A review by taliahsbookshelf
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

My favorite book in the series, by far. Suzanne Collins has a way with plot and subtle foreshadowing, and it's very apparent in this installment. Even though this is a (thirteenth or fourteenth) reread for me, I'm still seeing new ways she was able to slide things into the plot without making it obvious, even to an adult reader. That being said, however, the plot twist is constructed in a way that all of the previous foreshadowing becomes immediately apparent, and everything clicks into place, both for the reader and for the characters. Highly recommend this book to everyone.

Spoilers:
High-level spoiler:
I've read this book who knows how many times now and just now realized that Boots' dance is actually flawless. Why? Because when she turns back to Regalia, Gregor puts her back on Temp's back and he himself is the inhibition of progress towards the end. But, Sandwich's prophecy clearly states that the princess and the crawler are imperative to the journey, while the warrior's role is much less, though not unimportant. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I think this was a very clever way to highlight the parts of the prophecy that are obviously important at the end, but in a creative way for those who already recognize the twist.

High-level spoiler:
It doesn't matter how many times I read this, the twist still hits me every time. Obviously I already know what's going to happen and what the twist is, but I kid you not, I think about this book, and particularly Luxa approaching the council at the end, probably weekly. Girlboss at only eleven, and a literal queen.


Favorite quotes:
"The more tales told, the less chance of repeating them."(277)

"Sometimes you cannot help the things that happen."(317)

"Even the warrior - no, forget the warrior. He's been trying to master basic echolocation for months with no result. Just keep knocking your head against that one, okay, boy? Don't want to overload your massive brain with too many tasks at once."(173)

"Ripred, as usual, had a point."(281)

"Her voice had a pleasant, cheerful quality that seemed unusual for a bat. Of course, the main bat Gregor talked to was Ares, and he was usually pretty depressed."(65)

"Mrs. Cormaci... can you keep a secret?"(358)

"I try and give your boy survival tips but he just doesn't pay attention."(35)

"The Vineyard of Eyes drank in their sounds and gave them nothing in return."(268)

"The idea that the humans could be as bad as the rats, or even worse, threw him for a loop. But was he truly surprised? [...] No. He couldn't say he was."(322)

"The truth was, he was thinking about a girl, but she didn't go to his school. And he wasn't worried about what she thought of his hair. He was wondering if she was even alive."(8)

"Now cracks a noble heart."(303)

"Gregor's fingers closed around a plum Temp had set aside for Boots, and he beaned Ripred between the eyes with it."(243)

"Don't forget the crawler. He may have saved us all."(316)

"Ripred seemed to know when he could push him and when he genuinely needed help."(187)

"We are at your mercy. 'The Prophecy of Blood' is upon us."(23)
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