Endling #1: The Last

By Katherine Applegate

First Katherine Applegate thrilled readers with the action-packed Animorphs series. Then she stole our hearts with the award-winning The One and Only Ivan. Now she takes us on an unforgettable journey in this first book of an epic middle grade series!

Byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. Believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra.

After her pack is hunted down and killed, Byx fears she may be the last of her species. The Endling. So Byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true.

Along the way, she meets new allies—both animals and humans alike—who each have their own motivations for joining her quest. And although they begin as strangers, they become their own kind of family—one that will ultimately uncover a secret that may threaten every creature in their world.

Building upon the success of her critically acclaimed novels such as The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw, and Wishtree, while also returning to her action-packed fantasy roots of Animorphs, the Endling series is Katherine Applegate at her finest. With its enthralling characters, unique setting, and gripping adventure, this series is the perfect next read for fans of Rick Riordan, Brian Jacques, and Tui T. Sutherland.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781443434287

Katherine Applegate

Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including the One and Only series, the Endling series, Crenshaw, Wishtree, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series. She lives with her family in Nevada.

Reviews for Endling #1

[davidnaiman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Last has all the brilliant writing Applegate fans have come to expect, but the story never rises anywhere near the level of her other books. The characters are interesting if not entirely fleshed out. The adventure is okay but a bit slow. I expected a grander ending. This book had the feel of a prologue to a more interesting story to come.

[sgrame_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Byx's whole family and pack is slaughtered, leaving her the last of the daryns, intelligent dog/sugar glider creatures one of the 6 ruling species. Without the befriending of a small wobbyk with big ears, she would be too afraid to move on. Life is rough in the kingdom of Nedarra, as Byx and her new traveling companions face many challenges. Sword fights, evil knights, and magic fill this fantasy world. This is the 1st in the series "The Endnling"

[sara_cat-107388 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't been aware that she had written much after I finished Animorphs and Everworld back when I was younger. But, I'm so glad I rediscovered her as an adult. I adored this book and am very excitedly awaiting the next book in this new world!