The Loved and the Lost (Verona Trilogy, #3)

by Lory S Kaufman

[sstaley]

Could anything be better than a combination of three of my favorite genres...fantasy,sci-fi, and historical? Well, this is what you are going to find when you read The Verona Trilogy. The part of the series I love the most is the time travel aspect. Anyone that reads my reviews know that I love time travel books. I love the unique way time travel is presented.

At the center of these books are the History Camps that the elders have created in this perfect post-dystopian society. At the History Camps, youths are sent there to live as their ancestors did and learn the lessons from the past that almost destroyed the planet. Talk about a history lesson coming to life. This concept totally fascinated me! The problem is, in the first book, The Lens and the Looker, something goes terribly wrong with the History Camp that three teens, Hansum,Shamira and Lincoln, are sent to. The first book was good as the characters are introduced and we get to know them. But, to be perfectly honest, this book was only "good" for me, and the second book was "better" and the third book was the "best"! What a great complement to the author, in that his series, and writing, kept getting better and better. I can't tell you how many series I read that knock it out of the park in the first book, and everything kind of goes downhill with the rest of the series; NOT the case here with The Verona Trilogy. The characters grew, their voices became stronger, the action became more intense, and yes, even the romance was kicked up. I also noticed that the introduction of new characters throughout the series also made the storyline richer.

If I had to pick a favorite character...hmmm...this is hard, but I can't help but absolutely love Hansum. All of the original characters grow and mature throughout the series, but I feel that Hansum makes the most changes for the better. There is also a twist at the end that actually made me cry a little. You will love the ending!! It was one of the more satisfying endings I have read in a long time. I highly recommend this series to teens and adults (Lory Kaufman says he writes for readers 13 to 113, (and precocious 12-year-olds) This is borne out by the fact that about half the readership of the series is adult.) that want to read a fascinating series, that will not only entertain, but also educate.