contains vague spoilers
While I agree it's more pessimistic and dark in tone compared to the other books in the series, I loved this absurd, you-end-up-where-you-started conclusion to the series and found it funny.
In fact I think Ford's reaction in the final chapter was the best possible reaction to such a conclusion.
"Through the new strangeness of noise and light he could just make out the shape of Ford Prefect sitting back and laughing wildly."
I stayed up all night to finish this book and do I regret my decision? Definitely, no!
When I started this book, I did because the premise sounded cool and I already loved "A Darker Shade of Magic" but within a few chapters it exceeded my expectations and not a moment or chapter felt dull or worse than the rest.
Victor Vale and Eli Ever are clever twists to the villain and the mad scientist tropes in flesh and blood. I wonder if the name Victor is inspired by Victor Frankenstein, just another and in fact, the most famous character whose life is ruined because of scientific curiosity and ambition.
I could relate to Victor's motives in college, his wish to not be a sidekick or by-stander so his decisions didn't irk me, but also it is pretty obvious that his morality is more gray than the self-righteous Eli Ever. It was fascinating to see Eli's religious beliefs turn into religious delusions of grandeur. I can't understand or sympathize with his motives, but at the same time, they are consistent with who he is and that is what made me appreciate an original villain like him.
Sydney was adorable and the bond she formed in short time with Dol, Victor and Mitch was really heart-warming. You know what else was heartwarming?? Mitch himself. He was adorable throughout the book and it was so refreshing to see that a character was both brains and brawn.
I can't wait to read the sequel and recommend this book to everyone who asks for recs!
With a good ending to conclude both the story overall and the Raven King, this book could have gotten 4 or 5 stars from me. But the way story was wrapped up felt so slapdash, it's almost like there was a character limit and the author had already met that and couldn't mention some of the most important characters. I really wanted Noah to have a better closure, as one of the Ravens from the start and someone without whose sacrifices the story wouldn't exist. I want to know what happened to Artemus, Maura and the Gray Man. To Gwenllian. To Henry's mother, Seondeok, to Matthew and Declan, to other residents of 300 Fox Way... Even without all these explanations and closures I could've liked it more if only there weren't a "happy ending" where everything and everyone is okay. What these kids have done are grand in the scheme of things and they just move on to enjoyable gap years and beautiful summers? I would have expected a more realistic ending from this overall amazing series and I think this would be achieved with Gansey's death as it was foretold.
Another thing that I didn't like was the treatment POC or immigrants received. We have two parents who aren't American and both of them (Henry's mom and Kavinsky's father) are associated with the mob. Do I even need to explain why it made me angry??
The ending and the representation aside, this series is still one of the best I've read this year and I believe it's going to continue to be among my favorites for some time for all its magic, creativity, and most importantly amazing CHARACTERS.