Book Title: Circle of Flight
Author: John Marsden
Series: The Ellie Chronicles #3
Date Started: May 4th 2025
Date Completed: May 14th 2025
Genres: Action, Adventure
Quality Rating: Five Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Four Star
Final Rating: Five Stars
Review:
I'm actually quite emotional at finishing this book, the final in this trilogy plus the original Tomorrow series. I've been reading these since sometime around 2010 (when a family friend gifted me the first book after seeing me read under the table at a family dinner rather than socialise).
I've said it before, but John Marsden makes domestic things like farming, auctions, court hearings and more interesting and emotionally involving. These books are set in high-strung environments, literally and politically, and they have their fair share of adrenaline and pandemonium. But the characters exist in the downtime too, and not just a filler between fights. In so many ways, it differs from my usual reading preferences, and yet I am always drawn magnetically to the next book.
And when all hell does break loose - which, with Ellie, is pretty often - the action continues to rival the best I've ever read. It's exciting, fluid, chaotic but coherent, and oh so intelligent without being over-explained. It's not just this person does this move and then this; it's Ellie sees an opening so moves over here, has an intrusive thought and then gets her head back in the game, tries to do this and completely fails but manages to do this instead, gets hurt but lets the adrenaline take over etc etc. It's messy and raw and scary, but just like Ellie you recognise how thrilling and addictive it is, and maybe feel conflicted about that too.
Circle of Flight has a fitting end to this sequel series without being too self-conscious about nostalgically drawing attention to references of the past. It honestly brought me joy to see reveals and final resolutions done so well; not driven by ego or shock factor, just coming into Ellie's awareness as if they've always been there and she just hadn't looked over her shoulder and noticed (which is very Ellie coded). It's so satisfying, draws you so close to her as a protagonist, and feels like reality.
Ellie has been one of the most influential, present, important role models and characters in my life. I have enjoyed every moment of these books with her and her friend, and I am very grateful for them. This book itself was probably 4 stars, but I've given it 5 as recognition of both the Tomorrow series and The Ellie Chronicles as a whole, being some of the best fiction - the most creative, intelligent and emotionally charged - I've read in my life.
