Read Online Ember Falls The Green Ember Series Book 2 S D Smith Zach Franzen 9780996436809 Books

Product details Paperback 336 pages Publisher Story Warren Books (September 13, 2016) Language English ISBN-10 0996436804

Ember Falls The Green Ember Series Book 2 S D Smith Zach Franzen 9780996436809 Books Reviews

• I'm not sure who tries to get to the living room faster each night for our family read aloud, my husband or the children! Oh, but not the teen girls who snagged the book on days one and two and stayed up waaayyy too late reading it! As one of my girls said, "S.D. Smith is a great story teller!"
• Wow, I must say the author has delivered marvellously in this second of a trilogy. The sequel does everything a good sequel ought it extends the action and plot, deepens the characters of the first while weaving in the strands for the final culmination. Each chapter is skilfully written, the wording concise and powerful, especially befitting the action scenes. There are quite a few plot twists and revelations as well, which made the story irresistible to put down (for me, at least). ☺
  
  Ember Falls chronicles the continued arc of the cause of the Mended Wood. Heather and Picket both must bear greater responsibility and face graver trials as the grim denouement looms close. Their dedication to the cause at times conflicts with personal struggles and meets confusion in the form of a surprise newcomer, potentially their best ally or worst enemy. All comes to resolution in a climactic battle with morbins army and a cliffhanger ending. Without revealing too much, I admit I was disappointed by a certain turn of events (death of a character) but will admit this propelled the narrative to a well constructed conclusion. And who knows? Perhaps in the third book we will find this character did not really die after all...
  
  Anyone who enjoys fantasy will like this series. Anyone who likes the idea of sword wielding rabbits grounded in a code of honour and sacrifice against terrible raptor slave lords will enjoy the series. I believe children beginning from age ten to twelve will especially appreciate the spectacle. Yes, there is violence, but it is not gratuitous or gory. Behind the exciting action is a strong moral heart of service to a greater ideal which this reader personally finds refreshing in a world increasingly lacking in firm belief standards.
• I would like to encourage anyone with children (or not) to purchase and read the Green Ember Series. I am going to list a few good reasons.
  
  Sam is a father of four and he knows what children enjoy.
  He is incredibly talented.
  Sam currently works a full time job and can only leisurely write. I would love to see Sam write full time so that I can read more excellent stories.
  His writing is clean, and child friendly.
  The stories include important character lessons loyalty, family, friendship, compassion, selflessness, and forgiveness. (etc.)
  Sam’s stories can be read by people of all ages. Both my 15 and 16 year old sons have read the stories, and they both enjoyed them. So have I (I’m 40).
  Green Ember concludes with the heroic and valiant efforts of Pickett when he rescued Prince Smalls from a potentially tragic situation. In the sequel, Ember Falls, Pickett has matured into an experienced and brave warrior. The war continues. Heather is training to be a doctor, meanwhile successfully serving under Emma… who turns out to be? I am not sharing, you will have to read the book. Friendships and loyalty grow as quickly as deception.
  
  Unfortunately, there are some very sad moments in the story. But I suspect that not everything is as it seems. The ending was shocking and equally frustrating, only because I want to know what happens to Heather and the singer (cliffhanger). Really Sam?! As I write this I am smiling because Sam left me wanting more, the habit of a great storyteller. No doubt there will be more stories. Ember Falls concluded with a mystery and a song. I loved the surprise ending, and I cannot wait to read more.
  
  The Green Ember Series will keep readers on the edge of their seat; it is exciting and fast paced. I read the first chapter to my MS Bible students and I encouraged all my students to buy the series for themselves. Before Christmas, when Sam offered the stories for free, I made sure to make my students aware. I do hope that you will read the Green Ember Series. Go read!
• On the other end of the spectrum of “fantasy rabbit” stories from Watership Down , we have The Green Ember, the first in a series that probably could have been written without the animal trappings and still been a good story. Where Watership Down had very rabbit-like characters interacting with the human world, The Green Ember has very person-like characters interacting with an animal world. Occasionally, the attributes that make the rabbits unique were used—especially in the battle sequences—but there were often moments when I forgot that these characters were rabbits.
  
  I felt the cuteness of rabbits, and the scariness of wolves and hawks, help reach a younger audience without directly confronting them with the realities of the scary world around them. After all, if it was people vs. people in this book, then the intended audience might miss out on some of the important morals and lessons contained therein. Having a clearly evil force in opposition to the rabbits helped to define who the good guys and bad guys were, while also leaving room for traitorous rabbits—which itself feels a little odd, considering the predator/prey relationship between the two sides.
  
  Despite some of these weaker points, The Green Ember is a fantastic story. There might be a few too many characters at points, all with slightly different names for the same individual, but the complexity of the plot is solid enough that children should be able to follow along and parents will likely also be surprised by the few twists and turns it takes. Clearly the first part in a series, The Green Ember does an excellent job of wrapping up most of the activities and subplots it started, while also presenting a somewhat clear direction for where it will go in the future.
  
  A fantasy adventure perfect for kids and adults, I give The Green Ember 4.5 stars out of 5.