How Goes The World?

The Will Darling Adventures #3.5

by K.J. Charles

The Positively Final Appearance: a two-part epilogue with Daniel and Archie at a house party and Kim and Will in a gentleman's club, because those are definitely settings that go well for them.

Epilogue to Think of England/Will Darling Adventures

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, LGBT, Queer, Short Stories, M M Romance

23 pages, ebook

First published September 2, 2021

About the author

KJ is moving to Storygraph.

KJ is a writer of romance, mostly m/m, historical or fantasy or both. She blogs about writing and editing at http://kjcharleswriter.com.

She lives in London, UK, with her husband, two kids, and a cat of absolute night.

Bluesky @kj_charleswriter.com
Join the lively Discord group at https://discord.gg/fmPTWSZfT6
Sign up to the (infrequent) newsletter at http://kjcharleswriter.com/newsletter

Please **do not** message me on Goodreads. I won't read it.

Reviews

[Nataliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of fan service.

This short story on K.J.Charles’ website is a cute and adorable bone thrown to the fans of her book Think of England and Slippery Creatures trilogy. It’s the brief glimpse into the lives or Will Darling and Kim Secretan after the events of Subtle Blood, when they both are now working for Private Bureau, as well as a giving us a moment to spend with Daniel Da Silva (the enigmatic DS, Kim Secretan’s boss and mentor*) and his guardian angel (in more than one way) Archie Curtis.

* Had a more observant GR friend not pointed out in her review that DS was Daniel Da Silva from an earlier book, I would have had a brief embarrassed revelation moment here.

Unless you’ve enjoyed all those books and loved the two couples, there’s no reason to read this story because it’s just a little gift to the fans, telling us that these four will always be alright. Think of it as an epilogue, or maybe a little midway bonus should she revisit Will/Kim personal and professional partnership in the future.

It’s not meant to stand on its own at all, and doesn’t really have much of a story in it — so I see it just as a sweet epilogue to those other two stories I enjoyed. But there’s nothing wrong with it riding the coattails of those.

Oh yeah, and we do get a few pages of Kim Secretan’s POV, so that’s fun.

Read it here: https://kjcharleswriter.com/wp-conten...

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this two chapter finale, bringing together the much loved MCs of 'Think of England' (Archie and Daniel) and The Will Darling Adventures (Will and Kim).

It is really impressive how KJ Charles knotted all those threads together and wove it into a complete picture. And I loved seeing Archie and Daniel still happy after 20 years, while Will and Kim are a solid item now.

For me: a very good epilogue for these two sets of lovable men.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved seeing Archie and Daniel again and getting the chance to be in Kim’s head for a change. The perfect epilogue for two amazing couples. 😊

[Leslie]

This is a bonus story/epilogue that KJ shared in her FB group. I believe she said it would be released soon in her newsletter as well. It’s a mix between the Think of England characters and the ones from the Will Darling series.

I liked it because I’m greedy and will never turn down more time with Kim and Will. Archie and Daniel too although I don’t love them as passionately. Probably because I spent more time with Kim and Will.

I’m not going to lie, I would have liked more feels. But it was nice to visit with the guys again. 🥰

[Agla]

Too short to rate. This one felt incomplete to me. I really enjoyed the generational differences between the 2 couples, that really came through. However, I felt that we got a premise and the after but were missing the main story. It's difficult to explain. I wish we had seen the conversation between Archie and Will but we didn't. I don't get why Archie wanted to talk to Will, it seemed to be a set up for something that went nowhere, I don't know...

[Iz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finally managed to read this, after months and months of avoiding it because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters, and the wonderful and compelling series they're from. Needless to say, I loved this short epilogue with my whole heart: it made me laugh and sigh and ache and grin, and yes, Archie and Daniel (and Jimmy and Bill) were lovely, lovely additions, but Kim and WIll own my heart.
I can't wait to re-read all of these all over again.

[Aldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread May '24: Perfect conclusion, and I particularly love the idea of Archie mentoring Will, lol. Minor publishing quibble: I know it wouldn't have worked out given the timing of the paperback releases, but I do kinda wish the interlude stories were included in the paperback editions so everything could be neatly in one set. Ah well.

Original review:
Wonderful epilogue to several marvellous series of books, set not long after the end of the Will Darling Adventures. Ever since this was announced, I'd been eager to find out if we'd get to see Archie again. We do, and it's lovely. I really enjoyed the interactions between the older and younger generations, and Daniel and Archie setting themselves up in sort-of mentor roles for Will and Kim (with Daniel acerbically denying he's in any way interested in Kim's welfare, of course, lol).

Pretty much everyone from the Proper English/Think of England/Will Darling books puts in an appearance, and it was wonderful to reconnect with characters I'd adored in previous books. I confess I'm often not a fan of epilogue-type things because they have a tendency to wrap everything up too neatly, but this was just a lovely glimpse at one point in all these characters' lives where their paths happen to coincide (and how fitting that it's at a house party, lol) and where we could catch up with them but get a sense that their lives were all still very much in motion with a myriad of possibilities ahead. And then, of course, there's the moment that genuinely punched me in the gut, when Jimmy casually asserts he doesn't think they'll see the likes of the Great War again in their lifetimes. OUCH. Brava.

I see some rereads happening in my very near future.

[Richard Derus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how you end a series...not with a whimper, but a loud, resounding bang.

The entire world could've finished exploding and I'd've ignored it. I needed to know how it ended. I needed the series to live up to the start. It did.

