Gray Days

Black Hat Bureau #9

by Hailey Edwards

Black Hat Bureau, Book 9

The Black Hat compound is rubble on the ocean floor, the director hasn’t been seen since the explosion that demolished his life’s work, and old enemies have decided it’s open season on the remaining agents. Oh. And Arden has decided now is a great time for a surprise visit to force a confrontation with Rue.

Between holding the Bureau together, searching for her grandfather, and babysitting Arden, Rue has her work cut out for her. But her distraction allows her to be blindsided by a loss that fractures her very soul. Betrayal is a familiar sting for Rue, she barely feels it anymore, but this time? She might not survive it.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Vampires, Magic, Paranormal, Demons, Witches

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2023

About the author

Hailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy.

Hailey isn't on Goodreads.

Please email her via her website:
https://haileyedwards.net/contact-form/

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

That cliffhanger hurt

Another good book. Love the uniqueness of this series. Always figured what happened at the end would come up at some point, but did not see it coming when it did. Guess I got as complacent as Rue and the other characters. Now I cant wait for the next book.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think my “meh” attitude on this one is probably more that it was just a bad time for me to read it rather than it isn’t a great book. I had to read it in bits and pieces so I never really could get my teeth into the story. Therefore, I just never connected like I wanted to.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want the next audiobook now....lol Full RTC

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a dull moment with Rue and crew, amirite?!?! I mean, not only is the lady shouldering the responsibilities of the Bureau, she's also trying to figure out if her grandfather really perished in the explosion that took down the compound while dealing with a kind of terrifying (and pretty much sentient) book that is attempting to sink its claws as deeply into her as it can AND she has the whole issue with Aedan and how she REALLY doesn't want him left in her grandmother's clutches.

In other words, there's a lot going on.

AND THEN...well, let's just say there's some nasty poison (and a poisoner) she needs to track down, her father and his issues she needs to deal with, and a whole lot of behind the scenes things with the Bureau that keep interfering with the other stuff. Seriously, Rue and her people are stretched thin and things are only going to get worse with the way this book ended. *cries quietly in the corner while the world spins on around me*

So, yeah. There's a lot going on, but BOY is it good reading. Rue is digging in and looking for solutions and I AM HERE FOR IT ALL.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I just finished this book, and I don’t know how I’m going to contain myself until the next one comes out. From start to finish, this book kept my attention. Poor Clay, Rue, Asa, and Colby are trying to deal with the events at the end of the last book, and yet another complication walks into Rue’s life. I was so excited to see this development, and I’m hoping that this is a sign of good things in the future. At the end, though, my heart was torn into pieces I might not survive until I get the next book. I was definitely saying a few bad words about the author. LOL! This was the best book yet in this series, and while I know it's not possible, I’d love this series to go on forever. A well-written, engrossing, wonderful book. Highly recommend.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This series just keeps the roller coaster ride going. Just when you think the author has done a fantastic job, she ups the game & and gets better! 👏

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Hailey Edwards' Gray Days is the Ninth Installment in the authors Black Hat Bureau series. This story begins right where the previous installment left off. The Black Hat compound has been destroyed and is rubble on the ocean floor. The director aka Rue's grandfather is missing and Rue has been elevated to Interim Director. The Portal to Faerie is still open, and the black witch known as Luca still has an agenda and now it appears that she's taking her hatred out on humans by using a poison called King Kill as well as others in the Boston area.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Jacquie Stolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow

Okay, this book was the best yet. Danger, family, mystery, intrigue, reconciliation, and betrayal. Hang on to your hat it will be a bumpy but worthwhile ride. You may also want to throw the book/ Kindle when you reach the end.

[Dragana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be the last book in the series, but it's not. And now I am slightly panicking because I do not see the announcement for the sequel :(
If we ignore that, it was a nice sequel. I love this series and its characters.

[Jazmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quality of this series has really gone downhill and I am disappointed. I ended up skim reading about 20% in the middle because I got so damn bored. Was this book worth it? No. Am I going to keep reading this series anyways? Yes. Damn cliffhangers.

