I was excited to see how this trilogy was going to end, and I wasn't disappointed. The setting and the characters were perfectly done, again, and the mix of politics and family struggles was the heart of it as usual. I was happy to see how everything ended, and I sort of hope that the author returns to this world again later on for more adventures.

The City is once again the crossroads of impending conflict. Erzi has his right hand woman preparing the ancient secret napatha they recovered from the hidden book of the founders of the City. Erzi doesn’t trust anyone with it but the two of them, and he’s none too stable since the coup. Meanwhile Kaidu’s father (the Dao general) and Joah the monk are trying to contact the Yisun army outside the city before the attack to see if a more peaceful solution can be found. They run into another unexpected group on their way. Inside the city, Kaidu and Rat are trying to sneak back into the palace to steal the book that contains the napatha instructions. They both feel that the napatha secrets belong to the City’s true residents instead of the Dao. But the palace isn’t as easy to get into and out of as before, and more is at stake if they are caught.

There are a lot of things to tie up in this final book, but Hicks pulls it off swimmingly. I have several students who have been eagerly waiting for this one ever since book two was devoured. I think they’ll be quite happy with this book too. There’s a good amount of action for everyone. I personally like how Hicks worked in the themes of debating just violence and nonviolent options to peace in her high action tale for readers to chew on. It’s not preachy and it is certainly realistic in that nonviolent attempts don’t always work out. But there’s also hope that nonviolent resolutions are worth working towards and may even be possible on both small and large scales. I think what I like best is looking at the themes of how the City is a melting pot and the debates about who belongs there, and especially the way that is resolved (sorry, no spoilers, just saying I like it). As an expat in a very international community, I SO get that and I know that my students all do too. It is nice for them to have imaginary places that in some ways mirror the complexities of their own lives. And many of them will identify with Kaidu’s feeling that the City and Rat are more home/family to him than any other place he’s lived. Erzi is an interesting contrast to Kaidu in that he also was trying to figure out where he belonged, but went about trying to find a place for himself in all the wrong ways. Both of these fictional third culture kids provide characters real life third culture kids will get. They may not like Erzi, but they will definitely get him. And maybe the TCKs who are struggling to find how they fit will pause a moment to ponder whether they are being a better Kaidu or Erzi. Great stuff. Highly recommended to anyone who likes light fantasy tales of complex locations, high action adventures, and graphic novels that explore deep topics in very entertaining ways.

Notes on content [based on ARC]: No language issues. No sexual content. There are a few battles with several knife/sword wounds, black eyes, and nasty ouchies on page but nothing very gory. An explosion happens and it is suggested that people die because of it, but no bodies are shown.

<i>I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I really liked the first two books in this series and this is a great conclusion. I don't "know" if this is true, but I "feel" like the art is scratchier, not as polished as the previous books. But I'm not sure.

I do like how the story concludes, that violence is not inevitable.

Just like the first two novels, this third and final volume was enjoyable. Like her other works, I really enjoy Faith Erin Hicks' artwork and storytelling. She weaves a fantastic plot of politics, intrigue, and loyalty within friendship and to your birthplace. It was a great follow-up to the other two. The only thing I felt lacking was that this volume seemed to have ended too quickly. Other than that it was great and I look forward to reading other graphic novels written by her in the future!

The Divided Earth is as good as the first two in the series. Great story full of action and a dear friendship that makes a much-needed change in the Nameless city possible, namely that the Nameless finally are given a role in the government of their own home.

Faith Erin Hicks' epic graphic novel trilogy, The Nameless City, comes to a phenomenal close with The Divided Earth. Dao prince Erzi now has control of The Nameless City, but the city is under siege by Dao and Yisun forces who want the war for the Nameless City to come to an end. The Named - the people of the city - are caught in between. Rat and Kaidu (Kai), the two main characters, plan to sneak into Erzi's palace and steal back the ancient text containing the formula for napatha, an ancient weapon that Erzi plans to unleash on the city.

The Nameless City saga has incredible worldbuilding and storytelling. Faith Erin Hicks has given readers strong characters with complex backgrounds and relationships, and a grand-scale story about a clash between cultures and societies who are tired of war. Rat and Kai have both had their heroes' journeys and are smarter, stronger, wiser characters than they were at the outset. It's been said that the best villains are the ones who believe they're truly the heroes, and that certainly holds true for Erzi, who believes he is doing what's best for The Nameless City, and who believes that rule of the Named is his birthright, having been born there. It certainly makes for a more tragic villain. Faith Erin Hicks is gifted at writing and rendering emotion, and colorist Jordie Bellaire makes thoughtful choices that bring out the terrible emotional cost of battle as beautifully as she does the gentle moments of love between parent and child, or between two friends who would die for one another.