And there were plenty of surprises along the way. Enough that I could really go to town with the spoilers... but won't. (That does not apply to the author, I remind you; don't even think of reading How Goes the World until you're completely current with the entire universe she's created.)

Full review up now at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this epilogue a lot. I did find the beginning a little clunky as everyone was being reintroduced, but it smoothed out quickly. I adore Kim and Will, and was happy to see Kim's POV. I do wish we'd been able to spend time with Fen and Pat as well, but alas.

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet and delightful. I loved to read about Archie, Daniel, Will and Kim again. I wish this wouldn't be the end, but fortunately I still have rereads.

[Maygirl7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to catch up with Archie and Daniel. Think of England remains my favorite KJC book despite all the others of hers that I heave loved over the years. Will and Kim are close seconds in my favorite pairs.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread -Jan 24 - Wonderful conclusion.

Review

This is the best thing ever!!!! Makes me want to go back and reread all the series' again!!! Best reveal ❤️

[✨Meli the bookworm✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I KNEW IT.
I FREAKING KNEW IT.

Mind you, I gave the interlude between book 2 and book 3 a 5⭐ rating because it had THE TALK. Of course I was gonna give this first epilogue a 5⭐ rating too. Kim's POV is E V E R Y T H I N G!!!! 😍😭💖💗😍

[Magpie Fearne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A meaty epilogue combining two of my fave KJC pairings. I was so so so happy to see Daniel and Archie again, and loved Kim's first person POV in the second half.

[Hymerka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Коротенький і доволі необов'язковий епіложик одразу для двох серій. Кімова частина мені сподобалася більше, ніж Даніелева, яка, з усією любов'ю до авторки, була нуднуватою. І обидві я б залюбки проміняла на розмову між Арчі та Віллом. А може, я просто занадто багато вимагаю від маленького безкоштовного додатка.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

What more can I say? KJ has obviously had a fair few requests over the years for a definitive finale to Archie and Daniel's story Think of England which has, quite rightly, been on my Creme-de-la-Creme bookshelf for 5 years+ now. Daniel, as we all know, was also a Secret Agent, and it would appear that he has risen through the ranks. Kim Secretan and Will Darling, as the most recent agents in KJ's stories, also feature at the house party at Rodington Court. Loved that Fen and Pat also appeared, and yes Pat, getting older happens to all of us 🙄.

Many thanks K.J. Charles for this freebie.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely a treat for everyone who is always clamoring for more, especially of Daniel and Archie. I never caught on to who Kim's DS was and now I'm thinking I need to reread all of the books to see what I might have missed. It was wonderful to see Daniel and Archie in particular years down the road, together, and more loving with each other than we'd seen before. On rereading this it was even more emotional and made me happily teary.

[Emma Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely finish to the Kim and Will saga, with guest appearances from various other K J Charles characters.

[dobbs the dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this was great!
20 years after ToE and da Silva and Archie are meeting up with Kim and Will. SO good!
I so desperately want more Will Darling books, but I guess I’ll have to settle for these tiny little stories.
This one was told from Kim’s POV, which was a change, and I liked it.
Also, definitely read their chapter in Cornell Collins’ voice! 😊

[Aki | nose buried in books | ❤️ | · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the epilogue to both these beautiful series!
leti me tell you, i screamed when i realized how the books were connected and who's who, i didn’t put two and two together 🤣

[Sia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a combined epilogue for two different series. The Will Darling Adventures and Think of England. It's best to read both series before reading this one otherwise it won't make much sense.

Plot:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I love the characters from these series so much and I really wish there were more books with their stories. I'm really going to miss them and I foresee a reread of all the books in the near future. I loved seeing the characters interact and some of them meeting for the first time. My only complaint is that it wasn't longer.😅

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

last hurrah i guess<3

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A final chapter in the World of Kim and William.

Not much else you can say other than they are happy and still enjoy a sidecar.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put off reading this for as long as I possibly could, because I knew once I read this epilogue, the series really would be over. But my self-resolve finally crumbled today and I read this delightful little glimpse of the future, savouring every word. It was everything I wanted. I miss all the characters already. 🥺 Many re-reads ahead, I'm sure.

[Brittanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice tie-in between the two series though it's basically all dialogue. I actually didn't realise DS in the Darling series was Daniel de Silva from the England series so that kind of blew my mind and it was fun to see the two couples meet. Definitely don't read this until you're done with both series or it won't make a lick of sense.

[Cait]

one of kj charles's less satisfying codas, in my opinion, but 'just okay' kj charles is still more worthwhile than top-tier entries from many authors.

[firnag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delizioso! Assolutamente delizioso! ❤️
È stato un enorme piacere tornare a leggere di Archie & Daniel e di Will & Kim, assistere a ognuna delle due coppie discutere dell’altra con una certa affezione (ma guai a farglielo notare!) e soprattutto vederli finalmente interagire tra di loro! 😍❤️

E poi, è fantastico leggere per una volta il punto di vista di Kim, narrato in prima persona ❤️ i suoi pensieri su Will e l’amore per Will che ne traspare sono una meraviglia ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[coco's reading]

Not quite the epilogue I hoped for, unfortunately. I haven't read the other series this serves as a conclusion to and knew that storyline wouldn't grip me, although I didn't dislike it or the characters it explored; it just took up over half the page length, when I'd rather have seen more of what Will, Kim, Maisie, and Phoebe were doing.

[James Quentin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little cross over to end things.

[Vero Falcon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kim's pov is *chef kiss* and meeting DS and Archie Curtis was really nice, although I'm not sure whether I'm going to read their story or not. Haven't made my mind up yet.