What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ellie Chronicles #3
Circle of Flight
"You jam on the brakes and stop the ute right at your front door. You jump out. Not for the first time you run into a house that could be full of guns, with death waiting for you. You don't even think of that until you're crossing the threshold ... You already know what you're going to find. Underneath the fear and horror and panic there's a cold realisation that Gavin's body will be somewhere in the house. You can picture what those bullets will have done to his little body." It is a time of profound change for Ellie Linton. Enemies are everywhere. Some come crawling over the hills others drive in and knock on the front door. Sometimes her friends are there and sometimes they are not. Ellie fights every inch of the way. But when courage and imagination are not enough, when she is trapped and helpless, Ellie must face the end of life as she knows it ... standing alone, sustained only by her own strength.
Audio CD
First published November 1, 2006
41 people are currently reading
2059 people want to read
About the author
John Marsden
90 books1,959 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the database, see f.e. John Marsden.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
Read
March 17, 2016Homer and Ellie is my ship and I don't even care what anyone says. SAIL ELMER SAIL.
July 10, 2025
First read: May 31st 2016
Re-read: June 30th 2022
i still and always will have the seventh book of the tomorrow series be my official ending because i never got into this and never will.
this trilogy takes place after the events of the seventh book as the main character Ellie is trying to get back to a normal life after the war. i totally ship ellie and homer together did anyone else do this? well i hope i'm not the only one. it did take me ages to finish the trilogy because i just didn't get into it at all but i've now finished it.
Re-read: June 30th 2022
i still and always will have the seventh book of the tomorrow series be my official ending because i never got into this and never will.
this trilogy takes place after the events of the seventh book as the main character Ellie is trying to get back to a normal life after the war. i totally ship ellie and homer together did anyone else do this? well i hope i'm not the only one. it did take me ages to finish the trilogy because i just didn't get into it at all but i've now finished it.
June 3, 2012
In some ways I feel that it was some what of an anti-climax to the whole series. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I feel like I wanted more. And I wanted Ellie to end up with homer as was implied by Bronte. But it seems fitting the way it ended.
I have so many more questions that I feel I want answered. Like what happens once they move in town, surely the "terrorists" would be able to find where she is? Does she travel or go to university, what happens? What happens to the divided country? Will there ever be some form of peace? What becomes of Ellie and Lee? Did they actually end up together, the ending to that was somewhat ambiguous! I suppose the series cannot go on forever, and it would seem too over the top if more events were to throw the characters off balance.
In all honesty I don't think I would read the Ellie chronicles again, but would not hesitate in reading the tomorrow series again. In saying that, both series will remain my favorite series, and the characters will live on, as how I see them doing so. And I highly recommend the whole series to anyone yet to read!
I have so many more questions that I feel I want answered. Like what happens once they move in town, surely the "terrorists" would be able to find where she is? Does she travel or go to university, what happens? What happens to the divided country? Will there ever be some form of peace? What becomes of Ellie and Lee? Did they actually end up together, the ending to that was somewhat ambiguous! I suppose the series cannot go on forever, and it would seem too over the top if more events were to throw the characters off balance.
In all honesty I don't think I would read the Ellie chronicles again, but would not hesitate in reading the tomorrow series again. In saying that, both series will remain my favorite series, and the characters will live on, as how I see them doing so. And I highly recommend the whole series to anyone yet to read!
February 16, 2013
I wish I could say it was amazing, but it just wasn't. It was a good book, but 'Tomorrow''s greatness was too much for this book to handle. And what an ending! It just didn't make sense. I gave it more that 1 star, because it was easy to read, the characters were the same people I had fallen in love with in the 'tomorrow' series and it's the final book, but other than that it was quite boring. I still can't believe the stupid ending. I can't believe I'm saying this about Ellie (brave, smart, mature, amazing character Ellie) but she just seemed so stupid in this book. Especially the last part really pissed me off.
I can't believe that after everything she went through and all the growth I'd seen in her, she decided that this was what she was going to do! I don't want to spoil too much and I am glad I read this book. I'm not going to pretend this book never happened (which I always do when I hate an ending), because it wasn't that bad, just not the epic ending I'd expected.
You know when someone tells you they have a gift for you and you keep hoping its that beautiful necklace you'd seen the other day and you get a chocolate bar? You still enjoy the chocolate (that tastes quite well), but you just can't get your mind off the necklace and what could have been.
I can't believe that after everything she went through and all the growth I'd seen in her, she decided that this was what she was going to do! I don't want to spoil too much and I am glad I read this book. I'm not going to pretend this book never happened (which I always do when I hate an ending), because it wasn't that bad, just not the epic ending I'd expected.
You know when someone tells you they have a gift for you and you keep hoping its that beautiful necklace you'd seen the other day and you get a chocolate bar? You still enjoy the chocolate (that tastes quite well), but you just can't get your mind off the necklace and what could have been.
May 30, 2010
Hey, remember that time John Marsden gave his Tomorrow When the War Began heroes a break from all the action for a little while and just had them babysit some feral kids for a whole book? Wasn't that awesome? Wouldn't it be awesome if he finished off his entire series of Ellie books by doing that again? GUESS WHAT, HE DID.
