a world where demons and magic change everything? It was a great premise and he did it really well. There are just so many little things that the author gets right and makes interesting.

Though, one of the things that I thought made it particularly stand out as a young adult novel was the involvement of Max's dad. Most series kill of the parents before the book even starts or right at the beginning. The whole idea of kids not having the freedom to do the things they need to in order to go adventuring if they have parents, etc. Mr. McDaniels had a good run so I guess it was time for it to happen to him, too.

It will also be interesting to see where this return of Rowan's hero takes the series. And I'm interested in finding out more about that little girl who could use magic that was brought to Rowan from Max's farm. Almost seems like she might be a third child with the old magic...

[mussolet · Rating 5 out of 5]

... just one thing up front - in case you actually haven't read the previous two titles, don't read this one, you'll end up with as much headache as Max trying to understand philosopher's logic ;).

With "The Fiend and the Forge", Henry H. Neff takes the "Tapestry" series even further than he did with book 2.
I still remember not liking the fact that the first book in the series, The Hound of Rowan, was being compared to the Harry Potter series, but I guess that's now the problem of all books where children are introduced to magic (not that I don't like ~love~ Harry Potter ^^). I remember thinking that it had a lot of really great ideas and I liked the inclusion of art history, which is rather hard to come by in a young-adult book.
With the second book, The Second Siege, and the arrival of all the new fighting techniques, Irish mysteries and the really thoughtful handling of explaining all the different aspects of the siege and the prize of a war, I thought the series took a major leap (albeit a very good one), and was on the verge of not considering it young-adult material anymore.
The third book now definitely deserves an age restriction in my opinion, what with Max experiencing the cost of war, being a gladiator, being imprisoned, being tortured.

I'm not sure how much I like the fact that the book isn't all about David. It's a great idea to not actually follow the real hero but rather his protector, it's certainly more interesting to watch Max's adventures than to see David studying all the time and it does help the surprise reveals in the end, but I've grown to love the character of David (a lot) and I think it's sad that he doesn't explain himself or talk to Max as often as he used to in the previous books.
Plus, Max can be rather annoying sometimes and not all of his excentricities can be explained away by him having a bad temper, whichever way it might be influenced by his blood or not.

Also, I still have a problem with time frames - from a general point of view of being in one place for three weeks to having been there for months just two pages later, to a sense of wonder how members of orders can just slip away for rescue missions that last a few weeks, down to a question of Max's character because sometimes it's just weird to have him do some things that maybe a man of thirty or forty years would do, but probably not a boy of sixteen. I know that part was explained in book two, but I still have some difficulties grasping the concept (especially when Max experiences one of his flares of temper in between me realizing it^^).

Also I think that despite being quite long this book threw up a lot more questions than answers, so I'm looking forward to No. 4, and am rather hoping it won't take quite as long ;), because it was an interesting and entertaining read, despite the sometimes rather gruesome themes. I loved all the new ideas, but it took some time taking it all in; I'm guessing a re-read of the entire series is in order before the publication of the next book.

I'm naturally hoping for more David in book four, plus a lot of answers to all the questions that have been raised, maybe a visit to the other Kingdoms, and perhaps a glossary for all the species floating around the text, because I had to look up about 70% of them (and most of them didn't get a result on Google ... Do smees actually exist in folk tales or legends?). Plus, I'd love to see more of the teaching and studying, althoug I'm afraid that Max is too old now to still attend classes.

P.S.: Luckily enough for me, there's no love triangle (please keep it that way!).
P.P.S.: There's one thing in here that actually made me think of HP7, but in the worst way possible, and I would not have needed that happening! Especially as I couldn't have predicted it and so wasn't prepared for it at all :(.

[Dawn Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good:
The world Neff has created is all well and good- It probably took a lot of research into Irish mythology if he didn't know them well already, and I respect him for the probable Doing Homework.

I also like the somewhat gray morality- Take a look at Brom in the earlier books. He's painted as a hero, that unreachable standard of pure golden good, the Guy Who Can Do No Wrong. Yet in the latter books Astaroth reveals that he's got a shady side- the stuff with the apprentice and summoning, which I won't go into detail here. I might be wrong, Ms. Richter also strikes me as the type that would do things viewed as "wrong" to protect Rowan and the peace.

