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Guardians of Ga'Hoole #8
The Outcast
Haunted by his past, hunted by the Pure Ones, Nyroc flies alone. He yearns to go to the great tree, where good and learned owls do noble deeds, but he cannot. He is son of Kludd and Nyra, sworn enemies of all Ga’Hoole stands for, feared and despised everywhere.
By Nyroc has glimpsed hope-and a new destiny-in the flame over his father's very bones. In search of that destiny, he trains his gaze and beats his wings toward a dark, lawless place where desperate characters roam a barren landscape and fire splits the sky-The Beyond the Beyond.
By Nyroc has glimpsed hope-and a new destiny-in the flame over his father's very bones. In search of that destiny, he trains his gaze and beats his wings toward a dark, lawless place where desperate characters roam a barren landscape and fire splits the sky-The Beyond the Beyond.
207 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
151 people are currently reading
3287 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
266 books2,276 followersKathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
February 26, 2011
The Outcast seems to be the conclusion of an eight-book tale. In the fashion of Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Prydain, the true king has taken his place on the throne after an epic story of quests and wars where good triumphs over evil, with the blood of the martyrs spilled in every corner of the kingdom. The king who takes his place is Coryn, the son of evil tyrants.
In this book Coryn becomes the most likeable and connecting character in the entire series. For the first time in this series I was emotionally moved over and over by a character. With the obstacles Coryn overcomes his willingness to do whatever it takes at the expense of so many things is truly touching.
The question of love is threaded through books seven and eight. In The Hatchling Coryn (then Nyroc) tells his mother that he loves her. His mother is completely lacking any concept of love, even for her own child. How Coryn knew what love was at all is a testament to what he was born with. He was certainly never taught any form of love. In chapter nine of this book he is pondering love. “To love something can often mean to give it up...” is a conclusion he came to on his own. This is something he has to do over and over. He gives up his home, his mother, his own wishes to go the the great tree, and other things along the way. In the end he is overwhelmed with love for all of the people who helped him and guided him to his destiny, people who put their lives on the line for him, people who died for him.
Through this love he learns what it is to do honorable things. He discusses standards with Phillip. He realizes that fulfilling his quest means doing without things he wants and being patient. Hamish has a similar destiny to Coryn's, and in chapter 17 he says, “Honors are lonely things. I would much rather have friends than honors.”
The great message in the book is Soren's blessing of Coryn in chapter 28. “You who were born into evil found good. You who were raised in tyranny sought equality. You who were schooled in brutality learned only mercy. You who were taught the dishonorable discovered honor.” After all he went through, what a great feeling it was for Coryn to hear those words from his hero. What a great example of what the readers should aspire to.
A final note on the legends. The author reminds us that belief in the legends accounts for so many of the great things accomplished by the main characters in this series. It seems that Otulissa was the last one who finally gave in and believed and acted on it. What a reward there was in store! Though I don't think this series is written from a Christian perspective, belief in the words of God from the Bible has accomplished many of the same types of things in the course of human history. The ancient writings and stories in the Bible have been so important to so many groups of people. (But those are just stories, right? They're not really true.) Believe and you will see.
The Outcast was an impressive conclusion to the series. While in many stories the end is disappointing (especially in long stories), this one ended well, and was very satisfying. I know the next three books are of the legends, which I'm looking forward to, but I'm a little puzzled as to where the story can go from there, and if it will be as good as it continues. I know some details will be expanded on in the legends. I'm still wondering about Ifghar. And what about the Others? Those are the loose ends the author hasn't tied up. On to the legends.
In this book Coryn becomes the most likeable and connecting character in the entire series. For the first time in this series I was emotionally moved over and over by a character. With the obstacles Coryn overcomes his willingness to do whatever it takes at the expense of so many things is truly touching.
The question of love is threaded through books seven and eight. In The Hatchling Coryn (then Nyroc) tells his mother that he loves her. His mother is completely lacking any concept of love, even for her own child. How Coryn knew what love was at all is a testament to what he was born with. He was certainly never taught any form of love. In chapter nine of this book he is pondering love. “To love something can often mean to give it up...” is a conclusion he came to on his own. This is something he has to do over and over. He gives up his home, his mother, his own wishes to go the the great tree, and other things along the way. In the end he is overwhelmed with love for all of the people who helped him and guided him to his destiny, people who put their lives on the line for him, people who died for him.
Through this love he learns what it is to do honorable things. He discusses standards with Phillip. He realizes that fulfilling his quest means doing without things he wants and being patient. Hamish has a similar destiny to Coryn's, and in chapter 17 he says, “Honors are lonely things. I would much rather have friends than honors.”
The great message in the book is Soren's blessing of Coryn in chapter 28. “You who were born into evil found good. You who were raised in tyranny sought equality. You who were schooled in brutality learned only mercy. You who were taught the dishonorable discovered honor.” After all he went through, what a great feeling it was for Coryn to hear those words from his hero. What a great example of what the readers should aspire to.