August 7, 2016
I don't really know how to feel about this, which is apparently the final installment in the saga of "Man, it really sucks to be Ellie Linton". On one hand, I loved it because it was full of all the stuff we've come to know and love about Ellie. But on the other, there were so many things that weren't adequately dealt with in favour of adding in another "go across the border and kill some people" sequence.
I think I would have preferred it if the romance side of things had gone unmentioned. Because the way things were left, it almost made it seem like there were another half a dozen chapters of the book that Marsden's editor accidentally threw in the bin before it was submitted for the final print. I mean, COME ON. I can't even. It would have been better to not bring it up at all, rather than dumping it in and leaving it half arsed.
Honestly, it was more like a 2 star book, with the bonus star being for the fact that Ellie's not curled up in the foetal position after everything Marsden has put her through!!
I think I would have preferred it if the romance side of things had gone unmentioned. Because the way things were left, it almost made it seem like there were another half a dozen chapters of the book that Marsden's editor accidentally threw in the bin before it was submitted for the final print. I mean, COME ON. I can't even. It would have been better to not bring it up at all, rather than dumping it in and leaving it half arsed.
Honestly, it was more like a 2 star book, with the bonus star being for the fact that Ellie's not curled up in the foetal position after everything Marsden has put her through!!
September 21, 2009
I am sad this series ended, and especially how it ended. I feel this wasn't resolved at all as there are still so many questions about Ellie and Gavin. The author isn't writing anymore on this series, so I will just have to come up with my own ending I suppose. I had always secretly rooted for Homer and Ellie, and in my ending, they do end up together and have a farm and a few kids. And Gavin is there too, and continues to be her "brother" and is an Uncle to her kids. Yep I like that ending much better than just leaving it that she sold her farm, got custody of Gavin, and lived with Lee and his siblings for awhile.
December 19, 2018
This was ok. Literally that’s it. It tied up the loose ends from the last book but didn’t really add anything else. Overall The Ellie Chronicles are worth the read if you really loved the TWTWB series but nothing spectacular.
December 14, 2015
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
Ellie arrives home to find Gavin gone, and spends over half the book getting him back from the terrorists who kidnapped him looking for Ellie and the Scarlet Pimpernel. Then Ellie loses him again as Child Services takes him away.
I’ve loved this series, really loved the spin-off of life after the war as well. I’m still trying to understand why Ellie never wanted to join Liberation if she’s freely admitting loving breaking the law and being in dangerous situations. I think it’s the rebel in her – she doesn’t particularly want to follow orders.
I think it was convenient but understanding how the terrorist threat that opened the spin-off series was neatly wrapped up by basically murdering everyone who was involved, and I also think it was pretty realistic to finally have someone try to interfere with Ellie’s relationship with Gavin. Although I don’t see the bureaucrat as a bad guy, I do think that Ellie was doing a good job of keeping Gavin alive even though she was still a minor herself. Anyway, she’s got to be turning eighteen sometimes soon, wasn’t she sixteen when the war began eighteen months ago?
I’m also still trying to wrap my head around her sudden assertion that she loves Lee, not Jeremy, not Homer, but Lee. Lee, who in the last book was little more than an annoyance – and suddenly she and Gavin are going to move in with him and his young siblings? They’re all going to play Happy Families while Lee continues with Liberation and Ellie, what, babysits until it gets too dangerous and someone needs rescuing?
I just don’t like this ending. Ellie was over Lee and I would have been happy to see her with Jeremy, who changed suddenly with little to no foreshadowing, because it would have been nice to see her being in more than one serious relationship in the series. Too often teen books are relegated to the couple being stuck as first and only love (although Ellie did have Steve before Lee, but that was before the war). And Jeremy was a nice guy until he suddenly went out of character. However I did find it amusing that everyone thought Ellie was in love with Homer. And also, apparently Homer is in love with Ellie? Can’t quite wrap my head around that either.
Although I liked the plot of having to continually rescue Gavin, I found the smaller ends tied up in a way I didn’t find entirely satisfactory. It’s definitely worth reading for Ellie’s adventures solo against the terrorists and how she uses her smarts, and even the legal stuff is quite interesting to read (especially the QC’s takedown of the bureaucrat). Endings are hard, especially series endings, and especially one where the reading is so invested in the characters. Although I didn’t find this perfect, I guess it was OK for the series on a whole.
Ellie arrives home to find Gavin gone, and spends over half the book getting him back from the terrorists who kidnapped him looking for Ellie and the Scarlet Pimpernel. Then Ellie loses him again as Child Services takes him away.
I’ve loved this series, really loved the spin-off of life after the war as well. I’m still trying to understand why Ellie never wanted to join Liberation if she’s freely admitting loving breaking the law and being in dangerous situations. I think it’s the rebel in her – she doesn’t particularly want to follow orders.
