The Hive Queen

This book was okay. It was interesting enough, but not nearly as good as its predecessor The Lost Continent. I feel that Cricket was much more interesting in the last book, and likewise Blue, Swordtail, and Sundew have lost most of the charm and depth they showed in the last book as well. Sundew has been reduced to yelling, Blue has been reduced to sympathetic sappy-face, Swordtail has been reduced to I-need-Luna-or-I-will-die-waaah.

Jewel Hive was a very cool setting, the Chrysalis stuff was interesting, and the mystery of Cricket's origin was something we needed an answer to in order for the plot to move along. However, although this book is just fine, I feel that it was a waste. A lot more could have been achieved in this book, and I think that if Blue, Cricket, Sundew, and Swordtail had just fled straight to the Poison Jungle in this one instead of dwaddling in the Hives, the arc overall could have had more room for more interesting things, and perhaps the final book, Flames of Hope, wouldn't have been so hopelessly (ha, sad pun) rushed.

I'd say this is number 3 on the “worst books of the Lost Continent Arc” list. Flames of Hope (worst), The Poison Jungle, and The Hive Queen. Although, this book really wasn't bad. It was just really okay, Cricket was a pretty boring unrelatable character, and it felt like a waste of potential in a series where each arc is only allowed five books.