A final note on the legends. The author reminds us that belief in the legends accounts for so many of the great things accomplished by the main characters in this series. It seems that Otulissa was the last one who finally gave in and believed and acted on it. What a reward there was in store! Though I don't think this series is written from a Christian perspective, belief in the words of God from the Bible has accomplished many of the same types of things in the course of human history. The ancient writings and stories in the Bible have been so important to so many groups of people. (But those are just stories, right? They're not really true.) Believe and you will see.
The Outcast was an impressive conclusion to the series. While in many stories the end is disappointing (especially in long stories), this one ended well, and was very satisfying. I know the next three books are of the legends, which I'm looking forward to, but I'm a little puzzled as to where the story can go from there, and if it will be as good as it continues. I know some details will be expanded on in the legends. I'm still wondering about Ifghar. And what about the Others? Those are the loose ends the author hasn't tied up. On to the legends.
November 12, 2022
I loved how there were a few adorable and funny instances that served as a reminder that Coryn was just a little more than a hatchling. On more than one occassion I felt as if I was reading about Soren rather than Coryn, however, since I can't place whether it was good or bad in the entire scheme of things, I'm willing to give it the benefit of doubt.
All in all, it was a wonderful succession to the previous book.
All in all, it was a wonderful succession to the previous book.
February 24, 2015
I feel like it's time to call it quits with this series. So, as I won't be reading the next book, I'll turn this into a nostalgic review of this book, and the series as a whole.
Two years ago, I picked up The Capture from my school library, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was already a fan of Erin Hunter's Warriors, so a similar book series about owls naturally attracted me. I then read the next five books, and found them to be just as good, if not better. The plotline was cool, the characters were unique and likable, the mythology was surprisingly well-developed for a series of children's books. After I finished reading The Burning, I was excited to see what would happen next to Soren and his friends, and eagerly picked up the next book, The Hatchling, over the summer...only to be sorely disappointed.
I think it would've been less of a let-down if Kathryn Lasky listed Hatchling, Outcast, etc. as a separate series, similar to Rick Riordan with The Heroes of Olympus, or Erin Hunter with the various arcs of Warriors and Seekers. I expected Soren, and what I got was Nyroc (a bland Gary-Stu of a protagonist). The characters I had grown to love over the course of six books were entirely absent, with the exception of Otulissa. But I kept reading, because I hoped that it would get better. I hoped that Nyroc would develop a damn personality, and actually struggle at something for once (if I wanted to read about a character who's perfect at everything, I'd read fucking Starkit's Prophecy).
Once again, my hopes were dashed.
Nyroc/Coryn is still a bland Gary-Stu. The previous characters are still mostly absent, though Otulissa gets some more prominence. While I'd like to say that the plot made up for this...it, quite honestly, didn't. Finding Ga'Hoole, which was previously Coryn's number one motivation, has taken a backseat to the Ember of Hoole subplot. Oh, and did I mention how this plotline kicks off? Coryn overhears a story that's kinda similar to something that just happened to him, so he decides to abandon his dreams and go off on a quest which may or may not be a suicide mission.
Honestly, though, even the first six books probably weren't as good as I remember them. Because, looking back on it, there's a shit ton of problems with this series, including but not limited to:
- The author is writing for the wrong target audience. Like, she wants to include murder, slavery, cannibalism, psychological torture and brainwashing of children, kidnapping, warfare, etc., in a book series targeted at elementary schoolers. Now, I'm all for including dark/mature stuff in kids' books. Talking down to kids never does them any favors. However, I believe that if these were young adult books (instead of middle grade), Lasky would be able to go more in-depth on the trauma that these events caused.
- The protagonists show a ridiculous amount of Fantastic Racism towards any creature that's not an owl (the treatment of nest-maid snakes is hella gross in particular), making them seem extremely hypocritical whenever they talk about how horrible the Pure Ones' ideals are.
- Lasky fails owl biology forever. In her "About the Author" page, it says that she did extensive research on owls...but apparently she still doesn't know that owl shit is wet? ok.
- Third person omniscient PoV. I know it's not bad in and of itself, but goddammit I hate it. It's really confusing for me.
- Lasky also fails geography forever. If you look at the maps, there's apparently deserts and tundras...in the same general area. Did I mention that these books take place in the distant future? Because holy fucking shit, climate does not work that way.
- Just what the fuck happened to all the humans anyway?
Two years ago, I picked up The Capture from my school library, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was already a fan of Erin Hunter's Warriors, so a similar book series about owls naturally attracted me. I then read the next five books, and found them to be just as good, if not better. The plotline was cool, the characters were unique and likable, the mythology was surprisingly well-developed for a series of children's books. After I finished reading The Burning, I was excited to see what would happen next to Soren and his friends, and eagerly picked up the next book, The Hatchling, over the summer...only to be sorely disappointed.