I think it was convenient but understanding how the terrorist threat that opened the spin-off series was neatly wrapped up by basically murdering everyone who was involved, and I also think it was pretty realistic to finally have someone try to interfere with Ellie’s relationship with Gavin. Although I don’t see the bureaucrat as a bad guy, I do think that Ellie was doing a good job of keeping Gavin alive even though she was still a minor herself. Anyway, she’s got to be turning eighteen sometimes soon, wasn’t she sixteen when the war began eighteen months ago?
I’m also still trying to wrap my head around her sudden assertion that she loves Lee, not Jeremy, not Homer, but Lee. Lee, who in the last book was little more than an annoyance – and suddenly she and Gavin are going to move in with him and his young siblings? They’re all going to play Happy Families while Lee continues with Liberation and Ellie, what, babysits until it gets too dangerous and someone needs rescuing?
I just don’t like this ending. Ellie was over Lee and I would have been happy to see her with Jeremy, who changed suddenly with little to no foreshadowing, because it would have been nice to see her being in more than one serious relationship in the series. Too often teen books are relegated to the couple being stuck as first and only love (although Ellie did have Steve before Lee, but that was before the war). And Jeremy was a nice guy until he suddenly went out of character. However I did find it amusing that everyone thought Ellie was in love with Homer. And also, apparently Homer is in love with Ellie? Can’t quite wrap my head around that either.
Although I liked the plot of having to continually rescue Gavin, I found the smaller ends tied up in a way I didn’t find entirely satisfactory. It’s definitely worth reading for Ellie’s adventures solo against the terrorists and how she uses her smarts, and even the legal stuff is quite interesting to read (especially the QC’s takedown of the bureaucrat). Endings are hard, especially series endings, and especially one where the reading is so invested in the characters. Although I didn’t find this perfect, I guess it was OK for the series on a whole.
October 27, 2025
I never finished the Ellie Chronicles as a teen so I never knew how the entire series ended. It’s a bit anti-climactic but I could read about Ellie forever. She’s one of my favourite fictional characters. There are a lot of long monologues and less action so took me longer than the books in the Tomorrow series. I will forever wish she ended up with someone else!
March 26, 2012
Unlike some of the other reviewers, I was really excited for a look at life after the war. So many books and movies resolve a situation like that and you never get to see how these people pick up the pieces of their lives afterwards. Unfortunately, these books were not what I was looking for. I actually found the farming stuff fairly interesting and it was neat to see how Ellie dealt with the farm practices and running the whole operation... But the weak link here was Gavin.
The Tomorrow series went downhill when the orphans were introduced and the Ellie Chronicles just cements my opinion that the kids ruined those books. Ellie spends most of her time worried about Gavin and trying to understand, save, provide, connect, teach and help Gavin and despite the fact that she keeps telling us he's a good kid, we never get to see that side of him. After the cat incident in the second book I was done with trying to find a redeeming quality in him and I found myself hoping the court case in this book would go the other way because I was so fed up with how Ellie's character was hijacked from this strong, misunderstood girl into a whiny, confusing basket case. I realize that the war changed these characters but I didn't sign on to read about an ungrateful, sociopathic pre-teen boy when we should have been seeing Ellie develop into a girl who didn't just fight in a war, but a woman who can handle herself and anything life throws at her. Gavin was terrible and I'm so glad that I'm finished reading these books.
If you liked the orphans in the Tomorrow series then you might like these, but otherwise, don't waste your time with this series.
The Tomorrow series went downhill when the orphans were introduced and the Ellie Chronicles just cements my opinion that the kids ruined those books. Ellie spends most of her time worried about Gavin and trying to understand, save, provide, connect, teach and help Gavin and despite the fact that she keeps telling us he's a good kid, we never get to see that side of him. After the cat incident in the second book I was done with trying to find a redeeming quality in him and I found myself hoping the court case in this book would go the other way because I was so fed up with how Ellie's character was hijacked from this strong, misunderstood girl into a whiny, confusing basket case. I realize that the war changed these characters but I didn't sign on to read about an ungrateful, sociopathic pre-teen boy when we should have been seeing Ellie develop into a girl who didn't just fight in a war, but a woman who can handle herself and anything life throws at her. Gavin was terrible and I'm so glad that I'm finished reading these books.
If you liked the orphans in the Tomorrow series then you might like these, but otherwise, don't waste your time with this series.
October 7, 2024
Finally, almost 15 years after my first read of the Tomorrow Series, I have finally finished the sequel series, the Ellie Chronicles too. Every time I did a re-read of Tomorrow, I could never get past the second EC book. Partly, I guess, because it is admittedly slower paced than the Tomorrow Series (although not by much!) and I truly loved the action and tension of the Tomorrow books. But mostly, I think, because I simply didn't want the series to come to an end. I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters. But now I finally have. And it's bittersweet. John Marsden's writing style is as beautiful as ever, and I feel proud of Ellie, as if she were a friend (however I will admit I'm a little disappointed with who she ended up with romantically, I was gunning for someone else!). Thank you for all the tears and all the laughter, Ellie and crew. It's been a joy to read your adventures. I'm sure this won't be the last time I read these 10 books.
