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The Split Worlds #3
All Is Fair
In love and war nothing is safe.
William Iris struggles to keep the throne of Londinium whilst hated by his own court and beset by outsiders, while Cathy discovers the legacy of her former governess. But those who dare to speak out about Society are always silenced. Sometimes for good.
While trying to avoid further torments from the mercurial fae, Sam finds himself getting tangled in the affairs of the Elemental Court. But an unexpected offer from the powerful and enigmatic Lord Iron turns out to be far more than Sam bargained for.
Max and the gargoyle are getting closer to uncovering who is behind the murder of the Bath Chapter and the corruption in London and Max finds the gargoyle’s controversial ideas harder to ignore. Can he stay true to his sworn duty without being destroyed by his own master, whose insanity threatens to unravel them all?
William Iris struggles to keep the throne of Londinium whilst hated by his own court and beset by outsiders, while Cathy discovers the legacy of her former governess. But those who dare to speak out about Society are always silenced. Sometimes for good.
While trying to avoid further torments from the mercurial fae, Sam finds himself getting tangled in the affairs of the Elemental Court. But an unexpected offer from the powerful and enigmatic Lord Iron turns out to be far more than Sam bargained for.
Max and the gargoyle are getting closer to uncovering who is behind the murder of the Bath Chapter and the corruption in London and Max finds the gargoyle’s controversial ideas harder to ignore. Can he stay true to his sworn duty without being destroyed by his own master, whose insanity threatens to unravel them all?
396 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
28 people are currently reading
978 people want to read
About the author
Emma Newman
97 books1,772 followersEmma Newman writes short stories, novels and novellas in multiple speculative fiction genres. She is also a Hugo Award-winning podcaster and an audiobook narrator.
She won the British Fantasy Society Best Short Story Award 2015 for “A Woman’s Place” in the 221 Baker Streets anthology. 'Between Two Thorns', the first book in Emma's Split Worlds urban fantasy series, was shortlisted for the BFS Best Novel and Best Newcomer 2014 awards. Her science-fiction novel, After Atlas, was shortlisted for the 2017 Arthur C. Clarke award and the third novel in the Planetfall series, Before Mars, has been shortlisted for a BSFA Best Novel award. The Planetfall series was shortlisted for the 2020 Best Series Hugo Award.
Emma currently creates a podcast called 'Imagining Tomorrow' for Friends of the Earth. Her hobbies include dressmaking, LARP and tabletop role playing. www.enewman.co.uk.
She won the British Fantasy Society Best Short Story Award 2015 for “A Woman’s Place” in the 221 Baker Streets anthology. 'Between Two Thorns', the first book in Emma's Split Worlds urban fantasy series, was shortlisted for the BFS Best Novel and Best Newcomer 2014 awards. Her science-fiction novel, After Atlas, was shortlisted for the 2017 Arthur C. Clarke award and the third novel in the Planetfall series, Before Mars, has been shortlisted for a BSFA Best Novel award. The Planetfall series was shortlisted for the 2020 Best Series Hugo Award.
Emma currently creates a podcast called 'Imagining Tomorrow' for Friends of the Earth. Her hobbies include dressmaking, LARP and tabletop role playing. www.enewman.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
August 11, 2016
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/08/11/...
All is Fair is the third installment of Emma Newman’s The Split World series. After two books of introducing multiple threads and building everything, we’re finally starting to see it all come together.
As this is an ongoing series, spoilers for Between Two Thorns and Any Other Name are entirely possible, so beware if you haven’t read the first two books yet. We’re picking things up right where they left off, following Will’s violent ascent to the Londinium throne. Now the consequences of his actions have caught up with him, and there is no telling how far his adversaries will go to see him pay. Meanwhile, Cathy is determined to bring change in the Nether, even as she faces obstacles at every turn. Between the threat of the Fae lords and the Agency, no one wants to stick their necks out for her cause.
In Mundanus, Sam is coming to grips with his grief and dealing with a new reality. In the course of his investigations, he has caught the attention of Lord Iron and the Elemental Court, and what Sam finds out from them turns his world upside down. Max and the gargoyle have gone on to pursue their own case, trying to find out the truth behind all the chapter murders. These efforts lead them to uncover even more disturbing questions about the Agency.
While reading the last book together with the SF/F Read Along group, I likened this series to a soap opera, and more and more I’m finding that to be an apt comparison. There are plenty of twists and turns and more than a few shocks, giving these books the addictive quality that keeps me coming back for more. Things slow down a bit in All Is Fair, but that is more than made up for by the last quarter of the book. There’s a real sense of thread-tying and trying to bring everything together, perhaps in an attempt to streamline the plot for the next installment. If you’ve been crying for answers like I have, then the revelations in this book should make you very happy.
That said, I have some issues with the hasty way things wrapped up, almost like Newman was in a rush to finish the book. After spending two and a half books on all these plot threads, it was disappointing to watch some of them resolve with what effectively feels like a snap of the fingers. Cathy’s solution to her problems with the Agency seemed way too convenient, considering all that she went through. The same goes for Sam’s storyline, where the Fae-related conflicts that have been plaguing him for so long are suddenly made trivial. As for Max and the gargoyle, I wasn’t too crazy about the curveball we were thrown at the end either. I enjoy plot twists when they make sense, but not when there’s absolutely no setup for them, like the one we had here.
Still, it’s good to know that there’s more to come. I hear that the plan is for five books in the series, though in many ways All Is Fair feels like the end of an era for a lot of the characters. Cathy has grown so much from when we first met her in book one, and now she is prepared to take on the next challenge to bring change to the Nether. Sam has gone through a huge transformation as well, discovering his new potential. His story has been up and down for me, but there’s a distinct feeling of peace and closure when we last leave him at the end of this book, so I’m hoping that Sam can start afresh now that his past is behind him. For Max and the gargoyle, the future is perhaps the most uncertain, but they too will have to walk a new path given the way things went down. They may have solved the mystery, but left without a clear direction, where will they go next?
I’m really looking forward to finding out what’s next for everyone, despite some of my misgivings here. I have a strong feeling that book four, A Little Knowledge, will be a new chapter in all their lives and I think it would be a refreshing change of pace to explore some new directions. Can’t wait to dive right in.
All is Fair is the third installment of Emma Newman’s The Split World series. After two books of introducing multiple threads and building everything, we’re finally starting to see it all come together.
As this is an ongoing series, spoilers for Between Two Thorns and Any Other Name are entirely possible, so beware if you haven’t read the first two books yet. We’re picking things up right where they left off, following Will’s violent ascent to the Londinium throne. Now the consequences of his actions have caught up with him, and there is no telling how far his adversaries will go to see him pay. Meanwhile, Cathy is determined to bring change in the Nether, even as she faces obstacles at every turn. Between the threat of the Fae lords and the Agency, no one wants to stick their necks out for her cause.
In Mundanus, Sam is coming to grips with his grief and dealing with a new reality. In the course of his investigations, he has caught the attention of Lord Iron and the Elemental Court, and what Sam finds out from them turns his world upside down. Max and the gargoyle have gone on to pursue their own case, trying to find out the truth behind all the chapter murders. These efforts lead them to uncover even more disturbing questions about the Agency.
While reading the last book together with the SF/F Read Along group, I likened this series to a soap opera, and more and more I’m finding that to be an apt comparison. There are plenty of twists and turns and more than a few shocks, giving these books the addictive quality that keeps me coming back for more. Things slow down a bit in All Is Fair, but that is more than made up for by the last quarter of the book. There’s a real sense of thread-tying and trying to bring everything together, perhaps in an attempt to streamline the plot for the next installment. If you’ve been crying for answers like I have, then the revelations in this book should make you very happy.
That said, I have some issues with the hasty way things wrapped up, almost like Newman was in a rush to finish the book. After spending two and a half books on all these plot threads, it was disappointing to watch some of them resolve with what effectively feels like a snap of the fingers. Cathy’s solution to her problems with the Agency seemed way too convenient, considering all that she went through. The same goes for Sam’s storyline, where the Fae-related conflicts that have been plaguing him for so long are suddenly made trivial. As for Max and the gargoyle, I wasn’t too crazy about the curveball we were thrown at the end either. I enjoy plot twists when they make sense, but not when there’s absolutely no setup for them, like the one we had here.
