Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsI'd round up (4, not 3), if the ending were a bit more resolved.
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2018
Some cool things happen in this installment. I'd round up to 4 if the ending had a little more closure, and a few fewer still-not-answered questions. That's not to say that a phase of the action isn't completed, and some possibly magickal-world-changing answers gained.
Ves gets to visit a picture-perfectly elegant Troll city, in an initial interlude with the charming Baron Alban. Then the investigation leads to an isolationist, secretive Spriggan Dell. A dimwitted dragon (who happens to be purple, Ves's favorite color) proves both obstacle and ally.
I like the way books and history are valued throughout the series, and how Ves is conflicted by the laws condemning the adorable, innocent Nose-for-Gold Dappledok pups to extinction because how *people* misuse their ability.
"Bill Two", the new talking codex, chooses his own name, Gallimaufry ("Mauf"), and reveals that not only has he absorbed the full contents of the Society's library, but also many volumes which remain in lost Farringdale. (I'm mentioning this, because I was confused at first re. how Mauf knew things from between the 16th century and Bill's recent awakening, unlike Bill's limitations before.) If you read my review of MM2, you know I was hesitant to accept him, but Mauf has developed his own personality, and won me over.
I did guess in general terms what the Dappledok explanation would involve. I think it was back when they heard the chronology of selective breeding for the pups. <SPOILER>Think of the Southern Continent of Pern.</SPOILER>
There's plenty of action, with guards, fire, and heights, not to mention rules getting in the way. There's a leak to try to identify at Home, too, don't forget, which brings an unusual Truthseeker to the Society.
I'm eager to see where the story goes from here, with the unusual instructions Milady gives at the end.
Now, I do need to mention errors. Not only was "trawled" used for "walked" *again* (though in this case it *coincidentally* kind of works, in the sense of going through rooms searching for someone), there were also *several* occurrences of I-should-be-me, always in compound objects ("...Jay and I"), twice in chapter 12, and once more in chapter 14 (all the same day's writing, perhaps??). I wish Ms. English would learn to test for subjective vs. objective case by removing the other person, which makes the error obvious in each one of these sentences.
Oh, also, the last paragraph of About This Book gives the wrong title (presumably a copy-&-paste error).
Finally, in what is either a continuity error or my overlooking a mention, at location 274, Jay discusses a fact that Ves just found out, and AFAIK has thus far shared only with Miranda (the one in charge of caring for magickal beasts).
