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Half Upon a Time #3
Once Upon the End
Will there be happily ever after? Don’t miss the fractured-fairy tale conclusion to the action-packed and humor-filled Half Upon a Time trilogy! Jack and May have gone their separate ways, and each is now set on course to fulfill their destiny…or are they? Nothing is ever quite as it seems in the world of fairy tales, and the two friends are in for some huge surprises as they prepare to battle the Wicked Queen once and for all. Knights, fairy godmothers, giants, and beanstalks—all of these and more fill the pages of the thrilling and hilarious conclusion to the Half Upon a Time trilogy!
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
210 people are currently reading
2639 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
January 20, 2023
Okay, the first review I did for this was rushed and did not even begin to say how much I enjoyed this book. First off, the plot, it was AmAzInG. I had no idea what Jack was planning and when he pulled it off, I was like WHAAAAAAAT?!?! BRILLIANT JACK, JUST BRILLIANT. Second, I loved Penelope she's so chill and coolheaded, and Philip was just such a classic hero that they work great together. Thirdly, May, she's so stubborn and independent that she just makes me laugh all the time, Jack and her are great together. I will totally be buying more books by James Riley, so WATCH OUT Barnes & Noble!!
October 30, 2017
Yep, I FINALLY (after weeks of my younger siblings begging me to) finished this series and gave it the stamp of approval for those afore mentioned younger siblings. ;)
This series is definitely worth a read, guys. The plot is nothing short of genius, the characters are hilarious, and the various plot twists and action will keep even older readers on the edge of their seats.
Even though the writing style is very relaxed and kid-level, these books are intriguing from the beginning and will keep you fully enthralled until (and past) the final page of the book.
The ending was satisfying. There was nothing lacking at the very end that would make you feel as if the series was somehow complete. So that was a plus.
To finish this review, I'll leave you with one more free plug: if you love fairy tales, ANY KIND of fairy tales, you will love this book and the two other books in the series. :)
This series is definitely worth a read, guys. The plot is nothing short of genius, the characters are hilarious, and the various plot twists and action will keep even older readers on the edge of their seats.
Even though the writing style is very relaxed and kid-level, these books are intriguing from the beginning and will keep you fully enthralled until (and past) the final page of the book.
The ending was satisfying. There was nothing lacking at the very end that would make you feel as if the series was somehow complete. So that was a plus.
To finish this review, I'll leave you with one more free plug: if you love fairy tales, ANY KIND of fairy tales, you will love this book and the two other books in the series. :)
April 11, 2018
OH NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
YOU CANNOT END THIS SERIES NOW I'M BEGGING YOU
HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME
(full RTC)
YOU CANNOT END THIS SERIES NOW I'M BEGGING YOU
HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME
(full RTC)
August 29, 2014
Eeeeekk! I. LOVE. JACK.
'Nuff said.
Okay, maybe not. But this ending to the series was nothing short of perfection! No matter what anyone has ever said, Jack truly is the hero of this fantastic story. Naturally, there are other heroes - May and Philip, at the very least (I'm trying not to give too much away here). But Jack is in control from page one. Not even joking. In the first chapter, I even wondered if I was reading correctly, he seemed so mature.
Plot-wise, three months (again) have passed since Jack left May her slipper and backstory to join the Wicked Queen's Eyes. May has set herself up in something of a cross between a prison and a fortress, with the help of a fairy. And Philip has taken his "true love" back to his own kingdom. But of course neither May nor Philip can hold still and safe for so long, and the story begins anew.
"One shall betray May, and the other shall die." Now that Jack has joined evil, Philip jumps at the smallest opportunity to make his own end of the prophecy come true. But is there more to it than what appears? And is Philip's "Prince Charming" approach to life finally starting to take a back seat to smarter, perhaps even underhanded, approaches to winning the day? Even though May now has a stepfamily, is she truly not the granddaughter of the Wicked Queen? Why was the Wicked Queen so sweet to May during their time on earth, yet so cruel once they stepped back into the world chock-full of magic? And we all know how Jill finally convinced Jack to join the Eyes. Has he really completed his end of the prophecy already? How far is he willing to go to maintain his cover to the Queen?
Again, I LOVE this book, and I LOVE Jack in it. We find out more about his dishonored family. Of course, in the last book, we met his sister Jill. But in this book, you may just get a headache trying to figure out all of his family connections. Same with May, too. Filled with those fairy tales we all know and love, with SEVERAL twists we never would have expected, this book is a must-read.
...Trust me.
'Nuff said.
Okay, maybe not. But this ending to the series was nothing short of perfection! No matter what anyone has ever said, Jack truly is the hero of this fantastic story. Naturally, there are other heroes - May and Philip, at the very least (I'm trying not to give too much away here). But Jack is in control from page one. Not even joking. In the first chapter, I even wondered if I was reading correctly, he seemed so mature.
Plot-wise, three months (again) have passed since Jack left May her slipper and backstory to join the Wicked Queen's Eyes. May has set herself up in something of a cross between a prison and a fortress, with the help of a fairy. And Philip has taken his "true love" back to his own kingdom. But of course neither May nor Philip can hold still and safe for so long, and the story begins anew.
