more like 2 1/2 stars. I've really liked the other books, but I just couldn't get into this. I know I'm not the target audience though.
I took a break for over a year before listening to The Hatchling, so I didn't mind the main character change so much, and I like Nyroc. I do wish Lasky separated her books into arcs though. But then we only had Nyroc for 2 short books, and now there's another main character change and it takes place in the ancient past. I wouldn't have minded if it was separate from the main series, but I just couldn't get into these characters. I think it's the way it's written. "I did this" "I felt this way" I know they're reading a memoir, but it felt very tell don't show. It's been so long since I read the first six books that I cannot remember, but some reviews say this book's lore is contradictory to the original lore which is frustrating. I don't understand what the deal is with the hagsfiends. I thought they were evil spirits? Now they are part crow part owl? So they're evil just because they're crows? There's not a real reason? This lore felt weird to me. I really like the other villain like St. Aggies or The Pure Ones. They're more complicated and have an ideology. But these are just crow owls and they had evil magic just because? I'm so far in this series that I want to finish it but I'm seriously considering just finding a summary of these next couple books. Maybe they'll improve the storyline but right now I'm just not feeling it. If I wasn't listening to this audiobook while I worked, I would have decided I wasn't enjoying it enough to finish.

I really like this novel, but then again, I'm a fan of the series. Like all the books, it's for an audience younger than me, but I think it's pretty brilliant. A new story that links in with the present story of the novel, it adds depth to the world, and I'm eager for the next one.

All in all, a good book to encourage reading, a wonderful addition to the series, and a shame not to be made into a movie.

<3

Better, perhaps, than the previous book, but not great. The problem with this book is that it felt incomplete. It really should have been combined with the next book or two (haven't read them yet, so I'm just guessing) into a single longer book.

Very good. Gives background on the history of where it started.

I understand why Kathryn Lasky wrote this one in first person, journal entry style despite the previous eight books being third person. That doesn’t mean I liked the style. The story was interesting enough, but I was slogging through it because it was such a different style than the previous books and not half as engaging. I’m so glad book ten went back to third person. *breathes sigh of relief* Otherwise I probably would’ve skipped this prequel trilogy altogether.

That being said, I was enjoying it much more by the end. I liked the inclusion of Svenka the polar bear and her cubs, and this series delves much more into magic than the previous books, which is interesting. Hagfiends are terrifying. Go strong mom Siv.

I really liked how they told the story of the first collier, Grank. He was the teacher of the first king of Ga'hoole. Grank was taught by Faolan (from Wolves of the Beyond) first soul, who was also the first Fengo. He had the power to see in the soul, he knew the power of the ember of owls, he could see the future. Before they tell this tale, Ezylryb dies of old age and tells them to read a book in a secret chamber in his hollow. It was a very old book, its cover was made of mouse fur and engraved in it were letters. This was the book that told the very old tale of the Fengo and Grank. I really liked this book, this book was telling more about the past and what really happened. After all, Soren is Ezylryb's ward.

This book is a prequel, if you will, to the entire series. It shows us how it all began. It's quite different than the others in that our protagonists, Soren and his friends, are set aside for the time being.

I'm reading all of the Ga'Hoole books in Kindle eBook format.

How could it end there? I need to know what happens next. I like that Ms. Lasky is taking a little time out to tell us the history of the guardians. It's engrossing and captivating, and I can't wait for the next one.

The First Collier is the ninth book in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole seires written by Kathryn Lasky and is the first of a three parter known as 'The Leagends of Ga'Hoole' sieres which tells the story of the time when Hoole lived and fort against the Hagsfiends and thier Nachtmagen (the hagsfiends form of magic). The story revoilves around Grank the firts Collier (how serprising) as he lerns the uses of fire and how to controle his fire site. Grank is the best frend of the king and queen and after the kings death he is tasked with looking after the egg. Some parts of the three book will sound a bit formiliyer and it should because the fire cycle mentioned in the previous book is basted from these three books. The first is written by grank and so focuses on granks story orthow it will fockus on Queen Siv several times through the book. I liked this book because it gives you a completely new asortmant of characters,and finaly explains what the hagsfiends are! I don't like the fact that grank wont be the narator of the next book. The length isn't that much of a problem to me this time this time because after finshing it I realised that there wasn't much way in which the book could have been made longer. Althow this book can be skiped I wouldn't recomend you skiping it thow because althow you will most likely still understand the main story you will miss out on extra information.

I really enjoyed this installment of Ga'Hoole, although I was saddened by the death of Ezylyrb. I was happy that there was just enough time spent on Grank's time in the 'Beyond the Beyond' and his time with the 'ember of Hoole' to set the stage for the rest of the story.
By the time the reader has gotten this far into the series he or she is familiar enough with the particulars of this region.
What I did miss was more of the story of Hoole's parents. I just wish that more had been said of them as ruler and a couple.
This was another quick, inspiring read. On to book 10

It took me halfway through the book to actually catch on to the book. It is a prequel to the series. It emphasizes how special the king owl is.

Stories (Siv and Svenka) within stories (Grank and Theo and Fengo) within stories (Soren and Coryn).