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oyceterThe short review: I liked it better than The Grand Tour and still not quite as much as Sorcery and Cecelia.
Kate and Cecy manage to stumble across another magical mystery that threatens the nation, only this time, it's been ten years since the last book. Both of them have children and are settled nicely into their respective lives.
But something's going on with the new railways and leylines in the country, and while Cecy and James are up there investigating, more mysterious things are happening around Thomas' estate.
I really liked that Wrede and Stevermer returned to the letter format of the first book; the switch to diary and police record was one of my main problems with the second book. And Thomas and James are corresponding with each other as well! It was great getting a look into their relationship; one sometimes forgets that they were friends before meeting up with Cecy and Kate.
Also, Thomas and James are much more sardonic than Cecy and Kate. And it was a neat way to look at the two marriages and how they worked over the years.
I still rather miss the breezy, gossipy tone of the first book; there's less talk about balls and clothes and Seasons in this book, largely because Kate and Cecy are older and have different interests. There's much more talk of the children and running households, which is interesting in its own way. It's strange seeing characters growing older like this. I miss their younger selves, but I also appreciate who they've grown into and how they've matured.
Part of me is rather irritated that Cecy gets to run around and have adventures while Kate's stuck with the children, and I think it isn't because I think the traditionally feminine roles are useless. It's largely a plot split; a lot more action happens up where Cecy and James are, while much of what happens with Kate and Thomas ends up with Kate and Thomas being more reactive than proactive.
Still, I'd rec this to anyone who liked the first book. I miss these people and the world, and it was nice being able to go back.
Kate and Cecy manage to stumble across another magical mystery that threatens the nation, only this time, it's been ten years since the last book. Both of them have children and are settled nicely into their respective lives.
But something's going on with the new railways and leylines in the country, and while Cecy and James are up there investigating, more mysterious things are happening around Thomas' estate.
I really liked that Wrede and Stevermer returned to the letter format of the first book; the switch to diary and police record was one of my main problems with the second book. And Thomas and James are corresponding with each other as well! It was great getting a look into their relationship; one sometimes forgets that they were friends before meeting up with Cecy and Kate.
Also, Thomas and James are much more sardonic than Cecy and Kate. And it was a neat way to look at the two marriages and how they worked over the years.
I still rather miss the breezy, gossipy tone of the first book; there's less talk about balls and clothes and Seasons in this book, largely because Kate and Cecy are older and have different interests. There's much more talk of the children and running households, which is interesting in its own way. It's strange seeing characters growing older like this. I miss their younger selves, but I also appreciate who they've grown into and how they've matured.
Part of me is rather irritated that Cecy gets to run around and have adventures while Kate's stuck with the children, and I think it isn't because I think the traditionally feminine roles are useless. It's largely a plot split; a lot more action happens up where Cecy and James are, while much of what happens with Kate and Thomas ends up with Kate and Thomas being more reactive than proactive.
Still, I'd rec this to anyone who liked the first book. I miss these people and the world, and it was nice being able to go back.