I think it would've been less of a let-down if Kathryn Lasky listed Hatchling, Outcast, etc. as a separate series, similar to Rick Riordan with The Heroes of Olympus, or Erin Hunter with the various arcs of Warriors and Seekers. I expected Soren, and what I got was Nyroc (a bland Gary-Stu of a protagonist). The characters I had grown to love over the course of six books were entirely absent, with the exception of Otulissa. But I kept reading, because I hoped that it would get better. I hoped that Nyroc would develop a damn personality, and actually struggle at something for once (if I wanted to read about a character who's perfect at everything, I'd read fucking Starkit's Prophecy).
Once again, my hopes were dashed.
Nyroc/Coryn is still a bland Gary-Stu. The previous characters are still mostly absent, though Otulissa gets some more prominence. While I'd like to say that the plot made up for this...it, quite honestly, didn't. Finding Ga'Hoole, which was previously Coryn's number one motivation, has taken a backseat to the Ember of Hoole subplot. Oh, and did I mention how this plotline kicks off? Coryn overhears a story that's kinda similar to something that just happened to him, so he decides to abandon his dreams and go off on a quest which may or may not be a suicide mission.
Honestly, though, even the first six books probably weren't as good as I remember them. Because, looking back on it, there's a shit ton of problems with this series, including but not limited to:
- The author is writing for the wrong target audience. Like, she wants to include murder, slavery, cannibalism, psychological torture and brainwashing of children, kidnapping, warfare, etc., in a book series targeted at elementary schoolers. Now, I'm all for including dark/mature stuff in kids' books. Talking down to kids never does them any favors. However, I believe that if these were young adult books (instead of middle grade), Lasky would be able to go more in-depth on the trauma that these events caused.
- The protagonists show a ridiculous amount of Fantastic Racism towards any creature that's not an owl (the treatment of nest-maid snakes is hella gross in particular), making them seem extremely hypocritical whenever they talk about how horrible the Pure Ones' ideals are.
- Lasky fails owl biology forever. In her "About the Author" page, it says that she did extensive research on owls...but apparently she still doesn't know that owl shit is wet? ok.
- Third person omniscient PoV. I know it's not bad in and of itself, but goddammit I hate it. It's really confusing for me.
- Lasky also fails geography forever. If you look at the maps, there's apparently deserts and tundras...in the same general area. Did I mention that these books take place in the distant future? Because holy fucking shit, climate does not work that way.
- Just what the fuck happened to all the humans anyway?
August 17, 2018
This series is the most 12-year-old thing I have ever seen, by which I mean there are so many things that appeal to 12-year-olds, and that was BEFORE they added the wolves
December 7, 2018
داستان خوبه ها ولی یه سری نکات ریز نفرت انگیزی داره که نمیتونمشون.
September 12, 2016
The Hatchling and The Outcast are my favorites so far. They are stories of greatest character and great redemption. I get mushy eyes reading these.
July 22, 2018
Review by James, age 9.
The main character of this book is Nyroc, not Soren who was the main character of all the books before it.
Nyroc later renames himself Coryn, because he hates his old name. It is the name given to all owlets born under the full moon. Being born under the full moon gives them an evil blessing or a good blessing. His mother, who was super evil and trying to take over the world with the help of huge armies called "The Pure Ones," wanted it to be an evil blessing. She did not take into account that it could also be a good one, and it was. He inherited firesight from his father Kludd, who hadn't always been evil. Kludd's parents had not been evil but his parents had been, and his parents' parents. He saw that entire history when he was little and became evil himself when he saw the Pure Ones flying by wearing battle claws which he was obsessed with. Nyra got her boss to recruit him. Later they were married.
Anyway, Nyroc / Coryn had firesight and met Mist who taught him about the Ember of Hoole and The Beyond. He had firesight and had to go beyond the Beyond and search of the Ember in the sacred ring of volcanos, and when he found it he was crowned the King of Hoole. He had to bury the Ember just before he died so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. His mother tried to kill him to steal the Ember but was unsuccessful because another owl tried to same him and succeeded but died himself.
Then he goes to the Great Tree and meets his Uncle Soren and begins to train there.
I would recommend this book for anyone who has read the other 7. Don't try to read this as the first book. It would be really, really confusing.
The main character of this book is Nyroc, not Soren who was the main character of all the books before it.
Nyroc later renames himself Coryn, because he hates his old name. It is the name given to all owlets born under the full moon. Being born under the full moon gives them an evil blessing or a good blessing. His mother, who was super evil and trying to take over the world with the help of huge armies called "The Pure Ones," wanted it to be an evil blessing. She did not take into account that it could also be a good one, and it was. He inherited firesight from his father Kludd, who hadn't always been evil. Kludd's parents had not been evil but his parents had been, and his parents' parents. He saw that entire history when he was little and became evil himself when he saw the Pure Ones flying by wearing battle claws which he was obsessed with. Nyra got her boss to recruit him. Later they were married.
Anyway, Nyroc / Coryn had firesight and met Mist who taught him about the Ember of Hoole and The Beyond. He had firesight and had to go beyond the Beyond and search of the Ember in the sacred ring of volcanos, and when he found it he was crowned the King of Hoole. He had to bury the Ember just before he died so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. His mother tried to kill him to steal the Ember but was unsuccessful because another owl tried to same him and succeeded but died himself.