Still, it’s good to know that there’s more to come. I hear that the plan is for five books in the series, though in many ways All Is Fair feels like the end of an era for a lot of the characters. Cathy has grown so much from when we first met her in book one, and now she is prepared to take on the next challenge to bring change to the Nether. Sam has gone through a huge transformation as well, discovering his new potential. His story has been up and down for me, but there’s a distinct feeling of peace and closure when we last leave him at the end of this book, so I’m hoping that Sam can start afresh now that his past is behind him. For Max and the gargoyle, the future is perhaps the most uncertain, but they too will have to walk a new path given the way things went down. They may have solved the mystery, but left without a clear direction, where will they go next?
I’m really looking forward to finding out what’s next for everyone, despite some of my misgivings here. I have a strong feeling that book four, A Little Knowledge, will be a new chapter in all their lives and I think it would be a refreshing change of pace to explore some new directions. Can’t wait to dive right in.
February 7, 2017
This is book #3 in this series and by this point so many threads were being brought together :) I think this easily could have been the final book (and indeed it was for a few years) but now she's restarted in the Split World's series and I am also VERY happy to hear that.
What I most enjoyed about this book is that it really did tie a lot of the things I was interested in up. We have a side storyline with a character called Sam which is ongoing throughout all of the books and although I found it interesting throughout it wasn't until this book that I really started to get excited by his character and his potential for the future books!
Max and his Golem are also really interesting characters in this story because they started to work better together (Max is an Arbiter whose soul is trapped in a stone golem) and they got to the bottom of the mystery that they'd been working on for the two previous books.
Cathy's character has fast become a strong favourite of mine becuase she's really reaching her potential in this story. She's a steadfast and passionate young lady who believes in change and better things, and she's not afraid to use her status to help her. A very different woman from the young scared lady on the run who we first met!
Will's character is a hard one for me becuase although I do like him a lot at times he's done some problematic and damaging things to other characters that I would say were unforgivable. He's an interesting one to think about, but I'm not sure I'd want him as my Prince Charming...
The Fae Lords are some of the most fun and creepy in the story as their agendas and nastiness is always controlling the mortals. It's both fun and worrying every time we meet them as we just know trouble is coming!
Overall a very solid book that answered a lot, but I am super duper happy there;s more books coming and I will certainly be reading those too as there;s no doubt SO much more she could explore, and a few big things still unexplained :) 4*s
What I most enjoyed about this book is that it really did tie a lot of the things I was interested in up. We have a side storyline with a character called Sam which is ongoing throughout all of the books and although I found it interesting throughout it wasn't until this book that I really started to get excited by his character and his potential for the future books!
Max and his Golem are also really interesting characters in this story because they started to work better together (Max is an Arbiter whose soul is trapped in a stone golem) and they got to the bottom of the mystery that they'd been working on for the two previous books.
Cathy's character has fast become a strong favourite of mine becuase she's really reaching her potential in this story. She's a steadfast and passionate young lady who believes in change and better things, and she's not afraid to use her status to help her. A very different woman from the young scared lady on the run who we first met!
Will's character is a hard one for me becuase although I do like him a lot at times he's done some problematic and damaging things to other characters that I would say were unforgivable. He's an interesting one to think about, but I'm not sure I'd want him as my Prince Charming...
The Fae Lords are some of the most fun and creepy in the story as their agendas and nastiness is always controlling the mortals. It's both fun and worrying every time we meet them as we just know trouble is coming!
Overall a very solid book that answered a lot, but I am super duper happy there;s more books coming and I will certainly be reading those too as there;s no doubt SO much more she could explore, and a few big things still unexplained :) 4*s
October 16, 2013
Fantasy Review Barn
Spoilers for the first two books are very possible.
Here I am again, for the third time, wondering how to review a book in Emma Newman’s ‘Split Worlds’ series. Obviously these books do something for me, I keep reading, nay, devouring them. I am not sure there is a series that once I get an entry in my hands I can read faster. And yet when done I always find myself in the same position; I know I enjoyed the journey but have a huge list of things to pick apart. Is this fair? Am I being too critical? Why do I keep reading a series that I consistently rate with three stars?
And the more I think on it I have come to a simple conclusion. I keep reading the series because the author does many of the “big things” right (characters and the unique world specifically), and my quibbles are mostly with the nagging little details.
Nagging little details. The story so far has followed Cathy as she fights against the patriarchal hell that is the Nether, an in-between land that the Fae use as a little political playground. And that is cool, and her fight makes up the bulk of the book and is interesting and I find myself cheering and etc. But I still can’t figure out what the hell it is about the Nineteenth century that this whole magical society decided to adopt. Why does Cathy need to fight this fight in the first place in a magical society that seems to lack none of the necessities? Cathy’s fight for equality for all the poor repressed citizens of the Nether is admirable and enjoyable, but by the end of the book I found many of the steps she took to be too easy. I am not sure I ever doubted her abilities, never felt any pressure for her. Worse, many, though by no means all, of those she rescues seem like hostages in a video game, no mind of their own until she touches them and they suddenly become people. You know, with feelings and desires of their own?
Nagging little details. A secondary storyline had to do with Max, an arbiter charged with keeping a treaty that STILL hasn’t been explained, three books in. He is also followed around by a Disney sidekick, a gargoyle, who is supposed to be carrying his soul do to circumstances in the first book. Because of this Max is supposed to be emotionless. But I don’t know if I ever have been convinced that the grudges he holds verse the puppets of the nether is anything other than buried emotion. Worse, I want to kick that gargoyle. Goody goody thing that he is, he still is supposed to be nothing more than an animated block of stone with Max’s soul. When did he become a dog? Several times he is seen “sniffing,” and then finding stuff. Do concrete blocks with human souls gain the super power of smell?
Nagging little details. Sam makes up the third portion of the story so far, at first nothing more than a man in the wrong place at the wrong time. We watched his marriage fall apart, got a few cryptic messages about a connection to Iron, and saw him attempt and fail to rescue some prisoners of one of the Fae, a Lord Poppy (who is also Cathy’s Patroon, or puppet master, or whatever one wants to call him). But the simple matter is I have not cared about him one lick through the first two books; he is a mopey guy who hasn’t really added to the story. Well big changes are coming and suddenly he is a man of destiny. That is fine by itself, but there was a whole lot of narrative convenience once he learns a few things, and the speed of his transformation didn’t work for me. Your mileage may vary on that one.
And once again I find these things bugging me more than they should, because they are hidden in a very enjoyable story. More and more I am seeing the series as a soap opera. Book three wrapped up some plot lines that started in book one and opened a few more that will no doubt take a few more to resolve. Some of the nagging little problems I had after book one have been rectified (such as thinking Cathy was the first women in the Nether to think about her place in society, when in fact we have learned a lot of curses and other nefarious plots kept the forward thinkers apart and/or hidden). Some links from book one still have not been explained, such as what the sorcerers’ place in the world really is and why the Fae would ever agree to a treaty limiting their reach.
So going back to the questions at the beginning. I keep reading because I enjoy it, and recognize it for what it is. Slightly flawed, but so far worth the ride. Nice to see some resolution, though I was kind of hoping this was the last of a trilogy rather than the middle of what may be a never ending series. Newman has continued to keep me invested in the story, especially Cathy’s fight against the system she was born in and the political fighting between the Fae.
3 Stars
Spoilers for the first two books are very possible.
Here I am again, for the third time, wondering how to review a book in Emma Newman’s ‘Split Worlds’ series. Obviously these books do something for me, I keep reading, nay, devouring them. I am not sure there is a series that once I get an entry in my hands I can read faster. And yet when done I always find myself in the same position; I know I enjoyed the journey but have a huge list of things to pick apart. Is this fair? Am I being too critical? Why do I keep reading a series that I consistently rate with three stars?
And the more I think on it I have come to a simple conclusion. I keep reading the series because the author does many of the “big things” right (characters and the unique world specifically), and my quibbles are mostly with the nagging little details.
Nagging little details. The story so far has followed Cathy as she fights against the patriarchal hell that is the Nether, an in-between land that the Fae use as a little political playground. And that is cool, and her fight makes up the bulk of the book and is interesting and I find myself cheering and etc. But I still can’t figure out what the hell it is about the Nineteenth century that this whole magical society decided to adopt. Why does Cathy need to fight this fight in the first place in a magical society that seems to lack none of the necessities? Cathy’s fight for equality for all the poor repressed citizens of the Nether is admirable and enjoyable, but by the end of the book I found many of the steps she took to be too easy. I am not sure I ever doubted her abilities, never felt any pressure for her. Worse, many, though by no means all, of those she rescues seem like hostages in a video game, no mind of their own until she touches them and they suddenly become people. You know, with feelings and desires of their own?
