Maybe you’re right about the past. But the stories we choose to tell—those matter. It’s important that the Anevrai told a story about harmony, that they went to the effort of writing it on finely made tablets with gold at their heart. Sacred tablets. That says it was an ideal. And even when we fall short of ideals, that doesn’t mean we should give up striving for them.

And so, an extra book! We’ve finished the main series that follows the eponymous Lady Trent, so now we get a book from the point of view of her granddaughter. On top of that, we’re going full on epistolary format–it’s told through diary entries, letters, and the text of in universe books.

It’s an interesting style and I think it gives a lot to the book. It’s also non-linear, but not egregiously so.

Overall, I think it’s weaker than the first five Lady Trent books, but there’s a bit more depth to the Draconean history we didn’t quite get to in those books, which I appreciated. If that’s something you were left wanting more of, go for it!

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18th Century Cairo. Street living, mixed with all manner of quasi magical cons (palm readings, faking healings). And then … one accidental summoning later and you’re off swept into the magical world of childhood stories.

The world building is really interesting. You get a touch of the Arabic world mixed with a straight up Arabic inspired fantasy world full of djinn in all manner of shapes and sizes… even at the end of the story, I’m not actually 100% sure what all the differences are.

Characterwise, I’m not sure I ever quite got around to liking Nahri. I was rooting for her before she took off, but I’m not thrilled where she ended up.

“You’re some kind of thief, then?"
“That a very narrow-minded way of looking at it. I prefer to think of myself as a merchant of delicate tasks.”

Ali and Dara though, I quite like the both of them–surprisingly for roughly the same reasons. They are trying to do the ‘right thing’, just with rather opposing ways of going about that.

“To keep walking a path between loyalty to your family and loyalty to what you know is right. One of these days, you’re going to have to make a choice.”

Overall, I’m looking forward to the second book. Onward!

Spider-Man!

In a somewhat less far future than when this super was first written… 30 years ago.

A future with no super heroes. Only the memory of those like Thor…

As a sort of religion? It’s an interesting bit of world building. I fully expect Spiderlings before the end of this volume… (so close!)

And an origin story. A new Spider-Man—Miguel O’Hara. Created in a lab “accident” after trying to quit a twisted bio engineering project.

He said the line!

Baddies? We have a forgettable cyborg. And one… somewhat less forgettable. A samurai, possibly from … Stark-Fujikawa? A mysterious shadowy—very large—boss in the shadows. The Vulture. Downtown Freakers. Hints at even more.

It’s quite an origin story. I’m enjoying jumping into another new world so far!

Onward!

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And so it ends. With a bang and with a whimper.

On one hand, the stakes (heh (yes, I know I just did that joke)) couldn’t be higher. The Heir is coming. All the threads and mysteries of 15 books (that haven’t otherwise been killed already) are coming back to rear their ugly heads.

On the other hand, it doesn’t quite land? You have literal angels and demons, but they’re in far less of the book than would have made an impact. You have the big bad evil skinwalkers hinted at from the very beginning, but no real direct interactions with them. And you have vampire politics… but the Heir was never as interesting as the Sons of Judas.

On the other other hand (I know), as a final book in the series, it does work. You get a decent bit of closure for most the main characters (that have survived thus far). The world has changed, almost certainly for the better–and if not, certainly the more interesting. And Jane finally seems happy.

Was the series worth the read? Absolutely.

Would I have preferred that the series went a different direction about when the whole ‘Dark Queen’ idea was introduced? Probably.

Was the whole deal with time fascinating… and then ultimately less used than it could have been. Yup.

Overall, worth the read but I’m also ready to move on to other things.

Onward!

And so it ends (sort of).

Much like the previous books, it’s an adventure to somewhere new and far off, this time deep into the mountains (once again) of totally-not-the-Himalayas!

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Fate doesn’t guarantee us a happy ending. We’re not promised to be together no matter what. But in dimension after dimension, world after world, fate gives us a chance. Our destiny isn’t some kind of mystical prophecy. Our destiny is what we do with that chance.

A Thousand Pieces of You introduced us to the multiverse and Ten Thousand Skies Above You brought it to the brink of war. Now, in A Million Worlds with You, the fighting is on.