A third thing is the situation of having actually lost to the demons, and Max having to deal with the consequences of everyone seemingly being fine with it.

That added with the reforging of the gale bolga and Nick subsequently dyingNot to mention the death of his father (Though I'm honestly surprised he lived this long- parents finding out what's going on often end up with something happening to them. Well, in Fablehaven the parents were kidnapped before finding out, but not the point.) and Conner's selling of soul and becoming a Count or something. That makes for lots of nice juicy angst, eh?

The Bad:
Character personalities. I simply cannot get much of a grip on them. This book Max is easily described as "angry berserker", but his anger isn't as prominent in any of the other books. David? Uh, Sorcerer, seems to care for his mom, mysterious... I don't know. Take one of those character survey tests where you list 10 characters and answer questions, use The Tapestry characters (human ones anyway- demons seem to be easier to depict personality-wise), and go! David walks in on Cooper and Ms. Richter making out, what happens? You tell me whether he's going to run out, laugh, just raise an eyebrow, or take pictures.

Inconsistencies- I don't recall reading about Max's regenerative ability anywhere in the first two books- it's like Neff mentally listed Max's abilities, found "white light and screaming" lacking, and tacked that on. Plus the aforementioned anger issues- now you see me, now you don't.

All in all not a bad book, but have to tack off a star.

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:

✱ Menagerie series
✱ Beyonders series
✱ Seven Realms series
✱ Unwanteds series

[geschichtenfaenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Der dritte Teil war ein guter und solider Abschluss, der jedoch sehr viel Inhalt bot. Stellenweise passiert so unglaublich viel, dass ich leicht überfordert war und andererseits zog es sich dafür etwas in die Länge. Doch insgesamt war ich positiv überrascht , wieviel doch in einem Buch möglich ist. Das Ende lässt meiner Meinung nach so einiges offen und mir fehlt noch eine Erklärung. Dennoch ist es dem Autor wieder mal gelungen , alles anders zu macjen , als es der Leser wartet . Vor allem das Ende das zweiten Teils hatte das ja schon sehr deutlich gezeigt und irgendwie hatte ich auch hier ein anderes Ende erwartet. Aber auch mit diesem bin ich durchaus zufrieden !

[gwen and books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fiend and the Forge is probably Neff’s most ambitious tale yet and really puts this series on a scale that is equal to, if not better in many ways, to the Percy Jackson series.  The book is a virtual history lesson that presents a unique, imaginative view of what history would look like if it could somehow be seized, twisted, rewritten and then retold by a demonic, yet charismatic dictator (the demon, Astaroth).  Imagine a world where all modern conveniences never existed:  no electricity, no cds, no television, and all memories of them were erased.  This is Max’s world in The Fiend and the Forge, and he’s determined to change it back.

In the beginning of this book, we find that Max, the Rowan Academy and the world are inhabited by demons seeking to reassert their control over the world.  His roommate is not acting normal, and his friends are in danger.  Max becomes more determined than ever to protect his home and to seek revenge on the demon who murdered someone he loved very much.  Battling his impetuous instincts for revenge along with the deep forces of the ‘old magic’ within, Max sets off on a journey that takes him far away on a magic toy ship to Astaroth’s kingdom.  In spite of his own magical powers and the help of others, Max’s enemies recognize him and choose to provoke him in painful and personal ways, resulting in some highly poignant moments, life-threatening situations, and absolutely epic battles as he seeks to administer his own brand of justice.

The downside:  I felt some of the scenes should have been explained a bit more, like the child sacrifice scene.  I really wished Neff had explained the ending and the significance of that scene to Max a bit more.  I was left hanging.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've noted I've taken my time about getting to the reviews of these. I will be assuming that if you are reading this review that you have read the first two books.

I have said that there seems to be a plot line in these books that will only be revealed near the series end. I think there are some hints but we can't be sure till we get there.

So...spoilers for the first 2 volumes of the series ahead.

