This is the final book in Chuck Wendig’s Heartland Trilogy. And there is a part of me that is very glad to be finally done, but I don’t want you to think I didn’t enjoy it, because I did. I think I mentioned in a previous review, I am not fond of Wendig’s writing style, and so while I enjoyed the novel it just wasn’t my favorite. Honestly, I think if this ever gets turned into a movie I will eat it up. I loved the story and the characters are amazing and complex. However, something about the way that Wendig puts his words on paper just turns me off. But as to this novel, as far as YA dystopian novels go this is probably one of the better trilogies.
The Harvest is set a year after the events in Blightborn. It introduces a few new factions, and those factions along with the ones we knew existed start to converge on a final battle for the soul of the Heartland. Ok, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, maybe it’s just a battle for the control of power, but honestly soul works too. I don’t want to get any more specific, because spoilers. But if you’ve read YA dystopian novels before then I’m pretty sure you know mostly how this goes. There is no re-inventing of the wheel here, but it’s a very well done wheel.
As for what I thought? I really did enjoy this novel. I don’t think I’ll re-read this trilogy ever, which stops it from being a 5 star read, but this book is really quite good. The Harvest is a very satisfying end to this trilogy.
Minor spoilers below.
I have a small quibble. Lane has a confrontation with his mother which feels unearned because she’s not really mentioned in the first two novels at all. If you want to have a major character moment, and this felt like it was supposed to be, you really need to introduce the catalyst for that moment sooner in your story and not in the third act. Chekhov’s gun is a thing for a reason. There are some other small annoyances throughout the novel, but that was probably the biggest one.
Overall, I liked it. And yes, I recommend this one. Obviously, start with Under the Empyrean Sky but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with how this one ends if you decide to pick it up.
