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Leagues and Legends #3
Remember the Dust
Finally arrived at the Bureau’s headquarters and university, our young heroes are all strangers in St. John’s Port.
They have work to do, secrets to break, libraries to bury themselves in–but they left more in the mountains than they could afford to sacrifice.
They are looking for things lost, but they may find more than they expect.
They have work to do, secrets to break, libraries to bury themselves in–but they left more in the mountains than they could afford to sacrifice.
They are looking for things lost, but they may find more than they expect.
878 pages, Unknown Binding
First published December 5, 2016
3 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 3, 2017
This is the kind of book (and series) that makes me think 'I need to re-scale all the star ratings I've given' and I'm also going to have a story hangover for months. There's been some stories I've read in the last while or so that have made me cry, maybe a couple of times. Something like the final three Wheel of Time, where I'd invested myself rereading the previous 11 books enough that they're still ingrained in me now. I might even be an easy cryer. But this book had me in tears every second sentence, the depth and character and weave of the stories, the pain wrapped up in the legends and the hope and sacrifice and anguish and cruelty. I'm torn whether to say this is my favourite book/story of this year, since I read some really great stories this year, or to say preemptively that it's the best thing I'll read in the following year.
This story (the whole trilogy) is quite obviously built by someone who knows exactly how to weave a single sentence or paragraph into a dagger. The practice Lomax has had in causing grief with fanfiction really shines through. I cannot state this enough: every second sentence hurt. The first book introduced the world beautifully, sucking me in and laying out a fun and impressive world. The second came along and threw me for a loop, giving me so much depth to the protagonists, so much pain and resolve and family. Then the third comes along with its cruel magics and tears my heart out and stamps on it a few times. But then you get a good chunk of book doing what you usually see the fanfiction doing; the rebuilding and resolving. Still extremely painful and tearworthy in places (every second place, yeahh...) but SO SO GOOD.
I absolutely adore these kids (yes even the old people) now, gonna go looking for fanfiction in the morning maybe. Liam is still making me cry, how is he so good so selfless and ... legendary. He helps his sister grow, and then stays with at least some implied /these kids need looking after/ and becomes a LEGEND in order to keep them safe. He starts a beautiful family so his hero friends can have a place to be loved and safe. George is making me cry too, and Ana BREAKS MY HEART. The cruelty of all that. I wonder if the dragons knew what happened (I AM SO GLAD OF THE DRAGONS) I wonder if they felt the scar that that magic left...
On a slightly different note, I just love how this world weaves together so many folk lores that I've at least been exposed to, into this expansive and deep recent history. And then there's the obituaries GOSH those are such a good way of adding to the story. Also painful at times XD
This story (the whole trilogy) is quite obviously built by someone who knows exactly how to weave a single sentence or paragraph into a dagger. The practice Lomax has had in causing grief with fanfiction really shines through. I cannot state this enough: every second sentence hurt. The first book introduced the world beautifully, sucking me in and laying out a fun and impressive world. The second came along and threw me for a loop, giving me so much depth to the protagonists, so much pain and resolve and family. Then the third comes along with its cruel magics and tears my heart out and stamps on it a few times. But then you get a good chunk of book doing what you usually see the fanfiction doing; the rebuilding and resolving. Still extremely painful and tearworthy in places (every second place, yeahh...) but SO SO GOOD.
I absolutely adore these kids (yes even the old people) now, gonna go looking for fanfiction in the morning maybe. Liam is still making me cry, how is he so good so selfless and ... legendary. He helps his sister grow, and then stays with at least some implied /these kids need looking after/ and becomes a LEGEND in order to keep them safe. He starts a beautiful family so his hero friends can have a place to be loved and safe. George is making me cry too, and Ana BREAKS MY HEART. The cruelty of all that. I wonder if the dragons knew what happened (I AM SO GLAD OF THE DRAGONS) I wonder if they felt the scar that that magic left...
On a slightly different note, I just love how this world weaves together so many folk lores that I've at least been exposed to, into this expansive and deep recent history. And then there's the obituaries GOSH those are such a good way of adding to the story. Also painful at times XD
May 1, 2022
Honestly, I almost didn’t finish this book, so the 3 star rating is more for the characters than anything else. The problem with this book—and the trilogy in general—is that it reads like the author is so convinced that she has something Important to say that every sentence must be Deep and Profound. It made for some very “heavy” reading that did not need to be that heavy. Or at least, definitely not all the time.
