Endling #1: The Last
Author(s): Katherine Applegate
I REMEMBERED with a sudden pang, my mother’s words the last time we were together: It’s never wrong to hope, Byx.
Of course, she’d also said: Unless the truth says otherwise.
Byx is used to being the youngest and the smallest. But for all her life, she’s also been part of something bigger—part of a family, part of a pack. Until the terrible day Byx finds herself alone, the last of the dairnes. The endling.
For dairnes, the pack is everything: root and branch, heart and soul. Byx is determined to see if the legends she’s heard over the years about others of her kind are true. She sets off on a quest, traveling through the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra. Along the way, she meets new allies who each have their own motivation for joining her: Tobble, the worthy wobbyk; Khara, the girl of many disguises; Renzo, the thief with honor; and Gambler, the principled felivet.
They start as Byx’s friends and become her family, and together they uncover a secret that will threaten the existence of not just the dairnes but every other creature in their world.
Review(s):
★“Applegate effortlessly constructs her fantasy world, briskly moving readers through its imaginative details while creating winning, unique characters. This epic series starter is a bracing, propulsive read that will be a challenge to keep on the shelf.”
★“Fantasy lovers are in for a treat with this smartly paced, enthralling adventure. The heart and courage Byx and her companions must find as they stand up against unimaginable odds will inspire and delight. A sweeping fantasy epic that will have readers clamoring for a follow-up.”
★“Applegate skillfully builds a fully realized world of intrigue and wonder without ever letting up on the story’s quick pace. Themes of genocide, conservation, and magic are interwoven, providing thought-provoking questions for astute readers. A savvy choice for readers of fantasy.”
★“A suspenseful, tautly drawn quest.”
★“Will whet readers’ appetites for more of Byx’s fascinating world and the next stage of her quest.”
★“Exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.”
★“Animal-loving youngsters and their adults will find plenty of food for thought in Ivan’s extraordinary story.”
“Readers will fall in love with Byx and race with her through Nedarra, breathless and eager, thinking deeply all the way.”
Amazon.com Best Books of the Year
ISBN: 9781443434263