[Conor Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was brilliant until the end

Cliffhangers in a weekly tv show are one thing, in books where the reader has to wait till the following year to get the follow up? Not so much. Her writing is good enough that she doesn't need such cheap tactics to sell her next book.

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gray Days picks up hours/days after the explosive conclusion of the previous book. Rue is interim director and is supervising the work to find survivors in the rubble of the former Black Hat HQ. There is no sign of the Director, her grandfather. Meanwhile someone is using a deadly fae plant to kill humans in Boston, and Rue’s human friend Arden has tracked her down to get some answers.

Overall, I enjoyed this next chapter in Rue’s story. There is plot momentum on multiple fronts including those involving her parents, Black Hat, her grandmother Callixta and Aiden, the antagonist Luka, and it brings back her close friend Arden. There is a lot going on, but at the same time, it felt like there was a lot of filler scenes which dragged out the story and made the book too long. The story had several moments of “Rue, you’re the director now” and Rue’s thoughts about the situation, which became repetitive. There is a lot left unsolved, which was a bit annoying; however, the twist at the end of the book is well done, and I am completely hooked, excited for the next tale.

Narration: The story is shared via first person POV of Rue. Richardson uses a strong, confident feminine voice for Rue/the narrator, which suits the character and storytelling. The narrator alters dialogue, giving characters a unique voice, suited to the age, gender, species, etc. Some voices are immediately identifiable, like that for Clay, whose voice is deeper, slower, and large, just like him. I also enjoy Colby, whose young voice sounds a bit cartoonish, which is perfect for the mythological friend; however I would get it confused with Arden at times. The narrator successfully portrays emotions and has created unique identities for the main characters. There were a few times when I got confused during dialogue. I think part of it is the narration. While the narrator effectively uses multiple voices in distinguishing each character, there are no dialogue tags. So at times the dialogue goes quickly, and I got lost not so much who is speaking, but what they’re talking about.

The Black Hat Bureau books are an exciting urban fantasy series with unique characters and mythology. The stakes are high, and I look forward to finding out what happens next.

My Ratings:
Story: B-
Narration: B

Review copy provided by publisher
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one pretty much picks up where the last one ended. Rue is a bit freaked out with her new role, but like always has her crew around her for support. For much of the book they were running from one disaster to another, barely figuring out what was going on. Then all of a sudden it made sense when they found the pod and the whole, he's probably not dead, really came true, then it was a hunt to find him, the bane of Rue's existence, her grandfather. Then just when Rue finally has things in hand, ready to free her cousin, or as close as she can get in a trade, her grandfather pulls one last fast one. We'll have to see how that comes out in the next book, but what little fight can happen is happening.

On a side note, I thought Arden did very well with all that she learned and saw in this one. It gives me hope that maybe she can become a regular member of Rue's crew.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars:)

[Lya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cliffhanger

Hailey Edwards is by far one of my favorite authors. I read everything she writes the moment it appears. But, I was disappointed in this book. Not so much the writing style or the relationships, but the drawing out of plots that could have just been wrapped up. And then it ended in a cliffhanger. I was torn as to whether to give it a 4 or a 3, so it would be solidly 3.5 really.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! The ups and downs here…..incredible. Will read anything this author writes. She takes you on a thrill ride every time