My criticism against this book specifically is that, because the story changes POV constantly, we actually never get to see the Big Stuff happen because we’re stuck in another character’s POV at the time. The main Bad Guy dies but does so before the heroes get to his location. There’s a huge battle where lots of people get injured but we’re up on a wall on sentry duty at the time. The bad government people negotiate terms with the good guys, but we only hear about these discussions in passing. It was just incredibly odd for some characters to do some really bad things to a select group of society—something Jack & co have been trying very hard to stop—and that whole plot just sort of fizzled out in favor of the characters being introspective about what it means to be a hero and other Deep and Profound thoughts.
There’s also no true resolution to the story?? It sounds like Jack doesn’t want to stay in Rivertown but we don’t get any hints as to what he wants to do in the future. (I know some people will argue over my thinking there’s a lack of resolution, but to be fair, I just wanted something more substantial.)
I also would’ve liked more than the super vague hints we got about the main characters’ romances. The trilogy seemed to hint at two relationships between four of the main characters but then…nada. I know you don’t need to say you’re in love with someone to show you’re in love with them, but again, I wanted something more concrete.
Overall, I was disappointed by the fizzled out climax of the trilogy after so much build-up and the lack of concrete-ness in favor of Deep and Profound observations and metaphors. 🤷🏻♀️
My criticism against this book specifically is that, because the story changes POV constantly, we actually never get to see the Big Stuff happen because we’re stuck in another character’s POV at the time. The main Bad Guy dies but does so before the heroes get to his location. There’s a huge battle where lots of people get injured but we’re up on a wall on sentry duty at the time. The bad government people negotiate terms with the good guys, but we only hear about these discussions in passing. It was just incredibly odd for some characters to do some really bad things to a select group of society—something Jack & co have been trying very hard to stop—and that whole plot just sort of fizzled out in favor of the characters being introspective about what it means to be a hero and other Deep and Profound thoughts.
There’s also no true resolution to the story?? It sounds like Jack doesn’t want to stay in Rivertown but we don’t get any hints as to what he wants to do in the future. (I know some people will argue over my thinking there’s a lack of resolution, but to be fair, I just wanted something more substantial.)
I also would’ve liked more than the super vague hints we got about the main characters’ romances. The trilogy seemed to hint at two relationships between four of the main characters but then…nada. I know you don’t need to say you’re in love with someone to show you’re in love with them, but again, I wanted something more concrete.
Overall, I was disappointed by the fizzled out climax of the trilogy after so much build-up and the lack of concrete-ness in favor of Deep and Profound observations and metaphors. 🤷🏻♀️
June 18, 2021
2021 read:
I love this book so much. Just so much. Leaf and Gloria get bigger parts, Grey and George become study buddies, the whole memory field thing...
These books are genius and heartwarmed and wholesome and moving and funny. Highly recommended.
Second read:
Even better the second time. I knew what to watch out for, and I could see the foundations being laid this time.
My original review, full of further accolades, is below.
First read:
Wow. A stunning conclusion to an excellent series.
Laney and Jack, against all odds, are working for the Bureau. Rupert is missing. Grey has faked a resume to get himself a job as a librarian. George is going to university. The seeress has been captured. And someone is messing with memories...
I became even more invested in these characters, and I didn't think that would be possible. I fell a little bit in love with Rupert. I admired Laney persevering through grief and the consequences of her actions. I saw Grey's prickly side soften a little. I even felt sympathy for the seeress, something I never thought would happen.
The whole story is good. There were escapes, battles, lessons, reunions, and a little bit of romance. (A note on the romance in this series: It's only for side characters. None of the principals have romantic entanglements, and I found I didn't miss it. Their personalities and motivations don't need romance. That's how well these are written.) There was one particular conversation between Rupert and Jack about loss that just hit me with its eloquence. I felt deeply for them.
Also, E. Jade Lomax has representation in spades across this series, racially and with gender and sexual preference identities. There is someone for almost every part of the LGBTQIA spectrum and they don't feel shoehorned in or there just to be a token gay, a token minority. It's very well done.
I hope some big fancy publisher finds these books and realizes what a treasure they are, and rushes to print millions of copies. (But no movie. No movie could possibly capture the excellence.)
I love this book so much. Just so much. Leaf and Gloria get bigger parts, Grey and George become study buddies, the whole memory field thing...
These books are genius and heartwarmed and wholesome and moving and funny. Highly recommended.
Second read:
Even better the second time. I knew what to watch out for, and I could see the foundations being laid this time.
"There is a difference between changing the world and making it better."They're all heroes, but Laney really stands out. She becomes a real leader, but more importantly, she starts to lose her uncertainty. She knows who she is. She knows her potential, but she decides what to do with her power. She also has one of my favorite lines of the series:
-Laney Jones
"If you touch a hair on my family's head...I will have you set on fire."
My original review, full of further accolades, is below.
First read:
Wow. A stunning conclusion to an excellent series.
