This book is such a fun break in the Sanderson world from the cosmere. While I enjoy the world building of epic proportions he normally goes through this book was a little break and a breath of fresh air. 

It is rather silly, but in a way that was just so enjoyable (kind of like Tress). It is so clear to me that this book, and the other secret project books were just so fun for him to write. It shines through in the joy I feel reading it and the silliness of this world.

4.5/5

Very good, and very short. I love the way he talks about art in this piece. 

This is by far the best installation in this series so far. The addition of Tes and the queen, as well as the new (and much more realistic) villains of the hand make this book super exciting. The stakes being lower makes it so you don’t know what may actually happen, it was much more enjoyable this way. Lila and Kel are better together after his experience without magic, and her fight to get it back for him. 

The black London reveal is interesting and has a lot of potential. I also loved white London in this book and Ned’s small role here in helping Tes. 

Excited to see where this goes as we move forward. 

This magical orphanage is so cute it will make you want to cry. Linus and Arthur’s relationship with each other and the children is so loving it is a breath of fresh air of a book. 

While the vast majority of this book kept me deeply engaged, the last fourth went off the rails. The Virginia and Lenora reveal was fantastic, but almost everything after was a bit much. Kit’s father being Ricky was a lot, his need to try to tie up loose ends ultimately just to save Virginia and kill himself was a lot. His confession to assisting Kit’s mother to suicide was a lot… also our only indication the Patrick ever worked at Hope’s End is his anger towards rich people, which is not unique or different in anyway than what a normal person may feel towards the ultra wealthy? In the end this man who is basically nonexistent in most of the book has a kill count of 4 (including himself). The final reveal the Virginia CAN walk and talk is a lot as well, I think perhaps it would’ve been better if it was revealed that she was paralyzed but could talk or literally anything else that was maybe just a BIT less extreme. 

Plot twists that were good: Archie and Ricardo, that was a fun little twist. The Lenora and Virginia twist was good but was also the most predictable one I think. Jessie being the granddaughter was a fun little twist, I suspected that she needed to matter somehow more than just being the maid in the house. Also, the fact that the Hope mom is actually who killed the father was good, it did seem like there was too much surrounding the murders for it to have been as straightforward as one person.

I will say I don’t think Lenora is nearly as bad as Kit makes her out to be? While her plan was crazy she was under the impression her sister was paralyzed and had killed their parents… what was she supposed to do? I think Archie staying and going along with it kind of proves how it wasn’t too cruel? Her craziest thing was staying at Hope’s End while it crumbled. But truly just based off of how she treated Kit when she figured out the switch I think Virginia could probably have revealed herself to her sister and both their lives would have been immensely better… it was a prison of their own making.

Kuang somehow made me root for Juniper despite knowing full well she was in the wrong and that alone is such an impressive feat. Nobody does morally grey like Kuang, making me question my own understanding of reality to root for the cheater. 

I really like Lift and enjoy the growth she had in this addition!

4.25/5

This stunningly sad book kept me engaged the entire time. I was definitely more a fan of Ruthie’s perspective than Joe’s but both were intriguing in their own way. The sibling dynamic is what makes this book so good, albeit very sad. 

My only other comment about this book is I loved the human nature moment when Ruthie goes to the berry fields with Aunt June to inquire about her family and the current owner asks to be updated on if she discovers if she is Ruthie or not. If there’s one thing about humans, we’re nosy, and he wanted to know if after all this time Ruthie was found. It felt very poignant and real even though it was not important to the plot at all, but I loved it. 

3.75/5

There is no denying this book is well written, I understand how there are people who enjoy it simply because of that. However, I just couldn’t get into it, partially because I didn’t enjoy the characters. 

Elizabeth is a terrible person and I found myself dreading reading her perspective. The way she thinks about her husband and son make me so profoundly uncomfortable, she is just awful.

Jack’s story and the prairie background were much more interesting. But, I find it hard to conceptualize that a man so deeply in love with his wife would never share the story of Evelyn or his parents. It just really didn’t seem to fit.

Last, the conclusion, and coming back to fire was good but felt much too foreshadowed. There was no shock value or anything about the shipworks being burnt down, perhaps there wasn’t meant to be, but it really was just okay? Perhaps if the fire had been from Jack’s perspective it would’ve had a bigger impact on readers. 

I think I expected more from this since so many people spoke so highly of it, perhaps that is why it is only a 4/5 for me. 

There are still many things left unanswered from this book that I am excited to see progress.