Here we enter into a world suffering the outcome of the Second Siege. The "things" of the modern world have not only vanished from existence but are fading from memory. Books are "fading away" The print in any book not written out by hand is fading and leaving only bound paper. The citizens of Rowan are hurriedly recopying volumes trying to save all they can.

Only Rowan lives outside direct demonic control...and even there a demonic embassy casts a dark shadow. Demonic lords rule all the lands of Earth. The nations have been forgotten. Goblins, ogres and other creatures swarm...humans are often simply food and slaves.

This is a dark dystopian world...Max and David are in the middle of it, Hound and Magic User against the demons.

Still an interesting read. Still good characters. The reading plot level is still a mixed bag as it seems to be written on a youth level but brings in some dark plot points. I suggest parents and guardians read these first but then they will I suspect be interesting to readers of most age groups old enough for them.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the other two books in this series and greatly enjoyed them, my husband and I both tore through this book in a few days each. It's exciting, intriguing, and at times, at least in this one, a little creepy! I wasn't expecting that but found myself being into the darker parts of the book as well. It's also quite a divergence from the normal setting and cadence of the rest of the stories, which made it seem fresh for a third book in a series. It also truly had my pulse racing in more than one instance, at had me up till 1 in the morning last night trying to get to the finish (I made it!)

I really liked that Mr. Neff re-told certain plot points; without such a precise reminder I might have been a little lost as it's been awhile since I read the last book. They weren't overwrought, though - just enough to make me go, "Oh yeah! I remember that..." and continue on with the story feeling very much up to speed.

Quite an adventure, this book. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy and saga-type stories. Though parents or younger readers be careful of the scarier parts... I was glad I wasn't reading it in a room by myself in a few parts! =) Very excited for the next and final book to come out in a year or so.

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confession: I stalled out reading this one, set it aside for months before making a final push to the finish. Not for reasons of quality ... but rather for ambiance.

The mood of this story darkens significantly. In Book 3 (of five) in the Tapestry series, we enter a downward spiral of tragedy and loss. Hope is quenched. Evil encroaches. People die. Lies are believed. Bonds are tested and broken. More lives are lost. I know Mr. Neff is raising the proverbial stakes, but I don't have much taste for despair ... especially not five hundred pages of it. I intend to see the series through, but I am a little afraid of what losses may yet lie ahead.

The diminished star count is a reflection of my taste in stories. I did like it, but I didn't *really* like it. If I could give five stars to Cooper, I would. I own Book #4, and it shall be read in due course.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book The Fiend and the Forge by Henry H.Neff has 420 pages. The story is about a boy named Max McDaniels who is the hero of a school of magic. In the book Max's father is killed by a demon and Max leaves Rowan seeking revenge. On his way to the demon he encounters withces, strange creatures that live in wells and fighting in an Arena as a gladiator for the demons so he can save the many Humans at Rowan. All in all this is a great book I recommend it to people wbo love action and adventure.

[Ash]

(spoilers) kind of the book that cemented this series in kid!me's memory? the way All That actually... happened, the way the world was made unrecognisable, the way Nick died, the way Max had to trade away Lorca's gift, etc. strikingly... unsentimental isn't the right word but it's the only one that's coming to mind for this kind of series

[Oliver Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

If book two was more mature, book three turned quite a bit more dark. Following the events of the previous, this book was deep an frightening in a way that the others had not been yet. I really enjoyed the take on a dystopian future, and the struggles and journey that Max goes through are emotional and impactful.

[Reese Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still 100% solid on a fifth reread ten years after I originally read it.

[Jessica Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book in the Tapestry series, for many reasons. I really really like Astaroth as the antagonist in this series, as he's a villain with a partly justifiable goal- humans have destroyed Earth and he wants to restore the damage done. It shows different mentalities where some characters simply accept this and work on looking at the future while Max cannot accept it. This book also does a great job of showing Max's prejudices and overcoming them with his friendships with Nix, Valya, and Mr. Bonn. There's a lot of changes and growth in Max throughout this book that I love to see. I loved the reference of sharps and flats earlier in the book that then comes to fruition later with astaroth and david's plan. I also think Nick's death was the hardest for me in this whole series and was done beautifully but emotionally. I think this book is written really well and I like the insight as to what happens when the "good guys" are defeated.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My name is Max, and I'm worried that everyone has given up their defiance of the takeover by Astaroth and the demons. It was especially insulting when Prusia came and built an "embassy" right in the middle of Rowan. Then, Vyndra waltzed into Rowan and arrogantly baited me into a fight. I've been able to control my anger so far, just barely, but I'm now ready to unleash my fury upon the demons. I found my father murdered in the woods. I know Vyndra is responsible, and he will suffer my wrath. The Director cannot condone and support my behavior, so I must leave Rowan and venture alone into the Kingdom of Blys. I'm not certain where I'm going yet, but I won't stop my search until my father's death is avenged.

