Just finished the third book. In hindsight, most likely the best, and the saddest story I have ever read/watched/known. I've enjoyed reading other books, but because of my screwed up schedules, I don't have a much time for them during my daily routine... But this series was breaking me, literally. I took these books with me to work, to eat, to the computer, and to bed. Not reading them was like having a knife poking me in the eyes. While the first book wasn't doing much for me, by half way through the second, I was hooked something crazy.
The story itself was way different from a routine "tall-tale." I'm always one for a far out story line like The Matrix or Back to the Future, but this one threw me for a loop, and kicked me in the balls... with every chapter. Sure, there were flaws, and sometimes character development didn't get passed around like it should, but every book has that. What I really didn't expect from a children-aimed-book-series, was the incredible emotion put into love and sadness in the final book. In fact, having typed this up, I will easily say I hold this series above any other I've read.... But all good things come to an end... It's a shame that the way the story ended made me a very sad panda... and the fact I've got to look for another series to read... Here's to hoping that regardless of what I read next, it will be at least half as good.
