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Alchemical Journeys #4
Inkpot Gods
The New York Times bestselling author takes us back to the world of the Alchemical Journeys in this action-packed follow-up to Middlegame, Seasonal Fears, and Tidal Creatures.
The gods live and die at our whim.
More than a century has passed since Asphodel Baker refined the process allowing her to imbue alchemically created life with power in a way no one else had ever been able to achieve. More than a century since she built the Impossible City on the ruins of Olympus, forging it from nothing more than imagination and spite, and penned it in plain view, enabling it to be read and cherished and believed by children the world over.
And now, so long after her exit from the world, the descendants of her dark alchemy―who exist in a reality that inches ever closer to the hellscape of her imagination―step into a place of birth, of discovery, of horror, to make amends for the sins of the past.
Can the gods of today defeat the evils of their maker, or will the legacy of the most powerful alchemist the world has ever known prove to be their undoing?
The gods live and die at our whim.
More than a century has passed since Asphodel Baker refined the process allowing her to imbue alchemically created life with power in a way no one else had ever been able to achieve. More than a century since she built the Impossible City on the ruins of Olympus, forging it from nothing more than imagination and spite, and penned it in plain view, enabling it to be read and cherished and believed by children the world over.
And now, so long after her exit from the world, the descendants of her dark alchemy―who exist in a reality that inches ever closer to the hellscape of her imagination―step into a place of birth, of discovery, of horror, to make amends for the sins of the past.
Can the gods of today defeat the evils of their maker, or will the legacy of the most powerful alchemist the world has ever known prove to be their undoing?
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Seanan McGuire
512 books17.3k followersHi! I'm Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I'm also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 10, 2026
I loved this one! It splits its time between telling Asphodel's villain origin story and letting us spend plenty of time with our beloved Berkeley weirdoes - Roger, Dodger, Erin, Smita, Judy, David, Artemis, Kelpie - and they are joined by an interesting new character, Lilianne, who already has unexpected connections to their world. There are little sparks of romance for some of our characters, but they remain very much in the background of the story. There's also some great lgbtqia+ representation.
This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm really curious how things will be resolved in the series finale. I'm also curious if Melanie and Harry will return for the final conflict... because up until now their story seems set apart and less connected to the rest of the series. (When I first read book #2, I thought these were going to be very loosely connected standalones. But now, I feel like #1, #3 & #4 are part of a true series arc, with #2 not really fitting in and feeling less important to the overall story so far...)
This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm really curious how things will be resolved in the series finale. I'm also curious if Melanie and Harry will return for the final conflict... because up until now their story seems set apart and less connected to the rest of the series. (When I first read book #2, I thought these were going to be very loosely connected standalones. But now, I feel like #1, #3 & #4 are part of a true series arc, with #2 not really fitting in and feeling less important to the overall story so far...)
June 16, 2026
Similarly to Tidal Creatures, it’s so gripping and just ridiculously absorbing because how can it not be when there’s so much Roger and Dodger?
Then there’s the fact that we’re getting a peak behind the curtain at Asphodel’s life and it feels like something illicit. There’s this accompanying sensation that the other alchemists certainly don’t want us to experience Asphodel’s many sides.
To me, her return is a combination of her story arc just logically making sense and a very Marvel-like villain’s return at the most unexpected moment when the mcs are enveloped in relatively peaceful domesticity. Still, maybe it’s worth it to see down the line how Roger and Dodger might change now that everything they are has been ripped from them.
Definitely, the plot line of Inkpot Gods speaks more to me than that of Tidal Creatures’, although Lilianne’s pov is honestly all over the place, Erin would have hated the chaos of it. Chemistry with Smita is forced at best. And it’s filled to brink with endless, endless conversations among characters (which I have enjoyed because come on, Roger and Dodger), but it does make me wonder where’s the limit, exactly?
Then there’s the fact that we’re getting a peak behind the curtain at Asphodel’s life and it feels like something illicit. There’s this accompanying sensation that the other alchemists certainly don’t want us to experience Asphodel’s many sides.
To me, her return is a combination of her story arc just logically making sense and a very Marvel-like villain’s return at the most unexpected moment when the mcs are enveloped in relatively peaceful domesticity. Still, maybe it’s worth it to see down the line how Roger and Dodger might change now that everything they are has been ripped from them.
