Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
Series: Reckoners #3
Delacorte Press
Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Date Read: February 23, 2016
Source: Library
★★★★☆
When Calamity lit up the sky, the Epics were born. David’s fate has been tied to their villainy ever since that historic night. Steelheart killed his father. Firefight stole his heart. And now Regalia has turned his closest ally into a dangerous enemy.
David knew Prof’s secret, and kept it even when Prof struggled to control the effects of his Epic powers. But facing Obliteration in Babilar was too much. Once the Reckoners’ leader, Prof has now embraced his Epic destiny. He’s disappeared into those murky shadows of menace Epics are infamous for the world over, and everyone knows there’s no turning back…
But everyone is wrong. Redemption is possible for Epics—Megan proved it. They’re not lost. Not completely. And David is just about crazy enough to face down the most powerful High Epic of all to get his friend back. Or die trying.
The last book in the series.
This has been an amazing trilogy. This is a set of books that I am certain I will read again at some point which is pretty high praise from me. I always try to write spoiler free reviews but this review may have some spoilers for the earlier books in the series because I simply don’t know how to avoid that. Honestly, if you haven’t read the prior books in this series you will want to stop read my review at this point and start reading Steelheart instead because it is really that good. This was my least favorite book in the trilogy but it was still an incredibly solid ending to the story.
At the start of this book, things aren’t looking to great for David and the rest of the Reckoners. The events that ended the previous book have left them at a bit of a disadvantage. Prof is gone as is Tia which leaves David in charge of the group. David is trying and he has a plan that he hopes can save Prof and change everything. The need a few gadgets and during the groups quest to get their hands on a few they meet Knighthawk who ends up being a wonderful addition to the group.
The group that I have grown to know and love are all featured in this book. David and Megan’s romance was adorable. David’s use of metaphors is still something to behold and Megan has learned a lot about controlling her power. Abraham may have been my favorite in this book. He has always been a bit mysterious but I felt like we really got to know him a little bit in this book. Cody didn’t have the same charm for me in this book that he had in the first book in the series. His stories that were fun at the beginning of the series have started to grow a bit stale for me at this point. Mizzy added humor at the right moments in the book but I actually think that Knighthawk’s sense of humor was the most enjoyable.
This book has a lot of action and the setting was very interesting. I am still trying to envision a city made of salt in constant change. It sounds odd but it actually worked for me. There was a lot of planning and coming up with ideas in this book for the Reckoners. There was action but most of it seemed to be crammed into the last part of the book. I would have liked to see a little more action spread out in the story. The story took a few twists that I predicted and a few that I didn’t. All in all, I found it to be a nice ending to the series but not quite as good as I had hoped it would be.
I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for something a little different. If the idea of a world where individuals with powers are not the heroes but the villains sounds even remotely interesting, I would suggest that you give Steelheart a try. I have enjoyed everything that I have read by Brandon Sanderson up to this point but I still have some catching up to do. I plan to read a lot more Sanderson in the future.
About the Author
Photo by Nazrilof Brandon Sanderson is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Steelheart and Firefight, the first two books in the Reckoners series, and the internationally bestselling books in the Stormlight Archive and the Mistborn trilogy. He was also chosen to complete Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series. His books have been published in more than twenty-five languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. He lives and writes in Utah. To learn more about Brandon and his books, visit him at brandonsanderson.com and follow @BrandSanderson on Twitter.
I'm not sure when I'll get to read his books, but I can't wait. Great review!
This series is just amazing! I think that Steelheart's prologue is the best that I have ever read.
Fantastic fantastic review. I actually just finished the third book as well and was so appalled by how he ended it! I swear he's just the master of storytelling. IN my review I also stated that the setting was like my fave part of the book. Can I please just be Megan?? I WANT DAVID <3 Also they are like relationship goals and had me smirking every time they had intimate scenes. Can't wait for Sanderson's other YA series.
Alex @ The Book's Buzz
Thanks, Alex! David is just adorable isn't he? The kissing scenes were great in this book. I hope he does another YA series soon.
oh I need to get back to reading this author. He is so good!! I kinda like the idea of a salt city.
This series is so original. Each book has had so many interesting things included in the setting. I still have a lot of Sanderson's books to get to myself.
I am definitely going to read this series, but I can't decide if I actually want to read it or listen to the audiobook. What a dilemma
I listened to Mitosis on audio and it was really good. The narrator for this series is great. I will probably do a re-read by audio.
Great review, Carole! I haven't heard of this series but I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, Danielle! This series was a lot of fun to read.