If you have fantasy readers who haven't yet discovered The Nameless City, please get the books into their hands. They'll be happy you took the time to booktalk it.I hope I see this series on Summer Reading lists next year: it's wonderfully diverse and examines the fallout that happens when one culture attempts to dominate all others.

I thought this would be interesting in the beginning but I quickly lost passion in this book and felt that it would be better for a different reader.

The Divided Earth is the third (and final) book in The Nameless City series by Faith Eric Hicks. It is currently schedule for release on September 25 2018. The book begins where the second book in the trilogy, The Stone Heart, left off. Readers do need to read this series in order to understand and enjoy the story fully.

Kai and Rat might need to sacrifice everything for peace. The city is under new rule, and if they cannot stop the tragic events that are in motion the cycle of war, death, and violence will continue. The added challenge of treachery inside the palace and an army quickly approaching the outer walls raise the stakes and the likely-hood of everything ending badly.

The Divided Earth is a solid graphic novel, and a good conclusion to a trilogy. As always, her art work is stunning and adds a great deal to the story and character development. I simply love the style and coloring. In the story itself, I liked the efforts that Kai, his parents, Rat, and many of the characters went through to do what they thought best for the greater good, and the city specifically. Like in real life, people's ideas of what is best, what is right, and what should happen is always varied and sometimes quite different. I like the development and tension built around what would happen with the city, and our major players, come the final conflict. It was very well done, but I felt like I could have gotten to know a few of the secondary characters a little more (like Kai's mother) but got more that I expected with the return of some younger characters from the earlier books. I enjoyed the adventure and he danger, I think the political and military posturing was very well build and explored. I was fully engaged with the read, and kind of want an epilogue to see what might happen well after this story ended, what does the future hold in the long term for Kai and Rat, does peace last, and where do Kai's parents end up. The conclusion tied up all the necessary loose ends, but I was invested enough to still be curious.

The Divided Earth is a solid conclusion to the trilogy. although I will admit to wanting to see what might happen in the Nameless City in the years to come. I was satisfied, but still want more.

Review based on a digital ARC provided via Netgalley.

In the conclusion of The Nameless City trilogy, Faith Erin Hicks brings all of the threads from the previous books together to weave a satisfying conclusion. To begin, the Dao continue to occupy the Nameless City, with Erzi as the General of All Blades, bent on control of the city and destruction of all who oppose him. To that end, he has gained control of a book that holds the formula for napatha, an explosive weapon. With Mura by his side, they are poised to take complete control. However, Rat and Kaidu know of this plan and are intent on stealing the book to keep this from happening. This ever ingenious duo plan to gain entry to the palace, overcoming obstacles in their way. Meanwhile, the Yisun Nation is on the doorstep of the city and Kaidu’s father, Andren, has a plan to intercept them in an attempt to stop the war through dialogue. The entrance of a monk named Kuo and Kaidu’s mother, Kata, further widen the cast of characters and deepen the plot. Will all of these forces be able to work together for peace and the dream of the Council of Nations or will Erzi be triumphant and solidify control?

Motivations for Erzi and Mura are more fully realized in this volume, as is the relationship between Kaidu’s parents. While Rat and Kaidu’s stories are not given the bulk of the narrative, their quest for peace and their continued friendship in the face of differences, drives the story forward. Never giving up, they push for understanding between the races. The confrontation between Erzi and Kaidu is action packed and exciting. The battle between Mura and Rat is similarly action packed, but has added depth, as it delves into motivations, revealing bits about the character of both. While the conclusion is a bit fast and convenient, it is hopeful. For a middle grade graphic novel, it is sufficient. I think it is important that Hicks included an afterword that emphasized the length of time that it takes to begin to affect change.

One comes away from this book with a greater understanding of the importance of reaching out to those who hold differing opinions and of holding onto those friends who are dear, bringing together all of those forces to create change. It also offers one the opportunity to ponder whether it is better to leave potentially dangerous knowledge uncovered or have the choice to use that knowledge for good. That is a difficult question to answer and would make for good classroom discussions.

Overall, this three book series is enjoyable. The art style is clear and the colors are well done. The art is consistent from the first book to the last, allowing one to easily recognize characters. Rat (her real name is finally revealed in this book, but I won’t spoil it here) and Kaidu are easily relatable characters, whose friendship and adventurous spirit children will love. They will also appreciate their dedication in standing up for what they believe in, and it is important that the adults in this story listen to them and take them seriously. Although more of the former happened in the first two books, it echoes in this third installment. However, rather than rely on adults to do the right thing, Rat and Kaidu take matters into their own hands in order to ensure a positive outcome. I think this is a good balance.

I enjoyed the premise but this graphic novel left me wanting. It was hard to get through honestly. The art work was cute and interesting though. Given the limited space a graphic novel provides there were elements of the story that seemed to be missing. Characters were mildly fleshed out and overall they seemed two-dimensional. There was not enough to really connect to them and their troubles. The world building could be fantastic with more space to tell the story. On the other hand, the action sequences went on for way too long. This concept may have played out better in a multiple volume setup. I would recommend it to young adults and middle school readers but I feel that adult fans would be disappointed.

An absolutely satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite graphic novel series in the past few years.

A perfect ending to an amazing trilogy! This book has it all! Action, emotion, friendship and well developed characters. I recommend this often, especially to kids who love Amulet, Bone or Legend of Korra/Last Airbender.

A thrilling and emotionally satisfying conclusion to Faith Erin Hicks' Nameless City trilogy. Perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Amulet, the series is beautifully drawn and filled with fascinating, complex characters and a top-notch story.

This is the third book in The Nameless City series and probably my favorite one of the three. The story moved so quickly in this book and you can easily read it in one sitting because you want to know what’s going to happen next. I love the art work and the writing is funny yet serious when it needs to be. There’s a lot of action and adventure but also a lot of heart as the story explores friendship, war, and belonging. I do hope there’s more books in this series but if this is the last one it does wrap up nicely in the end.

Divided Earth is the action packed conclusion in the Nameless City trilogy. Hicks has done a great job of balancing the action scenes with the development of the characters, and while I would have loved to see more of what happens after the events of this book, I feel this was a very satisfying conclusion. I can't wait to see what Faith Erin Hicks will come up with next!

The Divided Earth is a satisfying conclusion to the Divided Earth trilogy. Without sharing any spoilers, the storyline wraps up in a way that makes sense, and leaves everyone changed. There's a feeling of justice being served, even if not everything is perfect.
In particular, Rat contrasts with Mura so well in the final actions of the series. The pairs in this book - Kaidu and Erzi, Rat and Mura, the Dao and rival nations - each deliver a great example of how differently life can turn out when paths diverge.
The entire series is so painstakingly illustrated that you can get lost in the backgrounds. The characters are thoroughly developed but also change over time, growing together and apart. It's an entirely engaging series for readers of all ages.

If it ends here, as a trilogy since the epilogue was essentially "three years later", it was a well-rounded journey about conquerors and their conquered, finding connections and understanding, and family.

I'm a fan of the illustration style including the text but how Hicks so eloquently portrays the actions, character, and situations of the characters with ease and often without any words, just emotions in the backdrop of our nameless city that conveys action, sentimentality, ownership, derision, and every level in between. It's a lovely arc of a story that can hold historical significance or be seen almost futuristic in some sense with a social commentary that is thoughtful.

The final edition of this series has it all- action, surprises, secrets revealed, and moments that hit straight at the heart. To use a bit of a cliche, my only genuine complaint is that it's over. Faith Erin Hicks has crafted together a fantastic world packed with equally wonderful characters, and if I can't help but admit that I now dream of either a prequel or sequel to the Nameless City series.

A perfect continuation of the story with a look at politics and family with action and awesome characters just like the first two volumes.

children's graphic novel (4th grade and up?) - diverse action/adventure (lots of fighting in this one).

**Reviewed from uncorrected e-galley**

We get to read some of the backstories in this one, finding out more about the main characters (Kai and his family, Mura), but my overall impression (from scrolling through this title on my Adobe reader) was fighting, fighting, action, action! It also portrays the different views/different sides in this particular (fictional) war--why do some choose to fight (or not), how much some are willing to give up, etc. Recommended to kids who read the first two books in the trilogy.