This is the third book in the Rook saga of the Edge Chronicles. With Undertown destroyed by a great storm, the valiant Librarian Knights and the confident Ghosts of Screetown must lead the people to a new life in the Free Glades. But threats in the form of old connivers and new greedy warmongers must be dealt with first. The journey of the Undertowners reads much like the Exodus of Israel. Across the Mire mudflats they travel, old and young, in carts and on foot, driving animals and carrying bundles. Their trek is complicated by the Twilight Woods, full of seductive and destructive whispers, on one side and the Edgelands, bordering the bottomless void of the Edge itself, on the other. Welcomed into the Free Glades, there is still much trouble ahead as old conniver Amberfuce the ghostwaif and greedy Hemule of the Furnace Glades scheme to keep themselves rolling in the dough at the expense of others. Also, a new Shryke battalion is being formed, and the Goblin Armies are planning an attack. There are 2 great lessons in this book, more so than in most other Deepwoods books. One is on guilt and redemption. Xanth, the former Guardian of the Night, is still mistrusted and threatened by the townsfolk, as Rook attempts to stand up for his friend. Xanth has fully turned to the good side, but is still tormented by guilt over how he helped the Guardians torture and kill prisoners, even though he did all he could to save as many as he could, only to be thwarted many times by the sadistic Guardian executioner. His change of heart is proven to the Undertowners through his saving of Magda, at great risk to his own life. This is reminiscent of Jesus' salvation of us at the cost of His own life.The other lesson is unity. The Undertowners, Freegladers, Librarians, Librarian Knights, and Ghosts of Screetown must band together for the protection of them all; but the most amazing demonstration of unity takes place among the Goblin Nations. While the leaders of the 5 Goblin Clans desire to work with greedy Hemule, bicker to maneuver themselves into better positions, and thirst for power and blood, not all the Goblins want to fight. Most are regular townsfolk and farmers who want to peacefully live their lives alongside the Freegladers and new Undertowners. The peaceful Goblins outnumber the warlike Goblins many times over. But what can they do against their formidable generals and overseers? It starts out with talk between 2 lowly Goblin brothers. Then it spreads to others in the community. By the end a showdown is drawn, and the lowly Goblins are part of a surprising sequence of events, making a powerful statement on the impact a united group can have when it stops talking and takes action.There is even something for Rook as he finds out a lot about his family history through caterbird dreams. Then a meeting with a forgotten friend of the past opens his eyes, brings everything together, and provides closure for him. As always, there's everything I love about the Edge Chronicles: an easy read, depth and mystery, imaginative settings, memorable characters, action and adventure, moral values, and no romance!
"Freeglader" (Edge Chronicles, Rook 3) by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell is the final struggle of young knight-librarian Rook finding Screetown ghosts of schoolmate Felix Lodd, Skypirates of Deadbolt Vulpoon (not his nasty grandfather I recall getting just desserts, but rescued pal from Skypirates #5) to lead, organize and guard the Undertown refugees across the white muddy Mire, past Twilight Woods luring with familiar voices toward a dream-like wandering unto death. The surviving Eastern Roost Shryke Sisterhood hatch a new army on the hunt, too young to subdue their blood frenzy long enough for capturing slaves. "She had torn out the heart with a single stab of her beak and swallowed it while it was still beating. Delicious. The [victim] had survived just long enough to see it." p144 The evil Goblin Nation clan chiefs p227 follow Foundry Glades Vox-designed steampunk sortof tanks to destroy the Freeglade destination. Even little gnokgoblin granddaughter Gilda carries an important sword (spoiler: that wins the war). Tiny details of plot imitate the intricate lines of illustrations. My only dislike was the Lullabee Island caterbird cocoon dreams, vignettes of other books; lost relatives could reunite without woo-woo. Banderbears are deus ex machina, always arrive in time, but be warned, losses are massive, a bloody long battle lies ahead if you dare this journey. http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/edgec...Quint: 1 Curse 2 Winter Knights 3 Clash of Sky GalleonsTwig:4 Beyond 5 Stormchaser 6 Midnight Rook: 7 Last Skypirates 8 Vox 9 Freeglader
What do You think about Freeglader (2006)?