"One shall betray May, and the other shall die." Now that Jack has joined evil, Philip jumps at the smallest opportunity to make his own end of the prophecy come true. But is there more to it than what appears? And is Philip's "Prince Charming" approach to life finally starting to take a back seat to smarter, perhaps even underhanded, approaches to winning the day? Even though May now has a stepfamily, is she truly not the granddaughter of the Wicked Queen? Why was the Wicked Queen so sweet to May during their time on earth, yet so cruel once they stepped back into the world chock-full of magic? And we all know how Jill finally convinced Jack to join the Eyes. Has he really completed his end of the prophecy already? How far is he willing to go to maintain his cover to the Queen?
Again, I LOVE this book, and I LOVE Jack in it. We find out more about his dishonored family. Of course, in the last book, we met his sister Jill. But in this book, you may just get a headache trying to figure out all of his family connections. Same with May, too. Filled with those fairy tales we all know and love, with SEVERAL twists we never would have expected, this book is a must-read.
...Trust me.
May 20, 2021
Wow, that was a great finale. I wish that last scene had lasted just a little bit longer though . These were so fun to read.
February 6, 2021
***WARNING MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS***
Wow! An almost perfect end to an epic trilogy! The plot was riveting and the characters developed so much 😋 Also, Jack's family is the best! They're so well built. The scenes with Jack and Jill together are so much fun to read! The best part was probably when the Wicked Queen's prophecy was fulfilled. I know that sounds kinda evil, but it was perfectly written! It was also cool to see Jack visit "Punk" and see our world through a different perspective :) The only tiny thing I disliked was the dream states that Jack and May were sometimes in. It took me a moment to figure out what was a dream and what actually happened. But that's really the only thing that bothered me. Anyway, five stars!!
Wow! An almost perfect end to an epic trilogy! The plot was riveting and the characters developed so much 😋 Also, Jack's family is the best! They're so well built. The scenes with Jack and Jill together are so much fun to read! The best part was probably when the Wicked Queen's prophecy was fulfilled. I know that sounds kinda evil, but it was perfectly written! It was also cool to see Jack visit "Punk" and see our world through a different perspective :) The only tiny thing I disliked was the dream states that Jack and May were sometimes in. It took me a moment to figure out what was a dream and what actually happened. But that's really the only thing that bothered me. Anyway, five stars!!
August 8, 2013
Aaaaah. Look at how cute this is gonna be!
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
October 18, 2023
“I like that color you turn. It makes you look like a tomato. A very dignified tomato. A tomato above all other tomatoes, one that rules his garden with a squishy iron fist.”
~ First Impression ~
That was perfect. A beautiful, perfect conclusion to a wryly funny, sarcastic, ingenious, and entertaining series. I'm going to miss these characters. I'm going to miss this world. I'm going to miss their snarky banter and clever plans and unfortunate failures. I threw myself at these books, and each one sucked me in deeper, and this final adventure, this final battle, drew me in so far that I will always hold these books in my heart.
The first one was hilarious, well-plotted, with a surprising twist. I enjoyed it, that was sure, it was an excellent book. But not incredible, not something to be in awe of.
The second was intriguing, darker, and showed further depth to the characters, adding urgency to the story. Its pace was quick and it pulled me along, deepening my love for each character, pulling some of the story's connections taut while unwinding others.
When I started the third book, I already deeply loved the characters, already cared about the plot. As the story unraveled, as the characters filled their destinies, as I watched everything unfold with the utmost hope, I realized that this last book was one I could truly, honestly call a favorite.
~ Stats ~
Title: Once Upon the End (Half Upon a Time series, #3)
A perfect title. Final yet goofy. Walking the line between sarcastic and serious.
Author: James Riley
Genre: Middle-grade fractured-fairytale-fantasy
Age Recommendation: There is more sorrow in this book than the earlier ones, but not really any inappropriate content. 9+ simply because I doubt it would appeal to younger kids. I'm not, truthfully, sure why.
~ Characters ~
★★★★✫ -- 4.5 stars
First, I want to talk about Jack.
Jack, Jack, Jack. He started as a stubborn, reluctant, jealous kid. Yes, he was clever at times, yes, he was brave at times, but he was so, well, juvenile. He's matured so much over the last two books. He's really developed. He thinks things through, he learns to ignore his incorrect impulses, to calm his jealousy. He truly was a hero in this book -- loyal and brave to the very end, clever beyond even that. I felt so proud of him, watching him grow over the series. *gets teary*
Then there's May. She's my absolute FAVORITE in this series. She started as a snarky but smart, cynical yet brave heroine. In the second book, we saw her struggle with her relationship with her grandmother, and her core personality was still there, but her sass was closer to constant rage, her cynic-ness to all-around pessimism and distrust. It was a joy to see her rebellious nature in this book, to watch her come to terms with who she is, taking control over her destiny. Again, I felt proud at how May matured. She went through some seriously hard stuff, and came out of it purely herself.