I didn't like this book as much as the first two books in the series. The hunt for Vyndra was the main conflict, but it became a bit muddled due to events Max faced along the way. It was also a little disturbing to think Max's sole motivation was revenge and the death of another character. I've enjoyed the interactions between main characters, but Max spent much of this plot by himself or with new characters. He had an internal struggle going on in his head, since he wouldn't accept defeat at the hands of Astaroth and the demons. Everyone else seemed resigned to the situation, but Max continued his private, solo battle. The journey into Blys became a soul-searching experience, although Max never fully gave up the anger burning inside. Overall, I still liked the book and have already started the sequel, The Maelstrom.

[gunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh, like watching author H. Neff playing chess with himself. This is a writer to watch, his red herrings and foreshadowing are delightful traps to fall into as a reader. Either that, or my memory's failing me, since I didn't see the ending coming despite all the clues littered along the way. Faster paced than the previous two books, with higher stakes, and a good sense of character growth that I enjoyed very much. Max, the protagonist, has grown wiser and more patient, yet still keeps his passion and bloodlust. The story also gets a hundred times more brutal, with higher death tolls of friends and foes alike.

One of the best things I liked about the series is its focus on the after-war - of what happens after the losing. I've read a number of books with the winning or losing as the climax (and most times there's a short, almost half-hearted epilogue about what happens after if the author's generous), but I don't think I've read a book that follows through that far after the point.

Off to read the next one!

[Jonathan Ng · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realize this was intended for a younger audience, but I still think that the author skipped several important events and I would have liked for them to actually be developed more. Even though the combat in this book is fast paced and described well, it is often inconsistent. What I mean by this is that the main character will often fight hordes of enemies with ease, then fall in much simpler fights. Other than that, my only other fault with this book is the fact that the main character's anger problems often get him into trouble, which is not very believable and overused since it happens quite often in the series.

Saying this, I enjoyed the book and its characters quite a bit. I probably have picked out details that a younger audience would not notice, but I felt like I should point them out. Overall, a great book and series, with a nice story line and some cool bad guys.

[Anaide · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books keeps getting darker.

I have a lot of praise for this instalment. I really like how some plot threads that were set up in the book one and two find their conclusion in the book three. This series manages really well to carry some storylines in way that their conclusion is the right mix of surprising and making sense. My favourite ones were lymrill, Cooper and Bram, and I cannot wait to see the continuation with Sikes, Connor and Mina.

Also this book is quite long and it covers two years and it does a really good job of it feeling like it really was two years without dragging. I also like how the characters change with circumstances (some) and some stay constant. Looking forward to venture to unknown territory with the fourth instalment.

[Kenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: If you start this book, you will be unable to put it down! Very rarely will I find a book that will attach itself so firmly to my heartstrings that on multiple occasions it will reduce me to a sobbing mass of emotional reader--but this book does! A phenomenal medieval/modern dystopia combined with action, suspense, and mythology (not to mention the AMAZING twists and turns at every corner), this book kept me turning pages VERY VERY LATE into the night (or early into the morning--whichever you prefer). I highly recommend this book--this series has topped my favorites list. Amazing!!!!!

[Kaitie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this one!

I figured I would since the first two were great, but you never know. I was afraid that since I read the last one awhile ago, that I would forget what was going on and not feel connected to the story anymore, but that wasn't the case. It was easy to jump back into Max's world and I couldn't put the book down. So much action and drama, parts that made me cry, it was great. My only complaint is that I have to wait so long for the next one, I'm not sure I can wait!

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It's creativity made it a very exciting tale. It may be in a similar realm of Harry Potter, but this was based in an alternative world of its own. The creative concept, plot foundation, character development, and pace were all amazing.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appropriate for: age 12+

I liked this sequel a lot. It really makes you put yourself in the main character shoes. He has a lot of difficult decisions to make and it's done well. It's a bit dark, so I recommend this for tweens and up.

[Deborah Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Last part was good but the first 3/4 of the book was slow, sad and depressing.

[Adam Spadafora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers Ahead

I'll start off by saying that I thought the first two books in this series were good, but certainly not spectacular. I thought the integration of Rowan Academy and it's creatures and magic into the modern world was interesting, and seeing everything devolve in the second book, as well as seeing Max's development into the "Hound of Rowan", was done well. That being said, I believe this book puts both previous ones to shame with ease.

This book takes a completely different approach to the other two previous entries, leaning completely into the idea of a fantastical and newly constructed world. We experience the highs and lows that Max feels as he realizes that everything he knew in the modern world is gone, and humans are an afterthought in the new world order.

There are two sections in this book that I occasionally reread to this day, more than ten years later, because I found them to be so brilliantly written. Those are the farmhouse plotline, and the gladiator plotline. The farmhouse is the first real experience that Max has in this new land, and it perfectly and gradually adds elements of the new world Max has entered. Max's hunt of the monster in the well is a great demonstration of how he has continued growing stronger over the books, and it also shows the horrors that humanity now faces in a world of demons and other creatures. Then we get to grow attachment to the residents of the farmhouse, as we learn more about what life is like now, which makes us fear for them when they are threatened later by demons.

Then we move on to the arena, or gladiator section, where Max faces progressively stronger opponents in a demon city. Each fight is masterfully written, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. You learn even more about the world, and the new kingdoms of demons. The storyline culminates in the final battle in the arena in a brilliant twist where Max, having now gained the title "The Red Death", (so bad*ss by the way) unknowingly fights and eventually kills one of his clones created by the workshop, leading the demons to believe that he has become their champion by slaying Max McDaniels, their worst enemy. Just a masterfully done plot twist there in my opinion.

These are not the only two good sections of the book either. I think both the beginning and especially the ending are riveting and shocking to the reader. Max's father is killed by a demon towards the start of the book, which forces him to leave Rowan, and puts him on a path of revenge that you can actually empathize with. The ending is even better, concluding with an action-packed final battle where demons turn on each other, Max exacts his revenge, and David deceives Astaroth, again in a brilliant plot twist. And the last thing we are left with is another shift in the world order, the return of Elias Bram, humanities greatest sorcerer, and the only person feared by Astaroth.

In my opinion, this book turned this series from a decent fantasy adventure series, into one of my all time favorite series in any genre. It had my heart racing from start to finish, and it is a creative take on your Lord of the Rings style fantasy story, with exciting creatures and places fully developed by the author. If you are expecting some emotional character development odyssey, I don't think this book is that. Max changes relatively little if at all during this book, except for his coming to grips with the death of his father. Still, he is likeable and not so strong as to make any of the action boring.

After this book the series takes off as well. The fourth and fifth installments are satisfying continuations of the story, nearly as good as this one. I am always disappointed to see how underrated this series remains. If you like fantasy, action, and adventure, then this series is perfect.

[One Man Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

Hound of Rowan (The Tapestry Series, Book 1)
The Second Siege (The Tapestry Series, Book 2)
The Fiend and the Forge (The Tapestry Series, Book 3)
The Maelstrom (The Tapestry Series, Book 4)
The Red Winter (The Tapestry Series, Book 5)
By: Henry H. Neff
My Rating: Four out of Five Stars
Best For: Advanced readers 12 and up

The Tapestry Series: Harry Potter x Fablehaven x X-Men!

Finding quality middle-grade fiction can be a real quest. Too often, books either talk down to young readers or launch them into material way over their heads. It's a tough balance to strike, but Henry H. Neff's *The Tapestry* series nails it. Think of it as a magical mashup: a dash of Harry Potter's enchanting school setting, the whimsical creatures and hidden worlds of Fablehaven, and a sprinkle of X-Men's exploration of unique abilities. This series delivers a captivating blend of adventure, mystery, and coming-of-age themes that will resonate with readers.