Nagging little details. A secondary storyline had to do with Max, an arbiter charged with keeping a treaty that STILL hasn’t been explained, three books in. He is also followed around by a Disney sidekick, a gargoyle, who is supposed to be carrying his soul do to circumstances in the first book. Because of this Max is supposed to be emotionless. But I don’t know if I ever have been convinced that the grudges he holds verse the puppets of the nether is anything other than buried emotion. Worse, I want to kick that gargoyle. Goody goody thing that he is, he still is supposed to be nothing more than an animated block of stone with Max’s soul. When did he become a dog? Several times he is seen “sniffing,” and then finding stuff. Do concrete blocks with human souls gain the super power of smell?
Nagging little details. Sam makes up the third portion of the story so far, at first nothing more than a man in the wrong place at the wrong time. We watched his marriage fall apart, got a few cryptic messages about a connection to Iron, and saw him attempt and fail to rescue some prisoners of one of the Fae, a Lord Poppy (who is also Cathy’s Patroon, or puppet master, or whatever one wants to call him). But the simple matter is I have not cared about him one lick through the first two books; he is a mopey guy who hasn’t really added to the story. Well big changes are coming and suddenly he is a man of destiny. That is fine by itself, but there was a whole lot of narrative convenience once he learns a few things, and the speed of his transformation didn’t work for me. Your mileage may vary on that one.
And once again I find these things bugging me more than they should, because they are hidden in a very enjoyable story. More and more I am seeing the series as a soap opera. Book three wrapped up some plot lines that started in book one and opened a few more that will no doubt take a few more to resolve. Some of the nagging little problems I had after book one have been rectified (such as thinking Cathy was the first women in the Nether to think about her place in society, when in fact we have learned a lot of curses and other nefarious plots kept the forward thinkers apart and/or hidden). Some links from book one still have not been explained, such as what the sorcerers’ place in the world really is and why the Fae would ever agree to a treaty limiting their reach.
So going back to the questions at the beginning. I keep reading because I enjoy it, and recognize it for what it is. Slightly flawed, but so far worth the ride. Nice to see some resolution, though I was kind of hoping this was the last of a trilogy rather than the middle of what may be a never ending series. Newman has continued to keep me invested in the story, especially Cathy’s fight against the system she was born in and the political fighting between the Fae.
3 Stars
October 29, 2015
I really, really enjoyed this one. I'm a bit sad now though, because it appears to be the last book in the series. (Yes, I have signed up for the free short stories, but I don't think it'll be the same!)
A satisfying conclusion, yet stuffed full of unfinished business! I'd love at least another book in the series!
ETA: I asked Emma, and she said more were planned! Woo!
A satisfying conclusion, yet stuffed full of unfinished business! I'd love at least another book in the series!
ETA: I asked Emma, and she said more were planned! Woo!
June 3, 2016
\o/ Ee, yes. I like this series a lot now, and I'm happy to hear there are two more books (there is MORE TO BE SEEN) and short stories besides. This really has progressed so well. It builds and builds and keeps surprising.
April 12, 2019
All is Fair is the final book in the Split Worlds trilogy. It's impossible to discuss it without giving spoilers for the previous books. If you haven't read
Between Two Thorns
and
Any Other Name
and do not want to be spoiled best turn away now, because HERE BE SPOILERS!
After far too long I'm finally reviewing All is Fair, the concluding volume of the Split Worlds. It's no secret that I absolutely loved the previous two books and that I adore Emma Newman. So with that disclaimer and caveat it'll come as no surprise I loved All is Fair as well. Cathy's story developed in a direction I had expected, but what I hadn't counted on was the extent to which Newman would take it. And there was a huge twist in both Max's and Sam's stories, which kept me on my toes until the end.
As in the previous books, the main story arc is Cathy's; she's settling in to her new role as wife and Duchess of Londinium. In Any Other Name I finally got on board of the good ship "Cathy and Will" and while I still liked them as a couple and they certainly seem to be genuinely developing feelings for each other, I did have my doubts at certain points in the novel. This was mostly down to Will, who came across as not that nice of a person at points. Much of this is due to the pressure he is under from Lord Iris, but some of it is just Will staying in the tradition of Nether Society and being uncertain of Cathy's loyalties. Meanwhile, Cathy needs to build bridges and mend fences to get where she wants to take the Nether society, not least with Will, as he's the first one she'll have to convince if she's to be successful. I really connected with Cathy, especially due to her struggles when re-entering the London Court. The anxiety she battles is a familiar feeling to me and I felt Cathy's fears deep in my own gut, which says a lot about Newman's ability to convey emotion on the page.
All is Fair adds a new point of view, that of Margritte Semper-Augustus Tulipa, Cathy's erstwhile friend and former Duchess of Londinium. I loved her story arc as it's quite dark and shows the depth of grief and how much it can distort who we are and how we want to live. Magritte can't imagine a life without her Bartholomew and wants to do anything to avenge him on William and if she can't have revenge, she wants his honour restored. This angry desire makes her do and say things that are against her regular nature and it's her gradual realisation of said fact that makes her such a compelling character. Her storyline also has the added benefit of Rupert, the Sorcerer of Mercia, who is a capricious creature and a very likeable sod. He made me laugh every time with his complete lack of decorum, which baffles the genteel Margritte.
A familiar set of characters is the duo of Max and Gargoyle. The latter once again stole the show and the scene where Gargoyle and Max grieve together was just exquisite. The interplay between Max and the Gargoyle as the manifestation of his emotions is at its most pronounced in All is Fair and Max even starts to gauge his own reaction to events by that of Gargoyle. Max and Gargoyle continue on their quest to discover who killed their Chapter and all the sorcerers except Ekstrand and Rupert and to expose the corruption at the London Chapter. Their investigation is a complicated one and the identity of the culprit – and presumably the source of the corruption – is both surprising and interesting.
This leaves Sam. Sam's story was surprising. Still reeling from his wife's death in the previous book, I loved the way Newman gives him closure on Leanne and the demise of their marriage. I hadn't seen it coming at all. He is taken in by Lord Iron and we discover there is an entirely different supernatural Court in existence unconnected to the Fae Court—or is it? However, while we learn more about the Elemental Court there is still much to be told, I think, and I hope we'll learn more either through follow-up novels or a new set of short stories.
In fact, All is Fair might be the last in this trilogy, but it doesn't feel like the end of the story. That may partially be my reluctance to leave these characters and this setting behind forever, but mostly it is the fact that there is so much still open. While Cathy has achieved much, this is only the beginning, the same goes for Sam and his new life. And Max and Gargoyle, like Cathy, aim to rebuild their society. All of our characters have reached the ending of this story and these events, but they all end up at new beginnings and I hope Newman will take us back to the Nether so we can discover where their new directions will take them. I love the Split Worlds. I love the characters, the setting and the story. For this Austen fan this is the perfect blend of Regency and fantasy and I hope to be able to travel to this magical realm of Fae and manners and tea and cake again.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
After far too long I'm finally reviewing All is Fair, the concluding volume of the Split Worlds. It's no secret that I absolutely loved the previous two books and that I adore Emma Newman. So with that disclaimer and caveat it'll come as no surprise I loved All is Fair as well. Cathy's story developed in a direction I had expected, but what I hadn't counted on was the extent to which Newman would take it. And there was a huge twist in both Max's and Sam's stories, which kept me on my toes until the end.
As in the previous books, the main story arc is Cathy's; she's settling in to her new role as wife and Duchess of Londinium. In Any Other Name I finally got on board of the good ship "Cathy and Will" and while I still liked them as a couple and they certainly seem to be genuinely developing feelings for each other, I did have my doubts at certain points in the novel. This was mostly down to Will, who came across as not that nice of a person at points. Much of this is due to the pressure he is under from Lord Iris, but some of it is just Will staying in the tradition of Nether Society and being uncertain of Cathy's loyalties. Meanwhile, Cathy needs to build bridges and mend fences to get where she wants to take the Nether society, not least with Will, as he's the first one she'll have to convince if she's to be successful. I really connected with Cathy, especially due to her struggles when re-entering the London Court. The anxiety she battles is a familiar feeling to me and I felt Cathy's fears deep in my own gut, which says a lot about Newman's ability to convey emotion on the page.
