This felt a little bit like the [book:Farmer Boy|8252] of the series, I guess mostly just because it's...about a boy. But also it has more of an active-adventurey plot compared to the more methodical earlier books?

Also since it's a new generation of the story I do think a reader could start with this one and skip the first three if they wanted something a little more plot-driven. (And then: get captivated by the characters and go back and read the first 3 after)!