Definitely, the plot line of Inkpot Gods speaks more to me than that of Tidal Creatures’, although Lilianne’s pov is honestly all over the place, Erin would have hated the chaos of it. Chemistry with Smita is forced at best. And it’s filled to brink with endless, endless conversations among characters (which I have enjoyed because come on, Roger and Dodger), but it does make me wonder where’s the limit, exactly?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2026
This series is so good, I was absorbed from the minute I started reading. I loved seeing our new characters interacting with characters from previous books, and learning more about how everything interconnects. The main character Lily is an interesting person to drop into the mix.
LGBTQ+ representation in multiple characters!
LGBTQ+ representation in multiple characters!
June 24, 2026
This series continues to be infuriating, because I want to like it, but the weird turns it takes are so unsatisfying.
The chapters with flashbacks to Asphodel Baker's past are great. I didn't love how fast the shift from 'wild country girl' to 'cold alchemist' happened. I wish there had been more time for that transition.
I loved Lilianne as a character. She brings an interesting new point of view. I found her crush on Smita endearing and her reason for pursuing alchemy unique and sensible. I especially like that she has a family that is both connected to the alchemical world and is supportive of her transness.
I enjoyed that we got some POV chapters from David, who had appeared previously. I liked that we got to see other familiar characters from his perspective.
I am really frustrated with the back half of the book. As it progresses, it felt like the story shifted further and further from the early POV characters to the point that Lilianne (the only new character and the seeming focus of the story) feels like she is almost forgotten about.
I hope (and suspect) we will get a lot of this in the next book, but this is the first time a book in this series has not stood on its own, ending in the middle. The back half felt rushed, unfocused, and ultimately, unfinished.
The chapters with flashbacks to Asphodel Baker's past are great. I didn't love how fast the shift from 'wild country girl' to 'cold alchemist' happened. I wish there had been more time for that transition.
I loved Lilianne as a character. She brings an interesting new point of view. I found her crush on Smita endearing and her reason for pursuing alchemy unique and sensible. I especially like that she has a family that is both connected to the alchemical world and is supportive of her transness.
I enjoyed that we got some POV chapters from David, who had appeared previously. I liked that we got to see other familiar characters from his perspective.
I am really frustrated with the back half of the book. As it progresses, it felt like the story shifted further and further from the early POV characters to the point that Lilianne (the only new character and the seeming focus of the story) feels like she is almost forgotten about.
I hope (and suspect) we will get a lot of this in the next book, but this is the first time a book in this series has not stood on its own, ending in the middle. The back half felt rushed, unfocused, and ultimately, unfinished.
June 15, 2026
Errr... 3.5?
This series has turned into a roller coaster that looked like a repetitive ride at first, then kinda quaint , then really pretty, (all, of course, liberally sprinkled with m*rders and magic) and now we turned a corner onto some ghost of a behemoth wreck of an ancient wooden coaster track barely hanging on over a pier with a haunted carnival from the Victorian era bashing on below. The kind of coaster that you are pretty sure is going to require at least a urgent care visit if your car remains on the track and you get to disembark, but that's not really certain. Did I mention that the whole wooden coaster is hung with bits of inexplicable gore and serving as a perch for corvids and vultures?
I took this meat-a-phore too far, but, I think the hard turn in this story line sent me sailing off the track and into a lightless abyss? I love a good gore and horror fest, I just was not expecting this book to go quite this king of T. Kingfisher direction?
This series has turned into a roller coaster that looked like a repetitive ride at first, then kinda quaint , then really pretty, (all, of course, liberally sprinkled with m*rders and magic) and now we turned a corner onto some ghost of a behemoth wreck of an ancient wooden coaster track barely hanging on over a pier with a haunted carnival from the Victorian era bashing on below. The kind of coaster that you are pretty sure is going to require at least a urgent care visit if your car remains on the track and you get to disembark, but that's not really certain. Did I mention that the whole wooden coaster is hung with bits of inexplicable gore and serving as a perch for corvids and vultures?