All is Fair adds a new point of view, that of Margritte Semper-Augustus Tulipa, Cathy's erstwhile friend and former Duchess of Londinium. I loved her story arc as it's quite dark and shows the depth of grief and how much it can distort who we are and how we want to live. Magritte can't imagine a life without her Bartholomew and wants to do anything to avenge him on William and if she can't have revenge, she wants his honour restored. This angry desire makes her do and say things that are against her regular nature and it's her gradual realisation of said fact that makes her such a compelling character. Her storyline also has the added benefit of Rupert, the Sorcerer of Mercia, who is a capricious creature and a very likeable sod. He made me laugh every time with his complete lack of decorum, which baffles the genteel Margritte.
A familiar set of characters is the duo of Max and Gargoyle. The latter once again stole the show and the scene where Gargoyle and Max grieve together was just exquisite. The interplay between Max and the Gargoyle as the manifestation of his emotions is at its most pronounced in All is Fair and Max even starts to gauge his own reaction to events by that of Gargoyle. Max and Gargoyle continue on their quest to discover who killed their Chapter and all the sorcerers except Ekstrand and Rupert and to expose the corruption at the London Chapter. Their investigation is a complicated one and the identity of the culprit – and presumably the source of the corruption – is both surprising and interesting.
This leaves Sam. Sam's story was surprising. Still reeling from his wife's death in the previous book, I loved the way Newman gives him closure on Leanne and the demise of their marriage. I hadn't seen it coming at all. He is taken in by Lord Iron and we discover there is an entirely different supernatural Court in existence unconnected to the Fae Court—or is it? However, while we learn more about the Elemental Court there is still much to be told, I think, and I hope we'll learn more either through follow-up novels or a new set of short stories.
In fact, All is Fair might be the last in this trilogy, but it doesn't feel like the end of the story. That may partially be my reluctance to leave these characters and this setting behind forever, but mostly it is the fact that there is so much still open. While Cathy has achieved much, this is only the beginning, the same goes for Sam and his new life. And Max and Gargoyle, like Cathy, aim to rebuild their society. All of our characters have reached the ending of this story and these events, but they all end up at new beginnings and I hope Newman will take us back to the Nether so we can discover where their new directions will take them. I love the Split Worlds. I love the characters, the setting and the story. For this Austen fan this is the perfect blend of Regency and fantasy and I hope to be able to travel to this magical realm of Fae and manners and tea and cake again.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2016
Originally posted at Desert Island Book Reviews
All Is Fair is the third book in the Split Worlds series, and if you haven’t read the first two, stop reading now! I recommend reading this series in order and not looking at reviews of books past where you are.
This book started off slower than the others for me, despite all the potential it had. With Will as Duke of Londinium and Cathy as his duchess (side note: just realized in this book that the characters are Will and Catherine, just like the British royal family — I wonder if they influenced the author?), there were so many ways the plot could go. But then, Will became kind of unlikable and there was a lot of time spent on the sorcerer plot line, which wasn’t ideal for me (it’s my least favorite subplot).
Still, it did pick up steam and we got into a lot of really interesting things. I think Will even managed to redeem himself in the end for me, despite his obnoxious mistakes and controlling tendencies. And the real star of this book was, of course, Cathy, who seems to have found a way to exist in the Nether and make a difference, even if it is an uphill battle.
I don’t buy the romance that’s developing between Will and Cathy — he’s too controlling behind her back, and I’m surprised she forgives him as much as she does. I think she’s more interesting on her own, but I guess Will does play his part in the overall story.
Sam’s story is becoming more interesting, which is surprising because it hasn’t been all that exciting in the past two books. Now, though, he’s in a position to actually do something and to be a hero in one way or another, and I love that! True, he didn’t gain the position and power through any sort of merit (at least, not obviously), but he seems like he might have it in him to right some wrongs. I’m rooting for him and looking forward to seeing what he’s up to in book four.
Max and the gargoyle still don’t interest me really at all. They did take some control this time and make a decision that could change the course of events for arbiters and sorcerers, so we’ll see if there’s anything coming up that might make their whole part more exciting. Still not sure we need a walking talking gargoyle though!
Overall, I still like where this series is going. Even when I get frustrated with parts and wonder why they’re necessary, I can see how things tie together. I’m wondering how all of the different plot lines will be resolved in the end (whenever that is). I’m giving this book four stars, but only because the end bits started to get really exciting. The earlier parts were a little slow for me this time, and while still inventive, the pacing was just off. After three books, I do still recommend this series.
All Is Fair is the third book in the Split Worlds series, and if you haven’t read the first two, stop reading now! I recommend reading this series in order and not looking at reviews of books past where you are.
This book started off slower than the others for me, despite all the potential it had. With Will as Duke of Londinium and Cathy as his duchess (side note: just realized in this book that the characters are Will and Catherine, just like the British royal family — I wonder if they influenced the author?), there were so many ways the plot could go. But then, Will became kind of unlikable and there was a lot of time spent on the sorcerer plot line, which wasn’t ideal for me (it’s my least favorite subplot).
Still, it did pick up steam and we got into a lot of really interesting things. I think Will even managed to redeem himself in the end for me, despite his obnoxious mistakes and controlling tendencies. And the real star of this book was, of course, Cathy, who seems to have found a way to exist in the Nether and make a difference, even if it is an uphill battle.
I don’t buy the romance that’s developing between Will and Cathy — he’s too controlling behind her back, and I’m surprised she forgives him as much as she does. I think she’s more interesting on her own, but I guess Will does play his part in the overall story.
Sam’s story is becoming more interesting, which is surprising because it hasn’t been all that exciting in the past two books. Now, though, he’s in a position to actually do something and to be a hero in one way or another, and I love that! True, he didn’t gain the position and power through any sort of merit (at least, not obviously), but he seems like he might have it in him to right some wrongs. I’m rooting for him and looking forward to seeing what he’s up to in book four.
Max and the gargoyle still don’t interest me really at all. They did take some control this time and make a decision that could change the course of events for arbiters and sorcerers, so we’ll see if there’s anything coming up that might make their whole part more exciting. Still not sure we need a walking talking gargoyle though!
Overall, I still like where this series is going. Even when I get frustrated with parts and wonder why they’re necessary, I can see how things tie together. I’m wondering how all of the different plot lines will be resolved in the end (whenever that is). I’m giving this book four stars, but only because the end bits started to get really exciting. The earlier parts were a little slow for me this time, and while still inventive, the pacing was just off. After three books, I do still recommend this series.
August 23, 2013
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2013/08/...
*No spoilers for this book, but if you're not caught up, be warned...*
When Any Other Name ended, William had just committed a terrible act based on wildly inaccurate information. Now he’s Duke of Londinium, and that makes Cathy Duchess. Cathy is still recovering from her attack, but soon she’s back on her feet and more than ready to find out what happened to her old governess. She’s also keen to find like-minded women and men in Londinium that are ready to help her change things for the better, meaning equal rights for women and a possible end to the shadowy Agency. Luckily Cathy has the help of Arbiter Max and his gargoyle, and their job, which includes investigating the mass murder of most of the Bath Chapter, has just been made a bit more difficult since Max’s wizard is acting a bit off the rails. Either way, things are about to come to a head, and of course, Cathy will most likely be in the center of things.
Meanwhile, Sam is dealing with his own crisis in Mundanus, and has garnered the attention of Lord Iron of the Elemental Court. He’ll follow a trail of corruption, environmental destruction, and all manner of chaos that will lead right back to Lord Iron himself, and what he finds is a shocker. Speaking of shockers, Emma Newman throws plenty at her readers in the third installment of this wonderful fantasy/uf series. Cathy is discovering her own power, and it has nothing to do with magic. She’s begun to embrace the fact that in her position, she can do a tremendous amount of good, and she’s also warming up to William, who is showing himself to be much more than the sum of his (handsome) parts. It’s an unorthodox love story, to be sure, but strangely enough, it’s one of the most realistic that I’ve read in a while. There’s no swooning, and the road has been rough, but it’s been human. We also get to spend quite a bit of time with Max and his gargoyle, who I adore, and Max begins to long for what’s missing inside of him, since of course, his soul is housed in the gargoyle. There’s lots of action in this one, but there’s still all of the court intrigue and wonderful characterization that I’ve come to expect from the series, and a few very important threads are wrapped up. Don’t worry, though, the ending leaves plenty of hints of things to come, and I can’t wait.
