Calamity

January 1, 2016
Climactic battles with the most powerful of the supervillainous Epics plaguing our planet leads to a win at last for truth, justice, and, well, second chances. Once-worthy Epic Jonathan Phaedrus has been corrupted by his powers but might still be redeemable if he can be made to face his deepest fears. In pursuit of his former boss, Reckoner David "Steelslayer" Charleston and his diverse crew of Epic-killers fetch up in Ildithia--formerly known as Atlanta but now, thanks to the powers of its resident Epics, located in Kansas and transformed into salt. A whirl of raids, chases, rescues, and spectacularly destructive displays of both magic and high-tech gadgetry ensues, bringing David face to face with Calamity: the original Epic and the source of the other Epics' powers. As said individual powers range from transformational skills and energy blasts to the ability to force victims to talk in rhyme, the threat doesn't always seem entirely serious despite a rapidly escalating body count. Moreover, narrator David seems as addicted to eye-rolling similes ("The sun peeked over the horizon like the head of a giant radioactive manatee") as he is to "exceptionally dangerous" mission plans. Perhaps it's not surprising that the key to victory in this action-packed romp turns out not to be violence but pop psychology. Adeptly done thrills, whether readers take their costumed supers seriously or with a dish (or, in this case, an entire city) of salt. (Fantasy. 11-13)

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February 15, 2016
Grades 8-11 In the third and final book of the Reckoners series, Prof has fully embraced his powers, destroying all around him in order to achieve Regalia's final plan: stealing Calamity's powers so that he might become the ultimate Epic. David and his small band of Reckoners are determined to stop him, but only David is sure he can force Prof to face his fears and recover his goodness. The only problem? David has yet to figure out Prof's fear. To do so, he and the team must rely on Megan's growing powers and the others' daring and intelligence, risking their own lives and those of the innocent people around them. It's a conclusion that won't satisfy everyone. While there's plenty of violence, as well as other dimensions, new Epics, and high-tech tools, there are also David's awful metaphors and similes, and the twists and turns, especially the final resolution, don't always add up. There are elements of the end, however, that are satisfying, even sweet, and that ought to make some readers feel that it's worthy, even of an Epic.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Sanderson's number-one best-seller status should ensure that this series finale should have the requisite finale-type demand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
Using the parallel reality theories introduced in Firefight, this third volume sets up both the cause of and potential resolution to the supervillain tyranny that is the series premise, as resistance leader David fights to stop his superpowered mentor-gone-evil. The series is by now convoluted, and long-winded logistical exposition adds little, but the cinematic sensibility and larger-than-life stakes will hold readers' attention.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)