Started: 19/06/20
Finished: 27/06/20
Spoilers: No.
"I have never found a book that did not have at least a little magic in it."
A satisfying conclusion to the Jackaby series.
Characters
Incredibly loveable as usual, Jackaby continues to be a total rockstar in my eyes. He's always been a fascinating beast and I think he'll hold a very special place in my heart for years to come. I'm going to miss him. Even though I still don't even know what his name is.
It's fine. I'm fine.
Abigail Rook remains wonderfully human. Her character had all the best qualities a person could have. She's kind, brave, understanding and sympathetic, inclusive, selfless, smart, and has a huge capacity to love. The direction her story went in during this books was so unexpected, but also incredibly interesting.
The conclusion of her character arc has left me wanting to learn more, to see the next set of adventures in store.
Plot
A light-hearted fantasy with high stakes and a lot of heart.
Almost half of this book is a massive battle between the Seelie and Unseelie and I was living for every page. Being the final book, I have no idea who would make it to the end. Anything goes in the finale and I was legit scared for some of my favourites. I love a good battle, so I was well pleased that fighting the big bad consumed so much of the plot. After the build-up in the other books to this moment, this is the only way this book could've gone.
And I'm so glad Ritter wasn't afraid to get brutal.
Yes the ending did make me tear up, thank you for asking, but in the very end, it was rewarding and worth the tears.
The very last thing to happen was such a wonderful twist and so unexpected, that it didn't cheapen the emotional drive of the story at all. I didn't feel cheated by that twist, instead, having already accepted the outcome, the twist hit me in a jaw-dropping, fist-pump moment. It was the most perfect ending this book could have had and is now one of my favourite endings ever. Just that final twist, man. It killed me. I was feeling ALL the feels by the time I closed this book, and I regret none of it.
Writing Style
Easy to read as always. There's just a certain flow to these books that has me flying through them.
These Jackaby books are very 'clean'. No bad language. Not overly violent. I'm fine with that tbh. There's plenty of Grimdark out there when I want to read something vulgar and gory. I don't expect these things from the Jackaby books, and it would feel too out of place in this world with these characters. RF Jackaby is far too precious for such things.
Final Impression
I'll miss this series, and these characters a lot.
A thoroughly enjoyable series with an entirely 'worth-it' ending.
It doesn't finish with a feeling of ending, but instead it feels like the beginning of something new. Unexplored territory.
Nor does it feel like I've said goodbye to these characters for good, I've simply left them to continue their lives without me.
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