*No spoilers for this book, but if you're not caught up, be warned...*
When Any Other Name ended, William had just committed a terrible act based on wildly inaccurate information. Now he’s Duke of Londinium, and that makes Cathy Duchess. Cathy is still recovering from her attack, but soon she’s back on her feet and more than ready to find out what happened to her old governess. She’s also keen to find like-minded women and men in Londinium that are ready to help her change things for the better, meaning equal rights for women and a possible end to the shadowy Agency. Luckily Cathy has the help of Arbiter Max and his gargoyle, and their job, which includes investigating the mass murder of most of the Bath Chapter, has just been made a bit more difficult since Max’s wizard is acting a bit off the rails. Either way, things are about to come to a head, and of course, Cathy will most likely be in the center of things.
Meanwhile, Sam is dealing with his own crisis in Mundanus, and has garnered the attention of Lord Iron of the Elemental Court. He’ll follow a trail of corruption, environmental destruction, and all manner of chaos that will lead right back to Lord Iron himself, and what he finds is a shocker. Speaking of shockers, Emma Newman throws plenty at her readers in the third installment of this wonderful fantasy/uf series. Cathy is discovering her own power, and it has nothing to do with magic. She’s begun to embrace the fact that in her position, she can do a tremendous amount of good, and she’s also warming up to William, who is showing himself to be much more than the sum of his (handsome) parts. It’s an unorthodox love story, to be sure, but strangely enough, it’s one of the most realistic that I’ve read in a while. There’s no swooning, and the road has been rough, but it’s been human. We also get to spend quite a bit of time with Max and his gargoyle, who I adore, and Max begins to long for what’s missing inside of him, since of course, his soul is housed in the gargoyle. There’s lots of action in this one, but there’s still all of the court intrigue and wonderful characterization that I’ve come to expect from the series, and a few very important threads are wrapped up. Don’t worry, though, the ending leaves plenty of hints of things to come, and I can’t wait.
March 2, 2018
Cathy is trying to follow in her governess's footsteps and bring equal rights to Nether society. Her arranged marriage to Will is going unexpectedly well, as he is newly freed from Amelia Rosa's magical compulsion and supports Cathy's choices. Thanks to her own adventures and friendships with people outside the Nether, and as the new Duchess of Londinium, she has the knowledge and power to be very effective. Meanwhile, the remaining sorcerers attempt to assassinate each other. Max and the gargoyle that contains his heart investigate corruption in the Arbiters. And Sam buries his newly dead wife, finds out she was a spy in her PR job trying to take down a big polluter, becomes the mentee of the leader of said polluting company, learns the basics of blacksmithing, becomes Lord Iron, and helps free an entire asylum worth of wrongfully detained humans.
A lot happens in this book. The ever churning plot kept me glued to the page--I opened the book and didn't put it down till I finished it. But so much happens that it feels a bit overwhelming. Sam's plotline in particular feels rushed, and his new powers feel unearned.
I liked the sorcerers, and how potty they each are in their own ways. I liked that Cathy puts effort into finding other feminists, and I especially liked that they didn't all agree with each other despite being taught by the same governess. I do think it's a little odd that we're three books in and despite a good amount of time spent on sexism and classism, I have yet to notice one queer or non-white character. Given that the main character of Newman's fantastic Planetfall is a queer non-white person, as are many of the other characters, I can only assume this lack is intentional. I'd like to see those aspects drawn into this story a little, and for the lower class that Cathy is freeing to have opinions and priorities of their own that don't entirely (or at all?) coincide with what she intends to give them.
A lot happens in this book. The ever churning plot kept me glued to the page--I opened the book and didn't put it down till I finished it. But so much happens that it feels a bit overwhelming. Sam's plotline in particular feels rushed, and his new powers feel unearned.
I liked the sorcerers, and how potty they each are in their own ways. I liked that Cathy puts effort into finding other feminists, and I especially liked that they didn't all agree with each other despite being taught by the same governess. I do think it's a little odd that we're three books in and despite a good amount of time spent on sexism and classism, I have yet to notice one queer or non-white character. Given that the main character of Newman's fantastic Planetfall is a queer non-white person, as are many of the other characters, I can only assume this lack is intentional. I'd like to see those aspects drawn into this story a little, and for the lower class that Cathy is freeing to have opinions and priorities of their own that don't entirely (or at all?) coincide with what she intends to give them.
December 4, 2015
Please be aware this review may contain spoilers for all three books in the Split Worlds series...
“All Is Fair” is the third, but not final, volume in Emma Newman’s delightful Split Worlds series. Cathy is now grudgingly married to William Iris and trying to get a handle on her new and unexpected position as Duchess of Londinium, while still fighting to bring about a change in the stifling Society of the Nether. Sam is dealing with some very unexpected fallout from his recent bereavement, while Max and the gargoyle are dragged into a war between two powerful and manipulative sorcerers
It’s hard to say a great deal about “All Is Fair” without giving away heaps of spoilers, so closely woven are the destinies of the three worlds and the plot Emma Newman has carefully threaded. Giving away one strand could make the whole thing fall apart, and the last thing I want to do is spoil the fun you will get from trying to stay one jump ahead of the protagonists. So I won’t say too much. If you haven’t ventured into the Split Worlds before then start with Book One, “Between Two Thorns” – it’s no good coming on board at this point – you need to read them from the beginning, and in the right order, or you’ll be lost.
If you have enjoyed the series so far you don’t need me to recommend “All Is Fair”, but I will tell you that Sam finally gets a moment to shine, and some of Cathy’s actions as she grows in confidence will have you punching the air and cheering her on, especially when she manages to deliver a satisfying bloody nose to the reprehensible Agency.
If you like intrigue, the fae, elegant regency romance, feminist arse-kicking, and tea and scones in their proper order, then you should dive into the Split Worlds forthwith….
“All Is Fair” is the third, but not final, volume in Emma Newman’s delightful Split Worlds series. Cathy is now grudgingly married to William Iris and trying to get a handle on her new and unexpected position as Duchess of Londinium, while still fighting to bring about a change in the stifling Society of the Nether. Sam is dealing with some very unexpected fallout from his recent bereavement, while Max and the gargoyle are dragged into a war between two powerful and manipulative sorcerers
It’s hard to say a great deal about “All Is Fair” without giving away heaps of spoilers, so closely woven are the destinies of the three worlds and the plot Emma Newman has carefully threaded. Giving away one strand could make the whole thing fall apart, and the last thing I want to do is spoil the fun you will get from trying to stay one jump ahead of the protagonists. So I won’t say too much. If you haven’t ventured into the Split Worlds before then start with Book One, “Between Two Thorns” – it’s no good coming on board at this point – you need to read them from the beginning, and in the right order, or you’ll be lost.
If you have enjoyed the series so far you don’t need me to recommend “All Is Fair”, but I will tell you that Sam finally gets a moment to shine, and some of Cathy’s actions as she grows in confidence will have you punching the air and cheering her on, especially when she manages to deliver a satisfying bloody nose to the reprehensible Agency.
If you like intrigue, the fae, elegant regency romance, feminist arse-kicking, and tea and scones in their proper order, then you should dive into the Split Worlds forthwith….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2021
This was very well written and gave the different story arcs very good resolutions, I could not put this book down. The audiobook narration was awesome too.
November 7, 2022
Very much still enjoying this series. The world building gets deeper and deeper.
September 18, 2013
See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!
I was really happy with the way All is Fair wrapped up the Split Worlds trilogy. My favorite characters had plenty of page time and all the big mysteries were resolved with a few strands still left floating so that Emma Newman could return to this world in the future. This has been one of my favorite new series this year and having it completed over the span of a few months was really nice, but now I need more stories!
Cathy and Will have been my favorite storyline throughout the Split Worlds series and they definitely don't disappoint here. Cathy has grown so much throughout the series and I was very happy to see her finally take action and begin to live up to her potential in All is Fair. Will also softens in this book and comes to see how valuable Cathy is by his side. He proves that he is truly a good man and a fitting partner for Cathy. I was also happy with the finale resolution between him and Margaritte. I didn't know how the events of the last book would reverberate here, but I think that storyline was very well done and the actions of both parties were believable.
Sam has such an emotional journey throughout the series and I wasn't quite expecting his evolution in All is Fair, but I think it is very fitting. He becomes a powerful player and an even stronger ally for Cathy, and I think he begins to figure out who is really is in the process. He learns so much about his late wife and their relationship and starts taking actions to right some of the wrongs both in our world and the world of the fae-touched.