I took this meat-a-phore too far, but, I think the hard turn in this story line sent me sailing off the track and into a lightless abyss? I love a good gore and horror fest, I just was not expecting this book to go quite this king of T. Kingfisher direction?
Read
May 26, 2026** THE VERSION OF THIS BOOK THAT I READ WAS AN ARC **
& may i say: ow
& may i say: ow
June 15, 2026
Oh gdi Seanan what the heck????
June 16, 2026
This was an incredibly engaging chapter of the series. It's rough that it ended on a cliff hanger and leaves me waiting on the next book. Luckily McGuire will likely have the final book out next year so it's not like I'll be waiting forever.
I think my favorite new twist (very minor spoiler) is the introduction of a not awful alchemist.
I think my favorite new twist (very minor spoiler) is the introduction of a not awful alchemist.
June 10, 2026
Read Completed 6/10/26 | 3 stars | Book #124 of 2026
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as I hoped. MIDDLEGAME is really the strongest book of this series and the only one I've really, truly enjoyed. What I did like about this book is honestly just the connections and cameos from the previous characters, but Roger, Dodger, Erin, and Smita are my favorites (naturally, everyone from Middlegame).
There are some interesting parts of this, but for how long these books are, there's just not quite enough development for me. It doesn't have to go into crazy world-building, but I feel like we could definitely get more considering everything that is introduced to us and the potential for everything we could explore. I really liked seeing the origin story of Asphodel and I appreciated this flashback.
Lilianne's story was kind of hit or miss for me. I was interested to see how she was going to fit into the story as someone coming in from the alchemist side, but I still didn't quite connect with her character, much like pretty much everyone since MIDDLEGAME.
I'm also starting to feel like the Up and Underside series is starting to become mandatory reading rather than just epigraphs, which is annoying to me. It's like, a middle grade series but in the books is a "real" series written by A. Deborah Baker aka Asphodel. It's always been used to insert passages in the book that relates to the Alchemical Journeys series, but it was HEAVILY in this book and I feel like some of the plot is now directly tied into them.
For some reason I thought this was going to be the last book in the series so I'm glad I checked that out before reading/finishing because we end on quite the cliffhanger.
Honestly, I'm not super excited about adding more and more and more to this series. I just want to start wrapping it up now. I'll still continue to read the rest of it but I'm worn out by not getting places with the plot.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as I hoped. MIDDLEGAME is really the strongest book of this series and the only one I've really, truly enjoyed. What I did like about this book is honestly just the connections and cameos from the previous characters, but Roger, Dodger, Erin, and Smita are my favorites (naturally, everyone from Middlegame).
There are some interesting parts of this, but for how long these books are, there's just not quite enough development for me. It doesn't have to go into crazy world-building, but I feel like we could definitely get more considering everything that is introduced to us and the potential for everything we could explore. I really liked seeing the origin story of Asphodel and I appreciated this flashback.
Lilianne's story was kind of hit or miss for me. I was interested to see how she was going to fit into the story as someone coming in from the alchemist side, but I still didn't quite connect with her character, much like pretty much everyone since MIDDLEGAME.
I'm also starting to feel like the Up and Underside series is starting to become mandatory reading rather than just epigraphs, which is annoying to me. It's like, a middle grade series but in the books is a "real" series written by A. Deborah Baker aka Asphodel. It's always been used to insert passages in the book that relates to the Alchemical Journeys series, but it was HEAVILY in this book and I feel like some of the plot is now directly tied into them.
For some reason I thought this was going to be the last book in the series so I'm glad I checked that out before reading/finishing because we end on quite the cliffhanger.
Honestly, I'm not super excited about adding more and more and more to this series. I just want to start wrapping it up now. I'll still continue to read the rest of it but I'm worn out by not getting places with the plot.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
While McGuire does a lovely job of recapping, I highly recommend that these novels be read in the order of their release. Events, characters, and understanding are deepened by fully investing in the series. Seanan McGuire is a favorite author, from her October Daye series to her Mira Grant books.
In Inkpot Gods we get Asphodel Baker’s origin story and spend time at Berkeley College with Kelpie, the incarnate moon goods and Rodger and Dodger, the living embodiments of the Doctrine of Ethos.
