From the Publisher
"An occasional one-liner balances teary-eyed moments of sacrifice. Spells never lose their luster on the page, always providing unique visual effects and advancing the story. . . . Fans of Henrietta will find satisfaction in this grand finale to the epic series."—School Library Journal
School Library Journal
03/01/2022
Gr 6 Up—Henrietta Achilles, an orphan who inherited a magical house where adventurers often come in the hopes of finding treasure, defends her home as villagers take shelter from stone invaders. The soldiers, bandits, kobolds, and magical residents seen in previous series installments return in this epic send-off, complete with emotional climaxes that reward those who have been following ongoing story arcs and relationships—a subplot concerning Cornelius's potential as leader of the kobolds helps ground the action taking place inside and outside the magic house. Revelations about Henrietta's heritage put her in tough positions to heal divisions of the past. An occasional one-liner balances teary-eyed moments of sacrifice. Spells never lose their luster on the page, always providing unique visual effects and advancing the story. The artwork sometimes takes on a 3D quality, with characters' faces or hands seeming to protrude through the fourth wall. The back matter includes a pierogi recipe and Pawlitza's process art. Henrietta is white. VERDICT Fans of Henrietta will find satisfaction in this grand finale to the epic series. Those who love Kazu Kibuishi's "Amulet," J.C. Phillipp's "Pacey Packer," and Jeff Smith's "Bone" series will appreciate these books, though they will want to start at the beginning.
Kirkus Reviews
2022-01-11
As danger approaches, orphan Henrietta Achilles must protect the inherited castle she now calls home in this graphic fantasy translated from the German.
The formerly friendly stone guardians led by the mysterious Firstborn are attacking the village and trying to breach the entrance to the castle. Henrietta has grown into her own, capably harnessing the magic powers of the house keys to protect the townspeople sheltered inside. A turncoat within the castle causes chaos, setting loose more corrupted stone guardians—but the real mastermind of the invasion is someone unexpected. An emotional backstory reveals what happened to Henrietta’s parents, and, finally, the contents of the wizard Ornun Zol’s secret vault are unveiled. With never a dull moment, this entertaining fourth and final series entry that follows 2021’s The Winter of Walking Stone easily shifts between perfectly timed humor, poignant dialogue, and action-packed battles. The inventive magical elements and splendidly atmospheric illustrations continue to delight and make this series a standout. The myriad bandits, townspeople, friendly creatures, and menacing army of enemies may be overwhelming to keep track of at times, but readers will be pleased at the return of memorable characters from previous installments. The cast is predominantly male and light-skinned.
A satisfying finale to an inventive and absorbing series. (pierogi recipe, character sketches) (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)