Then he goes to the Great Tree and meets his Uncle Soren and begins to train there.
I would recommend this book for anyone who has read the other 7. Don't try to read this as the first book. It would be really, really confusing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2018
Woohoo! I was getting close to giving up on this series until I read this book! It's fabulously written, interesting, and surprisingly concluding considering I'm only halfway through the series.
It was tons of fun to read with new characters and material, yet it was built up to by the previous books. Nyroc, aka Coryn, is interesting, yet simple. The re-fulfillment of legends is a neat idea.
Age/type recommendation: 9+, animal lover, fantasy lover, people who like to learn when reading
It was tons of fun to read with new characters and material, yet it was built up to by the previous books. Nyroc, aka Coryn, is interesting, yet simple. The re-fulfillment of legends is a neat idea.
Age/type recommendation: 9+, animal lover, fantasy lover, people who like to learn when reading
October 15, 2019
I enjoyed hearing more of Nyroc's (Coryn's) story. I also was very excited to learn more about the Beyond The Beyond as I had been waiting to hear about it after looking at the map in the front of book 3! also I absolutely love the dire wolf clans! this is a great series and the next two books just arrived at home and I'm excited to read them!
October 6, 2020
Be careful what you start, you may have to buy 45 books.
Still reading and texting daily with my oldest two grandchildren who are absolutely loving this series.
I should have just bought the entire series of 15 X 3 at the outset. Who knew we would have so much fun.
Still reading and texting daily with my oldest two grandchildren who are absolutely loving this series.
I should have just bought the entire series of 15 X 3 at the outset. Who knew we would have so much fun.
January 3, 2024
The outcast picks up directly after the prior book, which was excellent. Unfortunately this one slowly loses its pace and ends up with a rushed, anticlimactic ending that abandons much of the plot it had promised. While not terrible, it certainly was a missed opportunity.
July 22, 2022
Retracting one star for ableist themes
February 6, 2023
This was the beginning of my obsession with the whole “true king” trope. I’m actually looking forward to the next trilogy of Ga’hoole prequels at this point. Hoot hoot! 7 more books to go!
Read
August 9, 2023Continuing this childhood favourite series of mine is just bringing me so much joy.
February 17, 2015
The Outcast is the continuation of Nyroc's change-of-heart story. He's betrayed his mother and the Pure Ones and reinvented himself as Coryn. But he's also come to realize that there's no place for him in the owl kingdom, so he sets out for the volcano wasteland called the Beyond the Beyond. I will admit that every time "Beyond the Beyond" was mentioned, I would think of the Mysterious Beyond from Land Before Time and the "Beyond the Mysterious Beyond" song from the seventh movie. (Enjoy. Or, for diehard fans of the first movie, mourn.)
Anyway, the story leaves the owl world for the first time, bringing us in contact with our first creatures who escape blatant discrimination: the wolves. The wolves for some reason have Scottish-style clans and one of them is led by a Caligula who maims his children. (Did you think "acceptable racism", child enslavement, and cannibalism were inappropriate in a RL 4 book? Try some violent domestic abuse on for size!)
(With the wolves of the Beyond, of course, comes the spin-off series. But more on that in an upcoming review, I think.)
Unfortunately, this story also marks the major plot shift of the series. Suddenly the Guardians of Ga'Hoole take a back seat to the Ember of Hoole, and a whole new mythology shows up. Speaking from the perspective of someone halfway through To Be a King looking back on The Outcast, this shouldn't have been part of the Ga'Hoole series. Or, more accurately, The Hatchling should have started a second Ga'Hoole series instead of tacking onto the original six books. Because in all honesty, the series is fundamentally changed by The Hatchling and The Outcast. The protagonist changes from Soren to Coryn. The genre changes from adventure to fantasy. Things that were perfectly non-magical and explained mundanely in the first six books are suddenly magical and fantastic in the later books. Focus shifts from dealing with the Pure Ones to reliving myths (myths that are invented in these books rather than explained prior and feel "fake" as a result).
So what should have happened? Well, the first six books should have been the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. Then The Hatchling and The Outcast should have been the Ember of Hoole series or maybe the Coryn of the Eclipse series, or whatever better title the publishers could have come up with. The First Collier, The Coming of Hoole, and To Be a King should have been the Legends of Ga'Hoole series (which I have heard it called by fans). As I haven't read the last four books, I can't give my opinion of how they should have rolled out, but, IMO, it shouldn't have been with all these fundamentally different stories mashed under one heading. I mean, really. If you're going to have a mid-series three-book flashback trilogy, you're writing a universe, not a series.
Next, it's on to the mid-series three-book flashback trilogy. Brace yourselves, mythology Retcons are coming.
Anyway, the story leaves the owl world for the first time, bringing us in contact with our first creatures who escape blatant discrimination: the wolves. The wolves for some reason have Scottish-style clans and one of them is led by a Caligula who maims his children. (Did you think "acceptable racism", child enslavement, and cannibalism were inappropriate in a RL 4 book? Try some violent domestic abuse on for size!)
(With the wolves of the Beyond, of course, comes the spin-off series. But more on that in an upcoming review, I think.)
Unfortunately, this story also marks the major plot shift of the series. Suddenly the Guardians of Ga'Hoole take a back seat to the Ember of Hoole, and a whole new mythology shows up. Speaking from the perspective of someone halfway through To Be a King looking back on The Outcast, this shouldn't have been part of the Ga'Hoole series. Or, more accurately, The Hatchling should have started a second Ga'Hoole series instead of tacking onto the original six books. Because in all honesty, the series is fundamentally changed by The Hatchling and The Outcast. The protagonist changes from Soren to Coryn. The genre changes from adventure to fantasy. Things that were perfectly non-magical and explained mundanely in the first six books are suddenly magical and fantastic in the later books. Focus shifts from dealing with the Pure Ones to reliving myths (myths that are invented in these books rather than explained prior and feel "fake" as a result).
So what should have happened? Well, the first six books should have been the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. Then The Hatchling and The Outcast should have been the Ember of Hoole series or maybe the Coryn of the Eclipse series, or whatever better title the publishers could have come up with. The First Collier, The Coming of Hoole, and To Be a King should have been the Legends of Ga'Hoole series (which I have heard it called by fans). As I haven't read the last four books, I can't give my opinion of how they should have rolled out, but, IMO, it shouldn't have been with all these fundamentally different stories mashed under one heading. I mean, really. If you're going to have a mid-series three-book flashback trilogy, you're writing a universe, not a series.
Next, it's on to the mid-series three-book flashback trilogy. Brace yourselves, mythology Retcons are coming.
June 19, 2019
The Outcast is full of cheese and fluff and represents a cheap version of a prophecy fulfillment story. The problems I spotted in The Hatchling return tenfold in this book, to the point where not even nostalgia could win the day.
Let’s start with Nyroc/Coryn. Coryn consistently speaks in grandiose, cheesy statements, and is given advice that is also grandiose and cheesy. He’s not as familiar or as memorable a protagonist as Soren; in fact, he’s a rather flat character who is pretty much flawless in every way. The only thing Coryn struggles with in this book is fear that other people will confuse him with his mother. He does everything perfectly because, as this book tells us multiple times, he is the next owl king and everyone knows it and welcomes him and whoever doesn’t recognize that fact is evil.
The side characters also speak declaratively and pithily. Even the introduction of the dire wolves and their clan system is derailed by the clunky dialogue and lack of plot. Too much happens too fast, and there wasn’t enough buildup to this whole idea of a new owl king for the plot to be in any way coherent or believable.
Lasky tried to take this series in a different direction, but the lack of adequate development and buildup, lack of worldbuilding in terms of Hoolian knowledge (something she tries to rectify with her three prequels about Hoole) and prophecies, and the awkward, cheesy dialogue only make The Outcast a chore to read and difficult to finish.
Let’s start with Nyroc/Coryn. Coryn consistently speaks in grandiose, cheesy statements, and is given advice that is also grandiose and cheesy. He’s not as familiar or as memorable a protagonist as Soren; in fact, he’s a rather flat character who is pretty much flawless in every way. The only thing Coryn struggles with in this book is fear that other people will confuse him with his mother. He does everything perfectly because, as this book tells us multiple times, he is the next owl king and everyone knows it and welcomes him and whoever doesn’t recognize that fact is evil.
The side characters also speak declaratively and pithily. Even the introduction of the dire wolves and their clan system is derailed by the clunky dialogue and lack of plot. Too much happens too fast, and there wasn’t enough buildup to this whole idea of a new owl king for the plot to be in any way coherent or believable.
Lasky tried to take this series in a different direction, but the lack of adequate development and buildup, lack of worldbuilding in terms of Hoolian knowledge (something she tries to rectify with her three prequels about Hoole) and prophecies, and the awkward, cheesy dialogue only make The Outcast a chore to read and difficult to finish.
October 14, 2008
This is an awesome book that is full of adventure and excellent writing. I have read all the books up to this one and all of them are great! The books by Kathryn Lasky are great for young readers that like fantasy and animals. Not many of my friends have read these but I think they are an undiscovered brilliance of writing. I truly suggest this book to most children under 15 years old.
November 11, 2009
This book was the best book in the series so far. It actually made me get a little teary-eyed in some parts. Although i missed hearing about Soren and The Band, i loved reading about Coryn and his story. Sadly, this is the last book in series available to me, so i guess if i want to read more, i'm going to have to go buy the rest of the books. Thank goodness Christmas is coming!
March 18, 2025
Overall Rating : B+
"Am I not so much more than feathers and bones, talons and wings?"
"Am I not so much more than feathers and bones, talons and wings?"
April 9, 2022
Beautiful . . .
