The Conference of the Birds (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #5)

by Ransom Riggs

With enemies behind him and the unknown ahead, Jacob Portman’s story continues as he takes a brave leap forward into The Conference of the Birds, the fifth novel in the #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs.

With his dying words, H—Jacob Portman’s final connection to his grandfather Abe’s secret life entrusts Jacob with a mission: Deliver newly con­tacted peculiar Noor Pradesh to an operative known only as V. Noor is being hunted. She is the subject of an ancient prophecy, one that foretells a looming apocalypse. Save Noor—Save the future of all peculiardom.

With only a few bewildering clues to follow, Jacob must figure out how to find V, the most enigmatic, and most powerful, of Abe’s former associates. But V is in hiding and she never, ever, wants to be found.

• ISBN10: 0735231508
• ISBN13: 9780735231504
• Publish Date: 14 January 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Dutton Books for Young Readers
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780735231504

Reviews

[Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub]

A few things I mention below will be spoiler-adjacent. I don’t think they give away any important plot points, but reader beware.

I was disappointed with this book. That’s not to say it was bad; it wasn’t. It just wasn’t good. The entire book just felt like filler, a big breath taken between scene changes. It honestly seemed like a waste of time.

Ransom Riggs continues to improve as a writer. His skill wasn’t the issue here. It’s just that a good chunk of the book was spent trying to figure things out. It was a “hurry up and wait” situation, which left me wondering what the point was. I felt like a large part of the book could have been condensed and added to either the previous book, or the next book in the series.

I did enjoy seeing more of the entire group of peculiars again. Several of them were missing from A Map of Days (the previous book in the series), so I was happy to have them make an appearance this time. I also enjoyed learning a bit about Noor and seeing how she adjusted to her new life.

There were fewer photos in this book, which was an interesting development. They were what originally drew me to the series in the first place. They’re not necessary, but I missed having them scattered throughout the book.

I appreciated how the world was opened up. By adding new areas to explore, and new peculiars to meet, Ransom Riggs has created the opportunity to really build and expand his world. Unfortunately, he also did something that really bothers me in books: he reused villains. I loathe seeing a villain defeated just to have him show up again (Cassandra Clare, anyone?). It makes a series stagnant.

I hope that in future books. the author will test the boundaries he’s set for himself and introduce new scenarios involving different problems to solve, and – gasp!- maybe even a new villain or two.

I give this one a resounding “meh.”

https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2020/02/18/the-conference-of-birds-by-ransom-riggs/

[clq]

The Conference of The Birds is a good continuation of the Peculiar Children series. Not great, not bad, but perfectly good. After reading the previous book I hoped that this book would take a completely new direction, challenging the comfort-zone of the established universe, rather than turn into a Scavenger-hunt in the old one. This book kind of does, and kind of doesn’t. Conference of the Birds could have been something very different, and I think it could have been more interesting if it were, but it plays it safe by veering more toward the style of the first trilogy, rather than taking this second trilogy in a whole new direction. Tried and Tested doesn’t have to be bad though, and this book absolutely isn’t bad.

So, to avoid the risk of spoiling anything from the previous book, I’ll say nothing at all about what happens in this one, other than there being some peril, and some effort to prevent something bad from happening. The good old team is re-assembled, and the book goes through the motions it needs to go through in order to take the story where it needs to go. The fact that this makes for an enjoyable book is a testament to the strength of the universe, the characters, and the writing. The book retains a fairytale-like quality which makes it a pleasure to read, and the characters keep on feeling very real, albeit in quite a surreal way. The story is solid, without any major twists or turns, but with enough spice to keep things interesting for the duration of the book. It’s easy, comfortable, and a little predictable. Most of all though, it feels safe, for good, and for bad.

I knew rather quickly what I was going to get from The Conference of the Birds, and I got exactly that. I didn’t mind, and I don’t think any fans of the previous books in the series would mind either. This book alone isn’t a reason to start this series, but it keeps the series going in a way that is satisfactory, and scratches the itch.

[Kelly]

Journeying to New York City, Jacob Portman is resolved to retrieve Noor Pradesh, an uncontacted Peculiar forsaken to the New York City syndicate and charlatan Leo Burnham. Discovering that Noor is one of seven Peculiars of an ancient prophecy foreseeing doomsday for Peculiardom. Noor is imperative and when Jacob is entrusted to delivering Noor to a mysterious location, to an associate of Jacob's grandfather who can shelter the young woman against the Wight onslaught and Leo Burnham's henchmen.

An uprising against the Ymbrynes is fermenting, Peculiars frustrated with their secrecy and totalitarian leadership. The Council of Ymbrynes are aiding in the negotiations of a treaty in New York City as a young Peculiar is captured, the Wights escape the Devil's Acre penitentiary bringing to fruition The Prophecy of the Seven, when the prisons are blown to dust and chaos reigns.

The Conference of the Birds is a magnificent installment of the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series and foreword to a remarkable finale of this endearing and fantastical series. A whimsical narrative of the curious and wonderful. Lyrically beautiful and immersive.