April 10, 2013
Potential spoilers for all three books in The Ellie Chronicles and the Tomorrow series.
I really, really disliked this book and The Ellie Chronicles in general and I'm shocked at the amount of positive reviews here. I truly wish I'd never read this series. I feel it's like Mr Marsden wasn't even trying. My guess is someone drived a dump truck full of cash up to his house, asked him to write another set of stories, and he said yes. Even though he didn't have a story to tell.
This was not the Ellie Linton that I came to love in the Tomorrow series and the decisions she made often left me scratching my head.
Did Mr Marsden come hate Ellie? He must have. He killed her parents, took her farm away, and forced her to move away from home. The only thing he didn't do is kill her dog (but only because he did that in the Tomorrow series). At the end of the story, she's an 18 year old girl living in a place that's not right for her (Stratton), with a guy that is not right for her (Lee) and she's stuck raising a preteen deaf kid (Gavin). Tell me that's not hate.
And Gavin - possibly the worst character in YA fiction ever?
And what was with her deciding she loves Lee? For almost 9 full books (TWTWB being the only exception), she pretty much treated Lee like crap. She only wanted him around when he was useful to her. So all of a sudden at the end of COF, we're supposed to believe that Ellie really loves him? C'mon. If I were Lee, I'd of told her to get lost. Plus they're completely incompatable. Ellie is a stong person that can overcome anything. She likes being outdoors and manual work. Lee is a silent introvert who is often depressed. The type who likes to play classical music, stay indoors, and watch movies. No way that relationship works out.
They only things they have in common are war, dead parents, and having to raise children neither have any business raising. Not much to build a strong relationship off of.
If she had to end up with someone, Homer would have been the better choice because they're exactly alike. They have common interests and would have pushed each other to be better. Plus he wouldn't have put up with her crap the way Lee does.
If Mr Marsden really cared about Ellie (and Gavin) - and by extension, his readers - he would have had Homer parents take in Gavin freeing Ellie to live her life. He also would have found some way for her to stay in Wirrawee. Either by finding a way to save her farm or having her stay with Homer's parents. Instead, we're to believe this girl, that loved the bush and outdoors so much, would be happy in Stratton? With Lee, four of his siblings and Gavin? No way she'd last's a month.
So, yeah, I just feel the The Ellie Chronicles sucked. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
There are still more stories that could be told in the Tomorrow/Ellie Chronicles universe. I hope at some point, Mr Mardsen licenses out these characters (ala Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Clive Cussler) and lets another author fix this travesty he created.
I really, really disliked this book and The Ellie Chronicles in general and I'm shocked at the amount of positive reviews here. I truly wish I'd never read this series. I feel it's like Mr Marsden wasn't even trying. My guess is someone drived a dump truck full of cash up to his house, asked him to write another set of stories, and he said yes. Even though he didn't have a story to tell.
This was not the Ellie Linton that I came to love in the Tomorrow series and the decisions she made often left me scratching my head.
Did Mr Marsden come hate Ellie? He must have. He killed her parents, took her farm away, and forced her to move away from home. The only thing he didn't do is kill her dog (but only because he did that in the Tomorrow series). At the end of the story, she's an 18 year old girl living in a place that's not right for her (Stratton), with a guy that is not right for her (Lee) and she's stuck raising a preteen deaf kid (Gavin). Tell me that's not hate.
And Gavin - possibly the worst character in YA fiction ever?
And what was with her deciding she loves Lee? For almost 9 full books (TWTWB being the only exception), she pretty much treated Lee like crap. She only wanted him around when he was useful to her. So all of a sudden at the end of COF, we're supposed to believe that Ellie really loves him? C'mon. If I were Lee, I'd of told her to get lost. Plus they're completely incompatable. Ellie is a stong person that can overcome anything. She likes being outdoors and manual work. Lee is a silent introvert who is often depressed. The type who likes to play classical music, stay indoors, and watch movies. No way that relationship works out.
They only things they have in common are war, dead parents, and having to raise children neither have any business raising. Not much to build a strong relationship off of.
If she had to end up with someone, Homer would have been the better choice because they're exactly alike. They have common interests and would have pushed each other to be better. Plus he wouldn't have put up with her crap the way Lee does.
If Mr Marsden really cared about Ellie (and Gavin) - and by extension, his readers - he would have had Homer parents take in Gavin freeing Ellie to live her life. He also would have found some way for her to stay in Wirrawee. Either by finding a way to save her farm or having her stay with Homer's parents. Instead, we're to believe this girl, that loved the bush and outdoors so much, would be happy in Stratton? With Lee, four of his siblings and Gavin? No way she'd last's a month.
So, yeah, I just feel the The Ellie Chronicles sucked. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
There are still more stories that could be told in the Tomorrow/Ellie Chronicles universe. I hope at some point, Mr Mardsen licenses out these characters (ala Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Clive Cussler) and lets another author fix this travesty he created.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2025
Not with a bang, but with a whimper.