[Nate Brightman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The days are certainly gray for our intrepid band of heroes in this 8th book in Edward’s Black Hat Bureau series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but as I always advise new readers to a series, for full enjoyment of this book you should probably go back and begin reading the earlier books in the series in the order in which they were published. At the end of the previous book Gray Seas, the bureau’s headquarters has been blown into rubble by her grandfather’s former lover Luca, and the organization itself is in disarray and under attack on several fronts. With the question of whether the Bureau is still functioning criminal paras feel more comfortable attacking humans. Black Hat agents who were forced to work for the Bureau by Rue’s grandfather under threat of death may also go rogue. With her grandfather the director missing and presumed dead, Rue takes control of the Bureau as interim director. She is understandably overwhelmed and questions whether she’s up to the task of stabilizing and rebuilding and leading the Bureau. She’s tasked with determining whether her grandfather (whom she planned to use as a bargaining chip to free her cousin Aedan from the clutches of her grandmother Calixta, now High Queen of Hael) is still alive. She must discover who was responsible for blowing up HQ, although all the evidence points to Luca who is still on the loose and poisoning paras and humans alike using the king killer poison she brought from her own dimension. A group of magical beasts attack what remains of the agents. Rue, Asa, Colby and Cole must determine who hired them. And if that’s not enough Arden one of Rue’s employees whom had always been like a little sister to her (until she discovered what Rue really is and had her eyes opened to the para world) wants to spend some time with Rue and her crew as they investigate all of these crimes. Rue feels terrible guilt for exposing Arden to her world so she agrees to allow Arden to accompany them but she lives in constant fear that the defenseless human will be injured or killed by a paranormal. Oh, and the black magic grimoire Rue wears in a necklace she can’t take off is taking over more and more of Rue’s control of her magic as she continually intentionally and unintentionally leans on its black magic to help get her out of trouble. How much longer will it be before it turns her from a gray witch back into a black witch?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If it weren’t for the fact it ends in a cliffhanger rather than a happily ever after I probably would have awarded it 5 stars rather than 4. There’s plenty of page turning action. There’s heartstrings pulling drama as Rue and Arden try to rebuild their relationship. Although, I never really understood why Arden was so angry with Rue for what she did to try and protect her? As per usual Clay and Colby bring the comedy and cute. There’s just a bit of sexy in this one as Rue and Asa struggle to find the time and energy to do more than solve crimes and battle bad guys intent on killing them. Not that Edwards ever packs her books with a lot of sex scenes. But if I’m being completely honest, I feel like after eight books, this series is getting a little long in the tooth. But that might just be my impatience for the final happily ever after talking? This story ends with a lot of still unanswered questions and a serious cliffhanger. It’s beginning to feel like forever ago since the first book in this series Black Hat White Witch introduced us to former black witch Rue Hollis, her familiar Colby the moth girl, her former Black Hat partner, mentor and BFF Clay the golem and Asa the handsome daemon prince and the human girls who work for her at her homeopathic apocathry in the sleepy little town of Sanford Alabama. The group has been through a lot together as Rue gets sucked back into working for the Black Hat Bureau and comes to accept she is neither a white witch like her mother nor a black witch like her father (neither of whom were around to help her grow up as her evil grandfather tried to mold her into an extension of himself) but a gray witch, a combination of both their magics. Watching Rue grow as a person as she struggles to forgive herself for her black witch past, acknowledge and accept human emotions, fall in love and build friendships while learning to trust and lean on others has been a wonderful journey. But perhaps its time to give Rue and company the happily ever after they so richly deserve?

[Lea Bookjoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

French & English reviews

Un tome que j'ai dévoré !

Après la fin du dernier tome, j'étais impatiente de voir comment Rue allait gérer la disparition du directeur et le chaos des Black Hats ... Et je suis partagée ><

D'un côté, j'ai adoré la façon dont les intrigues avancent, les découvertes et certains personnages (notamment Fergal que j'adorais avoir sa propre série, mais aussi Blay et Asa et bien sûr Rue)

MAIS

d'un autre côté, j'aurais aimé que Rue prenne plus les choses en main (notamment en prenant le temps d'organiser les choses pour les Black Hats !) et provoque les choses au lieu de courir dans tous les sens et se faire tirailler de tous les côtés (ça m'a rappelé la série Cassandra Palmer de Karen Chance mais pas pour les bons côtés ...), je n'ai pas été fan de l'ajout d'Arden ici (que je n'aime pas trop et que je trouve inutile ? trop naïve et artificielle si on repense à sa première réaction ?) et j'aurais aimé que certaines choses prennent moins de temps (notamment l'intrigue avec Aedan qui tourne un peu en rond et qui ne fait que me briser le coeur à chaque apparition ...)