Max and the gargoyle have been the least engaging storyline for me personally, but I was satisfied with the way everything played out for them. I never really liked the sorcerer Ekstrand and was very pleased to see Max and the gargoyle finding their way without him. Rupert was a marginally better character, but he still doesn't make me feel bad about all the other sorcerers being killed in the previous books. I feel like Max's storyline had good closure in All is Fair and I was happy to see the gargoyle being presented as more of an equal partner and moral compass than just comic relief.
All is Fair was definitely a satisfying conclusion to the Split Worlds series, but I would still love to see more from this world. Emma Newman has created a fascinating society with plenty of room for revolution and conflict. I think it would be fascinating to see the results of Cathy and Will's efforts and to see how the fae lords respond. So, while this is a great trilogy and I highly recommend it to those looking for something new or a series that is already completed, I do hope to see Ms. Newman return to these characters in the future. Isn't that the best kind of series though, the one you don't want to end?
Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot Books for providing an ARC copy of this book!
I was really happy with the way All is Fair wrapped up the Split Worlds trilogy. My favorite characters had plenty of page time and all the big mysteries were resolved with a few strands still left floating so that Emma Newman could return to this world in the future. This has been one of my favorite new series this year and having it completed over the span of a few months was really nice, but now I need more stories!
Cathy and Will have been my favorite storyline throughout the Split Worlds series and they definitely don't disappoint here. Cathy has grown so much throughout the series and I was very happy to see her finally take action and begin to live up to her potential in All is Fair. Will also softens in this book and comes to see how valuable Cathy is by his side. He proves that he is truly a good man and a fitting partner for Cathy. I was also happy with the finale resolution between him and Margaritte. I didn't know how the events of the last book would reverberate here, but I think that storyline was very well done and the actions of both parties were believable.
Sam has such an emotional journey throughout the series and I wasn't quite expecting his evolution in All is Fair, but I think it is very fitting. He becomes a powerful player and an even stronger ally for Cathy, and I think he begins to figure out who is really is in the process. He learns so much about his late wife and their relationship and starts taking actions to right some of the wrongs both in our world and the world of the fae-touched.
Max and the gargoyle have been the least engaging storyline for me personally, but I was satisfied with the way everything played out for them. I never really liked the sorcerer Ekstrand and was very pleased to see Max and the gargoyle finding their way without him. Rupert was a marginally better character, but he still doesn't make me feel bad about all the other sorcerers being killed in the previous books. I feel like Max's storyline had good closure in All is Fair and I was happy to see the gargoyle being presented as more of an equal partner and moral compass than just comic relief.
All is Fair was definitely a satisfying conclusion to the Split Worlds series, but I would still love to see more from this world. Emma Newman has created a fascinating society with plenty of room for revolution and conflict. I think it would be fascinating to see the results of Cathy and Will's efforts and to see how the fae lords respond. So, while this is a great trilogy and I highly recommend it to those looking for something new or a series that is already completed, I do hope to see Ms. Newman return to these characters in the future. Isn't that the best kind of series though, the one you don't want to end?
Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot Books for providing an ARC copy of this book!
July 31, 2016
https://lynns-books.com/2016/07/31/al...
All is Fair is the third book, in the Split Worlds series by Emma Newman, that I’ve been reading as part of a readalong. This is an unusual world where fae exist – in exile and the mundane world in which we live is separated from the fae by the Nether world. I’m not going to elaborate too much on the previous books because, and maybe wrongly so, I’m going to assume if you’re reading this review you’ve already read the first two and, if you haven’t you really need to do so and you also need to beware of spoilers).
So, at the end of the last book Will has finally achieved the throne of Londinium in a rather ignominious way, Cathy is recovering following the attack upon her person, Max and his sidekick the Gargoyle are still investigating the deaths at their Chapter and Sam is becoming more embroiled in this alternative world than he ever suspected with the Elemental Court now playing a key role in his life.
How can I describe the Split World series. It’s a series set in the modern world – with a period regency style world jostling alongside it seperating the mundanes from the fae and the elementals. A world where nothing is ever quite what it seems and behind the morning dresses and polite afternoon teas is unrest. This series is a slow burner, there’s no mad action here, things happen at their own pace and yet underneath, simmering under the surface are a number of storylines that are gradually heating up.
And, I have to hand it to Miss Newman, she writes these characters in a way that just makes you fume! Literally! Well, personally, I think she’s writing the characters in that way. For example Will. He’s a noble from the Nether world, he’s privileged and used to having what he wants but he’s also quite indoctrinated into this world and so, although he seems like he might change it seems that every other thing that he does right he does another three things that will just infuriate the socks off you. Yes, this is a very sexist world, the women in the nether are repressed and those that speak out or either silenced using charms or transported elsewhere. The Agency help with this. The Agency are a strange and corrupt organisation. They keep things running smoothly in this world but they’re far from above world.
Now on top of this we have the fae who are quite a bunch of schemers. A surreal bunch of characters, scheming and wicked. We also have the sorcerers – sorry I forgot to mention them earlier – of course there is a massive scheme afoot, one that I can’t mention. What I can say is that the newest edition to the sorcerer’s world is very interesting – Rupert.
It’s difficult to say too much here. There is a grand sweeping plot and so it would be very easy to spoil the story. What I can say is that by the end of the story the foundations have been laid for change and things look as though they’re about to get very interesting (by which I mean go to hell in a handcart).
I’m very much looking forward to No.4.
I received a copy of All is Fair from the publisher through Netgalley. The above is my own opinion.
All is Fair is the third book, in the Split Worlds series by Emma Newman, that I’ve been reading as part of a readalong. This is an unusual world where fae exist – in exile and the mundane world in which we live is separated from the fae by the Nether world. I’m not going to elaborate too much on the previous books because, and maybe wrongly so, I’m going to assume if you’re reading this review you’ve already read the first two and, if you haven’t you really need to do so and you also need to beware of spoilers).
So, at the end of the last book Will has finally achieved the throne of Londinium in a rather ignominious way, Cathy is recovering following the attack upon her person, Max and his sidekick the Gargoyle are still investigating the deaths at their Chapter and Sam is becoming more embroiled in this alternative world than he ever suspected with the Elemental Court now playing a key role in his life.
How can I describe the Split World series. It’s a series set in the modern world – with a period regency style world jostling alongside it seperating the mundanes from the fae and the elementals. A world where nothing is ever quite what it seems and behind the morning dresses and polite afternoon teas is unrest. This series is a slow burner, there’s no mad action here, things happen at their own pace and yet underneath, simmering under the surface are a number of storylines that are gradually heating up.
And, I have to hand it to Miss Newman, she writes these characters in a way that just makes you fume! Literally! Well, personally, I think she’s writing the characters in that way. For example Will. He’s a noble from the Nether world, he’s privileged and used to having what he wants but he’s also quite indoctrinated into this world and so, although he seems like he might change it seems that every other thing that he does right he does another three things that will just infuriate the socks off you. Yes, this is a very sexist world, the women in the nether are repressed and those that speak out or either silenced using charms or transported elsewhere. The Agency help with this. The Agency are a strange and corrupt organisation. They keep things running smoothly in this world but they’re far from above world.
Now on top of this we have the fae who are quite a bunch of schemers. A surreal bunch of characters, scheming and wicked. We also have the sorcerers – sorry I forgot to mention them earlier – of course there is a massive scheme afoot, one that I can’t mention. What I can say is that the newest edition to the sorcerer’s world is very interesting – Rupert.
It’s difficult to say too much here. There is a grand sweeping plot and so it would be very easy to spoil the story. What I can say is that by the end of the story the foundations have been laid for change and things look as though they’re about to get very interesting (by which I mean go to hell in a handcart).
I’m very much looking forward to No.4.
I received a copy of All is Fair from the publisher through Netgalley. The above is my own opinion.
February 21, 2020
This book - and this series - were not at all what I expected. Newman has a way with characters, a brilliance even, and the cast for these stories endeared themselves to me - almost addictively. But the author's skills do not end there, and I found myself most enamored with the message of strength and integrity that played out in these pages. This was a most satisfying read. Cheers.
