A Map of Days

After their victory over the wights and hollows, Jacob and Miss Peregrine's peculiar children are disappointed in the assignments they're given in the Devil's Acre as part of the reconstruction process. Jacob, in particular, really wants to follow in his hollow-fighting grandfather's footsteps, so he does whatever he can to make that happen. But peculiardom in America is vastly different from what he and the others are used to in Europe, and there's a whole new menace to defend against.

It was really nice to see these "kids" who have been through so much have a chance at a little rest. Certainly not as much as they want or deserve, but the book started out more leisurely than the 2 before it. The explanation for why America's peculiar show more community is so much wilder than Europe's makes complete sense, and I loved the overall change of scenery from the first 3 books. I'm also perfectly okay with Jacob and Emma's relationship cooling off, considering that it always weirded me out anyway.

This book was a lot longer than the previous 3, but it didn't feel all that long. I don't remember at any point thinking that something could have easily been cut out. It's the set up to another 3-book arc in the series and unsurprisingly ends with a cliffhanger. I wasn't sure how much I'd like continuing on in this series, but I'm excited to see what comes next! show less

So, book four of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, A Map of Days was wonderful. Almost a 5-star. For me, it got a 4.5 because a couple of times when Miss Peregrine was around, the story slowed. Not horribly, but the pace and interest of the story is so high, that when Miss Peregrine comes in things slow down. In this book she is a secretive disciplinarian more than a mentor for the "children". Anyway...

In this story, we find that the principle group of peculiars we have been following for 3 books, have lost the curse of aging forward and therefor are able to visit Jacob in Florida, where the action begins. The group are sent on a mission by H, and do not consult Miss Peregrine prior to leaving. I don't want to give away too many show more spoilers because the surprise is so much fun. But, this story takes place in America, the United States, to be exact, and we learn the differences between the European peculiar structure and that in America. The group meet and interact with two groups in the U.S. and through those interactions we learn much of what has happened on this continent. We also learn of the tensions between the American and European peculiars.

Needless to say, the group have harrowing adventures that don't go very well. Jacob keeps to his true self and follows his gut rather than follow directions. Remember, is he only 16 and has only been on this peculiar journey for a few months.

I am having so much fun with these books! I am now looking forward to reading book 5. show less

When I heard that Riggs was writing a new Peregrine trilogy, my anticipation was through the roof. I was ready and willing to dive back into the world of Peculiar-dom with vigor. So as soon as the new book hit Amazon, I put that pre-order in ASAP and got reading as soon as I got it. For the most part, Riggs has hit a home run again. There are a few blips that bugged me, but at the prospect of more Peculiar works, I’m still game.

I adored seeing Peculiar-dom explored in America. In ways it’s a far darker place than Wight/Hollow haunted Europe as it’s Peculiar on Peculiar cruelty. The way history developed in America was FAR different than Europe due to the continuing absence of certain people and the history of racism in 19th show more century and early 20th America. I was kept enthralled by this history and world building, a specialty that Riggs seems to excel in.

Exploring Abe’s background and getting more details and what he really did in Peculiar America made for fascinating background and plot elements. Rigg’s suspenseful storytelling never lets up as Abe and his cohorts travel north from Florida on new missions and discoveries into Abe’s past. I couldn’t help but be pulled forward chapter by chapter as the story was masterfully told.

I also enjoyed exploring Jacob’s continuing development. Riggs does a great job in showing how Jacob starts to chafe at his status in the European Peculiar world and the continuing restrictions placed by the Ymbryne overseers of that world. He’s finding his footing in his powers and his identity as a Peculiar all while still showing traits true to his true age, that of a teenager. He’s still head strong, impulsive, and at times, childish. However, I can start to see the man he’s going to become.

The one aspect I didn’t get as much enjoyment out of was Jacob’s traveling companions. Not that I didn’t enjoy more of his cadre of Peculiar friends from across the pond but it almost felt kinda random, their inclusion into the story. While elements of the story did hinge on the peculiarities of the specific individuals, I feel like the story could have been told with less individuals to put in an opinion. It almost felt like the author was just trying to keep this new book tied to the first trilogy rather than incorporating those characters into a new story arc.