The core of the story comes in two parts:

For one, we have Marguerite chasing a twisted echo of herself (who she names Wicked; I do enjoy how everyone just goes with her names throughout the book). The entire idea that Marguerite can’t jump into the same world as Wicked and has to trail behind, digging herselves out of any trouble Wicked gets them into is fascinating. But by itself, entirely reactive.

So for two, we have a war between dimensions. We have some worlds that were already aware of parallel realities, but now, finally, they are beginning to work together and push back against the Triad.

To war!

I do love the premise. It’s solidly written and a worthwhile finish to the trilogy (although now I want more! what happens between all the worlds next?!). It … was rough to start it, mostly due to all the damage Marguerite and especially Paul went through last book, but that’s sort of the the point.

Well worth the read.

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A Thousand Pieces of You introduced us to the multiverse–and sent us on adventure across the worlds in a desperate gamble for revenge… Or perhaps to save a life. Or perhaps even to fall in love.

The multiverse is infinite. So, yeah, we go through some terrible things together, and I’ve seen versions of you who are darker, and damaged, and I don’t care. I want you even when you’re broken. I want you no matter what. Your darkness, your anger, whatever it is you fear inside yourself—it doesn’t matter. I love you completely, don’t you see? I even want the worst of you because it’s still a part of you.

Ten Thousand Skies Above You takes that idea and expands upon it in a fascinating way. Now, it’s not just searching through the multiverse, it’s the early stages of a war between realities. Once again, it’s about saving a life, but this time, it’s less a puzzle and more a scavenger hunt, with some serious repercussions if you don’t find all of the pieces.

Other than a cliffhanger ending (we’ll come back to that…), it’s really quite a good sequel. If anything, I think I enjoyed it even more than the first.

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Oh, that’s a long book to read for a half a chapter a night (and not even every night). I enjoyed it, but I think I’ve been enjoying each book in the series a little less.

The first book, the kids were brilliant and that was the core of the story. They could think their way out of any wacky mystery they get into. Here, we have Constance literally reading minds and Reynie with his sixth sense for danger. Sticky with his perfect memory, reading just … everything in the house. Even Kate’s magical bucket–nah, I still enjoy that one.

On the other hand, there was a lot of action and for the most part, the kids are still working their way out of trouble all by themselves–even when a rescue is under way–and I enjoyed that. The plot itself didn’t go to quite as adventurous destinations as the first two, which I missed.

I still do really enjoy the found family aspects of the story on all levels. The kids themselves are great together and there are some really humorous points. And they’re extended family all together, especially with Mr. Benedict, I really did enjoy that. They do get quite the sense of closure towards the end.

Although there’s apparently a 4th and a prequel, I think it’s time to move on to something else.

Onward!

We’ve been to the mountains, a swamp/rainforest, and on the ocean. What’s next? To the desert!

It’s another book much like the first three: a bit of set up and lamenting the not-British society of the time, then off on an adventure! This time, as mentioned, to the deserts of Akhia.

The inciting incident this time is that the military is trying to breed dragons–either to harvest them for bones or train them for war–is interesting enough and sure to appeal to Isabella. The whole how do dragons breed / how did we get such variety has been a question for a long time now, and I’m just as curious as Isabella is to dig into it.

Characterwise, it’s a welcome delight to see Suhail again. I do quite enjoy seeing Isabella and Suhail’s relationship develop and this book certainly doesn’t slouch in that regard.

I sometimes imagine there is a clerk behind a desk situated between the brain and the mouth. It is his job to examine utterances on their way out, and stamp them with approval or send them back for reconsideration. If such a clerk exists, mine must be very harried and overworked; and on occasion he puts his head down on the desk in despair, letting things pass without so much as a second glance.

Oh they’re fun.

I will admit, after actually getting Jake at least somewhat in The Voyage of the Basilisk, it’s weird that he’s just completely ignored again for the most part here.

(Indeed, a female desert drake makes me look like a doting mother by comparison.)

You’re not wrong.

Overall, if you’ve enjoyed the books up to now, you’ll almost certainly enjoy this one.

Onward!

(And only one left!)

Well that was a weird, wild, and chaotic ride. More than most comics even, this volume didn’t feel like a volume so much as a series of vaguely connected issues. It’s fun to see Coulson and S.H.I.E.L.D. doing their thing, but I honestly couldn’t really get into the story before off we go again.

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