Phillip. Oh, Phillip. In the first two books, Phillip seemed to be doing great. No evil grandma, no Eyes in his head, no secret sister. Just an undeniably heroic nature, and being nobly resigned to dying for May. He hadn't really developed as a character yet. But this last book, it was hard on him. He faced impossible choices, an awkward relationship with his true love (he was crushing on May), and difficult battles. And because of these, he grew as a person. With Penelope's help, he realized that sometimes, outwitting the opponent was a better decision than blindly rushing in to save everyone, with no plan, simply heroism. He realized that sacrifice isn't always necessary if planning is possible. He did what he swore never to do . Phillip's not my favorite character -- tropey-prince-hero types are never very appealing to me -- but I truly appreciate how much development he went through, and how his reckless selflessness was shown in a harmful light at times.
Penelope was a great addition to this book. She assisted Phillip with character development and had a likable character in herself: a perpetually calm, quick-witted fighter who defies all expectations despite always appearing to be half-asleep. I liked Jill's role as well, seeing her as a benevolent force instead of a frustrating enemy was nice, haha. Jack and Jill's sibling relationship was really good as well -- their trust in each other, their competition, it felt realistic and fun.
~ Plot ~
★★★★★ -- 5 stars
Warning - if you haven't read the first two books, spoilers ahead!
Jack is training to be an Eye, and he's good at it. Yes, apparently he's betrayed May. Or is this just the beginning of his full betrayal? Perhaps, does he have something up his sleeve? Speaking of May, she's stuck with her wicked stepmother, forced to live out her Cinderella story to keep herself safe from the Wicked Queen. But she is trying everything she can to fight evil, even under her circumstances. Phillip is determined to die nobly for May, as Jack has seemingly betrayed her, but with Penelope by his side, not everything is going according to plan. As the final threads weave together, histories are revealed, plans unfold, and nothing is as it seems...
As amazing as the characters are, the plot is the jewel of this book. It twists and turns like a deliberate snake, revealing gems of information slowly yet surely, handing them out so cautiously that the reader thirsts for more information, trying to connect the pieces in their mind. And perhaps they will connect a few, but most of the plot weaves together in the most unexpected of ways.
I could tell right from the beginning that this was a well-plotted conclusion. From the tight pacing of how everything unfolded, the way the narrative focused on each line of dialogue, each thought of every character, I knew every little thing was important, and that every little thing was connected to something else in some way or another.
I was right.
Riley's plot twists shake the story up in a delightful way, swirling the slowly congealing pot of story-soup into a nearly unrecognizable mess, until everything sorts itself out again in a madcap race. If nothing else, read this book for the way the fairytales intersect and interlock in surprisingly perfect ways and the twists that undermine everything you thought you knew only to reconnect all the threads in a completely different manner. It's beautiful.
I really liked the strands of romance that wove through the story. I shipped Jack and May from the start -- and I loved how the series ended in that regard. It was a truly fractured fairytale -- starting with a kiss, and ending with the promise of adventure. Perfect. Just perfect.
Meanwhile, Phillip and Penelope were cute together as well! I liked how Phillip gradually grew to like her, and it left their possibilities open -- friendship and romance were both in the game.
~ Setting ~
★★★✫ -- 3.5 stars
One thing I wish about this series was that the world was a bit more fleshed out. Something about the kingdoms, their names, and what they're known for? Even just a map in the beginning would be delightful.
However, that's not the kind of book this is. It's a fast-paced adventure, and it simply doesn't have time to get bogged down in worldbuilding. I accept this, despite my liking of a good map.
~ Style/Format ~
★★★★✫ -- 4.5 stars
The style of this book suits it beautifully. It's quick and concise, fitting in with the fast pace and constant danger. The dialogue in particular is well written. It's authentic and funny. I believe I wrote something to this effect in my review of Half Upon a Time.
~ Theme ~
★★★★ -- 4 stars
There are many themes buried inside this story, but I want to focus on one for the moment: that cleverness can get you farther than blind recklessness and self-sacrifice. It's a theme that most fantasy novels don't contain -- in fact, most push the opposite. And I love this book for it.
It's a much more realistic theme. Intelligence and careful planning are often shown as a lesser alternative to selfless bravery. Don't get me wrong, bravery is great. But as a bookworm and Ravenclaw, I just LOVE that it paints outwitting opponents as a weapon as strong, if not stronger, than courageous and dangerous acts, as it often can be.
As for theme as a whole -- it's light and mild, much like its predecessors. It is slightly heavier on theme than the first two, because conclusions are naturally heavier books, and so usually contain more obvious themes, but because the first two had such subtle themes, that didn't make it preachy at all.
~ General Thoughts ~
This was a perfect end to a highly enjoyable series. I absolutely recommend. The first one may seem juvenile, but, trust me, they get more complex as you go.
Overall rating -- ★★★★✫ 4.5 stars
If you liked this book
Loving the James Riley humor? Try the Story Thieves series.
Or if you want a retelling or fracturing of a fairytale, try the following.
Megan Morrison's exceedingly well written series with phenomenal worldbuilding, starting with Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel
If you're looking for a hilarious, sweet, almost satirical at times series with two lovable sisters and fairy-tale mysteries, go for The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley.
For a darker, gorier fairytale series sprinkled with humor, try Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark & Grimm.
For a standalone novel filled with interesting worldbuilding, cool and dangerous magical creatures, a sweet romance, and a journey-quest, look no further than Ella Enchanted.