What’s it about?

Max McDaniels seems like an ordinary kid, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a mysterious tapestry. Suddenly, he's thrust into the world of Rowan Academy, a secret school where students hone extraordinary talents. Max finds himself learning ancient languages, wielding elemental magic, and even communicating with mythical beasts. But Rowan Academy isn't just about fun and games. A sinister force is rising, threatening to engulf the world in darkness. Max and his friends must unravel ancient prophecies, face terrifying creatures, and discover the true potential of their own powers to save the day. The series follows Max and his friends through their years at Rowan as they face increasingly difficult challenges and grow into their roles as protectors of the realm.

What did I love?

The Perfect Middle-Grade Blend: Neff has crafted a series that hits that sweet spot for middle-grade readers. It's exciting and imaginative, but also deals with complex themes in a way that's accessible and engaging.
Themes of Friendship and Choice: The Tapestry series explores the power of friendship, the importance of self-control, and the courage it takes to make your own choices, even when they're difficult. Max and his friends learn to rely on each other, to manage their own powers, and to forge their own paths in the face of destiny. It's a powerful message about growing up and taking responsibility for your actions.
Rich Lore: The series draws heavily from Celtic mythology, creating a rich and immersive world. While the names and places can be a bit challenging (thank goodness for the pronunciation guide in the back of the books!), they add a layer of depth and authenticity to the story. The audiobook version is also a fantastic way to learn the correct pronunciations.

What didn't I love?

Stronger Violence: While the violence isn't gratuitous, there are some scenes that are more intense than I typically expect in middle-grade fiction. Key characters do die, and Neff doesn't shy away from the emotional impact of these losses.

Sensitive Content

As mentioned above, there are some violent scenes and character deaths. There is one scene in book 5 that mentions a nude women. Not sexual, no description of details.

Should you read it?

Absolutely! If you're looking for a thrilling and imaginative adventure series that explores meaningful themes, The Tapestry series is a must-read. It's perfect for advanced middle-grade readers who are ready for a story with depth, excitement, and a touch of darkness.

This Dad says The Tapestry Series is best for advanced readers 12 and up.

Happy Reading!

[Fay Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third installment in the Tapestry series is action-packed! It is filled with battles and adventure, as Max fights frightening demons, competes in Coliseum death matches, and prepares for a chaotic and epic ending showdown. The writing continues to improve, with the physical descriptions of movement and action scenes making for a exciting, smooth, and stimulating read.

It could just be my imagination, but those scenes remind me of anime so much that I wonder if the author is a shonen fan--the stakes keep rising, Max's grittiness and determination are palpable as he forces himself to surpass his own limits, and he seems to draw on reserves of strength just when all seems lost. There are also a few weird scenes and imagery that also reminds me of the visceral nature of anime, where unexpected and often disturbing pictures somehow still "work" and add to the atmosphere.

I have high praise for this book and the series, but there are two issues starting to form. One is that, while the book relies heavily on Irish mythology, I'm struggling to see what makes the book "Irish" besides these cute callbacks and references. Is Max Irish? He's from Chicago, not Boston, and it's never mentioned, so I'm not sure. What's the relation between Max (and another character's) heritage, what's their relationship with Ireland and the Irish beyond it being a mythical and magical place? If it's nothing, then why is Ireland and Cuhulain stronger than, let's say, Africa and Anasazi or England and King Arthur. There is a hole here in the meaning that the author neglects to address.

The second is that I'm not sure where Max gets his moral code and values from. He sometimes makes decisions that are maddening. He might do the right thing, or the wrong thing, depending on your perception. I like Max and I think he is an excellent character, but I think the author has left God out of the novel and this omission is felt strongly when Max confronts the demon and compares him to Lucifer. It's understandable, because it's not Christian fiction, and Max doesn't strike me as even remotely religious--but we're talking about Ireland and comparing the bad guy to the Christian devil. Even if we're focusing on Pagan Ireland, it still seems a bit awkward to leave out any thematic references to Catholicism, which left a 1500 year stamp on Irish culture and history.