Our story begins in 1865 in a small village. A local woman, Elizabeth Turner (Baker) is with child. The villagers find this strange because she socializes with no one. This is where Asphodel’s story begins; we follow her childhood and introduction to alchemy. It was horrifyingly delicious.
We then head to August 2018 at Berkeley College and meet a young woman from Alabama named Lilianne. She is interested in alchemy and is searching for the abandoned labs of the American Alchemical Congress. She also believes the cuckoos are here. Lilianne is a little odd and feels like she has stood out all her life, but here she feels comfortable. She lives off-campus with other students. She doesn’t discuss alchemy, but David, who is an incarnate of Máni, suspects Lilianne is an alchemist. He sets out to alert Judy, the senior Lunar leader.
The tale that unfolded was suspenseful, provided answers, and kept me engaged. I love the world McGuire has created and the way she ties things together and weaves a story. Once the gang is involved and we find ourselves below ground, I could not put this down. The ending, though, killed me. It’s a cliffhanger in that we know danger is growing and our motley crew has been left at a disadvantage. Which means I am now counting down the days to devour the next novel.
This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer
In Inkpot Gods we get Asphodel Baker’s origin story and spend time at Berkeley College with Kelpie, the incarnate moon goods and Rodger and Dodger, the living embodiments of the Doctrine of Ethos.
Our story begins in 1865 in a small village. A local woman, Elizabeth Turner (Baker) is with child. The villagers find this strange because she socializes with no one. This is where Asphodel’s story begins; we follow her childhood and introduction to alchemy. It was horrifyingly delicious.
We then head to August 2018 at Berkeley College and meet a young woman from Alabama named Lilianne. She is interested in alchemy and is searching for the abandoned labs of the American Alchemical Congress. She also believes the cuckoos are here. Lilianne is a little odd and feels like she has stood out all her life, but here she feels comfortable. She lives off-campus with other students. She doesn’t discuss alchemy, but David, who is an incarnate of Máni, suspects Lilianne is an alchemist. He sets out to alert Judy, the senior Lunar leader.
The tale that unfolded was suspenseful, provided answers, and kept me engaged. I love the world McGuire has created and the way she ties things together and weaves a story. Once the gang is involved and we find ourselves below ground, I could not put this down. The ending, though, killed me. It’s a cliffhanger in that we know danger is growing and our motley crew has been left at a disadvantage. Which means I am now counting down the days to devour the next novel.
This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer
June 17, 2026
4.5 stars
The fourth novel in Seanan McGuire's Alchemical Journeys series, Inkpot Gods is 100% not the place to start. For that, I'll always recommend the first book, Middlegame . This is the book that pulls together characters and threads set up in the first three books.
Inkpot Gods tells a dual timeline story. In the 1800s, we learn about the birth and life of the alchemist Asphodel Baker, a figure who's been looming large over the series since the first book. In the modern day (2018), we meet a young self-taught alchemist, who, through a series of events, winds up involved with Roger and Dodger, the main characters from Middlegame, and the strange found family the two have gathered around themselves.
I really enjoyed this entry in the series, but I can't talk too much about it without spoiling the previous books. I will say this may be the goriest entry in the series, and it ended on one hell of a cliffhanger which has me anxiously awaiting the next (final?) book of this series.
Recommended, but only if you've read the previous books.
The fourth novel in Seanan McGuire's Alchemical Journeys series, Inkpot Gods is 100% not the place to start. For that, I'll always recommend the first book, Middlegame . This is the book that pulls together characters and threads set up in the first three books.
Inkpot Gods tells a dual timeline story. In the 1800s, we learn about the birth and life of the alchemist Asphodel Baker, a figure who's been looming large over the series since the first book. In the modern day (2018), we meet a young self-taught alchemist, who, through a series of events, winds up involved with Roger and Dodger, the main characters from Middlegame, and the strange found family the two have gathered around themselves.
I really enjoyed this entry in the series, but I can't talk too much about it without spoiling the previous books. I will say this may be the goriest entry in the series, and it ended on one hell of a cliffhanger which has me anxiously awaiting the next (final?) book of this series.
Recommended, but only if you've read the previous books.
