You know that feeling when a character grabs your attention? When you become so vested in them that you need to breathe the same air they do? Well, Never is THAT character! I fell under her spell when I picked up the first book in the series. Strike that, I fell under the author's spell....see, Ms Reames took me on a wild ride, a ride so awesome, I never want to end! (Nope, pun not intended...)
After making a deal with the Bone Reader, Never has the unenviable task of finding an ancient ritual, one of conversion. Not a normal conversion to currency, or weight , no siree, she needs to find the "magical" method of how to make another of her kind! But she's armed and ready, she has a select few real cool friends along for the ride, reluctantly so, but their skills should aid in her search. I don't know who's cooler, Todd, Lynx, Aggie or Nadia. Obviously, Never is the coolest but together, these characters add so much flavour to this delectable meal, my taste buds explode in pleasure. Then we meet Chrys, who I knew I'd love immediately! Aggie and Chrys together, well that's sheer delight! And Hugh, oh my word do I adore his unflappable persona! Yep, every character grows on me, every character develops before my eyes.
Oh my! That scene where Never meets the Nahum was....was.... so emotional! My heart broke for Never. But likewise, THAT meeting and battle with Damien, I was seriously gulping. Both Nahum and Damien are so laudable, there's something about both that calls to me, well, to Never as well, but I was bouncing my toes up and down in sheer adrenaline! Sheer exhilaration at the twists! This author's use of words, her plot and incredible world building, gets me tangled up, pretty much like a chain that's so tangled it's almost impossible to undo. Heck, Ms Reames manages to do both, she tangled me in knots and then lovingly, patiently, undoes me, much like her storytelling. So vivid, so alive are her characters and world building, it's a feat to keep reminding myself I'm not actually IN the story! And good golly, does she keep the unexpected, well, shatteringly so! Nothing prepared me for what happened, nothing prepared me for the consequences Never faced, nothing will prepare me for my next journey with Never and her crew. All I do know is that I'm relishing every second along the way.