April 2, 2023
I'm back with another round of unsolicited thoughts about a children's book series. (This is not what a thirty-something woman should be writing on a Saturday night. 🙃)
One: With the main character's change from Soren to Coryn (né Nyroc), I hoped to learn more about the Pure Ones. Unfortunately, the ideology of the Pure Ones remains unconvincing. There is no fertile material within this fantasy world to root the idea that barn owls should be the most superior owls. More disappointing was the Pure Ones' organizational weakness revealed in books 7 and 8. First, there is the defection of a high-ranking lieutenant, Uglamore, and of the heir to the High Tyto title, Coryn. Unfortunately, Nyra is too offended to properly interpret these catastrophic events as major blow to her army's morale. Another moment that reveals the diminishment of the Pure Ones' forces is when Nyra kills the Rogue Smith of Silverdale. I found this scene pitiful: the topmost commander has to literally dirty her own talons to execute her scheme instead of entrusting it to her trusty righthand or pushing it on some disposable lackey. All in all, these elements add up to an uncompelling villain that does not quite embody the philosophical stakes of this series, that all owls are born free and equal.
Two: Something I was not expecting reading children's literature was to be reminded of Dan Reiter and Allan C. Stam's book, Democracies at War.
Uglamore is one of the more astute owls among the Pure Ones who comes to doubt the way of the Pure Ones. It begins when he wonders why Soren and the Chaw of Chaws were able to win every battle against the Pure Ones. When he realizes that despite their disadvantages in numbers and skills, the Chaw of Chaws had won by strategy and quick on-the-ground wit, it dawns on Uglamore a truth about the Pure Ones, that the soldiers of the Pure Ones were unable to fight like the Guardians because Nyra enforced a culture forbidding individual thoughts and questions. Uglamore theorizes that societies like the Kingdom of Ga'Hoole produce better soldiers that can think for themselves on the battlefield instead of relying on command down the chain.
This is one of the theses in Reiter and Stam's book. The book's thesis is that democracies are better at winning wars. One of their arguments is that democracies have better human resources: a society based on popular consent will produce leaders who make prudent decisions that would not wage wars of attrition and soldiers who can make on-the-ground decisions that could prove decisive to the grand operation. Of course, the Tree of Ga'Hoole is administered by a constitutional monarchy headed by the reigning monarchs and the Parliaments, thereby not strictly a democracy. Still, the Tree of Ga'Hoole has an Athenian culture of free discussion that promotes inquiry into the truth of things instead of blind obedience to authority enforced under authoritarian regimes of the Pure Ones, making it a fertile ground to apply the democracy-vs-non-democracy framing.
I'm impressed with Kathryn Lacey's ability to introduce conceptual questions into children's literature. Considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the nature of the respective governments, the war between the Pure Ones and the Guardians is not without real-life parallel. I must warn, however, there are pitfalls to romanticizing a war as a fight against authoritarianism, and it's not hard to poke holes in Reiter and Stam's argument (cf. Beast of No Nation, which would suggest that actually a regime of terror can produce effective soldiers out of children). Again, my delight has more to do with how intelligently these philosophical ideas can be introduced in a way still appropriate to children.
One: With the main character's change from Soren to Coryn (né Nyroc), I hoped to learn more about the Pure Ones. Unfortunately, the ideology of the Pure Ones remains unconvincing. There is no fertile material within this fantasy world to root the idea that barn owls should be the most superior owls. More disappointing was the Pure Ones' organizational weakness revealed in books 7 and 8. First, there is the defection of a high-ranking lieutenant, Uglamore, and of the heir to the High Tyto title, Coryn. Unfortunately, Nyra is too offended to properly interpret these catastrophic events as major blow to her army's morale. Another moment that reveals the diminishment of the Pure Ones' forces is when Nyra kills the Rogue Smith of Silverdale. I found this scene pitiful: the topmost commander has to literally dirty her own talons to execute her scheme instead of entrusting it to her trusty righthand or pushing it on some disposable lackey. All in all, these elements add up to an uncompelling villain that does not quite embody the philosophical stakes of this series, that all owls are born free and equal.
Two: Something I was not expecting reading children's literature was to be reminded of Dan Reiter and Allan C. Stam's book, Democracies at War.
Uglamore is one of the more astute owls among the Pure Ones who comes to doubt the way of the Pure Ones. It begins when he wonders why Soren and the Chaw of Chaws were able to win every battle against the Pure Ones. When he realizes that despite their disadvantages in numbers and skills, the Chaw of Chaws had won by strategy and quick on-the-ground wit, it dawns on Uglamore a truth about the Pure Ones, that the soldiers of the Pure Ones were unable to fight like the Guardians because Nyra enforced a culture forbidding individual thoughts and questions. Uglamore theorizes that societies like the Kingdom of Ga'Hoole produce better soldiers that can think for themselves on the battlefield instead of relying on command down the chain.