June 13, 2026
My favorite weird fantasy series is back and we're finally getting to the thick of it! The last installment, Tidal Creatures, was my least favorite so far but it did its job in expanding the world building (although I will never find the alchemists as interesting as the forces they attempt to tame). This book has lots of callbacks to each book prior and firmly establishes what should have been clear all along: Asphodel Baker is the true villain of this series--and a raggedy b***h, besides. We get her backstory and I still can't stand her trifling behind. She's the epitome of a Karen, and worse than your average white supremacist because she thinks she's the only person who matters in the entire universe, and therefore the only real person, period. A self-taught alchemist has a meet cute with Smita, finds the abandoned underground lab in Berkeley and drags Roger, Dodger, Erin and the Lunars into an encounter with a resurrected Asphodel. The book ends on the cliffhanger that the devil herself has extracted her powers back from her creations. So are Rogwr and Dodger still even the Doctrine incarnate? It's going to be a long wait for the conclusion but I'll be there with bells on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2026
The concluding volume (I think) of the four-book Alchemical Journeys series about alchemists trying to control reality, and the universe beyond ours (if that's what The Impossible City is). I say "I think" it's done because a four-book series reflects the four seasons (and people manifesting as seasons is a part of this), but the ending makes it seem like there could be more. Seanan McGuire has gone down a few rabbit holes before that caused her to write more books (including the 'children's' books by A. Deborah Baker that feature in this series).
As is appropriate for a concluding volume, a lot of characters come together at the end, and there's some exciting chase and fight scenes. The churn of McGuire's imagination never fails to amaze me, and her output is inconceivable (but you probably don't think that word means what I think it means).
For Zeus's sake, don't start here, you'll be totally confused. Read the books in order. She has a very careful pattern to them.
As is appropriate for a concluding volume, a lot of characters come together at the end, and there's some exciting chase and fight scenes. The churn of McGuire's imagination never fails to amaze me, and her output is inconceivable (but you probably don't think that word means what I think it means).
For Zeus's sake, don't start here, you'll be totally confused. Read the books in order. She has a very careful pattern to them.
June 25, 2026
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
more like a 4.5
Inkpot Gods is a book that feels like it makes me smarter. Seanan McGuire is a literary genius as these worlds cross with the novella series and the former stories. I'm back committed to this world. Inkpot Gods has re-invigorated my love of the series. Everything just came together and the chapters about Asphodel were intriguing! This latest installment is about the idea of reckoning with our maker, the interference of decades long plots, and nothing is safe. McGuire doesn't let anyone feel safe as we delve into Asphodel's backstory, meet some new characters, and continue to spend time with our favorites. Even more so, Inkpot Gods doesn't allow us to see anything one sided.
more like a 4.5
Inkpot Gods is a book that feels like it makes me smarter. Seanan McGuire is a literary genius as these worlds cross with the novella series and the former stories. I'm back committed to this world. Inkpot Gods has re-invigorated my love of the series. Everything just came together and the chapters about Asphodel were intriguing! This latest installment is about the idea of reckoning with our maker, the interference of decades long plots, and nothing is safe. McGuire doesn't let anyone feel safe as we delve into Asphodel's backstory, meet some new characters, and continue to spend time with our favorites. Even more so, Inkpot Gods doesn't allow us to see anything one sided.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Having read Book 1 and not Books 2 and 3, it took a while to remember the world McGuire has created (something I suspect might be a problem if you had to wait between books) but once I did... wow. Her characters are so well drawn, it feels as though you've met them in real life. And the pacing is great -- enough time between Big Reveals or Important Action to recover.
So, why only three stars? Partly it's that I didn't fully understand the alchemy/Doctrines and got confused by that part, partly it's because it didn't really feel that the excerpts from the books made sense in terms of the plot, and partly because getting Asphodel's back story got in the way of the modern day action (and didn't really help until the very end).
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.
So, why only three stars? Partly it's that I didn't fully understand the alchemy/Doctrines and got confused by that part, partly it's because it didn't really feel that the excerpts from the books made sense in terms of the plot, and partly because getting Asphodel's back story got in the way of the modern day action (and didn't really help until the very end).
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.