Je sais que beaucoup de personnes ont été hyper critiques vis-à-vis du cliffhanger mais comme c'est quelque chose que j'adore, j'étais ravie (surtout que je l'ai pas vu venir !)

Après, j'espère que le prochain tome sera le dernier et qu'il sera plus gros parce que pour moi, les différentes intrigues ne peuvent pas être étirer encore plus sinon elles risquent de perdre leur rythme ...

Bref, un tome fort en rebondissements que j'ai lu avec plaisir et qui marque la fin de mon binge-reading de cette série ><


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


A book that I devoured !

After the end of the last book, I couldn't wait to see how Rue would handle the disappearance of the director and the chaos of the Black Hats ... And I'm torn ><

On the one hand, I loved the way in which the plots advance, the discoveries and certain characters (notably Fergal who I loved having his own series, but also Blay and Asa and of course Rue)

BUT

on the other hand, I would have liked Rue to take matters more in hand (notably by taking the time to organize things for the Black Hats !) and provoke things instead of running in all directions and being pulled from all sides (it reminded me of Karen Chance's Cassandra Palmer series but not in the good ways ...), Iwasn't a fan of the addition of Arden here (which I don't really like and find useless ? too naive and artificial if we think back to her first reaction ?) and I would have liked certain things to take less time (especially the plot with Aedan which runs a little in circles and which only breaks my heart with each appearance ...)

I know a lot of people have been super critical of the cliffhanger but since it's something I love, I was delighted (especially since I didn't see it coming !)

Anyway, I hope that the next book will be the last and that it will be bigger because for me, the different plots cannot be stretched out even more otherwise they risk losing their rhythm ...

In short, a book full of twists and turns that I read with pleasure and which marks the end of my binge-reading of this series ><

[Ramplo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full series review (talk to text so there may be errors because I don’t have an editor or time to meticulously edit.)

The first book particularly hit the sweet spot for me in a lot of ways. Like a lot of books she seemed to get very focused on action, action, action, and forgot about the characters and relationships, and all those story threads she had started on in the beginning. I guess by the end of the series I like the idea of the series and I like the first book there’s nothing particularly wrong with the rest, but it just didn’t hit the same tone.

It’s the general type of story I like etc. I listened to the audiobook version, her voice was fine, but there was a lot of wrong words and it was very noticeable after a while. I’m not sure that it was the narrators fault but I’m pretty sure it was the narrator. I did not keep a list but a lot of words were read as similar sounding words with different meanings. I don’t know if this is true in the print copies also but my feeling/hope is no. At least one error I think may have been printed, in the last book (in a non-pivotal scene) Clay and Colby got mixed up so basically Clay was hugging his own face…

Basically ten books all about the same thing that ultimately is resolved in about 30 minutes at the very end which means not a lot of time to resolve things in a satisfying way.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
OVERALL: After the first book, it lost some of its magic and that is very common because not every book can strike the exact same tone because then you might as well be reading the same book over and over. Worth going through once I don’t see it being a series of return to when I’m looking for a little nostalgia/comfort.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.5 Stars

Gray Days is the ninth book in the Black Hat Bureau series by Hailey Edwards.
The Black Hat Bureau series is a fun, fast-paced mix of cozy urban fantasy, supernatural mystery, and plenty of snark. It follows Rue Hollis - a sharp, somewhat reluctant heroine with a complicated past - working with a mismatched crew of supernatural agents to keep magical chaos in check.
Each book blends quirky humor with just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. The mysteries are creative (and often a little weird - in the best way), but what really makes the series shine is the chemistry between the characters. Rue’s banter with her teammates feels natural and often laugh-out-loud funny, while the quieter moments give you a real sense of found family and loyalty.
There are witches, shifters, and monsters, but the paranormal/supernatural elements are all grounded in small-town charm where the everyday details make the magic feel believable. You can jump into any book for a self-contained case, but reading the series in order really lets you enjoy the slow-burn relationships and overarching story threads.
If you like your urban fantasy light on the grimdark and heavy on the charm, with a side of sass and supernatural hijinks, then this is the series for you.
Happy Reading…

[Thefirelily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gray Magic (Black Hat Bureau #9)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¼

Rue’s world just broke. And somehow, it made the story stronger.

