Tyler Whitesides

Delightful! A wonderfully imaginative read that explores the idea of understanding our own value and self worth. Landon splits his time between his dad's house and his mom'e home with her new fiance and his soon to be step-stister Jade. Jade introduces the reluctant Landon to summer school at the School of Garbage. But it's unlike any other school because here the garbage is animated and the students learn about the magic that animates it along with other intricacies about garbage. But when Landon is attacked in the normal world by animated garbage it opens up a mystery, for animated garbang cannot leave the Landfill. Landon, Jade, and others from the school race against time to discove how the animated garbage (Thingamajunks) are able to leave the Landfill and try to stop the attacks before the normal world is filled with dangerous trash. The characters are wonderfully developed and the plot is well contrived with a writing style that is engaging and keeps the pages turning. (Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)… (mere)

As with the first two, this one took me a very long time to read. Honestly, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the novels at all. All three in this trilogy are really good.

But good lord, they're all looooooonnnng books, though when you're finished them, you don't feel like there's a lot of filler that was tossed in there. Whitesides has obviously taken care to build his plots carefully, and construct all the magic and cultures and races with care.

And overall, in a trilogy like this, the reader expects an epic finish, and the trilogy delivers. And honestly, it went in a weird way that I didn't expect, but quite enjoyed.

It was a good trilogy, and a fun one. But with close to 2000 pages, I am glad it's over, too.… (mere)

I can't say I'm not enjoying this trilogy, because I am. However, I can't also say it's blowing me away, because it isn't quite.

These books are large—700+ pages—and while they don't necessarily feel padded out, there's a gnawing sense that they could have been edited down a bit. And, while I love Whitesides' inventiveness with the various grits, and all the palace intrigue, there's also times when things happen just a tad too neatly, too coincidentally.

I'm talking about the mystery of the Metamorphosis grit. And I'm also talking about the discovery of the Homeland. In each case, without spoiling anything, the events occur with exactly the right people coming together at precisely the right time, not only for the discovery, but also for the ensuing plot points.

Still, Whitesides is entertaining enough that the ride is still enjoyable. We'll see what the final book has in store.… (mere)