June 11, 2026
The book splits between Asphodel Baker’s story or villain origin, and continuing not long after the events of book 3. The former is more compelling until nearly the end. The Berkeley bits feel quite repetitive - I’m really not invested in poor Kim and Tim’s angst for example - and spinning its wheels for a lot of the time although trans alchemist Lily is an interesting addition (#notallachemists)
And then wham! The last section ratchets up the tension and goes all Event Horizon. And what will happen to the cat!
And then wham! The last section ratchets up the tension and goes all Event Horizon. And what will happen to the cat!
June 18, 2026
I was definitely not expecting a cliffhanger after the last two were so self contained, but I really appreciate longer storylines with my favorites, Roger, Dodger and Erin. I am interested to see where Lilys story ends up, she was an interesting character so far. Only criticism was I COULD NOT believe they split the party when the got to the lab. That seemed like a really basic mistake that Roger would have recognized, but maybe that was ADB's influence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 - not sure whether to round up or down. I was enjoying this one so much, maybe more than any other in the series but then we got to the ending and I can’t believe I have to wait now for the next book!
Got an ARC!
Got an ARC!
June 17, 2026
what are we, some kind of inkpot gods?
(not a solid 4 stars, but we'll round up. none of the books in this series have enchanted me the way Middlegame did; the chapters in this one came close, but I felt somewhat disenchanted with the rest of it.)
(not a solid 4 stars, but we'll round up. none of the books in this series have enchanted me the way Middlegame did; the chapters in this one came close, but I felt somewhat disenchanted with the rest of it.)
June 18, 2026
I'll try to make an extended review later. 3.5 stars. Not the worst. Solid premise with an underwhelming execution. Still exposition heavy. Weak character work.
All that said, I've not been this engrossed by a book in a very long time.
All that said, I've not been this engrossed by a book in a very long time.
June 26, 2026
I adore the October Daye, Ghost Road , and Wayward Children series. However, I am not much of a horror book reader. I rather liked Kelpie, and Miss Cottingsly, and Smita. However, Asphodel as an evil child just creeped me out. The book had way too much gore for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The best book of the series since the first.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I have left a few of the series and it's sidebars wondering what just happened, but this really started to pull it together for me
June 22, 2026
Waiting 2 years for the finale feels inhumane
June 25, 2026
Three stars if this is the actual ending. Five stars if we get another book. I’m splitting the difference.
June 27, 2026
SEANAN ANSWER MY DM'S I JUST WANNA TALK
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm still not quite sure how I felt about this book. One of the main issues, I think, is that the first book in the series (Middlegame) was such a strong beginning that works perfectly as a standalone, and each subsequent addition has been... not that. I'm invested in the world and (some of) the characters, and I love the language and the storytelling—but I haven't yet hit a point that's convinced me that the story needed to continue further.
This is also the first book that's made me feel like the Up-and-Under side series is more vital than I initially assumed. If I hadn't completed that series before tackling this new volume, I'm not confident that a good chunk of the back-end of this story would have made as much sense.
Final complaint, I promise—unfortunately this book, like the previous two, has a lot of "characters sitting around and explaining to each other all the stuff that's already happened." Don't get me wrong, I genuinely like the way all the characters bounce off each other, but at this point of the series, I'd much rather get more story movement along with the chatting.
All that said... I really did like this book. I also feel like I should have been thematically-savvy enough to figure out ahead of time that this is going to be a five-book series; this one will most definitely not be mistaken as a standalone. I'm looking forward to discovering how this all plays out.
My thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an early digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is also the first book that's made me feel like the Up-and-Under side series is more vital than I initially assumed. If I hadn't completed that series before tackling this new volume, I'm not confident that a good chunk of the back-end of this story would have made as much sense.
Final complaint, I promise—unfortunately this book, like the previous two, has a lot of "characters sitting around and explaining to each other all the stuff that's already happened." Don't get me wrong, I genuinely like the way all the characters bounce off each other, but at this point of the series, I'd much rather get more story movement along with the chatting.
All that said... I really did like this book. I also feel like I should have been thematically-savvy enough to figure out ahead of time that this is going to be a five-book series; this one will most definitely not be mistaken as a standalone. I'm looking forward to discovering how this all plays out.
My thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an early digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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