This installment pulls no punches. The emotional stakes are higher, the villains are nastier, and the consequences? They finally feel permanent. The biggest blow: Clay, the unshakable rock of the team, has been hijacked by the Director. Watching him turn from protector to weapon is like getting sucker-punched by a story you trusted not to hurt you this way.

And Colby—dear, sweet, fluttering Colby—is along for the ride, captive and afraid, which might be even worse.

On the flip side, Rue’s mother returns—but not as expected. She’s back in the same ethereal, not-quite-alive form as Colby. It’s both a gift and a curse. Rue has to reckon with what it means to be “alive,” and whether this version of her mom can ever truly be the one she lost.

The writing leans heavier into grief, sacrifice, and identity, but never loses the clever banter or wild magic that makes this series tick. Chloe remains a gem. Rue’s growth is undeniable. And the story? Sharper, darker, and impossible to put down.

It’s beautiful. It’s painful. And it’s everything you want in book nine of a series that keeps leveling up.

[CBL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, a lot happened in this book. Too much? Or am I still thinking about it? I hope that the questions I have get answered (I still have some from TBGN).

I've sort of been expecting Arden to show up at some point, but perhaps not in the way that she did. She was all of a sudden just there and included in everything, fighting monsters, flirting with vampires, part of the team. Immersion in the team and in the world, but there wasn't a lot of questions or discussions between Rue and Arden. Maybe there wasn't supposed to be? I don't know, that part felt a bit weird to me. But I still loved that there is the possibility to mend fences and have Rue be around Camber and Arden and her town again.

What I loved: Rue's relationship with her parents (mostly her dad) is developing, there are some awwww moments in here. Rue and Asa getting engaged and the reaction from Blay.
What I didn't love: the ending. OMG!!!! Colby! Plus, not a fan of Rue's powers being bound. I get why, but c'mon, she's a badass witch, she needs her powers.
What I don't want to see: the end of Black Hat Bureau, Rue has 0 powers, so they all move back home and run the apothecary.

[Susan1566 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Black Hat compound has been destroyed, no knows for sure if the director is alive or dead, someone is using the fae poison, Aedan is being tortured by Calixta and Arden has decided it’s time to visit Rue and learn more about the supernatural world.
Things and problems never seem to stop, Rue with her friends find problems, surprises, new friends and enemies every time they turn around.
As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, Rue now has to worry about keeping Arden safe but the vampire Fergus has taken over that duty which is another worry. No one is really sure who is in charge of the bureau although Clay is supposed to be doing an alert between his other tech jobs for Rue.
There is not a lot seen of Clay and Colby; they are mainly over the phone but others show up to help.
This book again has a lot of action, a bit of a mystery, suspense, surprises and some humour (this seems a bit more serious than some of the other books.
It was definitely a bit of a surprise ending although I feel like I should have seen it coming.
A great quick, entertaining read and I’m ready to jump into the last book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the Black Hat Bureau in disarray, Rue has her hands full trying to find survivors, and keep the remaining agents in check. And of course when she has her hands full, Arden decides to show up to confront Rue. Rue’s main objective is to find her grandfather, so she can trade him to save her cousin, and her parents show up a time or two to help. She leaves Colby with Clay to keep her safe, and keeps Arden close to keep an eye on her. It becomes more and more clear who it is that is working against Rue and the Black Hats, and then the worst betrayal she can imagine comes with a loss she may not survive. And then I have to wait for the next book to find out how everything turns out, gah! Some things are better, especially her relationship with her parents and Asa, but she’s still fighting against “the Hunk” and will need to work on that very soon with her father’s help. Other aspects of Rue's life are definitely huge problems, which I look forward to her working out soon. The next book can’t come soon enough!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gray Days begins in the aftermath of the destruction of the Black Hat Bureau’s headquarters. The director is either dead or on the run and Rue is now the acting director. She knows she has to find the director so she can trade him to Calixta in exchange for her cousin Aiden. Before they can focus on that problem a new threat arises. Someone is using the poison king killer to kill humans. Rue, Asa, Clay and Colby set off to find out what is happening. Along the way, Rue begins to take some of her new allies into her confidence, sharing information she usually keeps closely guarded. This book is full of action with wins and losses. The ending will send series fans running to get their hands on the next book in their series. Gray Days is a great addition to the series, and I highly recommend it. The series must be read in order but is a fantastic story, so it is worth the read.