“AGH!” Jack said, trying to sum up his feelings in as simple a sentence as possible.”
~ First Impression ~
That was perfect. A beautiful, perfect conclusion to a wryly funny, sarcastic, ingenious, and entertaining series. I'm going to miss these characters. I'm going to miss this world. I'm going to miss their snarky banter and clever plans and unfortunate failures. I threw myself at these books, and each one sucked me in deeper, and this final adventure, this final battle, drew me in so far that I will always hold these books in my heart.
The first one was hilarious, well-plotted, with a surprising twist. I enjoyed it, that was sure, it was an excellent book. But not incredible, not something to be in awe of.
The second was intriguing, darker, and showed further depth to the characters, adding urgency to the story. Its pace was quick and it pulled me along, deepening my love for each character, pulling some of the story's connections taut while unwinding others.
When I started the third book, I already deeply loved the characters, already cared about the plot. As the story unraveled, as the characters filled their destinies, as I watched everything unfold with the utmost hope, I realized that this last book was one I could truly, honestly call a favorite.
~ Stats ~
Title: Once Upon the End (Half Upon a Time series, #3)
A perfect title. Final yet goofy. Walking the line between sarcastic and serious.
Author: James Riley
Genre: Middle-grade fractured-fairytale-fantasy
Age Recommendation: There is more sorrow in this book than the earlier ones, but not really any inappropriate content. 9+ simply because I doubt it would appeal to younger kids. I'm not, truthfully, sure why.
~ Characters ~
★★★★✫ -- 4.5 stars
First, I want to talk about Jack.
Jack, Jack, Jack. He started as a stubborn, reluctant, jealous kid. Yes, he was clever at times, yes, he was brave at times, but he was so, well, juvenile. He's matured so much over the last two books. He's really developed. He thinks things through, he learns to ignore his incorrect impulses, to calm his jealousy. He truly was a hero in this book -- loyal and brave to the very end, clever beyond even that. I felt so proud of him, watching him grow over the series. *gets teary*
Then there's May. She's my absolute FAVORITE in this series. She started as a snarky but smart, cynical yet brave heroine. In the second book, we saw her struggle with her relationship with her grandmother, and her core personality was still there, but her sass was closer to constant rage, her cynic-ness to all-around pessimism and distrust. It was a joy to see her rebellious nature in this book, to watch her come to terms with who she is, taking control over her destiny. Again, I felt proud at how May matured. She went through some seriously hard stuff, and came out of it purely herself.
Phillip. Oh, Phillip. In the first two books, Phillip seemed to be doing great. No evil grandma, no Eyes in his head, no secret sister. Just an undeniably heroic nature, and being nobly resigned to dying for May. He hadn't really developed as a character yet. But this last book, it was hard on him. He faced impossible choices, an awkward relationship with his true love (he was crushing on May), and difficult battles. And because of these, he grew as a person. With Penelope's help, he realized that sometimes, outwitting the opponent was a better decision than blindly rushing in to save everyone, with no plan, simply heroism. He realized that sacrifice isn't always necessary if planning is possible. He did what he swore never to do . Phillip's not my favorite character -- tropey-prince-hero types are never very appealing to me -- but I truly appreciate how much development he went through, and how his reckless selflessness was shown in a harmful light at times.
Penelope was a great addition to this book. She assisted Phillip with character development and had a likable character in herself: a perpetually calm, quick-witted fighter who defies all expectations despite always appearing to be half-asleep. I liked Jill's role as well, seeing her as a benevolent force instead of a frustrating enemy was nice, haha. Jack and Jill's sibling relationship was really good as well -- their trust in each other, their competition, it felt realistic and fun.
~ Plot ~
★★★★★ -- 5 stars
Warning - if you haven't read the first two books, spoilers ahead!
Jack is training to be an Eye, and he's good at it. Yes, apparently he's betrayed May. Or is this just the beginning of his full betrayal? Perhaps, does he have something up his sleeve? Speaking of May, she's stuck with her wicked stepmother, forced to live out her Cinderella story to keep herself safe from the Wicked Queen. But she is trying everything she can to fight evil, even under her circumstances. Phillip is determined to die nobly for May, as Jack has seemingly betrayed her, but with Penelope by his side, not everything is going according to plan. As the final threads weave together, histories are revealed, plans unfold, and nothing is as it seems...
As amazing as the characters are, the plot is the jewel of this book. It twists and turns like a deliberate snake, revealing gems of information slowly yet surely, handing them out so cautiously that the reader thirsts for more information, trying to connect the pieces in their mind. And perhaps they will connect a few, but most of the plot weaves together in the most unexpected of ways.
I could tell right from the beginning that this was a well-plotted conclusion. From the tight pacing of how everything unfolded, the way the narrative focused on each line of dialogue, each thought of every character, I knew every little thing was important, and that every little thing was connected to something else in some way or another.
I was right.
Riley's plot twists shake the story up in a delightful way, swirling the slowly congealing pot of story-soup into a nearly unrecognizable mess, until everything sorts itself out again in a madcap race. If nothing else, read this book for the way the fairytales intersect and interlock in surprisingly perfect ways and the twists that undermine everything you thought you knew only to reconnect all the threads in a completely different manner. It's beautiful.