This is one of the theses in Reiter and Stam's book. The book's thesis is that democracies are better at winning wars. One of their arguments is that democracies have better human resources: a society based on popular consent will produce leaders who make prudent decisions that would not wage wars of attrition and soldiers who can make on-the-ground decisions that could prove decisive to the grand operation. Of course, the Tree of Ga'Hoole is administered by a constitutional monarchy headed by the reigning monarchs and the Parliaments, thereby not strictly a democracy. Still, the Tree of Ga'Hoole has an Athenian culture of free discussion that promotes inquiry into the truth of things instead of blind obedience to authority enforced under authoritarian regimes of the Pure Ones, making it a fertile ground to apply the democracy-vs-non-democracy framing.
I'm impressed with Kathryn Lacey's ability to introduce conceptual questions into children's literature. Considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the nature of the respective governments, the war between the Pure Ones and the Guardians is not without real-life parallel. I must warn, however, there are pitfalls to romanticizing a war as a fight against authoritarianism, and it's not hard to poke holes in Reiter and Stam's argument (cf. Beast of No Nation, which would suggest that actually a regime of terror can produce effective soldiers out of children). Again, my delight has more to do with how intelligently these philosophical ideas can be introduced in a way still appropriate to children.
April 4, 2023
This book has one contradiction about the scent ability of owls. On page 87, Otulissa compares the ability of owls and dire wolves scent and classes the scent ability of owls as “…inferior.” This is because owls do not at all have a scents of smell. Vultures are the only bird that can in fact smell.
But then on page 154, when Nyra was in the Chieftains cave, she exclaims that …”the whole cave stinks. Terrible gas these wolves have.”
How in the world would she smell the odour of these canines? Furthermore, how the heck would she be able to precisely pin their fumes to be caused by “…that tough winter grass that grows here”?
On page 114, there is also a factual mistake. On this page, we are introduced to the rabies virus. One of the dire wolves explains that wolves, and even owls can get infected by this deadly disease. This is entirely untrue. Only mammals can get infected with rabies, with the exception of the opossum, who is immune to the disease.
Even whales and dolphins can get rabies, since they are mammals, but no record has ever been made of an aquatic mammal ever getting this disease. But this really made me wonder.
You see, one of the very first symptom of rabies is hydrophobia. The infected gets terrified of water and will not even be able to put water near it mouth, let alone drink. This is because the virus lives within the saliva of the mammal, and water can wash the virus away, so the virus makes the infected scared of water, increasing the chance of other individuals becoming infected once they are bitten.
So what if some of these dolphins, orcas and whales that get beached are in fact infected with rabies and are trying to get away from the water in which they live?
The only way you can 100% be certain that an animal has rabies is to do an autopsy of the brain, and I can assure you probably none of these beached aquatic mammals have ever had a brain autopsy.
Minus these problems, the storyline was great and the series could have truly finished with this book.
Favourite quote from book 8: “Well, first murder,then shopping.”
But then on page 154, when Nyra was in the Chieftains cave, she exclaims that …”the whole cave stinks. Terrible gas these wolves have.”
How in the world would she smell the odour of these canines? Furthermore, how the heck would she be able to precisely pin their fumes to be caused by “…that tough winter grass that grows here”?
On page 114, there is also a factual mistake. On this page, we are introduced to the rabies virus. One of the dire wolves explains that wolves, and even owls can get infected by this deadly disease. This is entirely untrue. Only mammals can get infected with rabies, with the exception of the opossum, who is immune to the disease.
Even whales and dolphins can get rabies, since they are mammals, but no record has ever been made of an aquatic mammal ever getting this disease. But this really made me wonder.
You see, one of the very first symptom of rabies is hydrophobia. The infected gets terrified of water and will not even be able to put water near it mouth, let alone drink. This is because the virus lives within the saliva of the mammal, and water can wash the virus away, so the virus makes the infected scared of water, increasing the chance of other individuals becoming infected once they are bitten.
So what if some of these dolphins, orcas and whales that get beached are in fact infected with rabies and are trying to get away from the water in which they live?
The only way you can 100% be certain that an animal has rabies is to do an autopsy of the brain, and I can assure you probably none of these beached aquatic mammals have ever had a brain autopsy.
Minus these problems, the storyline was great and the series could have truly finished with this book.
Favourite quote from book 8: “Well, first murder,then shopping.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2023
Okay... YEA!!! WOLVES!!! I read the Wolves of the beyond lol. Nyra is pure...RACDROPS!!!
SPRINK LIST: FOAMING MOUTH WOLF, MACHEATHS, but most of all... THE "PURE" ONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Fengo..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SPRINK LIST: FOAMING MOUTH WOLF, MACHEATHS, but most of all... THE "PURE" ONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Fengo..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 20, 2018
This is the eighth book in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series, which I'm reading aloud to my younger daughter.
My heart breaks a little at this title! Poor Nyroc feels like an outcast, and I rooted for him all the way in this one. We meet some new characters, like Hamish the lame wolf. It's not surprising that Nyroc (aka Coryn) would have an affinity towards Hamish because they both are pariahs.
