Guardians of Ga'hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember

Just when I started feeling that the series is extending a bit too much, it gets interesting to even think of leaving the series alone. Book 15, The war of the Ember, yes finally the ever-ending series of the noble owls of the Ga'Hoole tree has come to a stunning conclusion.


The strange, maniacal blue owl known as the Striga has been rousted from the Great Ga'Hoole Tree. Nyra, leader of the vicious Pure Ones, is either dead or laying low in some distant land,leaving the tree finally at peace. As if fed by an invisible spring, learning and the lively arts flourish at the great tree and spread throughout the owl kingdoms.


But unbeknowst to the Guardians, in a long-empty cave deep in the Northern Kingdoms two ruthless villains join forces to conjure an ancient evil, an evil that will do their bidding and wreak havoc on the world.



When word of this growing malevolence reaches Coryn, Soren, and the Band, the young king knows he must do two things: First, he must return the ember to the Sacred Volcanoes, for the same subtle emanation from the Ember of Hoole that stimulates the quest for knowledge and invention at the great tree, also magnifies the powers of those who seek to destroy it and all for which it stands. Second, he must gather allies. Two armies grow. Gadfeathers, bears, dire wolves, and greenowls join with the Guardians, while on the other side ancient evil takes to the sky. 


It is not a battle but a War, a war for the ember of Hoole.


A gripping tale of bravery, friendship, nobility, "gizzardly" wisdom and of valour. The War of the Ember marks the end of the long winding tale of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series spun in a well appointed plot by Kathryn Lasky and read by Pamela Garelick who  delivers the depth of personality Lasky has invested in her flock of owls and energetically leads us through the plot twists. Garelick's distinguished yet likable voice is simply wonderful--her lively characterizations of little owls and maternally inclined snakes all delight. She's also expert at recapping the owl's complex history so that it's clear to new listeners, yet fresh for the already familiar. 


A nice conclusion for this series of books. I enjoyed the whole series very much and learned a lot about owls in the process. Realize that they are written for children but are a delightful read for adults as well. As always there is the conflict of good and evil, with evil being vanquished in the last novel. It also teaches of harmony among all creatures, big or small and among varying species.

Guardians of Ga'hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember