I just finished reading an advanced copy of John Stephens' The Black Reckoning. I can't say I ran across it. It was more like I hunted it down. I'll admit that I'm a big fan of the first two books in the Book of Beginnings series, The Emerald Atlas and The Fire Chronicle, so when me asking a local bookseller about the final book in the series and the ARC showing up at her desk coincided, I knew I had to hunt it down.
Now I usually don't read second or third books in a series. As an elementary librarian, I think I need to be widely read, so I usually just read the first book so I can recommend it with some authority and then move on to the next series. After I picked up The Black Reckoning though, I had to reread the first two books in the series, not because I forgot what had happened, but just because I enjoyed the first two books so much. Neither of them disappointed the second time and either did The Black Reckoning.
The Black Reckoning picks up right where The Fire Chronicle leaves off. Emma, the youngest of the siblings, has been kidnapped, leaving Kate and Michael, along with a great supporting cast, to find her. They do find Emma, and sooner than I thought. I was glad too because it is when the three siblings are together that the story is at its best. Their unique voices can be heard and there is evidence of growth as they really begin to change, both as characters and in how they view each other, that is refreshing to see over the series of books.
Of course, there are other relationships there too. The most focused in this story is Kate's relationship with Rafe (spoiler alert!) who turns into the Dire Magnus at the end of the second book. How can this happen when it is 100 years after Kate left Rafe? You'll find out. And Michael's relationship with the elf princess? It is just as funny but a bit endearing too as Michael allows himself to be more than just embarrassed by her attention.
The fantasy element is in full force as well. The story continues with trolls, elves, and other characters from the first two books. The author also brings in giants (and their gross but funny hygiene issues) and carriadin, found in the land of the dead. Other characters pop up again as well. While I won't give away the details, the arrival and departure of the witch from The Emerald Atlas was one of my favorite parts of the book.
If you've read the first two books, you'll know that the final book in the series deals with Emma finding her magical book, referred to both as The Book of Death and The Black Reckoning. (While I'm not positive why Stephens gives the book two names, I'm guessing it has something to do with the book in the story being the title of the story itself. Watching your child read The Black Reckoning is probably more palatable than them flipping through the pages of The Book of Death.) Stephens does a good job of limiting the strengths the children have gathered along the way like the power of the two other books or their large cast of supporting characters from Dr. Pym to Gabriel.
And then there are the concerns from adults about these books. I hear that they are too predictable or borrow too much. And I wouldn't disagree with the basics of that concern. There are hints of other stories in here and you know from the beginning of the first book how this final book will end, with the three children defeating evil, the Dire Magnus. But what makes these books ones that I want to reread or hunt down the newest copy of is not the end of the story, it is the journey that John Stephens brings us on. It is the relationship of Kate, Michael, and Emma. It is great moments of dialogue, especially from Emma. It is the twists and turns and reading how these characters deal with them that makes this ride an enjoyable ending to a great series.
The Black Reckoning is scheduled to be released on April 7, 2015.
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