Review: More people should read this series.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 19, 2014
I went immediately from book 3 to 3.5 to 4 (this one). It was a good decision. I will admit, I felt the frequent and long flashbacks were overload at the beginning of Fates. I wanted to know more about present-day characters. Maybe if the flashbacks had been trimmed down and if we got more present-day between them, my initial response to the book would have been better. However, after our characters get off-world, it smooths out. It's nice to see the dynamics shift between Amy and Bohdi. And getting to see Amy interact with these characters she's had flashbacks of was satisfying. Most of the book is devoted to Amy and Bohdi and a string of unfortunate, impossible events. Steve gets a little time but it is utilized well, as his character starts to develop in some promising ways - straight-laced government man was starting to get wearisome. It's neat to see Gockel using the concept of trinities in the series and we get some interesting parallels between Odin/Loki/Hoenir and Steve/...well, maybe filling that out would be spoilers? In any case it's enough of a presence to tease and intrigue without distracting or getting heavy-handed.*Spoiler-foreshadowing*The raw human component which is so compelling throughout this series is still present in Fates, but I think with Loki being a less defined entity (Where is Loki? Who is the new Loki? What will it all mean? How will new Loki deal with his identity and will he be affected by Amy's housing of his memories...was it a copy/paste or more of a move-all-to-a-new-location?) this makes his angst, richness and depth fade. Instead of being felt by the reader, it is discussed by the characters. It is a helpful perspective for the reader to have, but it doesn't have the emotional payoff in this book like you feel in the others. However, I'm trusting that this payoff will be in the next installment and bigger for waiting to pull that trigger.Really though, to those of you who read the reviews of a series before diving in (which is EXACTLY what I do), go ahead and take the plunge. There is humor and unexpected gems throughout each book. The characters are worth knowing and just when you think you've pegged Amy in a hole, you remember that even chaos is intrigued by her so don't get comfortable. Reading is the main way I take care of myself and this series is nourishing in the best of ways. So, get after it.