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Amulet (Book 4: The Last Council) by Kazu Kibuishi

Review by Chris Singer

About the author:

Kazu Kibuishi is the founder and editor of the Flight Anthologies, a critically acclaimed comics series, as well as the creator of Daisy Kutter: The Last Train, a winner of the YALSA Best Books for Young Adults Award.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Kazu moved to the U.S. with his mother and brother when he was a child. He graduated from Film Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He currently works as a full-time comic book artist.

About the book:

Kazu Kibuishi’s thrilling, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series continues!

Emily and her friends think they’ll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn’t right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in fear. Emily is soon escorted to the Academy, where she’s expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Coucil, a group of the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, an awful secret is slowly uncovered – a secret that, if left buried, means the certain destruction of everything Emily fights for.

Book Trailer:

My take on the book:

This was my first introduction to Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series and I really was quite impressed. I actually wanted to get my hands on the first three books before reading this one, but all of those copies at my local library were either checked out or already on reserve (a good sign I would think).

Since I couldn’t get any of the previous books in the series I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t have a clue about what was going on in the story. I was relieved to see that I was able to follow the story and that it didn’t take me long to pick up on what was going on.

It also was pretty easy to see why this series was so popular. Kids enjoy stories with heroes and The Last Council is definitely reminiscent of classical tales of good versus evil. Kibuishi’s illustrations are fantastic and the story is action-packed as well. Middle readers, especially those interested in fantasy/science fiction, will particular enjoy this book.

I’m planning on checking out and reviewing the first three in the series. Be sure to show your readers the book trailer above. It’s very well-done and will definitely spark their interest.

Giveaway:

Two winners

If I don't answer your call, if I'm late getting back to you in email, if you don't see me at events around town, it's because I am writing.
I'm working on my fourth book, a novel about a girl who loves to read. I owe three chapters to my agent and editor as soon as I can get them done.
I traveled a lot in the past month and a half -- a week in Texas, a week in Chicago, a couple days in Grand Rapids and then Battle Creek -- and while I tried to work on the novel while on the road, it turned more into thinking and analyzing than actual writing.
I was afraid to start writing when I got home, but now I've started and it won't stop until it's done. That's the way it usually works.
I'll tend to the important things (MRA paperwork, Gango sketchbook uploads, Elliot and the Goblin War by Jen Nielsen, protecting Ebersole, school events in Bloomfield Hills and Farmington, a few other things), and will concentrate on getting this book into shape.
Here's one of the characters:


So if you see me in the bookstore, say hello but don't ask what I've been up to -- it's too long an answer! ;)