I really liked the strands of romance that wove through the story. I shipped Jack and May from the start -- and I loved how the series ended in that regard. It was a truly fractured fairytale -- starting with a kiss, and ending with the promise of adventure. Perfect. Just perfect.
Meanwhile, Phillip and Penelope were cute together as well! I liked how Phillip gradually grew to like her, and it left their possibilities open -- friendship and romance were both in the game.
~ Setting ~
★★★✫ -- 3.5 stars
One thing I wish about this series was that the world was a bit more fleshed out. Something about the kingdoms, their names, and what they're known for? Even just a map in the beginning would be delightful.
However, that's not the kind of book this is. It's a fast-paced adventure, and it simply doesn't have time to get bogged down in worldbuilding. I accept this, despite my liking of a good map.
~ Style/Format ~
★★★★✫ -- 4.5 stars
The style of this book suits it beautifully. It's quick and concise, fitting in with the fast pace and constant danger. The dialogue in particular is well written. It's authentic and funny. I believe I wrote something to this effect in my review of Half Upon a Time.
~ Theme ~
★★★★ -- 4 stars
There are many themes buried inside this story, but I want to focus on one for the moment: that cleverness can get you farther than blind recklessness and self-sacrifice. It's a theme that most fantasy novels don't contain -- in fact, most push the opposite. And I love this book for it.
It's a much more realistic theme. Intelligence and careful planning are often shown as a lesser alternative to selfless bravery. Don't get me wrong, bravery is great. But as a bookworm and Ravenclaw, I just LOVE that it paints outwitting opponents as a weapon as strong, if not stronger, than courageous and dangerous acts, as it often can be.
As for theme as a whole -- it's light and mild, much like its predecessors. It is slightly heavier on theme than the first two, because conclusions are naturally heavier books, and so usually contain more obvious themes, but because the first two had such subtle themes, that didn't make it preachy at all.
~ General Thoughts ~
This was a perfect end to a highly enjoyable series. I absolutely recommend. The first one may seem juvenile, but, trust me, they get more complex as you go.
Overall rating -- ★★★★✫ 4.5 stars
If you liked this book
Loving the James Riley humor? Try the Story Thieves series.
Or if you want a retelling or fracturing of a fairytale, try the following.
Megan Morrison's exceedingly well written series with phenomenal worldbuilding, starting with Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel
If you're looking for a hilarious, sweet, almost satirical at times series with two lovable sisters and fairy-tale mysteries, go for The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley.
For a darker, gorier fairytale series sprinkled with humor, try Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark & Grimm.
For a standalone novel filled with interesting worldbuilding, cool and dangerous magical creatures, a sweet romance, and a journey-quest, look no further than Ella Enchanted.
“AGH!” Jack said, trying to sum up his feelings in as simple a sentence as possible.”
June 1, 2013
Oh, geez. What a mess this is going to be. How do I put this into words? How do you even describe such things? How do I express the feels?...Oh well, I guess I'll do my best.
First off; The writing, because, you know, as a writer, that's the first thing I'm going to comment on.
PER-FECT-NESS. TOTALLY. Everything blew my mind! And I believe, even if the plot is great, you still need a great writer to convey it properly! Congratulations Mr. Riley for doing JUST THAT.
And now. Characters? They have developed SO GOOD I love everything. and everyone. Oh my, my face.
Jack is my all time FAVORITE hero! He was SPOT ON PERFECT in my opinion!
May also really had some shining moments in this that made me drool a little. And laugh. And cry. Oh feels.
Phillip... Eh... I was never a big fan of him because I believed it was ONLY JACK, MAY! But.. Hemhem... I was glad he got the ending he did. Very well done!
I LOVE LIAN. NOTHING MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID ON THAT. THE END.
The plot was FLAWLESS and tied everything up very nicely... Except for the very last page... THAT sort of made me growl...
My favorite books ever, full of action, romance, emotions, deep characters and relationships, wibbly wobbly storyline and AH. OH. I CAN'T. I'M JUST LIKE.
First off; The writing, because, you know, as a writer, that's the first thing I'm going to comment on.
PER-FECT-NESS. TOTALLY. Everything blew my mind! And I believe, even if the plot is great, you still need a great writer to convey it properly! Congratulations Mr. Riley for doing JUST THAT.
And now. Characters? They have developed SO GOOD I love everything. and everyone. Oh my, my face.
Jack is my all time FAVORITE hero! He was SPOT ON PERFECT in my opinion!
May also really had some shining moments in this that made me drool a little. And laugh. And cry. Oh feels.
Phillip... Eh... I was never a big fan of him because I believed it was ONLY JACK, MAY! But.. Hemhem... I was glad he got the ending he did. Very well done!
I LOVE LIAN. NOTHING MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID ON THAT. THE END.
The plot was FLAWLESS and tied everything up very nicely... Except for the very last page... THAT sort of made me growl...
My favorite books ever, full of action, romance, emotions, deep characters and relationships, wibbly wobbly storyline and AH. OH. I CAN'T. I'M JUST LIKE.