The world-building has certainly changed from the earlier books in the series. It's so much more than just the Great Tree, and Lasky is setting things up for her Wolves of the Beyond spin-off series. I can see already that I'll want to read that one as well! Some reviewers have commented that the series has strayed too far from its original core featuring Soren and the gang. I disagree. I'm enjoying the arc and seeing the development of this world.
We are continuing on with the ninth book in the series, The First Collier.
This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.com...
My heart breaks a little at this title! Poor Nyroc feels like an outcast, and I rooted for him all the way in this one. We meet some new characters, like Hamish the lame wolf. It's not surprising that Nyroc (aka Coryn) would have an affinity towards Hamish because they both are pariahs.
The world-building has certainly changed from the earlier books in the series. It's so much more than just the Great Tree, and Lasky is setting things up for her Wolves of the Beyond spin-off series. I can see already that I'll want to read that one as well! Some reviewers have commented that the series has strayed too far from its original core featuring Soren and the gang. I disagree. I'm enjoying the arc and seeing the development of this world.
We are continuing on with the ninth book in the series, The First Collier.
This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.com...
November 19, 2017
This wasn't a bad read it was nice to see some things get a beginning and some things get conclusive endings. But I have to say....why couldn't Nyra just be killed off in this books...she's overstayed her welcome and should have already died at this point.
And Coryn it feels he finally got some of his destiny fullfilled but I would've loved it to explore more of his firesight instead of just making it some kind of throw away plot device when it is done being used.
And I just wish the pure ones were already defeated at this point because honestly it feels like the story is kind of being dragged out a bit more than it should be. But I guess maybe it will conclude well after the last 7 books....who knows I will just have to find out.
And Coryn it feels he finally got some of his destiny fullfilled but I would've loved it to explore more of his firesight instead of just making it some kind of throw away plot device when it is done being used.
And I just wish the pure ones were already defeated at this point because honestly it feels like the story is kind of being dragged out a bit more than it should be. But I guess maybe it will conclude well after the last 7 books....who knows I will just have to find out.
August 20, 2022
I didn’t love Coryn at first but man the Beyond of the Beyond saved it for me! I loved the culture of the wolves and learning about the ‘others’ the wolves superstitions and the Ember of Hoole. At first I figured that I would stop the series here since there was a happy ending. But then I remembered Nyra is still out there and after looking into the following books I am looking forward to continuing this series.
For those who are wondering the next trilogy is about Grank and King Hoole basically their origins and adventures.
The trilogy after that is about the new king and the Chaw of Chaws as they navigate this new age.
The final book in this series is about the origins of Ezylrib who is one of my my favorite characters so I am most looking forward to that book.
For those who are wondering the next trilogy is about Grank and King Hoole basically their origins and adventures.
The trilogy after that is about the new king and the Chaw of Chaws as they navigate this new age.
The final book in this series is about the origins of Ezylrib who is one of my my favorite characters so I am most looking forward to that book.
July 19, 2024
It feels as though books 1-6 were a prequel series, and this is the main event. It's an interesting approach, as now we know the history of the owls at the great tree, and the war that was just fought before Coryn arrived, but the drawback is that I've spent 6 books growing attached to Soren, only to be told he's not the protagonist anymore.
I wouldn't mind continuing to follow Coryn's perspective from here on out, but I'd prefer to be wrong in my assumption that that's where this is heading.
I wouldn't mind continuing to follow Coryn's perspective from here on out, but I'd prefer to be wrong in my assumption that that's where this is heading.
April 13, 2025
I feel like a few things in this one could have been fleshed out more. In particular it seems like Otulissa and Gwyndor barely catch up to "educate" Coryn before he's fulfilling his destiny. Having them join him sooner, or having one more book before he retrieves the ember would have given more time to feel a real bond between them, and to for him to learn what he needs and realize what he's meant to do. As it is their inclusion almost feels unnecessary as he seems to magically learn everything with little to no help from them.
September 16, 2025
I really really enjoyed this - I love Coryn as a character; I did like him slightly more in the 7th book when he was more curious of the world and less holy I guess?
The ending did feel rushed; I wish the book was a bit longer and there was more development in physical ability for Coryn not just mentally. But you could but that down to him being gifted.
The beyond was a very interesting place - I wish they'd spent more time discovering it.
Overall, I was satisfied and happy there's more in the series.
The ending did feel rushed; I wish the book was a bit longer and there was more development in physical ability for Coryn not just mentally. But you could but that down to him being gifted.
The beyond was a very interesting place - I wish they'd spent more time discovering it.
Overall, I was satisfied and happy there's more in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2017
This is a fun series. Instead of people, the characters are owls which helps the reader begin to understand the wide variety of the species. Of course, the characters take on human characteristics but as one young member of our family says to her mother, "It's not real Mom so don't worry it will all work out." This young lady loves books, especially fantasy, pretend and magic. It's so enjoyable searching for books that she will enjoy. Books, for her, truly, are adventures. I agree and love reading those she might enjoy too. Often I wish I were as young as this nine-year-old family member.
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