I think a good model for what I'm trying to explain here is C.S. Lewis's Narnia series. It doesn't need to be as heavy-handed as Aslan's resurrection, but The Tapestry seems to be missing the blood of something greater flowing through its veins, the way that Narnia is infused with the same morality as the West's dominant, major religion. This solid grounding is why Narnia is a classic but the Tapestry may not be--it needs to speak to something greater than itself.

Well, how it compares to one of the most famous and beloved children's classics is a very harsh metric to put a book up against. So far these are very good, exciting books, with strong characters, memorable scenes, and good lessons about friendship and trust. Whether it will blossom into something truly incomparably GREAT remains to be seen!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot choose my favorite between The Second Siege, The Fiend and the Forge, and the Maelstrom. But for me, The Fiend and the Forge was probably the saddest one out of the Tapestry books, thus far. Here is where Max's lone, self-discovery journey begins, and it is truly one of pain, realizing inner prejudices, yet yearning for vengeance. I thought The Second Siege was going to be my favorite Tapestry book, but WHAM, The Fiend and the Forge hit me hard. I highly, HIGHLY recommend book 3. Epic villains, epic plot, well-developed characters.

Rowan is living in the "past;" not literally, but modern technology has been reversed by Astaroth (after his possession of the Book of Thoth). Now, Rowan is isolated without modern communication, the rest of the world collapsed, land is split among the hierarchy of demons, and demons reign terror over humans. No one but Rowan students, faculty, and those with old magic can even remember their former lives. Max begins his academic year regularly, until the arrival of demon lord Prusias throws that into upheaval. There are be MAJOR DEATHS in this book.

*Spoilers* Forewarning, this is going to be a loooooong review, because there's so many great things to say about this book.
Characters:
Loved Max, David, and the whole rest of their gang in here. Oh, and Mina, who is introduced here, is great, as are Nix and Valya, and Skeedle the troll. Toby the Smee is funny, and a nice addition to an already stellar cast of characters. Max grew a ton, and I did like Julie Teller here. David just became my favorite sardonic sorcerer of all time, and he always has a secret up his sleeve. His interactions with Max is always a pleasure to read, as the bromance between the two rocks. What I like about Max is that he's flawed; he has anger issues, he gets too caught up on vengeance, he can sometimes lose control and lash out in violence. But he's also compassionate, surprisingly great with kids (we see this trait shine with Mina and the other young kids he meets on his journey to demon-land), and empathetic (his friendship with Nix and Valya, both Vyes, is a perfect example of Max realizing some of his inner prejudice against Vyes). Cooper and Miss Boon are iconic as ever, and Astaroth and Prusias are compelling villains. In fact, Astaroth remains one of my favorite literary villains.

Plot/Scenes:
I say this was the most heart-breaking book to read, because Mr.McDaniels gets murdered, and that was something I never saw coming. The entire chapter, "Where the Creek Narrows" is so sad, and I cried at the end and at the beginning of the next chapter. Scratch that, I cried for at least two subsequent chapters after Scott McDaniels' death. Nick the Lymrill's death also haunted me. How could you do that to me and to Max, after he just lost his father? 😭. And Maya's death (David's Ulu) was also sad. That said, there was also some humor in this book, and I laughed when Bellagrog and the haglings were introduced, when Max had his disastrous but hilariously awkward first teaching lesson, and when Toby the Smee told Max to remove his wig.

Book 3 has such poignant moments, that make my angst-loving mind squeal in delight. So many beautiful, poetic scenes, which the sad moments fall under, too. I just got such quietly mournful, tender, though chillingly dark vibes while reading this book, particularly when Max spends a while on the Ormenheid (Chapter 15: Into the Blue), his entire time at the farm with Mina and all the kids (in which I felt Max matured a lot here), and his whole fighting stunt as The Red Death under Prusias' thumb.