Laney and Jack, against all odds, are working for the Bureau. Rupert is missing. Grey has faked a resume to get himself a job as a librarian. George is going to university. The seeress has been captured. And someone is messing with memories...
I became even more invested in these characters, and I didn't think that would be possible. I fell a little bit in love with Rupert. I admired Laney persevering through grief and the consequences of her actions. I saw Grey's prickly side soften a little. I even felt sympathy for the seeress, something I never thought would happen.
The whole story is good. There were escapes, battles, lessons, reunions, and a little bit of romance. (A note on the romance in this series: It's only for side characters. None of the principals have romantic entanglements, and I found I didn't miss it. Their personalities and motivations don't need romance. That's how well these are written.) There was one particular conversation between Rupert and Jack about loss that just hit me with its eloquence. I felt deeply for them.
Also, E. Jade Lomax has representation in spades across this series, racially and with gender and sexual preference identities. There is someone for almost every part of the LGBTQIA spectrum and they don't feel shoehorned in or there just to be a token gay, a token minority. It's very well done.
I hope some big fancy publisher finds these books and realizes what a treasure they are, and rushes to print millions of copies. (But no movie. No movie could possibly capture the excellence.)
August 29, 2024
This years reread done.
November 25, 2020
While I love love loved the character work in this book, the plot itself meandered a bit too much to give it the forward momentum of the second book in this trilogy. It felt like a bunch of short stories about the world, which would be totally fine if this wasn't a novel framed around Jack. Jack is a fine character, I don't mind him, but I was much more interested in everyone else. Thankfully I got a lot of everyone else, but that led to the sense of a scattered focus.
Spoilers!
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I also wished for a tad more explicit romance. Obviously the Red/Leaf bit was very sweet, but I wanted a bit more. Naturally having all forms of love are great, and lack of romantic/sexual jealousy is refreshing, but I've hung out with these characters for so long, I wanted to see them pair up in ways that built things other than a loose group of found family that seemed to drift and change depending on what adventures they decide to get up to. I wanted that commitment. It doesn't have to be sexual or romantic- if Grey and Jack decided to be forever roomies, that's totally fine too! I just wanted them to build for the future, not just the NPCs. I wanted them to pick that house that Red and Leaf demurred from choosing for them, I wanted them to plant flowers and herbs on the window sill, have a warded fireproof workshop room for Laney and Grey, to have a closet where Rupert could stash all his supplies and extra supplies to give out to anyone who needs them, to have an address where they could receive letters from all their friends all over the world, and table where they would eat something other than fried fish, fries, and the occasional reluctant broccoli stem (seriously, I know Rupert brought Sally-Anne recipe books, what else was on her menu?). I'd actually hoped they would take over Sally-Anne's fish shop and convert it to a ramshackle group home/inn or take over the Academy grounds and make that a new thing with all the things they learned. That anyone could take any of the classes, that they didn't need to divide up into one of five types but could blend their interests and skills as needed, that they could include non-humans and hedgewitches, that they would include useful skills like weaving and carpentry, and also how to recognize Elsewhere rifts.
Also seriously, what did they do with all the Academy students? The entire campus is just empty and all classes cancelled? The poor students!
Spoilers!
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I also wished for a tad more explicit romance. Obviously the Red/Leaf bit was very sweet, but I wanted a bit more. Naturally having all forms of love are great, and lack of romantic/sexual jealousy is refreshing, but I've hung out with these characters for so long, I wanted to see them pair up in ways that built things other than a loose group of found family that seemed to drift and change depending on what adventures they decide to get up to. I wanted that commitment. It doesn't have to be sexual or romantic- if Grey and Jack decided to be forever roomies, that's totally fine too! I just wanted them to build for the future, not just the NPCs. I wanted them to pick that house that Red and Leaf demurred from choosing for them, I wanted them to plant flowers and herbs on the window sill, have a warded fireproof workshop room for Laney and Grey, to have a closet where Rupert could stash all his supplies and extra supplies to give out to anyone who needs them, to have an address where they could receive letters from all their friends all over the world, and table where they would eat something other than fried fish, fries, and the occasional reluctant broccoli stem (seriously, I know Rupert brought Sally-Anne recipe books, what else was on her menu?). I'd actually hoped they would take over Sally-Anne's fish shop and convert it to a ramshackle group home/inn or take over the Academy grounds and make that a new thing with all the things they learned. That anyone could take any of the classes, that they didn't need to divide up into one of five types but could blend their interests and skills as needed, that they could include non-humans and hedgewitches, that they would include useful skills like weaving and carpentry, and also how to recognize Elsewhere rifts.