I felt like the story would have been served better if he’d shed his travel companions faster. By the end, we do have Jacob firmly on his new journey; yet I felt he could have started on that new journey sooner with more exploration given to his new situation and companions. The whole thing with him and Emma just really drove me up a tree. While a part of his growing up and shedding his old identity, it felt like an add on detail that I could have done without.

Despite this little quibble, I felt this was a great new addition to the Peculiar series. With Jacob firmly on his new journey and with more maturity under his belt, I feel like his continuing adventures will keep me entertained for far into the future. I look forward to exploring Peculiar-dom in American in far greater details and can’t wait for book two! show less

Jacob and Emma finally break up in this one which is great.
Also, Noor is the kickass Indian character we needed all along. This one actually had compelling side characters.

This was a small disappointment in that it's mostly just buildup to the last couple chapters where everything happens and we're left with a massive cliffhanger. However, that seems to be Riggs' general writing MO, so it wasn't exactly unexpected. I'm not so bummed out that I won't read the next one though because I will, especially since I thought the series was done after the first three.

One thing I WAS super happy about though is that Emma and Jacob broke up, and I really hope it stays that way. I've always thought that relationship was super creepy...I mean, I can see how Jacob would fall in love with his grandfather's ex-girlfriend, but I had a problem with Emma, who is 80 years old no matter what her body may look like at the show more moment, falling for a 16 year old kid. That's just super uncomfortable to think about. I have a hard time believing that these "children" wouldn't have matured beyond their looped ages given all that they have to go through and all the time on their hands. There are still things going on in their daily lives and relationships to navigate, not to mention some really heavy stuff going on that they were perfectly aware of despite their rewinding of the same day over and over. Anyway, I'm just glad to see that weirdness dissolve, and I'm hoping that maybe Jacob will hook up with Noora, who is much more his mental equal, in the next book. show less

Sigh. I just DNFed this at 25 percent. I wasn't enjoying the children in this one and following Jacob as he is crowned "The One" through a fourth book didn't sound like a good time to me.

I think that the last book ended perfectly and had the right message that life isn't fair. I thought it had a good logic behind Jacob following in his grandfather's steps with him not being able to say with the people he loved. I thought it was up there with "His Dark Materials" in showing children how life can be cruel sometimes. But Riggs ruins it with a handwave with somehow Miss Peregrine and the rest of the children being able to follow Jacob into his world. And then we have Jacob and a lot of the children acting like rebellious jerks. I just got show more sick of Jacob being rude and nasty and being jealous that Emma was in love with his grandfather. Also, can we talk about how weird that whole thing is???

I also thought that Riggs missed out on including Jacob's parents in this one. I think that could have made the story more exciting. Jacob is hostile and nasty to Miss Peregrine to the point I wish she had shaken him. And Jacob just wanting to be alone with Emma for kissing and something else just made me sigh. This book started to remind me of the worst parts of Harry Potter when the characters grow up and just become hormones. I am going to compare it to "His Dark Materials" again because to me that book showcased a young girl coming into her own and finding love. I thought it was more true about how many of us find our first love. I didn't feel any of that with Jacob and Emma.

This book seems to be following more mysteries of what Jacob's grandfather was up to which...I just don't care anymore. Seriously. Just pick a new plot and move on to something else.

The pictures in this one felt more meh to me too which is sad. I remember the first book really incorporating the pictures and stories of the Peculiar much better.

I skimmed ahead and read the ending and am glad I passed on finishing this one the whole way through. It just seems to set up another book and I am just not that excited about following this series anymore. show less

Read this non-critically. I honestly love this series so much. I’m pretty sure it’s one of the only YA series that I think is consistently 4.5/5 stars and I’m so happy it’s continuing! I remember when the third book was going to be released I sort of assumed it would be a trilogy and when it was clear it was a series I was stoked! And now knowing Ransom has more planned I’m even MORE excited!

——-SPOILERS BELOW——-
Overall I just loved seeing the characters again, how they’re changing, growing, and actually aging! I enjoyed Ransom going into how peculiars are/were during different eras and cultures, and how racism was still a part. I also am happy that Jacob and Emma’s relationship is actually realistic, how it’s not show more perfect and how they’re still kids. We got new information, new characters, and new ideas! This book added so much more to the story and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!

Also; Enoch is my favorite. show less