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At this point, I am accustomed to the excellence of O'Brian's prose, but even for him the first few pages of this are outstanding in their conveyance of information about what has happened since the end of the previous book while also being insightful and quite funny. And off we go!

So many great quotes and thoughts in this book! My underlines are numerous.

It moves a bit slowly at the beginning, despite the chase scene that opens the proceedings. It's not really clear why we should *care*. But then some Slough House characters begin to make appearances, and it really picks up. Funnily, none of them are referred to by their real names -- except David Cartwright. I wonder why that is? Hm...

Many flaming question marks remain from the end of the previous book, and a few more have been added. Herron, you fiend!

Another page-turner that's kept me up late! At this rate, I'll be done tomorrow.

The other books in the series have been page-turners, but this one has really kept me up late several nights! Great pacing, but also more texture and flow than in the previous outings. Herron is really hitting his stride with this one, IMO.

The main character is just about to head to Maine for some spooky doings, it looks like...

Hippolyta just did something daring and amazing. I love her. And that's all I'm going to say at this point!

I started with "The Fire Next Time" and have been jumping around to different sections somewhat at random. He is such a great writer -- so analytical and penetrating while also being uncommonly observant about everything around him as well as himself. I am savoring these essays.

So far there have been: a phoenix, an elephant, some werewolves, and a reality-bending house containing a huge tree and an undiscovered Shakespeare play about Robin Hood. I'm very much looking forward to what comes next!

It's picking up steam now, halfway through the book. I'm avoiding spoilers (apart from those I already know after reading the other three books that take place decades later) because I am quite curious to see how the story will play out. So far, Coriolanus Snow doesn't seem so bad...

Just getting past the first few months of his presidency in 2009. Lots of crises to deal with!

I've now read "Little Lord Fauntleroy". Amusing at times, but also rather silly and lacking the metaphorical and psychological richness of "The Secret Garden". The little lord and his mother are both too good to be true.

I just finished "The Secret Garden", one of three novels included in this volume. My feelings on it are conflicted. On the one hand, it seems like an overly simplistic argument for the power of positive thinking that could be read as biased against disabled people. But on the other hand, it's a heartwarming depiction of people becoming happy and moving on past grief in a lovingly depicted natural setting. Complex!

So far this is much more involving than the first book in the sequence! Partly it's because it's taking the story into uncharted territory (after the events of The Amber Spyglass), but it's also more immersive. I really want to know what's going to happen next, and I'm pleased to have almost 500 pages left to read!