A review by taliahsbookshelf
Gregor and the Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is emotionally draining, but in a good way. It's a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings and pain and love, but wrapped up in a way that makes it impossible to let go of. This series is beautifully crafted. Do I think there's room for additional books should Suzanne Collins ever wish to write a spin-off or add to it? Yes. 100%. However, I think it holds its own and doesn't necessarily need any additional books to be satisfying and have an ending that makes sense. Note: This last book of the series covers some deep topics, and goes into detail on certain aspects of war that some very young children may need parental help with.

Spoilers:
Low-level spoiler:
Self-care is actually just closing the book at page 229 and pretending that's all that happened :).

Mid-level spoiler:
I love the relationship that Lizzie and Ripred have. I am disappointed that this is the first book we really see any real character development on Ripred's part, but still glad we get to see any of it.

Mid-level spoiler:
I LOVE the end portion when we get to really see Luxa's internal struggle. It's spelled out for us on the page, but there's still so much room for a connection to the queen. Suzanne Collins does a fantastic job with the "show don't tell" narrative, but I think this is one of those places where she flipped it on its head and pulled it off.

High-level spoiler:
I think having the interaction with the Bane the first time (when Gregor and Ares first meet him on the field in front of Regalia) didn't click previously. However, reading back this time, I realized that the exact thing that happens when Ares dies has already happened right then. The Bane grabs onto his wing, pulls him in, almost clamps down. The difference is Gregor. It's kind of surprising to me that Suzanne Collins chose not to go into more detail about Gregor's grief, but it's still a middle-grade, so it's not like I was expecting her to, but I'm still a little sad about it.


Favorite quotes:
"I'll never get rid of you, no matter how hard I try. I love you."(397)

"Ares the flier, I bond to you."(357)

"Remember that even in war there is a time for restraint. A time to hold back your sword."(12)

"But he had to let go. Ares wasn't coming back."(368)

"/. |\/ |// ||\\ \. |||/ |// //."(323)

"And then something happened that changed his entire perception of the world. Gregor coughed."(99)

"So Sandwich, the founder of Regalia. The eerily accurate visionary who had created this new world far below the surface of the earth, was first and foremost a butcher."(212)

"Their faces were so close together that he barely had to turn his head when they kissed."(229)

"There. The warrior's dead. I killed him."(386)

"Suddenly he felt his hand reaching into his pocket and pulling out the photo of them dancing. The one that had convinced Solovet he was crazy about Luxa. He placed it on her tray. 'This is the reason I don't have bodyguards,' he said, and promptly headed for the door, too afraid to see her reaction. But as he rounded the corner, he caught her smile."(180)

"'Nobody's going around calling me a prince.' 'Well, if that's what's bothering you, you'll be Prince Gregor from now on,' said Ripred."(140)

"Luxa rose and reached down to help him to his feet. But once he was up, he didn't release her hands. In fact, he held on tighter."(219)

"You will have to let him go yourself."(363)

"There they were. Luxa and Gregor. Dancing. Laughing. Captured in one of the few really happy moments they had shared."(16)
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