The Ellie Chronicles series maybe never needed to be written, but I understand why Marsden wanted to stick with the characters. He also needed more opportunities to namedrop high school literature. But the war is over, and there are new characters, and it's hard to let them into our group. Bronte is great and everything Ellie says over three novels is about how much she admires Bronte. Jeremy is meh, the coincidence that brings him to Wirawee is meh, Ellie's relationship with him is a sidebar that she doesn't have time for, and when he gets depressed and moves back to New Zealand it's barely even worth noticing, but he did it all for Ellie's love. Meh. And Ellie doesn't really like Jess. Teen girl stuff. Jess is kind of a bitch and no guerrilla warrior. Shannon's around enough for me to appreciate Marsden's ability to populate the world with acquaintances and people who are friends you don't see that often. But we don't have to worry much about any of these people, because Ellie is sneaking over the border to rescue a kidnapped Gavin, and most of this book takes places in a sweaty safehouse where Ellie did not do her best work.
Then Ellie is asked to fight her greatest fight of all, the fight against bureaucracy. Kind of like the fight she had in While I Live with Mr. Rodd. These are a different kind of fight and they're so fucking frustrating, but Ellie wins (spoiler). Go Ellie.
The ending is a cliffhanger. How are Ellie, Gavin, Lee, Pang, Phillip, Paul, and Intira all going to manage living in the same house together? What will Ellie do without the land and the cows and the sheep? This is all sad and unanswerable. We'll never know, and maybe it's best not to know what happened after book seven anyway. I'll keep rereading this book but I'll never look forward to it.
The Ellie Chronicles series maybe never needed to be written, but I understand why Marsden wanted to stick with the characters. He also needed more opportunities to namedrop high school literature. But the war is over, and there are new characters, and it's hard to let them into our group. Bronte is great and everything Ellie says over three novels is about how much she admires Bronte. Jeremy is meh, the coincidence that brings him to Wirawee is meh, Ellie's relationship with him is a sidebar that she doesn't have time for, and when he gets depressed and moves back to New Zealand it's barely even worth noticing, but he did it all for Ellie's love. Meh. And Ellie doesn't really like Jess. Teen girl stuff. Jess is kind of a bitch and no guerrilla warrior. Shannon's around enough for me to appreciate Marsden's ability to populate the world with acquaintances and people who are friends you don't see that often. But we don't have to worry much about any of these people, because Ellie is sneaking over the border to rescue a kidnapped Gavin, and most of this book takes places in a sweaty safehouse where Ellie did not do her best work.
Then Ellie is asked to fight her greatest fight of all, the fight against bureaucracy. Kind of like the fight she had in While I Live with Mr. Rodd. These are a different kind of fight and they're so fucking frustrating, but Ellie wins (spoiler). Go Ellie.
The ending is a cliffhanger. How are Ellie, Gavin, Lee, Pang, Phillip, Paul, and Intira all going to manage living in the same house together? What will Ellie do without the land and the cows and the sheep? This is all sad and unanswerable. We'll never know, and maybe it's best not to know what happened after book seven anyway. I'll keep rereading this book but I'll never look forward to it.
July 6, 2009
The thing that made sad the most about this book is that the author, John Marsden has wrapped up this wonderful series. No more Ellie, Lee, Gavin or Homer. I guess I will have to just imagine how their lives will turn out but I guess that they will be fine because they are characters that think things out even if not always as things are happening. I would love to have people like this in my life except that I would, I guess, have to have way more action in my life than I really would know what to do with.
If you can, pick up the first book in the series and work through it. It starts with, Tomorrow, When the War Began. There starts the story of the invasion of Australia as told through the eyes of Ellie Linton
If you can, pick up the first book in the series and work through it. It starts with, Tomorrow, When the War Began. There starts the story of the invasion of Australia as told through the eyes of Ellie Linton
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2017
I am beyond devastated that I just finished the last book in a magnificent series. It is an end of an era. John Marsden is by far the best writer and what is even more great, is that he is Australian. I feel as though I have lost a best friend. I have followed Ellie through ten amazing books. I am not quite sure what to do with myself now. This series is the reason I read because once in a while you come along a story that will stay with you forever and that moved you in a way, you did not know possible. The Tomorrow Series and the Chronciles are the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading so far. Wow, I seriously have no clue what to do with myself now.
May 22, 2014
A totally pointless series added on to the end of such a spectacular one! He should have just left Ellie alone after the 'Tomorrow' Series - it made me proud to be Australian! But this series was just a useless addition.
December 24, 2020
At long last I've finished the series. I read them in Swedish because our library doesn't have them in English but the translations were good so no problem. Each book I've read has evoked mixed reactions in me. Partly they were interesting and quite exciting and partly wordy and dragging. The same applies to this one which felt like one book too many, and besides, all of the social workers I know are kind, caring and professional people.
August 1, 2016
5/5
Even before reading this book i saw the quote by The Age on the back saying "Goodbye, Ellie, it was a pleasure knowing you." God that one line broke me.
Oh my the ending. I cried! I couldn't help it. For so long in this series i've become numb to so much because you have to with all the horrible deaths and pain but the ending of was so heart-warming. They deserve it!
