BagEndBooks

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. It was compelling, and I really did enjoy it, but so much of it was dedicated to foreshadowing Gregor's death that it was weird that he survived. It almost felt as though we'd been cheated because the promise given through foreshadowing wasn't delivered upon. On the other hand, I'm really grateful that I didn't have to deal with losing Gregor. It was bad enough losing Ares, thinking we lost Ripred, only to have the rug pulled from under us by his survival.

As a rule I don't like middle school romances, but Gregor and Luxa were so mature for their age, and their love was pretty innocent, and it felt genuine, so I didn't really mind.

One thing the story was missing was an affirmation that Gregor had made the right decision in sparing the Bane as a baby. There really ought to have been a moment when the rat showed some sort of compassion, because, although I hold that Gregor made the right choice in not murdering the innocent (as the time) baby Pearlpelt, others might disagree because he ultimately was a crazy, compassion-less creature, who even Twirltongue couldn't keep under control.

Gregor, Ares, Ripred, Luxa and even Lizzie grew so much in this book, but there wasn't a satisfying end. Gregor and Lizzie are having to deal with the baggage of having survived a war, and being stuck in a world that doesn't even know it. Boots is young, and probably going to forget the whole experience in time. Gregor's parents desperately want to forget the whole thing happened. Luxa is almost alone as the queen of the Underland, and she and Gregor don't look like they will ever see each other again, much less get married. For better or worse, Ripred is manipulating the Underlander's interpretation of the prophesies, Howard and Hazard have survived, but we don't know how they are faring, and so many characters are dead. I wish there was a companion series where Gregor and Luxa meet again, many years later, either willingly (and then get married) or with surprise because their kids run into each other, and they have to deal with their feelings for one another. As it is now, this series is very good, but feels unfinished, and that is frustrating.