Cam has come SO far since he was ousted out of his village, he's no longer an outcast or alone, he has friends he can count on, a student of an academy he thought he'd never be a part of, and has earned the respect of professors and students alike, his skill as a natural leader came to the fore as he and his unit, the Light Squad, went through the challenges the academy set for them. I love his friendship with Pan, it's comfortable, comforting and their bond just strengthens as time passes. Though they have all achieved so much more than any other unit in a year, Cam has his skills tested to the limit, his leadership takes a new turn and he has to try reign in all the different personalities of his squad, to get them working as a fluid unit. Easier said than done.... especially with Chastity being on his team. Chastity who takes the mickey out of Cam, Chastity who makes Cam feel very uncomfortable. Strangely enough, it's a deep betrayal that brings them into line, into a cohesive unit. He evokes all sorts of emotions in me, right from when he was still in his village being bullied, then when he got to the academy, and was bullied, when he found true friendship with Pan, when he ascended, when he second guesses himself, when he triumphs, when he fails, when he shows his determination, when his skill and instincts kick in, when he casts puppy dog eyes at Saira, yep, a whole range of emotions!
If you thought lancing a boil involved cutting and draining, you'd be sorely mistaken! The boils in this story are clusters of Rakshasha who are extremely dangerous and deadly and have to be stopped, that have to be sent back from whence they came. These are the creatures they face, not the most deadly by a long shot, but their "forced" propulsion into the realm of Heath, exposes bigger, badder, deadlier creatures. It also exposes lies, deception and a few revelations that will blow your mind, they certainly did mine!
I do love how the author intertwines his characters in this same world, though eons apart, perhaps not eons but you get what I mean. Professor's Shade and Grey, are two such characters and are,as Cam so aptly described, inspirational not aspirational. You'd be doing yourself a huge service to read the prior series, not a necessity, each series is it's own. It was really awesome to "see" them again and that they play such a big part in this book. They are special, they are not who and what they seem, they ARE inspirational! But gosh are all the characters special! They are reflective, they are flawed, they have heart, they are demanding of themselves, they are stubborn, they show resilience beyond what would be normal, they are as complex as they come. These characters all have secrets, hidden agendas, their own reasons and motivations but heck, THAT combination and the snippets of the why, add to the intrigue, to the intensity of the book. One who really disappointed me was Weld, just as I was thinking he was redeeming himself, I even was feeling sorry for him, well, heck, he goes to be even more vile than he was!
The vast dangers the Light Squad face was really heart in throat at times. They don't even know WHO or what these dangers are but thanks to Cam's hyper savvy, even stranded on another realm can't keep them down. Well, not for long...though lurking in the shadows, REALLY lurking where they least expect it, is Rabusu. And that is the most scary of all! It's easy, or relatively, to fight a foe one can see, to fight one who's hidden, heck, that's a huge problem! Friendship is paramount, unity is paramount, if they are to survive, if they are to ascend. And ascend they must, they have no other option if they want to get back to their world. What they go through though, what they endure, is tantamount to spine chilling horror. They have to confront their fears, their weaknesses and overcome them. The payout? Their growth is exponential, inner strength as well as in their tangs. The action, oh my was the action intense! And dramatic! And had me panting in apprehension, my heart racing! But also sighing is delight at the strengthening of the friendships, despite the dangers of the situation, really pulling together, really putting aside all prior prejudice and emerging stronger, together. And thankfully, there's a lightheartedness to a lot of the dialogue, notably Chastity and her merciless teasing of Cam to cut through the tension. The entire debacle around their "relationship" was more than humorous, not the outcome I expected but their journey together, through all they'd been through, only made the outcome more fulfilling.
The author skilfully takes hold of me, propelling me forward, sometimes gently, sometimes lovingly and sometimes violently. But forward I go, eagerly, through all the twists and turns, revelling in every moment, through all the hidden agenda's, through all the entanglements, gladly , willingly, embracing even an ancient evil, who's binding it's time, to gain strength, gain tangs, just waiting for his moment to reappear and enact his revenge. Lovers of The Cradle series, can't afford NOT to read this series!