Some of the descriptions here were downright terrifying, such as Chapter 16: Horrors in the Well, and Chapter 21: The Red Death: this sentence was creepy, but vivid: "Throughout, the monster screamed and giggled, occasionally making a hideous gurgle that sounded like 'Pietro'" (Horrors in the Well, 282). And then when Max realizes the monster from the well could have been human? Even more creepy. Also, when he fights some monster as the Red Death, and the monster also mimics human voices, that spooked me. There's a recurring concept of creatures mimicking humans (the monster in the well, the monster Max battles, Astaroth, who is not quite a demon but some unknown, unique entity), which gives me the chills.

Favorite Scenes Overall:
- Chapter 10: A Window on the World. Also, a very specific scene when David tells Max that he used to collect playing cards, and would not sell them for food even when his mother was starving. This was a great insight into David's character.
- Max's entire time traveling on the seas, alone, and when he is on the farm with Mina and the rest.
- Max's battle with Myrmidon (who ends up being Max's clone). This was a descriptive, surprising, and sad scene. Myrmidon's gentle goodbye to Max after Max runs his sword through him brought tears to my eyes. Just Myrmidon's hands, seeking to place them on Max's own, is so poetic to me.
- Max's first day as a professor. My awkward Max in this scene cracks me up every time.
- All the death scenes; heart-breaking, but eloquent and worth the read.
- Ch. 24 Whisper's in the Dark: Astaroth visits Max in his cell ("The moon has fallen to earth and come to play with him" (434)). Loved the vivid imagery in this scene, and Astaroth's bottomless, enigmatic, smiling persona. A favorite sentence is: "With a sigh, the Demon sat next to Max upon the stone bench. For several moments, the two merely sat together, like old friends waiting for the bus"(436). I love this sentence, because it evokes the interesting image of Death and his victim (Astaroth and Max, respectably), sitting together like old friends. It's a quiet danger, the moment where Max is resigned and melancholically surrenders to his doomsday, wrought by Astaroth.
- One of my favorite lines: "He's like a lonely star that has fallen to earth and will burn it all away"(126): Max describing Astaroth, and comparing him and Prusias.
- A Son of Elathan chapter. For so many reasons.

Ultimately, awesome third book. Phenomenal illustrations, too.

[Michael Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

With two of the books down on my personal quest to re-read the series, I now come at the third book, The Fiend and the Forge. While it didn’t give me the same excitement as when I first read it, I can say it still kept me engaged from start to finish. (4.5 out of 5)

Months after the Siege of Rowan, the world as we know it has changed. With technological advancements stripped from the world by Astaroth, humans now live as they once did centuries ago. Expect this time, many live under demon rule. With Europe carved up among the demon lords, Rowan is left to govern itself as its own country. As long as Rowan does not interfere with Astaroth and the demon lords’ rule of the world, its people and creatures are allowed to be at peace. Max does his best to do just that, but when dark forces change his life forever, he realizes he can’t stand by and do nothing. With only what he can carry, Max sets out into the new world to right what has been wronged.

Just like the last book, this story unofficially splits itself into two arcs. The first focuses on Max’s time in Rowan and learning about the new world while the second sees him exploring said world. Both parts do a good job with their pacing as well as storytelling, much like the last two. While I wasn’t fond of the new direction the author took so quickly after the first book, I ended up liking aspects of it. The tone that was set for Max and the others allowed for character development as crucial story plots took place. Making me both sad and happy when major changes transpired. From diplomatic meetings to interactions with new kinds of demons, it felt like I was always learning something new.

For those who missed certain characters like Nigel, you are in luck. Many missing since book one return, though they not do not offer much to the plot. That being said, the new characters, both human and otherwise do add to the plot in a way that makes up for several old ones having less contribution to the story. Many new characters allowed the reader to get a different idea of the demons and other creatures of this world. Letting the reader have a more rounded understanding and moving away from a everything is black and white mentality.

The main focus of the book continued Max's change from a simple student into a hero. Much like the mythology’s that the book relates to, Max is forced to confront many challenges and creatures as he decides what kind of person he wants to become. I did miss the Max from book one, but given the world the author created it makes since Max had to grow up at such a quick pace. Just like when people are forced to deal with war or environmental changes, Max had to take charge in order to protect himself and those around him.

The ending was as epic as I remembered it. Filled with twists, suspense, and a reveal that made me eager to once again read the fourth book!