Ember's End: The Green Ember Series, Book 4

As a new dad, I’ve been on the lookout for book series to someday share with my kids. I came across S.D. Smith’s Green Ember books by accident and decided it would be worth looking into. Much of the newer children’s and young adult fiction I’ve previewed has struck me as shallow, featuring protagonists short on character, and/or having storylines that don’t hold up well to the lens of how the world actually works. With the Green Ember series, I found the exact opposite. The storyline is captivating for any age. The characters are relatable and have their struggles, and the reader is invited to grow alongside them into maturity and virtue. While this is a series targeted at children, I’m glad I did pre-screen the entire series first. The first book was very tame and could be read to a younger child, but with each successive book the themes do get darker and more appropriate for slightly older children. To take one example, S.D. Smith does a fantastic job of capturing the excitement and adrenaline of his battle scenes without using gory language, but things do get a bit more graphic in books 3 and 4. Where books 1 and 2 mostly used the language of “so-and-so struck with his sword and ended his enemy,” the later books have several mentions of slicing off heads and limbs. Again, this is not described in gory detail, but the specificity might put unpleasant imagery in the minds of younger readers. This is a story about war, and it balances the heroics and horrors of violence in an accessible way for children. Without giving away spoilers, named and many unnamed characters die throughout the stories, which again might bother younger children but be a great way to introduce difficult topics and have deep conversations with older children about courage, sacrifice, and holding out hope when all seems hopeless. Almost all of the fantasy books I loved as a child had male leads, and I was particularly on the lookout for books with female characters my daughter could more easily relate with. Smith’s female rabbits are strong, brave, have well-crafted story arcs, and are able to embody feminine virtues without being portrayed as weak or lesser in any way. Likewise the male rabbits embody genuine chivalric ideals without overplaying masculine tropes. As a last spoiler-free note on the series ending, Smith does an excellent job of tying everything up in a satisfying conclusion. A surprising number of chapters followed after the climax, but it felt like a comfortable pace without things dragging on unnecessarily. For readers who usually wonder what happens to characters following the end of a book, the last chapters of The Green Ember series wraps the storyline up nicely with a satisfying and comprehensive finale. On Smith’s website and in a post-script author’s note in the last book S.D. does mention being a Christian, but these are not “Christian books” any more than Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series are Christian literature, a comparison Smith himself actually makes. Biblical values of love, self-sacrifice and redemption underly the entire storyline, but no where in the series is the reader blindsided by an unexpected alter call. Overall I was genuinely impressed with the quality of Smith’s writing and found his Green Ember series enjoyable even as an adult. I will keep these books handy for when my kids are a bit older, and will definitely have to check out some of Smith’s other books.

Wonderful story that tied up all the different paths that the many characters took. I am a bit perplexed by the dragons, I don’t understand anything about the whole section of the dragons. Or who the pilgrim was? While those sections left me with questions, I really enjoyed the book and the series! Good job!

My 8-year-old loves these books. As a parent, so do I! I discovered positive reviews on these books from John Lovell (Warrior Poet Society) and gave them a shot. So glad I did! I want to raise strong, resilient kids who know that monsters are real and bad things sometimes happen, but you can always FIGHT BACK. Band together with your family, hold each other close, never give up, and you will find that good can come out of even the darkest hours. Highest possible recommendation. S.D. Smith is a great author and these books should be in every elementary school library.

Began reading to see if it would be a good story for my grandkids and ended up reading the whole series. It’s a well written and beautiful story. Would read it to any of my grandkids.

This stunning finale kept my rapt attention throughout. I barely put it down as I raced to absorb every written word. My heart broke terribly, I wept like I’d lost a dear friend, I wept like a helpless child, I laughed aloud like a friend with old chums, and I was awestruck and astounded throughout its precious pages. Are there enough adjectives to describe the wonder of this book? Every book in the series—the Tales of Old Natalia included, as well as The Last Archer, have engaged my attention in such a way, it was like the first time I read the Bible myself with its gallant true accounts that grip your heart and soul. I am sure I will never read another series to compare. S.D. Smith, you have indeed, created a new classic and lived to see its fame. Congratulations! And your precious words to us at the end of the IV book... thank you for inviting us into your hearts and home, and we thank you for coming into ours. My sweet children and I are forever changed. Praise be to God!By the way, you just HAVE to read this series. Start with The Green Ember. And just try to stop before you’re through. 😉

He is really into the series & starting to read them himself.

I lovPed at the end when picket lost his arm for the cause. I honours helmer and it was a nice touch. Great book I really ..🐰🐥🔥🗡

A thrilling and compelling story- I read the series before reading to my kids and was totally hooked! A bit too intense for my younger kiddos but will be on our read aloud list as they grow older.

This book is abseluotly brilliant! If you read the other books, I don't think you need any wore incentive, and I am going to stop now and let you know for yourself!

My boys and I have enjoyed this series immensely. Great characters, and moving circumstances. We laughed and cried together. Such an awesome story!

What can I say I was sad because its over but glad I took a chance on the series and loved every one of them great stories each hand a tale to tell some longer than others sad to see it end but loved it all if you haven't checked out thus series yet you are missing out on some fantastic reading dont be put off by kids books I wasn't and glad I wasn't great books see for yourselves you will be wanting more after the first one we'll worth the price fir great books