Well, if this wasn’t a ride. The book starts in the Kiln where Xie Lian and White No-Face are supposed to fight it out, but after the build-up of the previous book, it was over rather fast. A lot of action follows, as Xie Lian and Hua Cheng try to stop White No-Face’s plans to destroy humanity.
And then, we finally learn the identity of White No-Face. I for one was gobsmacked. It was more interesting than learning what he wants with Xie Lian. Things get rather difficult for all gods, with an epic battle following. Everything rests on Xie Lian, but before he can find a solution, the book ends.
This volume was full of action and not so much about romance. But Xie Lian is more comfortable with showing his emotions with Hua Cheng, and everything was cute and sweet. A lot rests on the last volume. I can’t wait to read it.
All the Dead Shall Weep is the fifth book in Harris’ alt-history western series, Gunnie
Rose, set in 1930s America that’s been divided to small, lawless countries.
After the events of the previous book in the point of view of Lizbeth’s sister,
Felicia, the story returns to Texoma and Lizbeth’s hometown Segundo Mexia,
where she has settled with her husband Eli, the grigori prince from the Russian
governed San Diego.
But all is
not well. Lizbeth has recently suffered a miscarriage and Eli doesn’t seem to
care. The arrival of Felicia and Eli’s brother Peter push things to a point,
and Eli leaves to his home in San Diego, taking Peter with him. The things he
says before he goes indicate that he’s not coming back.
Lizbeth and
Felicia are left behind; Felicia mainly because her growing powers as a grigori
mean she’s not safe in San Diego. But turns out she’s not safe in Texoma
either. Word of her powers have spread and a magic family after another sends
their most eligible members to woo her—and not all of them do it nicely. People
are targeting Lizbeth too, on top of which a strange militia keeps attacking
her hometown.
After
several books, the world is familiar and the backstory has grown interesting. Lizbeth
is as tough as ever, but with a vulnerable side too. Felicia’s death magic is
terrifying, but it’s not a complete cure-all, as the story shows. The narrative
alternates between the women, giving the inner thoughts of both of them—and
they both have a lot on their plates. Death still comes easily and is easily
cast away, but only when it’s about people trying to kill them.
This was a fast-paced,
quick read and another excellent book in the series. However, I was a little
disappointed with how things were solved between Lizbeth and Eli. It seemed a
bit of a copout after everything she went through. The addition of details from
Europe, like Agatha Christie’s books and Hitler seemed a bit superfluous, but
they help to ground the story in its era and promise interesting things to
come. I’m looking forward to reading more.
I received
a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
