I definitely didn't need a second book for Unsolicited, but of course, I'm not complaining that I got one. Although, I would have been happy with the open ending of Unsolicited too. It was mentioned in the acknowledgements at the end of Equipoise that there were readers who complained or just thought Crea Reitan ran out of time and published it. That's really not nice to say about an author.
As it was said, we don't live in the head of the author. And there is truth behind an open ending that a lot of people seem to ignore: you don't always get all the answers you're looking for in a book. Just because it's a book doesn't mean it has all the answers. What makes a book great are those pieces of reality in it.
There are so many unsolved mysteries in our world that no one can explain to us. We can accept that, but not when a book has an open ending? Why? Because it's reality and no one can turn back time or there were no witnesses?
The truth is, not even a book has to give us all the answers. And for me, it's something I like because it keeps the mystery alive and therefore the story too. I will keep thinking about it and add my own conclusions and thoughts to it, same as I do with the world. And that's the reason old cases and historical mysteries are still talked about, even years later.
But that's only on the sidelines. Back to the main theme, Equipoise. I loved it. It wasn't meant to be there, but it was a great conclusion nonetheless. Crea Reitan is a great author, and every story gives me something unexpected. And thinking of the fact that the author had issues writing this book, I appreciate that she still made the effort for us readers.
Of course, there were things I could predict too. But in my opinion, they were obvious at some point.
Sure, there were things I could relate to, more or less. For example, I can understand that the guys and Lux are only fixated on themselves and not the world around them. I mean, that is what I would do too. The relationship with our loved ones is the strongest, and of course, we try to keep them safe. But at the same time, I wouldn't condemn the world to die if I had a choice. Still, it wasn't like there wasn't anything else that mattered to them. Maanalainen, for example, was important because, in my view, it became their collective underground. Most of the Eschats lost their home undergrounds. So, giving them something new makes sense.
But generally, they never wanted to change or save the world. I mean, the Eschats are end theories. It's basically not their job. Even in the first book, it wasn't significant to them. Their focus was on Lux, and the rest just fell into their path. They had to deal with it, not by choice.
In Equipoise, it just continues. They do what they have to do because of Lux and what she wants, and they don't have a choice when there is something else that tries to destroy them and their home. And I liked the addition of their inner changes. They were still them, but learned something new too.
And Nothing was definitely interesting as well. During the read, I thought a lot about how everything was related to each other. Why did Nothing exist? Was he necessary? Kalki?
In the end, I still had questions. I can live with it because, as I said, it adds some mystery and it wasn't the main concern. But who destroyed the undergrounds of the Eschats, and why? What about their temples and churches? Why were they left untouched? Was it Kalki or Nothing? Kendi was a mystery too. She seemed to be the only one who knew anything about Ingles, but no one else did. And what about the Moonless Night University? Why was it also left untouched and why did everyone act like nothing happened? Lastly, what is going on with Lux now after her change at the end?
I know that I won't get answers to these questions, as the author had closed that "door" since she didn't have a good experience writing this book and only did it, because of us readers. She already said, she will not do that again. But it doesn't matter, I still loved it.