Finishing a series is difficult (just ask G.R.R. Martin!)

Many a great trilogy has fallen on its face in the final pages. Take Hunger Games, Divergent or the Matched Trilogy for instance. The world building is incredible….and then you get to the last book. Everything feels rushed and a little like the author is trying to force more story out of the world, instead of the world having a story to tell.

Fortunately, Grossman’s final Fillory novel doesn’t suffer from any of these issues. We find Quentin older and more mature, ready to face the imminent demise of Fillory. But since I don’t want to give anything away, here’s one of my favorite quotes from the novel:

“ ‘This is a feeling you had, Quentin,” she said. ‘Once, a very long time ago. A rare one. This is how you felt when you were eight years old, and you opened one of the Fillory books for the first time, and you felt awe and joy and hope and longing all in one. You felt them very strongly, Quentin. You dreamed of Fillory then, with a power and innocence that not many people ever experience.’”

 All of your favorite things from the previous books are there, from the magical animals, to the great banter, to the sly references to other novels. Grossman is so in touch with the process of reading and loving books. He built a world where characters love books as much as his readers do. Where everyone speaks in little jabs and references to other books. Where the way into a magical land is through the “Neitherlands” where there are endless libraries.

This book is perfect for lovers of fantasy books, for Potterheads, Nerdfighters, and those looking for a way to pass the time until the next GoT book. It’s also great for Holden Caulfield wannabe’s and those who grew up checking wardrobes for portals to Narnia.