October 2, 2013
I have really enjoyed this series. The characters are engaging, funny, interesting, varied, and real. In particular I'm a big fan of the gargoyle, Lord Poppy and Rupert. The world they live in is vivid and fascinating and so very damn british. And i love the charms used, the letterbox device, the sniffer, all that sort of thing.
The plot of the series has been pretty simple really, Cathy finding herself, coming to terms with the world she lives in, and starting to fight for change. Sam learning the truth about his wife. And MAx learning the truth about the sorcerers and what happened to them, and his fellow ARbiters. Simple plots, but well written, with characters you care to follow,
BUT, i do have some criticisms. The end is pretty open. I don't mind that, I like having things left to my imagination, but I am left with some questions that aren't answered at all, that leaves me a little confused about some things.
I'm not sure why, or what the point was, for some of what was going on, and it felt like some threads of the plot would lead somewhere, and then they didn't. It did feel a little rushed, in places. And isn't as good as the first two books. But it is still an enjoyable read and a mostly satisifing end to a great series. Looking forward to Emma Newman's future projects, even if Rupert, Poppy and the gargoyle aren't in them!
The plot of the series has been pretty simple really, Cathy finding herself, coming to terms with the world she lives in, and starting to fight for change. Sam learning the truth about his wife. And MAx learning the truth about the sorcerers and what happened to them, and his fellow ARbiters. Simple plots, but well written, with characters you care to follow,
BUT, i do have some criticisms. The end is pretty open. I don't mind that, I like having things left to my imagination, but I am left with some questions that aren't answered at all, that leaves me a little confused about some things.
I'm not sure why, or what the point was, for some of what was going on, and it felt like some threads of the plot would lead somewhere, and then they didn't. It did feel a little rushed, in places. And isn't as good as the first two books. But it is still an enjoyable read and a mostly satisifing end to a great series. Looking forward to Emma Newman's future projects, even if Rupert, Poppy and the gargoyle aren't in them!
February 26, 2014
3.5 Stars
hmmm... am hovering between rounding up and down.
Good stuff, a great series.. but somehow some of the things felt rushed.
All is Fair is a good end to a great debut series.
I really love Newman's writing. It's beautiful, subtle and imaginative.
The world building of the series, is fabulous. And in each book Newman added slowly more and more to it. Beautifully and skillfully done.
The character building was good again. I loved how they all changed over the corse or the series and took on things for themselves.
My biggest issue though was the plot, lots of action again. There were lots of questions to be answered, I got all my answers. But the end felt so rushed. Like Newman was suddenly in a hurry to rap it up.
And it was rapped up a bit to fast and to conveniently. Everything suddenly fell in place and was sorted.
Pity, this could have been a 5Star series for me.
Still its an amazing series, astounding debut and I am looking forward to Newman's next books
A must for fantasy lovers!
hmmm... am hovering between rounding up and down.
Good stuff, a great series.. but somehow some of the things felt rushed.
All is Fair is a good end to a great debut series.
I really love Newman's writing. It's beautiful, subtle and imaginative.
The world building of the series, is fabulous. And in each book Newman added slowly more and more to it. Beautifully and skillfully done.
The character building was good again. I loved how they all changed over the corse or the series and took on things for themselves.
My biggest issue though was the plot, lots of action again. There were lots of questions to be answered, I got all my answers. But the end felt so rushed. Like Newman was suddenly in a hurry to rap it up.
And it was rapped up a bit to fast and to conveniently. Everything suddenly fell in place and was sorted.
Pity, this could have been a 5Star series for me.
Still its an amazing series, astounding debut and I am looking forward to Newman's next books
A must for fantasy lovers!
November 6, 2020
Ok, but are we all just going to ignore the fact that Will basically date raped Cathy in the second book, but now they’re totally in love and everything‘s fine without it being addressed at all? And everybody’s ok with this?! I kept waiting for there to be repercussions from that but it never happened. The author treated it like drugging a person to have sex with you is totally fine. Given the obvious feminist agenda of these books, I’m blown away by the hypocrisy. That gets to me more than the act itself; that the author treats it like it’s no big deal and Will comes to the end of this book without having to face any consequences for it, not even Cathy getting angry at him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2014
I am of two minds on this series, Is it well written? yes. It's very engaging, funny, a well built world and it meets my most important point for a series, if you read the first book you will want to read the rest.
That being said, Ms. Newman did a stellar job on this series, it just wasn't for me, I did enjoy the read and I would recommend it to my fantasy reading friends. Maybe you could read it and convince me to read it again!
That being said, Ms. Newman did a stellar job on this series, it just wasn't for me, I did enjoy the read and I would recommend it to my fantasy reading friends. Maybe you could read it and convince me to read it again!
December 17, 2013
There is so much more story to be told, and I really, really hope the author's publisher buys more books. I must find out more about the world and the nefarious plots that are afoot. And I want to know if Max gets reunited with his soul. I love these books.
February 27, 2020
Does "utterly bereft" cover how you feel when you've reached the end of a book and realised that it's over... but also not over yet because the series you thought was a trilogy actually has two more books? I love this series so much.
Even if it indulges in a few bugbears of mine consistently throughout (mysterious world-building, characters making stupid assumptions or obvious plays and yet everyone just goes with it! Argh!), it does so in ways that keeps you as much in the loop as you need to be, learning the ever-expanding world at the same pace as the POVs who matter and any obvious foolishness on part of the characters is played as a sly nod to the reader knowing more than they do rather than less. The mystery feels compelling, the characters' manipulated silliness tugs at your sympathy (or else is there to remind you that no one's perfect, especially when the Fae are as messed up as they are in the Split Worlds series).
I adored Catherine and William's character development. Their mutual understanding is worth a bazillion twee romances. Yes, Cathy does that headstrong feminist trope thing still, but i's tempered by obstacles thrown in her way that means she has to act realistically more than idealistically. William's a tricky one; no Prince Charming or classic romantic lead, that's for sure, but he's trying . Sam really gets some more storyline with the Elemental Court subplot, and Max carries on being the grim PI substitute as ever. New character Rupert is wonderfully quirky, sweary and far more complex than you initially think.
I'm glad to find out this wasn't the end to the series, because there are so many threads of Court intrigues, Nether Society politics, Fae mythology, Sorcerer lore and character story left that needs tidying up.
Even if it indulges in a few bugbears of mine consistently throughout (mysterious world-building, characters making stupid assumptions or obvious plays and yet everyone just goes with it! Argh!), it does so in ways that keeps you as much in the loop as you need to be, learning the ever-expanding world at the same pace as the POVs who matter and any obvious foolishness on part of the characters is played as a sly nod to the reader knowing more than they do rather than less. The mystery feels compelling, the characters' manipulated silliness tugs at your sympathy (or else is there to remind you that no one's perfect, especially when the Fae are as messed up as they are in the Split Worlds series).
I adored Catherine and William's character development. Their mutual understanding is worth a bazillion twee romances. Yes, Cathy does that headstrong feminist trope thing still, but i's tempered by obstacles thrown in her way that means she has to act realistically more than idealistically. William's a tricky one; no Prince Charming or classic romantic lead, that's for sure, but he's trying . Sam really gets some more storyline with the Elemental Court subplot, and Max carries on being the grim PI substitute as ever. New character Rupert is wonderfully quirky, sweary and far more complex than you initially think.
I'm glad to find out this wasn't the end to the series, because there are so many threads of Court intrigues, Nether Society politics, Fae mythology, Sorcerer lore and character story left that needs tidying up.
May 21, 2018
It's a compelling world and it has grabbed my interest through four books so far. But..... the author seemed in a hurry to finish the books, and there are large sections in which we are told what happened rather than shown it happening. It's like she pasted some notes in instead of writing it.
There are a couple too many convenient plot devices that start to weaken our ability to suspend disbelief.
But the hardest part for me has been that the main protagonist Cathy is such an awful person. She has been handed everything in life, yet remains permanently aggrieved, angry and self-righteous. She is completely blind to the amazing privilege that she enjoys, yet is an expert at interpreting everything around her as a personal insult to her, which by wrapping up in a 'cause' supposedly excuses her horrifically selfish and spoiled behavior.
'Empowering' and 'liberating' women seems pretty empty when it refers specifically to ending the 'oppression' of fabulously wealthy and privileged aristocrats.
I am curious if, and hoping that, the series wraps up with Cathy growing up a little, and realizing that feminism isn't about the struggles of fabulously wealthy, bored white aristocratic women, but about women, who among putting up with other things, have to work for a living, sometimes even without the constant assistance of maids, housekeepers, nannies, cooks, servants... As well as the world being a little more complicated than has been presented so far.