I listened to the audiobook. Narrator Stephanie Richardson’s voices for each character are distinct and fit their personalities. I highly recommend this version.

[Piseog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fine addition to the series, but I have definitely lost the love. The characters are losing their shine and the storylines are too chaotic and uninteresting. It has the ingredients to be amazing, but it's all feeling repetitive and I'm not a fan of where the plot goes. There are always moments that keep me engaged though. I read a review of the last book that said Asa is really boring and does nothing. Now I can't see anything but this whenever Asa is around. He is a little dull and passive the more I thought about it. I do still kinda love him and his cute relationship with Rue, but yeah, I guess I want more from him and from them. The angst and intrigue has disappeared. I was dreading Arden coming into this book when I read the blurb, and I hated her as usual for most of the book; she just needed to go away. However, by the end she grew on me a little more. The blurb also spoils the betrayal, and it was kind of expected if you read the series. So Rue and the MCs were a bit naive for never considering that. I am happy I am almost at the end of this long series.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catching up on my reviews, so this is done after the dust has settled on the series, which I can report is all worth it for this cliffhanger.

Rue is now, I guess, the Director of Black Hat after the whole compound blew up in the last book. Using horror movie logic, though, nobody believes the Director is dead until they find a body, so searching they go. Aside from this nonsense, they still need to find Luca, Arden randomly shows up and wants back in Rue’s life, and Rue is trying to establish a “normal” relationship with her parents. Oh, almost forgot about “the hunk” but that’s got a ticking time bomb attached to it, too. Lucky for her, she’s got an amazing support system, especially with her newly reformed Arden connection.

Unlucky for the rest of the world, there’s poisonings that are impacting humans and supernaturals which somehow ties to Luca’s big plan. This is definitely a bridge book to the final showdown, but we get a lot of big power moves in this one that I appreciated. That ending, though, oof.

[Denise Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite book in the series yet! One, there are quite a few surprises which I always appreciate; two, Arden has reappeared which I was happy about and finally it’s just the team itself including some of the new additions that I just love.

Rue’s head is about to explode with all the different directions she’s being pulled in not to mention trying to keep the grimoire from taking her over and turning her back into a black witch. Even though Rue doesn’t want to admit it, she has empathy for most people and paras and would make the perfect candidate to turn the Black Hat Bureau around. Arden has decided to show up and immerse herself in all things Rue, which Rue is happy about but scared at the same time because she doesn’t want anything to happen to her young friend. One of the biggest things on Rue’s mind that she can’t quite shake is Aeden, there has to be a way to save him without being in breach of contract and she might just be able to do it.

[Chetana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

After a long journey we finally are at the end. I felt there were a lot of things happening in this book like in the previous book. And while we have the reason for what Luca is doing what she is doing. We do not know what exactly is her endgame yet and we are at the endgame of the series already.

After a very eventful few days where the gang has been running from one place to another following leads, we were this close to having everything wrapped up. Which should have raised red flags right there for me what with a couple of huge plot points still up in the air. And Boom we get that ending. I am devastated but also left slightly hopeful after reading the last chapter and the epilogue. But what with a deadline looming in 24 hours I am thinking the next book will have a lot happen just like the last 2 books but in the span of a day or if the gang is lucky, then a few.

I am hoping there aren't many, if any casualties in the next book.