April 10, 2015
I would like to totally recommend this book to anyone! Stop now! There will be some spoilers! I absolutely loved this book! James Riley is a genius! I could not choose a favorite character because they're all so amazing! I can tell you I love the Charmed One! I was about to cry and die when I thought Jack was dead! I literally screamed into a pillow! I was soooooo happy when the Wicked Queen was killed! I loved this series so much, and thank you James Riley for writing it!
August 18, 2015
Ahhhhh! Kind of a fan girl moment maybe? Not sure, but I love love love how Jack still gets to be with May! Yay! Love Jack's masterplan though. Oh and the Eye who was with Snow White was sooooooo sweet! <3. Wish he could have been there with her.
December 9, 2014
This book was AMAZING! I loved the ending. I REALLY wish there was a fourth one!
June 3, 2024
what a wrap up!! pacing once again slayed as back to back events were happening. this one was a lot more sad than the other ones cuz betrayals and deaths were all over the place. and all the REVEALS where things way back in the first book start to make sense was so fun. and not jack being revealed as the prince of Charm (a kingdom), aka “Prince Charming” like PLEASE i cry. anyway this was really fun and i give it 4 stars ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2013
Have you ever had an interesting dream where all the fairy tales you have ever read, like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, got into a giant mess? Then this book is just like that dream. This book, which is wonderfully written to keep you on edge, is set in both the real and fantasy world. Sad and disheartening at times, mounting suspense at others, it is told in third person, though it is displayed through the character’s eyes, showing their point of view. It begins where you left off in Twice Upon a Time. May is stuck in the Cinderella story, Jack is with the Wicked Queen as an Eye, and Phillip is going to marry Penelope, a choice he is not comfortable with. It is slow at times, possibly to build suspense, and other times fast to give the reader a picture in their mind of action and movement. In this book, it is hard to tell who the protagonist is, for there are really 3 main characters, but it is easy to find out who is the main antagonist. Though it is over 300 pages, the vocabulary in the book is easy to understand, and it has a great theme. It would be a good idea to have some background knowledge, so I recommend reading the books that came out previously, Half Upon a Time and Twice Upon a Time. This book is a good example of fractured fairy tales and could be used for language arts. This book is for kids who love fairy tales, especially twisted fairy tales, and if they can read easy to medium chapter book. This book is for anyone who likes a good story and loves twists the leave you reading all night.
April 29, 2015
Riley, James Once Upon the End, 373 p. Aladdin (Simon), 2013. $17. Violence: PG; Language: G. Mature Content: G.
Mia is determined to end the reign of her grandmother, the Wicked Queen once and for all. SO is Jack, so is Prince Philip and so is Penelope. Unfortunately, they all have secret plans and no one is sharing – which makes for a HUGE mess, lots of misunderstandings and a high likelihood of failure.
I have not read the other books in this series and I did pretty well coming into it blind. Riley did a great job of making me super frustrated with the behavior of all of the characters, meaning I bought into the premise quickly and could identify with them and their heroics or their shortcomings. I could go on and on and but I hope your students are reading this series.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
Mia is determined to end the reign of her grandmother, the Wicked Queen once and for all. SO is Jack, so is Prince Philip and so is Penelope. Unfortunately, they all have secret plans and no one is sharing – which makes for a HUGE mess, lots of misunderstandings and a high likelihood of failure.
I have not read the other books in this series and I did pretty well coming into it blind. Riley did a great job of making me super frustrated with the behavior of all of the characters, meaning I bought into the premise quickly and could identify with them and their heroics or their shortcomings. I could go on and on and but I hope your students are reading this series.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
June 21, 2019
THIS SERIES IS AWESOME!
December 6, 2024
i am finally done
im a little embarrassed to admit how long it took me to finish
but in my defense, i read it like once a week
I FREAKING LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH
ITS PERFECT
it has adventure, comedy, tiny romance that makes me squeal and laugh, PLOT TWISTS THAT HAVE ME SCREAMING “what the heck just happened”, sudden revealed facts that make me go “ohhhh that makes sense” and have my family look at me weird, and also the characters that end up being fairy tale characters
this book at first i was a little confused bc a big chunk was put in three different perspectives at three different places. it was a little hard for my tiny, tired brain to remember (also bc of the gaps of time in between times i read) AND THEN LATER EVERYTHING JUST FALLS INTO PLACE???
last few chapters i was literally squealing with joy. i thought there was no future for them (iykyk) BUT THERE WAS AND I LOVE IT
TAKE THAT MERRIWEATHER HAHAHAHAAHA
anyway that’s basically my review 😊
im a little embarrassed to admit how long it took me to finish
but in my defense, i read it like once a week
I FREAKING LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH
ITS PERFECT
it has adventure, comedy, tiny romance that makes me squeal and laugh, PLOT TWISTS THAT HAVE ME SCREAMING “what the heck just happened”, sudden revealed facts that make me go “ohhhh that makes sense” and have my family look at me weird, and also the characters that end up being fairy tale characters
this book at first i was a little confused bc a big chunk was put in three different perspectives at three different places. it was a little hard for my tiny, tired brain to remember (also bc of the gaps of time in between times i read) AND THEN LATER EVERYTHING JUST FALLS INTO PLACE???
last few chapters i was literally squealing with joy. i thought there was no future for them (iykyk) BUT THERE WAS AND I LOVE IT
TAKE THAT MERRIWEATHER HAHAHAHAAHA
anyway that’s basically my review 😊
May 1, 2021
What I loved most about this series is how likeable all the characters are, and especially how they grew over the course of the books <3
October 9, 2014
"Living a fairy tale sounded good, until you realized you were only getting the bad parts, and all the fairy godmothers and happily ever afters weren't coming."