But the author has created a lovely world. I hope she takes her time to write about what happens in her stories, rather than telling us about it, and that the characters develop into less detestable people.
There are a couple too many convenient plot devices that start to weaken our ability to suspend disbelief.
But the hardest part for me has been that the main protagonist Cathy is such an awful person. She has been handed everything in life, yet remains permanently aggrieved, angry and self-righteous. She is completely blind to the amazing privilege that she enjoys, yet is an expert at interpreting everything around her as a personal insult to her, which by wrapping up in a 'cause' supposedly excuses her horrifically selfish and spoiled behavior.
'Empowering' and 'liberating' women seems pretty empty when it refers specifically to ending the 'oppression' of fabulously wealthy and privileged aristocrats.
I am curious if, and hoping that, the series wraps up with Cathy growing up a little, and realizing that feminism isn't about the struggles of fabulously wealthy, bored white aristocratic women, but about women, who among putting up with other things, have to work for a living, sometimes even without the constant assistance of maids, housekeepers, nannies, cooks, servants... As well as the world being a little more complicated than has been presented so far.
But the author has created a lovely world. I hope she takes her time to write about what happens in her stories, rather than telling us about it, and that the characters develop into less detestable people.
October 11, 2018
I still very much love this universe but whew this story is getting very complicated, even convoluted. I'm interested the direction it's going, but also finding some of the rash and rushed decisions some of the characters are making kind of unbearable to read. Like I'm not as clear on possible outcomes as I was in the first couple books, and it's become a constant state of tension expecting every rash decision to end in worse disaster. And this series hasn't shied away from killing people, yet I'm always disappointed when someone I really like dies. I'm committed to the series but it's starting to feel meandering, like I'm not sure why we've spent so much time with certain characters only to see them die, or why so many obvious set ups seem to end in nothing. And many things seem to happen somewhat suddenly, with effort or plan by the character, then just work out (like is Cathy just accidentally the luckiest person ever over and over and over?) or we never see the consequences. Lots of build up around characters finally making decisions, then the action is off screen between scenes. The universe is great here, the characters deep and complicated, they mystery challenging, but the endless (perhaps unintentional) red herrings is making wonder if the author had a plan for every scene she included, or perhaps we'll get to the end and find a better editor would have cut what is increasingly feeling like padding from this story.
July 11, 2018
'He was probably the first one who'd had a previous run in with one of the Fae Lords. Hopefully, he was about to become the first to bitch-slap one too.'
Props to Sam for that thought process! He's becoming one of my favorite characters so far! He's progressed so much and I love what he's turning into. All of the main characters are developing nicely, even Will - which is saying something because he's just so lost. What a poor sad fellow.
SPOILERS AHEAD - just a tiny few:
I'm glad there's a female villain, cuz YAY! Equal opportunity, that's what this book promotes right? Cathy is finally getting some where. Fantastic ending for everyone - at least the ones I care for. For the first time, this book in the series has everyone growing into their potential and things are indeed changing.
Sam is now Lord Iron and actually able to take charge and make a big, global change.
Cathy has made a force to fight for women's right in the Nether, finally being able to take charge and make a change.
Max has uncovered the most hidden of truths and now has no master. He's more in tune with his instincts and emotions - the latter once denied to him - and able to construct a new Cloister and make change.
The third book seems to full of symbols of revolution and evolution. Now everything has changed and the best - or worse - is yet to come.
I can't wait.
Props to Sam for that thought process! He's becoming one of my favorite characters so far! He's progressed so much and I love what he's turning into. All of the main characters are developing nicely, even Will - which is saying something because he's just so lost. What a poor sad fellow.
SPOILERS AHEAD - just a tiny few:
I'm glad there's a female villain, cuz YAY! Equal opportunity, that's what this book promotes right? Cathy is finally getting some where. Fantastic ending for everyone - at least the ones I care for. For the first time, this book in the series has everyone growing into their potential and things are indeed changing.
Sam is now Lord Iron and actually able to take charge and make a big, global change.
Cathy has made a force to fight for women's right in the Nether, finally being able to take charge and make a change.
Max has uncovered the most hidden of truths and now has no master. He's more in tune with his instincts and emotions - the latter once denied to him - and able to construct a new Cloister and make change.
The third book seems to full of symbols of revolution and evolution. Now everything has changed and the best - or worse - is yet to come.
I can't wait.
November 9, 2022
While I enjoyed this book as I have all of Emma Newman's books, the ending felt a little pat, a little too easy Deus-ex-machina. Granted, this is a world where magic exists, but to have half the protagonist's problems just wiped out with a wish and a friend who basically suddenly has god-level powers (with no explanation of how he got them) felt like a bit of an easy out.
Really, the entire ending of the book just really felt rushed. While I think it was meant to be a completed series with 3 books, it begs for a 4th. It feels as though she tried to squeeze what should have been a 4th book in to wrap up the series, leaving a lot of open questions and not fully fleshed out story. What did Lord Iris want out of Will & Cathy's child? Where did Lord Iron get his powers from/how does the whole Elemental Court work? What's the deal with Will's little sister? What is the motivation and explanation for Dante's sister, and what is the resolution?
However, there was still a lot to love about this book. The main character has such a great journey, and self-realization. The love-story component was realistically imperfect (although a bit problematic at one point), and the minor characters were engaging.
Really, the entire ending of the book just really felt rushed. While I think it was meant to be a completed series with 3 books, it begs for a 4th. It feels as though she tried to squeeze what should have been a 4th book in to wrap up the series, leaving a lot of open questions and not fully fleshed out story. What did Lord Iris want out of Will & Cathy's child? Where did Lord Iron get his powers from/how does the whole Elemental Court work? What's the deal with Will's little sister? What is the motivation and explanation for Dante's sister, and what is the resolution?
However, there was still a lot to love about this book. The main character has such a great journey, and self-realization. The love-story component was realistically imperfect (although a bit problematic at one point), and the minor characters were engaging.
November 17, 2023
While the world-building still is patchy, the plot picks up some more and is developed enough that one can suspend disbelief for the story. Cathy has begun to act with the maturity one would expect her to and becomes more engaging; Will becomes more complex and morally grey. Max and the gargoyle start to live up to their interesting potential more, although it is still fairly unexplored. While Sam undergoes great changes unfortunately his character is the least successful, with little development and more just large things happening to him. Starting to get frustrated that anyone with relations to the our world has to swear a lot to signal that.
April 13, 2024
Really loving this series! I was a bit confused getting near the end of this one because I had purchased the omnibus of the first three books and I thought it was a trilogy so when it was nearing the end and we seemed to be starting new storylines I was perplexed. But then I realized there are two more books to go! Huzzah! There were a few things where things seemed forced or rushed- for instance I wasn't sure Cathy had completely earned Carter's full loyalty and when Sam and Cathy finally meet back up it feels kind of throw away. But I really love how Will and Cathy are progressing together and individually. Excited to see what comes next!
October 4, 2018
In the third book of the series, known characters develop, sometimes in surprising way whilst some interesting new ones appear. The background also expands, as we get to know more about the shadowy forces working in the background and possibly get an inkling of who the real enemy is!
Subtle clues and hints are slipped in throughout the story so far, adding to the sense of mystery. Another engrossing read!
Subtle clues and hints are slipped in throughout the story so far, adding to the sense of mystery. Another engrossing read!
February 1, 2019
4.5/5
Still loving this series a lot, we got a lot of closures in this one and it felt good to have the different plot threads come together.
I love so many of these characters, and the ones I cannot love (because, you know, they did terrible things) are still so interesting. I do need one plot thread from book 2 to blow up though, like it needs to be really called out, but we still have 2 books so it can happen still, I'm sure.
Still loving this series a lot, we got a lot of closures in this one and it felt good to have the different plot threads come together.
I love so many of these characters, and the ones I cannot love (because, you know, they did terrible things) are still so interesting. I do need one plot thread from book 2 to blow up though, like it needs to be really called out, but we still have 2 books so it can happen still, I'm sure.
March 4, 2019
My complaint with the second book was mostly resolved in this one, Cathy’s story really develops a lot, but I was still a little unsatisfied with how certain plot points never met their true potential is the text, and now it looks like they probably won’t... and I continue to feel bitter that I couldn’t have this book when I was a teenager. It would have been perfect.
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