In this entire book was a little different from the rest of the series and The Tomorrow Series as Ellie for once sees past the war and her life pre-war and the pressure she has put upon herself to remain as if nothing has changed. For once she accepts the future and to see her life as it is. She focuses on being happy in the moment. She does this by focusing on Gavin, her little brother in all ways expect biology and stabilising her new family - which honestly was her only family since the first day of the war.
An interesting aspect in the book was Ellie's newfound thoughts on the new world focusing on whether hidden operations run by the Army such as Liberation are the right way to go about this new world? They save lives indeed but at the same time make any hope of peace between the two countries a far-off dream rather than reality. The entire series we have been with Ellie on surviving and helping taking back OUR country... but the war happened, there is now a border to be respected. Is an under-the-law gang the way to go? Interesting debate.
I'm glad Ellie ended up with but i do wish we at least got to try it with It seems like really loves her. I have a feeling there'll be more to this story. I mean, they do have a long life ahead of them (hopefully) and we all know how much Ellie changes her mind and feelings. What happened to Jeremy was sad though, and so sudden!
GAVIN. I love Gavin. He started out so cold and heartless after living as he had during the war but he has developed so much, much thanks to Ellie! It is beautiful how much he loves Ellie. They truly found themselves a special bond during such an ugly time.
I'm glad we saw General Finely again! And Kevin ... 's dad. AND FI!
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE KITTY? I thought Ellie would confront Gavin but she never did! I always thought no way would Gavin do that, maybe Mark? Either way that was one the added things i'd read. Yes, a cat dies horrible whilst people die horribly - it's war du, Like i said, numb.
Of course i loved the writing style as always. I especially loved the court reports in italic. So much fun to read! Reminded me of the one court report about the Hermit oh so long ago.
This series has finally come to an end. I'm sad, but happy. The series could not -no matter how much i think i wanted it to - go on forever. I'm forever grateful that Marsden continued with The Ellie Chronicles as it was necessary for some sort of documentation about post-war to be realistic. It isn't 'war's over, life's great'. However any more would be too much. I even think The Ellie Chronicles may have worker even more as a duology but i'm not complaining. This way i got three books, each a primary colour :)
Thank you John Marsden. This is perfect proof that sometimes when you write about 'what you know’ it is perfectly unique and valued and life-changing.
PS. I so knew the Scarlet Pimple was Then again i've read this series before. Then again that was four years ago!
Even before reading this book i saw the quote by The Age on the back saying "Goodbye, Ellie, it was a pleasure knowing you." God that one line broke me.
Oh my the ending. I cried! I couldn't help it. For so long in this series i've become numb to so much because you have to with all the horrible deaths and pain but the ending of was so heart-warming. They deserve it!
In this entire book was a little different from the rest of the series and The Tomorrow Series as Ellie for once sees past the war and her life pre-war and the pressure she has put upon herself to remain as if nothing has changed. For once she accepts the future and to see her life as it is. She focuses on being happy in the moment. She does this by focusing on Gavin, her little brother in all ways expect biology and stabilising her new family - which honestly was her only family since the first day of the war.
An interesting aspect in the book was Ellie's newfound thoughts on the new world focusing on whether hidden operations run by the Army such as Liberation are the right way to go about this new world? They save lives indeed but at the same time make any hope of peace between the two countries a far-off dream rather than reality. The entire series we have been with Ellie on surviving and helping taking back OUR country... but the war happened, there is now a border to be respected. Is an under-the-law gang the way to go? Interesting debate.
I'm glad Ellie ended up with but i do wish we at least got to try it with It seems like really loves her. I have a feeling there'll be more to this story. I mean, they do have a long life ahead of them (hopefully) and we all know how much Ellie changes her mind and feelings. What happened to Jeremy was sad though, and so sudden!
GAVIN. I love Gavin. He started out so cold and heartless after living as he had during the war but he has developed so much, much thanks to Ellie! It is beautiful how much he loves Ellie. They truly found themselves a special bond during such an ugly time.
I'm glad we saw General Finely again! And Kevin ... 's dad. AND FI!
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE KITTY? I thought Ellie would confront Gavin but she never did! I always thought no way would Gavin do that, maybe Mark? Either way that was one the added things i'd read. Yes, a cat dies horrible whilst people die horribly - it's war du, Like i said, numb.
Of course i loved the writing style as always. I especially loved the court reports in italic. So much fun to read! Reminded me of the one court report about the Hermit oh so long ago.
This series has finally come to an end. I'm sad, but happy. The series could not -no matter how much i think i wanted it to - go on forever. I'm forever grateful that Marsden continued with The Ellie Chronicles as it was necessary for some sort of documentation about post-war to be realistic. It isn't 'war's over, life's great'. However any more would be too much. I even think The Ellie Chronicles may have worker even more as a duology but i'm not complaining. This way i got three books, each a primary colour :)
Thank you John Marsden. This is perfect proof that sometimes when you write about 'what you know’ it is perfectly unique and valued and life-changing.
PS. I so knew the Scarlet Pimple was Then again i've read this series before. Then again that was four years ago!