Undertown and New Sanctaphrax have been destroyed by an apocalyptic bomb created by the vengeful supra-genius Vox Verlix. The sewers where the librarians dwelt have been flooded. However, the librarians have evacuated, and, with the help of 'Ghosts of Screetown' and the sky pirates of the Mire, the population of Undertown has been brought out of the city and across the treacherous mudflats. Now, everyone--librarians, Ghosts, sky pirates, and Undertowners--are approaching the Twilight Woods, a terrible place where those who enter, lose their minds and rot away while still alive, not knowing where they are or what they're doing. It is necessary for everyone to bypass the Twilight Woods and to skirt the Edgelands, where phantasms in the mist lure one to throw oneself off. Rook Barkwater is traveling in the group, together with his friend Xanth Filatine. The trouble is, Xanth was once an evil Guardian of the Night, and is hated by the librarians. Unable to bear their animosity, Xanth breaks away and approaches the Edge, intending to throw himself off. He is saved by Rook, but Rook loses his memory and is only saved from throwing himself off by Xanth.As the masses of refugees approach the Deepwoods, intending to travel toward the Free Glades, they are threatened by shrykes. Even if they reach the Free Glades, the haven itself is under threat by the evil Hemuel Spume, lord of the Foundry Glades, the last refuge of the rapacious merchants' leagues. Spume wants to enslave the Free Gladers, and he makes an alliance with the five chieftains of the goblin nations to do so.Rook Barkwater finds himself in a situation of utter turmoil. He can't remember what happened to him and is in no position to defend his dear friend Xanth from those who wish to execute him. Moreover, he faces a crisis of identity as he searches for a new purpose in life.What I like about this book most, aside from the rich story, the diverse characters, and the illustrations, is the whole idea of self-discovery. Rook Barkwater has to save his world and in so doing, save himself.
—Nat Howler
*REVIEWED FOR PUBLISHER*Undertown is no more, New Sanctaphrax has been destroyed and the Mire has all but been washed away – life on The Edge has changed drastically and those who have survived have to make their way to the Free Glades at the heart of the Deepwoods. But the journey is arduous, and there are those whose ambitions lie in enslaving the new Freegladers. Rook will face his biggest challenge yet as he fights for freedom and uncovers the truth of his mysterious past. Both compelling and inspiring, this is a fitting end to the Rook Trilogy.
—Kell
This book outlines, with unflinching intensity, the joys and perils of freedom, the grim efforts that must be made to keep it and the fragile nature of civilization. It’s exhilarating to read about the flight of those who used to cluster around the Sanctaphrax rock as they struggle to carve out a new existence for themselves beyond its flooded boundaries.The Free Glade, where all are equal, everyone works but no one pays and everyone maintains their individuality and self-respect, is a marvelous construct and Mr. Stewart shows how it all works. He wisely doesn’t go into labored details of the individual colonies and communities of the many different species that make up its civilization; that was done in the preceding novels. Instead, he focuses on the characters we have come to know—Rook Barkwater, Felix Lodd, Magda Burlis, Xanth Palatine, et al.—whose talents combine to maintain and protect the Freegladers.While the Freegladers philosophy is a laissez faire one, this is obviously not a society that promotes pacifism. When it comes time to fight, everyone who can takes up arms. The battle scenes are suitably gruesome although some scenes are mercifully omitted. The book also contains a wonderful surprise about Rook’s background as well as a family tree helpfully outlined on the back pages. (Those who have been keeping track of the numerous characters will likely have a clue about Rook’s relationship to certain sky pirates.) The writing is bang-on fantastic and the illustrations maintained with flawless consistency throughout this sprawling saga. It has been a terrific tour through the Edge Chronicles. Let’s hope their sequels are as equally compelling.
—Marsha
