The End of Time [Hardcover]

I came across the Books of Umber when the second book, "Dragon Games" had been finished. That meant I had the pleasure of reading "Happenstance Found" and "Dragon Games" one right after the other. Then began the wait, which was longer than I would have liked (I wanted to keep reading immediately) but much sooner than one might have expected. I must thank Mr. Cantanese for keeping the wait so short.

I was immediately taken by the series from the start. The world Catanese has created, the characters and creatures that inhabit are at once incredibly imaginative and yet very real. This is fantasy with a rough edge to it, that doesn't speak down to the younger audience that will probably read it. Though this honesty made it very palatable to me as an adult. I've enjoyed every moment of the series alongside the rest of my family. I appreciate that while it isn't brutally 'real' there are consequences for actions, hardships and difficult things. I think the age 9-12 recommendation is a good baseline for minimum age, though I'm well past 12 so I wouldn't worry about the upper bound.

Mr. Catanese has a knack for putting the reader right in the middle of the action. And while his stories give one plenty to think about, they are anything but boring or slow. They are together, an incredible ride, filled with some truly unique sites.

After having read the first two books, I could not wait to read the third. I really didn't expect anything but that I would enjoy it. The only question in my mind was if it would finish strong or just 'wrap up'. I have never written a novel, but as an avid reader it appears to me that one of the more difficult parts of really telling a story well is the ending. Too often a fantastic story comes to an abrupt or unsatisfying close.

Without giving a bit of the plot or story away, I can say that having just closed the cover on "The End of Time" that I believe Mr. Catanese did not stumble at all in bringing this amazing tale to a thrilling and completely satisfying close. I hesitate to say any more, I don't want to spoil it for those that will be reading this soon.

But anyone who has not read any of the Umber books, I encourage you to read the first knowing with confidence that if you enjoy it, you wont be disappointed with the whole series.

For anyone curious about how I reviewed the book before it was out, I won a copy in a contest held by P.W. Catanese and his publisher. So yes, I am a big fan of the series, though I think this speaks more to the strength of the writing than a lack of objectivity on my part. I wouldn't have entered the contest if I hadn't so thoroughly enjoyed the first two books.

The end of a book series is always bittersweet. There's the excitement of finally seeing what happens, but also the sadness of leaving a world behind. And now P.W. Catanese brings readers to the finale of THE BOOKS OF UMBER trilogy with the last installment, THE END OF TIME. I wondered, if the ending would live up to the previous two books, HAPPENSTANCE FOUND and DRAGON GAMES. But I have to say: THE END OF TIME is the best one yet.

Umber has sunk deep into another depression, and things in the kingdom are grim with Prince Loden looking to claim the throne. Happenstance, Umber's ward, dreads the moment when he will be faced with the challenge of saving an entire world -- all while old enemies are drawing close. And that's when the whispers begin: something powerful and unknown is coming across the ocean from the mysterious Far Continent. To make things even worse, deep beneath the Aerie, an evil is growing, biding its time before striking. Everything is coming to the pivotal moment when Happenstance must face his true fears and powers: can he save his friends? Or will he led them all to a fate worse than death?

The book reads like an epic, action-packed finale, and it's easy to see Catanese pulled out all the stops with this one. It felt like the author was at his top form as he plowed through. I could barely put the book down -- I kept wanting to pick it right back up and keep going. I wondered how anything could ever turn out well by the time the last pages were getting closer. We learn more about Happenstance and what he is meant for, and some of the mysteries strung along throughout the series are solved. When I closed the book, I sat back and thought about it -- it was like finishing a good movie and wishing there was still more. It wasn't that anything felt unresolved, I just wanted to spend more time in this fantasy world.

It felt like Catanese wanted to work with the character of Happenstance a little more this time, and those developments show through. With all the pressures pushed onto Happenstance, he naturally begins to break, and Catanese takes him through a very interesting process that didn't feel forced, but definitely felt much different than other character story lines I've seen. At first I wondered if it would work, but as the epilogue comes around, it felt right.

Catanese has also included some of the most disturbing scenes I've ever read in a children's book. There were a couple that made me grimace and feel a little taken back. One particular scene involved a deer being eaten alive -- which was pretty gruesome and definitely nightmarish. The slightly darker tone did fit THE END OF TIME, however, since things have gotten progressively worse and worse for Happenstance and the world around him.

Overall, THE BOOKS OF UMBER was a fantastic series, one I can hardly find anything to complain about. It surprised me with twists often, and the characters drew me in. It's also fun, because Catanese ties these books into earlier titles, such as THE THIEF AND THE BEANSTALK and THE EYE OF THE WARLOCK. Fans of this newest trilogy should go back and read Catanese's other works for little winks at THE BOOKS OF UMBER.

If you're looking for a top notch fantasy series with some incredible plotting and characters, don't look any further than P.W. Catanese's THE BOOKS OF UMBER. You won't be disappointed.

You know you're reading a great series when you're angry that it's over. How Umber didn't become the new Harry Potter, I'll never know. A great magical/science fiction novel, for kids and adults alike.

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