At the beginning of this final book in the Half Upon a Time series, we find our three heroes separated and trying to avoid the Mirror's prophecy that one of the boys would die and the other would betray May. Jack is training to be a guard for the Evil Queen (known as an Eye). May is living with her stepmother and two stepsisters. And Philip is living in his castle with his mom and Penelope (Sleeping Beauty).
To explain the places where this story takes us would be to give away some of the surprising twists and turns. I would never want to do that. I'd hate to take away the fun of discovering them on your own. Let's just say you will meet even more fairy-tale characters, including the Sandman, Beauty & the Beast and Leprechauns. You even find out the origins of the Grimm Fairy Tale stories. And, of course, Jack's true identity is finally revealed.
The great thing about this series is, it only gets better with each book. And every book surprised me with unexpected revelations. I loved every minute!!
Recommended to
Young Readers to adults. Anyone who enjoys fairy tales and adventures.
At the beginning of this final book in the Half Upon a Time series, we find our three heroes separated and trying to avoid the Mirror's prophecy that one of the boys would die and the other would betray May. Jack is training to be a guard for the Evil Queen (known as an Eye). May is living with her stepmother and two stepsisters. And Philip is living in his castle with his mom and Penelope (Sleeping Beauty).
To explain the places where this story takes us would be to give away some of the surprising twists and turns. I would never want to do that. I'd hate to take away the fun of discovering them on your own. Let's just say you will meet even more fairy-tale characters, including the Sandman, Beauty & the Beast and Leprechauns. You even find out the origins of the Grimm Fairy Tale stories. And, of course, Jack's true identity is finally revealed.
The great thing about this series is, it only gets better with each book. And every book surprised me with unexpected revelations. I loved every minute!!
Recommended to
Young Readers to adults. Anyone who enjoys fairy tales and adventures.
May 15, 2013
Even though I am an avid reader, I usually don't write reviews for books. I tend to keep my opinion to myself. But every once and a while there comes a time where I MUST express myself. And this.....well this is one of those times. I absolutely LOVED this book! It had so many twists and turns that it had me on the edge seat the entire time. I literarily finished this book in one day! I really loved Jack in this book. He is truly a hero. We finally learn more about him and his family. I actually like May more in this book than in the previous ones (but maybe that is because she no longer has her sarcasm. Ha!) But one thing that left me hanging was Penelope. I kept expecting something to happen with her, like we were going to learn something spectacular about her. But we never did. She was just there. Also, I didn't really like Philips ending. I just felt like something was missing, like the author didn't tie up all of the loose ends. All in all, it was a great book and it was a great end to a great series. I hope to see more from this author in the future.
May 17, 2014
This.
Book.
Was.
AMAZING!!!!!!
But, I have to say, I wish James Riley would write more!!! I mean, I know that this plot and problem has finally been solved, but I still wish Jack and May could have more adventures!! I loved it all so much!
*SPOILER!!!* I also have to admit, that for the first however many chapters or so, I was kinda fed up and annoyed with Jack. I wasn't sure if he had a plan, if he really was betraying May, or what. Pretty soon though, I realized that he could NEVER EVER betray May!!! I thought that at the end of the First book, but then I kinda began doubting my prediction and Jack. Sorry Jack. :-)
This book was, once again, hopping, intense, and very, very fun. I love books that:
1) Incorporate Well-Known Fairy Tales
2) Have Action and Danger but also...
3) Mysteries and Uncertainty
And this series (well, okay, #1 didn't deliver TONS of Mystery and Uncertainty, but HEY! It was the first book, you have to start somewhere!) had them all!! SO, SO FUN!!! :-)
So, if you love fantasy, YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES!!!!!
Book.
Was.
AMAZING!!!!!!
But, I have to say, I wish James Riley would write more!!! I mean, I know that this plot and problem has finally been solved, but I still wish Jack and May could have more adventures!! I loved it all so much!
*SPOILER!!!* I also have to admit, that for the first however many chapters or so, I was kinda fed up and annoyed with Jack. I wasn't sure if he had a plan, if he really was betraying May, or what. Pretty soon though, I realized that he could NEVER EVER betray May!!! I thought that at the end of the First book, but then I kinda began doubting my prediction and Jack. Sorry Jack. :-)
This book was, once again, hopping, intense, and very, very fun. I love books that:
1) Incorporate Well-Known Fairy Tales
2) Have Action and Danger but also...
3) Mysteries and Uncertainty
And this series (well, okay, #1 didn't deliver TONS of Mystery and Uncertainty, but HEY! It was the first book, you have to start somewhere!) had them all!! SO, SO FUN!!! :-)
So, if you love fantasy, YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES!!!!!
October 4, 2016
I'm so sad and happy at the same time... Sad because this amazing trilogy is finished but happy because the end was so GOOOOOOD.