Also seriously, what did they do with all the Academy students? The entire campus is just empty and all classes cancelled? The poor students!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2017
Remember the Dust weaves both the established story threads and unexpected new elements together to draw events of the trilogy to a close, including some fantastic character arcs and resolutions for both new and old faces.
Largely gathered in St John's Port, our protagonists are trying to figure out where they want to go with their lives and desperately attempting to resolve the loose ends left from their adventures in the mountains. The impact of previous events isn’t disregarded or trivialised, and over the course of the book everyone has face up to the realities of what they have experienced and the unforeseen consequences of their choices.
A beautifully written end to a fantastic trilogy.
Largely gathered in St John's Port, our protagonists are trying to figure out where they want to go with their lives and desperately attempting to resolve the loose ends left from their adventures in the mountains. The impact of previous events isn’t disregarded or trivialised, and over the course of the book everyone has face up to the realities of what they have experienced and the unforeseen consequences of their choices.
A beautifully written end to a fantastic trilogy.
August 14, 2018
spent the entire book yelling about George and Jill because the women in this series are what? spectacular. I still love the little obituary chapters, I thought that was a really cool thing to do. fantastic, fantastic series, everything was tied together so well
May 30, 2020
The pacing was a little harder to stick with—I flew through part one in two days and spent another week and a half working through part 2. Still, a lovely series! I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters!
August 11, 2017
idk if this was a little more scattershot than prior books in the series or if it's my fault reading bits of it at a time but it was pretty stellar anyways so
4 stars
4 stars
October 26, 2017
I am so happy I read this series. The themes of love and loss are written so well. I loved the whole story and the ending was perfect!This is a series I'll be re-reading over and over again. 😊
May 8, 2021
THESE BOOKS. THEIR CHARACTERS. They'll live rent free in my head the rest of my life. I love them.
November 9, 2023
The pacing got a bit wonky at the start of part two. That aside, it was a fun read and did a good job wrapping up the story.
December 29, 2016
Some detailed discussion here: http://wp.me/p4cWoC-14z
Brief excerpts to reflect my general reaction:
Remember the Dust picks up a while after the end of the second book, with Laney and Jack working as Junior Agents in the “quiet branch” of the Bureau, running espionage and special ops missions to clear out the remnants of the mage slave trade. Through each mission and in their off-time, they search for their friend Rupert, who was kidnapped and locked away at the end of Echoes. The cast has now been transplanted to St. John’s Port, home of Bureau Headquarters and the Academy, where Grey has found his dream job in the library and George the Dragon Slayer is settling in as a student.
Remember the Dust is a strong resolution to the narratives and themes Lomax weaves in the series. The final chapters merge dangling plot threads with final thematic statements on the meaning of home and family, while the final page’s mirroring of the very first page of the first book offers a definitive sense of closure and progress. While the execution has its flaws, the sincerity and depth of the world are irresistible; I, for one, will definitely be returning to Rivertown in the future.
Brief excerpts to reflect my general reaction:
Remember the Dust picks up a while after the end of the second book, with Laney and Jack working as Junior Agents in the “quiet branch” of the Bureau, running espionage and special ops missions to clear out the remnants of the mage slave trade. Through each mission and in their off-time, they search for their friend Rupert, who was kidnapped and locked away at the end of Echoes. The cast has now been transplanted to St. John’s Port, home of Bureau Headquarters and the Academy, where Grey has found his dream job in the library and George the Dragon Slayer is settling in as a student.
Remember the Dust is a strong resolution to the narratives and themes Lomax weaves in the series. The final chapters merge dangling plot threads with final thematic statements on the meaning of home and family, while the final page’s mirroring of the very first page of the first book offers a definitive sense of closure and progress. While the execution has its flaws, the sincerity and depth of the world are irresistible; I, for one, will definitely be returning to Rivertown in the future.
March 5, 2017
I'm really pleased with how this book pulled everything together and tied up the characters arcs and storylines. After having finished the entire series I can say I enjoyed reading all three books and and def going to be recommending them to others. My only real issue was because these are self published there are a few things I think some editing would help. Though it was mostly time jumps that confused me, it could be hard to tell when a scene ended and how much time had been/was passing in story. These books are great and if you haven't stated reading them yet you totally should.
December 30, 2016
I can't sort out my emotion enough to write a proper review right now excpt to say wow this was a reay beautiful book and everyone should read it
lost-interest
April 6, 2017I loved the first two to pieces, but I have to come back to this one. Maybe I'll reread the beginning of the series when I get the chance to do so. I'll come back to this. I will I will.
April 13, 2017
The final book in the trilogy which ties up the previous storylines. I was sad to leave the characters behind. We've got glimpses of what their lives might be, but I'd love to see them again.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews