The Shattered Lens

Don't even tell me this is the last book. Seriously, Sanderson? You couldn't be arsed to tear yourself away from the Wheel of Time series to give your own series a proper ending? Ugh. Which is a shame, since the fourth book is where Alcatraz grows up and learns that being in a war means making horrible decisions beyond your control and people die without you wanting them to and all the wartime issues geeks like me want in their fantasy. And then he rushed the hell out of the last two chapters and utterly killed the mood. He ended it on a cliffhanger! He has at least one more book left of story! How is this - I ask again - the last bloody book in the series?

Also, a lot of the 'meta' humor in the beginning of the book was seriously grating. It was amusing when it was subtle, but you can't layer those kinds of jokes on with a trowel and expect it to have the same effect.

Sanderson, great book, but I am slightly disappointed. Or maybe you'll make this right in the end, once you finish the WoT series and remember Alcatraz Smedry and his war against the librarians. Please do. ( )

Another good book in the series. Leaves on cliff-hanger, and the book feels sort of like a filler. Looking forward to next book. ( )

Publisher's blurb: "Alcatraz Smedry is up against a whole army of Evil Librarians with only his friend Bastille, a few pairs of glasses, and an unlimited supply of exploding teddy bears to help him. This time, even Alcatraz's extraordinary talent for breaking things may not be enough to defeat the army of Evil Librarians and their giant librarian robots." (Booktopia)
My comment:
Fourth book in series that the author tries to trick us again into thinking it is the final one in the series. Watch out for page numbers being changed and lots of unexpected plot twists. Highly recommended. ( )

I love this series. This was not a satisfactory ending, however, it appears that Sanderson is done with it [despite the cliffhanger ending] for the foreseeable future. Too bad because this is one of his best. ( )

The Alcatraz series continues with the great humor and cleverness of the previous books, including a great running gag on chapter numbering. The book focuses in on the history and meaning of the Smedry Talents bringing alight some fascinating details. The story also finds Alcatraz and his friends in the middle of war, with all the loss and sacrifice that entails. While humorous and never comes to a point that death seems possible, the book does exposit on the frightening reality of children in war. Finally, Alcatraz makes an unexpected alliance. Another great book in this series, and I look forward to the next and final volume. ( )