February 6, 2014
I don't have much to say really, as this book meets and exceeds the standard John Marsden has set with the Tomorrow series and other Ellie Chronicles. And I have already complimented those books passionately in other reviews.
I realised something towards the end of this book, when Ellie was making a big romantic decision- I realised that I have total confidence in Ellie. Whether she is in the middle of a guerilla operation, or choosing between two guys, I trust that she knows what she's doing, and if she makes a mistake along the way she will pull through. I then tried to think of any other heroes/heroines that I felt that way about, and came up blank.
The ending of the book was perfect. It tied up all the loose ends of the series, and left me very satisfied.
So thankyou John Marsden, for creating this beautiful series, which I have just thought of a nice word to describe- heartfelt. The series had a hell of a lot of heart, and it felt incredibly sincere. I look forward to re-reading it again and again and again. :)
I realised something towards the end of this book, when Ellie was making a big romantic decision- I realised that I have total confidence in Ellie. Whether she is in the middle of a guerilla operation, or choosing between two guys, I trust that she knows what she's doing, and if she makes a mistake along the way she will pull through. I then tried to think of any other heroes/heroines that I felt that way about, and came up blank.
The ending of the book was perfect. It tied up all the loose ends of the series, and left me very satisfied.
So thankyou John Marsden, for creating this beautiful series, which I have just thought of a nice word to describe- heartfelt. The series had a hell of a lot of heart, and it felt incredibly sincere. I look forward to re-reading it again and again and again. :)
January 2, 2011
The final book about Ellie Linton, the Aussie farm girl whose saga began with Tomorrow When The War Began. I have thrilled over these books, which are both action-packed and full of heart, as Ellie has fought to free her family, and then to keep her family together in the aftermath of the war. This book was no exception, containing equal parts terrorist attacks and legal drama, finishing off her saga quite nicely with one exception. You know what I'm talking about, Marsden! How could you?! The love triangle that has been subtly brewing since book one of the first series is actually articulated by someone . . . and then the whole thing is just brushed aside. Um. No. Where is my dramatic romantic closure?! That is not the way I wanted the romantic elements of the book to end!
Otherwise, a great ending to a great (couple of) series.
Otherwise, a great ending to a great (couple of) series.
July 28, 2013
I was really apprehensive about the big finale of Ellie's journey. I didn't particularly love the first two books but this one by far was the best. Its always the relationships that matter in the end and the bond Gavin, Ellie, Lee, Homer and the Liberation developed was great. I just wish there was more of Fi. Having said that it was a great way, for me, to end the journey and I am getting irrationally emotional about it but its a book series i've come to love so its a bit heart breaking for me to say the Good byes but I'll keep coming back surely because its not a goodbye afterall....
July 28, 2011
I enjoyed this but I hope it's the end of this series as the story seems exhausted now. I'd rather he continued writing books about the other characters so we could perhaps find out what happened to Ellie without having to go through her rather narcissistic narrative...
December 21, 2020
Den här boken var ändå riktigt bra! Hade inte så höga förhoppningar på Ellie-serien, men känns bra att Marsden ändå avslutar på topp. Förutom en ganska tråkig subplot om vem som egentligen är ledaren för Liberation (vilket man kunnat räkna ut redan för två böcker sedan) har boken alla klassiska Marsden-delar på plats, från spänning till syskonrelationer och moraliska betänkenheter. Nöjd att jag läste the Ellie Chronicles men kommer inte läsa om dem.
April 24, 2025
2,5 ⭐
Dziękuję wreszcie. W tym tomie tak mnie denerwowała Ellie. Te romanse, jej "związek" to jest tak udawane i niepotrzebne. Jeszcze w pierwszych może trzech częściach (wliczam tu Jutro i Kroniki) było to ciekawe, ale później zaczęło być powtarzalne. Kogo Ellie lubi? Całowała się z tym, ale w sumie nie wie co czuje. Wchodzi w związek. Potem nie jest gotowa i rozchodzą się. I tak wszystko w kółko dosłownie.
Sprawa sądowa z Gavinem była zasadna, ale czułam, że została poruszona tylko po to żeby jakoś przedłużyć książkę. Niestety według mnie, Kroniki Ellie to słaba seria. Nawet nie mogę za bardzo powiedzieć żeby ta historia mi sprawiała przyjemność, po prostu chciałam wiedzieć jak się wszystko skończy. I po zakończeniu w sumie tych 10 książek czuję...nic. Trochę rozczarowania, poza tym nic.
Dziękuję wreszcie. W tym tomie tak mnie denerwowała Ellie. Te romanse, jej "związek" to jest tak udawane i niepotrzebne. Jeszcze w pierwszych może trzech częściach (wliczam tu Jutro i Kroniki) było to ciekawe, ale później zaczęło być powtarzalne. Kogo Ellie lubi? Całowała się z tym, ale w sumie nie wie co czuje. Wchodzi w związek. Potem nie jest gotowa i rozchodzą się. I tak wszystko w kółko dosłownie.
Sprawa sądowa z Gavinem była zasadna, ale czułam, że została poruszona tylko po to żeby jakoś przedłużyć książkę. Niestety według mnie, Kroniki Ellie to słaba seria. Nawet nie mogę za bardzo powiedzieć żeby ta historia mi sprawiała przyjemność, po prostu chciałam wiedzieć jak się wszystko skończy. I po zakończeniu w sumie tych 10 książek czuję...nic. Trochę rozczarowania, poza tym nic.
June 3, 2023
Ostatnia książka tego autora przetłumaczona na polski 💔
January 15, 2025
I think this was a good finish to the series. I was hoping for a little more at the end in how things would be different but I'm happy for how things turned out for the characters.
October 5, 2010
Despite John Marsden's books, especially The Tomorrow Series being my life back when I was a teenager, I hadn't even picked up Circle of Flight until this year.
I still hugely enjoy Marsden's work, and I don't think that some of the complaints about Marsden focusing on farm life is true – it's only a minor part of this book.
As for the ending, I'll admit I'm not satisfied. I've had a soft spot for Lee and Ellie as a couple since the first novel and never fully bought the explanation that their relationship (like Fi and Homer's) was only formed because they were thrown into a life-threatening situation and once they were out of it, the feelings vanished. However, throughout the books it felt as though we were seemingly told again and again that the relationship was over. And ending with Lee and Ellie living together whilst raising Gavin and Lee's little brothers and sisters seemed a cop out, especially compared the Ellie who, at the end of The Other Side Of Dawn , wanted to go out and experience life more than anything.
I still hugely enjoy Marsden's work, and I don't think that some of the complaints about Marsden focusing on farm life is true – it's only a minor part of this book.
As for the ending, I'll admit I'm not satisfied. I've had a soft spot for Lee and Ellie as a couple since the first novel and never fully bought the explanation that their relationship (like Fi and Homer's) was only formed because they were thrown into a life-threatening situation and once they were out of it, the feelings vanished. However, throughout the books it felt as though we were seemingly told again and again that the relationship was over. And ending with Lee and Ellie living together whilst raising Gavin and Lee's little brothers and sisters seemed a cop out, especially compared the Ellie who, at the end of The Other Side Of Dawn , wanted to go out and experience life more than anything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2010
This is the series that started my reading addiction :) It's a great Australian series. Not only does it portray teenagers effectivley , it also shows how Aussies live. As an Australian teenager when I began this series I found that I could really relate and was enthralled with the series. The series shows how a group of Aussie teenagers get swept up in the next major war after Australia is invaded when they go camping. Their families and friends are help captive along with the majority of the population and it is up to them to fight back and fight for their freedom.
Cannot say how much I love this series. I just saw the film adaptation based on the first book in the series and LOVED IT!!! One of the best Aussie films I have ever seen. While things were changed - they always differ from the book in some way - I felt that the changes they made were necessary for the pacing of the film. Since I had been waiting for the film for almost a decade I was sure I would be disappointed but I loved it so much :)
I hope that they make the next book in the series into a film as well as the series gets better and better as it goes on.
I cannot recommend this book and this series enough - so go out and read it please :)
Cannot say how much I love this series. I just saw the film adaptation based on the first book in the series and LOVED IT!!! One of the best Aussie films I have ever seen. While things were changed - they always differ from the book in some way - I felt that the changes they made were necessary for the pacing of the film. Since I had been waiting for the film for almost a decade I was sure I would be disappointed but I loved it so much :)
I hope that they make the next book in the series into a film as well as the series gets better and better as it goes on.
I cannot recommend this book and this series enough - so go out and read it please :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2009
The final of the Ellie Chronicles series, follow up to the amazing tomorrow when the war began series. Though I heard a lot of people didn't like the Ellie Chronicles, I thought it was very well done, and showed the struggles of a post-war country rather than leaving the reader to believe everything ends up ok.
After reading the final installment I felt like John Marsden finally tells us who the invaders are (did anyone else get the Malaysia vibe?) though I could have misinterpreted a few lines here and there. Regardless of who the nameless enemy was, I thoroughly enjoyed the Ellie Chronicles. The writing did become a bit more juvenile, as Ellie joked with the reader, and too often for me this book went off on a tangent while some major action was happening, where Ellie's mind goes off track and sort of preaches at you, but otherwise it was a very enjoyable read.
I'm sad to see the end of the series. And I was sort of hoping her love life would take her in a different direction, but I'm happy enough with how it ended up!
After reading the final installment I felt like John Marsden finally tells us who the invaders are (did anyone else get the Malaysia vibe?) though I could have misinterpreted a few lines here and there. Regardless of who the nameless enemy was, I thoroughly enjoyed the Ellie Chronicles. The writing did become a bit more juvenile, as Ellie joked with the reader, and too often for me this book went off on a tangent while some major action was happening, where Ellie's mind goes off track and sort of preaches at you, but otherwise it was a very enjoyable read.
I'm sad to see the end of the series. And I was sort of hoping her love life would take her in a different direction, but I'm happy enough with how it ended up!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews