MaiMai

My word, but I feel like I've been through the wringer! For me, this is the best book of the series, even though the mystery aspect is not as pervasive as in previous books. (I must qualify that statement by saying that there is a 9th book pending, which may alter that.)

I love these characters so much! Watching them grow and mature has been sheer pleasure. Through all of their changes, Jonty and Orlando remain absolutely true and recognizable.

The first half of this book is gut-wrenching and, I feel, is the stronger half. The second half becomes almost too rife with coincidence/divine intervention (an Orlando/Jonty debate) but does not ultimately detract from the book as a whole.

An extremely emotional book that requires tissues at hand!