Once upon a time, there were three little pigs who lived in a small village. The pigs were brothers, and they were always seeking adventure and new experiences. One day, they stumbled upon a magic lamp buried deep in the forest. As they rubbed the lamp, a genie appeared before them and offered to grant each of them one wish. The first pig, named Peter, wished for a luxurious mansion made of bricks that would protect him from any danger. The genie granted his wish, and soon Peter was living in a beautiful brick house.
The genie granted his wish, and soon Peter was living in a beautiful brick house. The second pig, named Paul, wished to become the strongest and fastest pig in the world. The genie granted his wish, and Paul found himself transformed into a powerful and athletic pig.
The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi
Emily, Navin, and their group of allies head to the lost city of Cielis to find the Guardian Council–the former rulers of Alledia and the Stonekeeper’s last hope for defeating the Elf King.
Review
The third book in the Amulet series jumps right into the action, bringing readers on a whirlwind journey to find the lost city of Cielis–though most people do not believe it exists. The story follows a fairly predictable route, beginning in a sketchy drinking hole to find a crew crazy enough to attempt the deed and ending up in a magical whirlwind that has raged for centuries–because where else would you hide a city in the sky? Despite the well-worn tropes utilized in The Cloud Searchers, however, the book remains an engaging and even exciting read.
The characters help to keep the series feeling original even when readers recognize the specific sources from which Kibuishi draws and even when the roles of those characters seem stereotypical. Thus, though Emily fits nicely into young hero-in-training mold, Leon Redbeard serves as her older trainer/guide, and so on, their individual voices make them seem real rather than forced. Emily, for instance, has been developing nicely throughout the series, transforming from a regular girl concerned with her own problems to a determined heroine who recognizes the need to stay in Alledia despite the danger. She may be scared, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Her brother Navin, with his own important role in the resistance, promises similar development, though he sadly gets a little lost in this installment. A line or two of typical boyish excitement over an alien world is about all he gets to establish his personality. His moment to save the day, meanwhile, feels a little anticlimatic since we have seen it done before.
Perhaps the most interesting character in this book is Trellis, the prince of the Elves. Though Emily hesitates to trust him, he declares himself to have the same goal as she does and an uneasy alliance holds for the time being. Whether Trellis wishes to bring in an new era or peace once he defeats the Elf King or whether he simply wants to take his father’s place as tyrant is not a question any of the characters has yet asked, but right now I find it almost irrelevant. It is interesting enough to watch Trellis, having hit rock bottom, attempts to find his place in the world. I rather consider him the Prince Zuko of the series.
The Cloud Searchers is the strongest installment of the series yet, maintaining an evenly-paced plot that manages to bring together what seems to be the final cast of characters (as far as main ones go) while still providing a coherent plot full of mystery, danger, and excitement. I was not sure, after book two, when I would ever get around to continuing the series, but now that I have started again, I find myself surprisingly eager to learn what else lies in store for our heroes.
They head to where Enzo and Rico's ship is docked with the elves in pursuit, and manage to escape. Navin offers to fly the ship due to his experience with the robotic house, but Enzo rejects the offer, thinking him to be too young, yet later on in the book he flies it through a storm while the automatic pilot robot is knocked out.
The third pig, named Patrick, was the wisest of the three. He thought carefully about his wish and wished for the ability to speak and understand all languages. The genie granted his wish, and Patrick suddenly became multilingual. With their wishes fulfilled, the three little pigs returned to their village. However, they soon realized that having their wishes granted came with some unintended consequences. Peter's mansion made of bricks became so attractive that it caught the attention of a hungry wolf. The wolf tried to blow down the house, but Peter's brick mansion remained strong and protected him from harm. Paul, on the other hand, became so fast and strong that he developed a big ego. He started challenging other animals to races and fights, causing dismay among the villagers. They all became afraid of him, and Paul soon found himself alone and isolated. As for Patrick, his ability to understand all languages became a burden. He could hear the secrets and gossip of the villagers, causing his relationship with them to deteriorate. The villagers no longer trusted him, and Patrick became a lonely and misunderstood pig. Realizing the flaws in their wishes, the three little pigs decided to reunite and find a way to reverse their granted wishes. They sought out the magic lamp again and expressed their desire to undo their wishes. The genie appeared once again and understood the pigs' predicament. He explained that true happiness comes from within, and that it is often found in the simplest of things. He granted their wish to revert their granted wishes, and the three little pigs were back to their original selves. From that day forward, the three little pigs realized that they didn't need magic or special abilities to find happiness. They embraced their unique qualities and lived happily ever after, understanding that true fulfillment lies in embracing who they truly are rather than seeking external validation or power..
Reviews for "The Three Little Pigs and the Lamp of Destiny: A Magical Journey"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I found "3 little pigs and the magic lamp" to be a disappointment. The storyline felt rushed and poorly developed, leaving me unsatisfied. The characters lacked depth and I struggled to connect with them. Additionally, the magical elements of the story seemed forced and unnecessary. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and would not recommend this book.
2. James - 1/5 - "3 little pigs and the magic lamp" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was clunky and amateurish, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, and the humor fell flat. I also found the plot to be predictable and unoriginal. Overall, I did not enjoy this book at all and would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "3 little pigs and the magic lamp," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing of the story was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their journey. The overall plot was uninteresting and failed to captivate my attention. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat, leaving me unengaged and disappointed.
4. Liam - 2/5 - "3 little pigs and the magic lamp" was a forgettable read for me. The writing style was mediocre and failed to create a sense of wonder or excitement. The plot felt disjointed and the transitions between scenes were abrupt. The character development was minimal, making it hard for me to invest in their story. Overall, I did not find this book engaging or memorable, making it difficult to recommend to others.