Something Strange and Ever After: Something Strange and Deadly, Book 3
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Strange and Ever After is the epic conclusion of the Something Strange and Deadly trilogy. There's more violence than in previous installments, with lots of hand-to-hand combat and fighting with weapons, including pistols, and more gruesome scenes and graphic descriptions (including those of bloody zombies). Major and minor characters die, and people and monsters are injured and killed. There's mild flirting and romance. The only strong language is "goddammit." The themes take a darker turn, but the underlying message is about the importance of having true friends.
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What's the Story?
STRANGE AND EVER AFTER is the last novel in the Something Strange and Deadly series by Susan Dennard. Eleanor is now on a mission to take down Marcus, the evil necromancer who has awakened the dead and destroyed everything she's ever loved. Along with the Spirit-Hunters, Eleanor journeys from France to Egypt to save her friend Jie. Eleanor also must learn to control her magic, something her brother never did, which cost him his life, and she must figure out her feelings for Daniel. While doing all of this, Eleanor must learn how not to lose herself and her friends in the process.
Is It Any Good?
Readers will be sad to see the adventures of Eleanor and the Spirit-Hunters come to an end -- but they will not be disappointed with the conclusion. Strange and Ever After is a solid book with riveting scenes, heroic conquests, and plenty of action. The gothic atmosphere is rich, and characters leap off the page. The novel takes on darker themes, but its key message is about the value of friendship. This satisfying conclusion ties up loose ends and leaves readers with the hope that there's always a brighter tomorrow.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about steampunk fiction. Why is this genre so popular? How did the Egypt setting of this series installment fit with the steampunk style?
Were you surprised by how Strange and Ever After concluded? Were you happy or unhappy with the ending?
Would you risk your life for someone you loved?
Book Details
- Author: Susan Dennard
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperTeen
- Publication date: July 22, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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