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First published September 7, 2018
• Rezkin continues to be truly the greatest and most powerful human being ever to touch his callused, omnipotent foot to the earth. This, really, is all anyone ever needs to know about any of the books in these series. Kel Kade stretches out their hand and says in a kindly, gentle voice, "Here, I have made you some more Rezkin," and I, a sickly, poor, weak, and foolish beggar, weep as I kiss the hem of their robe and sob, "Thank you, thank you."
• INFORMATION. We finally have concrete, detailed answers about Rezkin's background, and the mysterious person General Marcum was planning to sic on Rezkin in the first book! YES. I HAVE WAITED SO LONG AND NOW I AM SATISFIED.
• AT LAST, SOME MOVEMENT ON THE FRISHA ISSUE. Frisha actually gets to be in on the main plot in this book! I can't tell you how relieved I am! She's there most of the time, and she gets to talk to Rezkin quite a bit, and process what she feels and think about what she wants. I can't say I'm honestly satisfied with where this went, but any kind of meaningful movement is better than having no movement at all.
• *sing songy voice* Rezkin gets more practice processing his emo-tions. The slow, glacial progression from Robot Warrior With No Feelings to what I am convinced will end with Rezkin forming healthy, human connections, continues in this book. Book three punched out Rezkin's emotional wall, and in book four he comes off a little wobbly several times. He still doesn't know what's going on most of the time, but he is able to NAME the "tight feeling" as being from loss, and he gets visibly angry and frustrated several times. It's happening, folks. Eventually, one day, years from now, he will be able to tell someone he loves them, I'm SURE of it.
• He's also expressing more and more personality. The more attuned he becomes to the "outworld," the more you can see that's just Rezkin, as opposed to the overall state of Being Confused And Weird. "I don't need a mother. I wonder if I could give her to any of my friends?" Don't mind me, I'm just wiping a single tear from my eye because I love him.
• I love the inevitable scene when Rezkin comes before a new potential ally or potential enemy. At this point, his shadow is so huge it blocks the sun, plunging entire lands into darkness at his approach. His boot shakes the earth when he disembarks his ship, and people for miles around know -- he has arrived. Nothing will ever be the same once his touch has been felt in your kingdom. Then, inevitably, he says, "I am nineteen years old" and the whole room is just like *freeze frame* *record scratch*. I LOVE THESE MOMENTS SO MUCH.
• Striker Farson. He was in most of the book and I very much enjoy his presence. His dynamic with Rezkin is so important, and the day they come to realize they care about each other will probably be my favorite part of the whole series when it happens.
