I don't know if I developed the unique suspended disbelief necessary for this author or if this particular title was somewhat better than the previous two. Plot gaps and weak characterization continue, but this is clearly the climax of the tale and, as such, I was interested to see how it all turned out - even though my suspicion that it would be formulaic was proved correct. Don't worry about your favorite character dying, no matter how difficult the circumstances. 
 Ultimately, this series is simply one tale. It feels like an editor forced the book into three acts - thus creating three titles and the rather awkward cliff hangers of the previous titles. I think it would have worked better as a single title, as I found these mechanics annoying. But this is perhaps the challenge of writing a classic type story for a modern audience - moderns demand books significantly shorter. 
 In the end, the setting is a disappointment to me. The author completely failed to engage with the post-flood world. Passing references to ice formation or previous generations with labels such as "The God of Noah" are simply not enough to examine the contrasts in that newly reset world. As this type of penetrating illumination was a hope of mine for the series, I found it to be a forgettable disappointment. What we really have is a modern fantasy in the medieval style - not very unique or compelling. 
 But safe for kids. 
 I have read other Goodreads reviews (it's always intriguing when others see brilliance where you see muck) and it sounds like this is a popular read aloud for families. I can see how it has basic adventure plots that would appeal to children without objectionable material. Yet, I think in the end, I think another, treasured work would always be selected as "next" ahead of this.