What a journey. I read the first book back in June and so many things happened in these three books. I loved Jack May and Phillip so much that I'm sad to leave them. May and Jack are so cute and I really wanted the last scene to last longer.
I think I'll have a very big book hangover. I loved these books so much ! You can't imagine. I laughed so much too ! Jack is HILARIOUS.
Oh Gosh, I'm so saaaad. Well at least, they are happy now and I hope the best for them.
READ THIS TRILOGY GUYS !!!! PLEASE.
What a journey. I read the first book back in June and so many things happened in these three books. I loved Jack May and Phillip so much that I'm sad to leave them. May and Jack are so cute and I really wanted the last scene to last longer.
I think I'll have a very big book hangover. I loved these books so much ! You can't imagine. I laughed so much too ! Jack is HILARIOUS.
Oh Gosh, I'm so saaaad. Well at least, they are happy now and I hope the best for them.
READ THIS TRILOGY GUYS !!!! PLEASE.
November 29, 2013
Loved the way James Riley uses a combination fairy tales to bring a more updated story to the readers. Jack, May, and Phillip are back. This time, Jack is training to be an Eye and Phillip and May are trying to get away from the wicked queen. There are a lot of twists and turns so get ready for the rollercoaster ride of your life. A lot of unexpected results, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I wish it wasn't a triology, I wanted more for our heroes.
April 28, 2017
Fantastic ending to the trilogy!! I loved how the characters matured and changed, especially Jack, becoming more complex and switching things up. I was happy that the sarcasm was taken down a few notches--it was pretty over the top in the 2nd book. Totally satisfying ending with plenty of twists and turns along the way...I may have read it too fast, in fact! Definitely the best book of this series.
August 22, 2018
I really need to reread this series!!!
☆
I remember how I felt when I finished this book. Satisfied yet hungry for more! So much character and story development happened throughout this series that I REALLY REALLY wanted a spin off series or something. LOL
☆
(JACK & MAY WILL FOREVER BE MY OTP)
☆
I remember how I felt when I finished this book. Satisfied yet hungry for more! So much character and story development happened throughout this series that I REALLY REALLY wanted a spin off series or something. LOL
☆
(JACK & MAY WILL FOREVER BE MY OTP)
March 12, 2020
The first two books were fun but not amazing, but they were definitely worth reading for the payoff in this book! I loved how much growth each character had and there were a lot of twists I wasn’t expecting. So fun!
April 12, 2021
Fabulous! Utterly, completely amazing!
August 18, 2024
my total rating = 94774936330 stars ✨
I loved it! It was like Never after and I am so glad the third book!
THE PLOT TWISTS WERE CRAZY😳😳😳😳
It was fun
It was sad
It was scary
It was cute
It was everything to be honest!
I tried tabbing this book but it was so eventful that literally every page has a tab 😁
Would I re-read this series?: 100%
Loved the different references to movies in this book but kinda sad that Gurgi wasn’t there 🙃
Character overview:
- May: she was was everything
- Jack: he was so annoying in the beginning of the book and the plot twist( one in particular) was crazy I did not expect that
- Phillip: was okay at first but then I hated him bcs of that same plot twist
- Penelope: was there for support i guess
- Jill: I LITERALLY WENT FROM HATING THIS GIRL TO CALLING HER A GIRLBOSS THEN HATING HER AGAIN- how does that happen?
Very fast paced- I LOVED THAT
Would I recommend you this series?: yes- maybe depends on your book interests
If you ended up liking this series tho and already read all of the trilogy, I recommend you give Never After a shot ! Both books are a bit similar and just amazing peices being witnessed
Why I love books like these: simple, Disney Movie energy 😁
And yeah! That was pretty much it🤷♀️
I loved it! It was like Never after and I am so glad the third book!
THE PLOT TWISTS WERE CRAZY😳😳😳😳
It was fun
It was sad
It was scary
It was cute
It was everything to be honest!
I tried tabbing this book but it was so eventful that literally every page has a tab 😁
Would I re-read this series?: 100%
Loved the different references to movies in this book but kinda sad that Gurgi wasn’t there 🙃
Character overview:
- May: she was was everything
- Jack: he was so annoying in the beginning of the book and the plot twist( one in particular) was crazy I did not expect that
- Phillip: was okay at first but then I hated him bcs of that same plot twist
- Penelope: was there for support i guess
- Jill: I LITERALLY WENT FROM HATING THIS GIRL TO CALLING HER A GIRLBOSS THEN HATING HER AGAIN- how does that happen?
Very fast paced- I LOVED THAT
Would I recommend you this series?: yes- maybe depends on your book interests
If you ended up liking this series tho and already read all of the trilogy, I recommend you give Never After a shot ! Both books are a bit similar and just amazing peices being witnessed
Why I love books like these: simple, Disney Movie energy 😁
And yeah! That was pretty much it🤷♀️
June 15, 2022
yes I did stay up to read this to find out what happened despite being older than the target audience and having already read it years ago. the plot was as good as it was in my vague memory of it and despite knowing generally what happened, it was so satisfying at the end. 5 stars for the brilliant plot, characters and nostalgia
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