1. I still get chills, even though I'm not convinced of how it's pronounced.
2. See this is depressing, because I'd long hoped the Yeerks held back not only because of Edriss's personal agenda, but some fear of Earth's strength. This makes it appear not so much. My only hope in Earth being able to protect itself is the Yeerk armada being small, like a few hundred fighters, which hopefully tens of thousands of planes and missiles could bring down. I've been skeptical for so long though, and to see how quickly they stomp out an non-morph based counter is frightening.
3. The biggest shock was that he lived so long. Like Yeerks I find it odd so many Taxxons would want to give up their life in this way, an entire species with a self loathing mentally seems maladaptive-something should have gone off to okay them with this central instinct. Still I always thought of this as the high of the Taxxon race, but really it's the same deal they made with the Yeerks: forces for satisfying their hunger. Sad
4. I gather they don't have a lot of threats for obvious reasons, but I can't help envisioning a savvy opponent gets in a few good cuts and lets it bleed to death. Hmm. Anyway, I personally don't like the sitting around lifestyle this animal comes with, and I do like limbs, but their are worse things to be. Somehow I picture as more invulnerable than any other morph in the series, in the wild at least. There must be more than sleeping and eating every few weeks, and that's an aspect I would like to explore, but all in all, giant snake=not great, not terrible.
5. This would have been a lot more meaningful if we'd gotten to know this Yeerks at all over the last 3 years of the story.
6. Well, it worked, and I'm not cunning enough to come up with another way. He needed the Chee, the Taxxons were a help. The decoy was not what it should have been, they should have had a way out, and why Rachel alone. I've doubts Marco or Cassie would, but I don't understand why he needed Tobias. Ax had the morph too. A lot of it was ruthless and cruel. But it worked. Poor kid.
7. Not necessary, but not unwise. A little cruel based on his forethought, but it had some purpose, if not vital. Nothing I object to, though perhaps I should.
8. This is the one time I dislike Erek. He didn't do it for his programming, this was his petty revenge for being black-mailed, and it was a terrible decision. No good from it, possibly great harm, and a death in vain. Damn you Erek. Damn you.
9. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO O! Biggest disappoint was to see the evil that had spanned ages saying "dang it I lose." I still say he was defeated by the Animorphs, with the help of Yeerk treason, but that line is salt in the wound in my mind. A loss unlike any other in the series.
10. For a long, long, long time I didn't care. They were good for each other. Comforting, understanding, supportive. Wasn't impressed, but nothing shocking. But in the previous book after a great treason, Jake forgave her. Worse he put his trust back in her. That he trusts someone who gambles with so much is baffling to me, and in my opinion, that's why they couldn't last. Cassie is magnificent in many ways, but for Jake she was the staunch reminder of what the war had done: made a sweet young girl he loved into someone who brought him great joy, but greater regret.
11. I don't know why, but I'm very proud of Jake. With few exceptions, I dislike his books, but him I always admired for doing all he does. After 49, I can't say he maintained because of family or hope, it was a much less tangible aspect of his character: a built in drive to finish a job. There's a lot of things I'd have done different with all the characters, but most important, I would have given Jake a happy ending. It's what he deserved. It's what he's earned.
12. Nope. Most of the final arc was a different feel from the rest of the series, especially filler era, but nothing in the style of this book compared to the last few makes it plain that she's back at the helm. Make of it what you will.