Book 4: Incendiary
Length: 79-99%
POV: 3rd, multi-POV
Star rating: ★★★☆☆

Sadly, again we have an ending that is not really an ending. There's clearly more to come, much more, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Honestly, right now, I kind of wish I'd stopped at the end of book 2 and never read any further. Because, although I love the moments where Morin got his big part and Malick and Fen's quiet moments together, these last two books in the series didn't feel like they had the same people as the first two.

Joori, for me, became a royal pain in the ass within this book especially, so blind to everything that mattered that it became a little ridiculous. Meanwhile, Morin had some kind of 'power' that wasn't explained or explored or even mentioned until the very end. And that damned fish still makes no sense! If it was merely the symbolism of how Jacin and Joori are the same as two of those deadly fish then, sorry, but I already knew that and I didn't need a bloody showdown between two fish to tell me it.

When it comes to POV, we get the usual, only with the added POV of Hitsuke, the most important and powerful Incendiary of history. The revelations about him, concerning Jacin, also feel a little too coincidental and unbelievable, unlike the twists and turns within the first two books that were surprising and felt natural when the links were made. This just feels too much like trying too hard to make Jacin out to be something new and unexpectedly but insanely important.

Unfortunately, this book didn't change my feelings about book 3. The storytelling and worldbuilding was great, as always, but it was the plot itself which felt too forced and too unnatural for the characters. The fact that Malick was missing for 80% of the story didn't help.

And, one more thing that really bugs me, is the way that everyone jumps down Malick's throat for being selfish and blinded by Jacin, for being bad for him and trying to control him. No one but Jacin and maybe Morin actually acknowledge all that he does for Jacin and no one thanks him for it or apologises when their interference only proves just how much sanity Malick gives to Jacin when they're together. I actually got really sick of everyone – Imara, Dakimo, and even Shig – laying all this crap onto Malick for trying to protect Jacin even from himself, without once admitting they were wrong or that he had done the best thing for Jacin. It felt too much like everyone but Malick, Samin, Morin and Joori forgot that Jacin was a living breathing person before he became anything he later proved to be. The fact that it was never acknowledged, either, just made me wonder what the point was? Because there was all of this unnecessary drama about it that never went anywhere.

For me, I just have to wonder what the point of these last two books were. It would have been utter perfectly for me if book 2 had ended on the boat to Tambelon, with Malick and Jacin all curled up in a blanket on deck, having the conversation that ends book 4. Because, at least that way, I wouldn't have had to watch characters I loved lead this weird, unnatural life that made no sense for months on end, while reaching the exact same conclusion in the end, only with a lead into more books to come.

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Favourite Quote

“Before Malick could reply, Fen's hand came up and gripped his arm. “No, wait, not here,” he mumbled then sagged even further into Malick's chest. “All the shitty things always happen in alleys.””

“There was probably something very wrong with the fact that an exchange of death threats made Malick all warm and fuzzy, but there it was.”