I'm posting this unchanged for all three books of the series, because I believe potential readers should be aware that the series is incomplete:"Ali's story will continue in the next book in the series, Nemi" (last line of The Yanti.)According to a Pike fan site (http://christopherpikefanclub.com/pag..."This is Pike[....] Nemi will be published when the Alosha movie is released. I don't control the publication of the book, Tor does. And unless the movie comes out, they won't be inspired enough to continue the series. So don't be upset I didn't finish the series. I have finished it -- the conclusion of the tale is alive and well on my computer hard-drive." Posted in News on August 10, 2012 by webmasternemiThe first three books are great, but there are many threads left for the last book, being held ransom to the Alosha movie, apparently optioned by Alcon Entertainment, but not listed in IMDB. It seems as if Tor, who own the rights, aren't interested in readers that aren't drawn in by a movie connection. I'm not sure, given that opinion, what leverage we have, but feel free to write to Tor or Macmillan, who publishes Tor-Forge books.I'd love to unreservedly recommend all theses books; the characterizations are wonderful, the plot is twisted enough without exiting the universe Pike created, and they are well-written. Unfortunately, since we can't read the ending...I just hope that Mr. Pike retrieves his rights if Tor continues to refuse to publish, so we can enjoy the series as he intended.
WARNING: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ "ALOSHA" DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW.In "The Shaktra", Ali travels into the elemental kingdom looking for her mom. Meanwhile, Steve and Cindy try to gather more information about the Shaktra in a nearby town. Ali makes some new friends and learns more about her identity and powers as the fairy queen.It's a good bridge book between the first part and what I assume will be the final battle in "The Yanti." It has it's own plot with enough loose ends to entice one to pick up the next immediately after reading the last page. The juvenile writing style didn't bother me as much in this book as the last. Possibly the writing has gotten better, or possibly the storyline is so intense and suspenseful that one doesn't take much notice of the actual words. Whichever, this was quite a decent book.
What do You think about The Shaktra (2006)?
WORLDS BETTER than Alosha. I'm not sure what happened, but the language, plot and characters all got more interesting and complex. Scarier villain, complicated moral themes, even the death of a main character.
—Noel
