Too much weirdness and magic in this one so I did no enjoy this as much as the other two. ( )

I think this is a 5-star read, not just this volume but the entire trilogy, but I had to take a star because I spent about 75% of this book trying to unravel all the relationships and remember all the stuff that went before. The story just launches in, picking up pretty much where the previous book left off (I think), and while I'm generally not a fan of a lot of backfill exposition in series, it has been a good long while since I read the earlier books, so I was a bit in the dark. At about that 75% mark, there was a handy scene where a new character walks into the family group and requires introductions, which includes the relationships, so a bunch of it became clear at that point. I think part of that star also had be taken for the extreme, cruel violence that occurs in a couple places, which wasn't gratuitous, exactly, but pretty hard to read. As Jared feels his way through a conflict he caused by banishing a big bad supernatural being, battling his own feelings of guilt for putting everyone he loves in jeopardy as a result, and trying to quell the tide of his own addiction (he's a Trickster, but he's also a drug addict), I found myself wondering whether he would survive, and whether his death would actually be what was needed in order to finish the whole thing. I think this question was fueled by the narrative in places, as Jared himself wonders whether he needs to continue being on the earth. The only thing keeping him there, at times, is the faint hope that he will be able to conquer the forces of evil and bring safety and security to his loved ones (despite everyone around him reassuring him that he is just a weak baby Trickster who couldn't save a fly from a spider's web). No spoilers here, but I will say the series ends in a satisfying way, even if the "Epilogue-ish" feels a little perfunctory. ( )

I wasn't expecting to like this very much (read for book group) but the first few chapters stoked my enthusiasm with the protagonist's organs crawling around independently and the promise of a shapeshifting supernatural hayride with ghosts, cannibal ogres, other dimensions and magical weirdness of every flavour.

But as soon as Jared (a name I just can't get along with, sorry) arrives in Vancouver, the plot bogs down in a confusing series of shared meals with extended family/friends. We're unfailingly kept up to date on who's baking what and what's for breakfast or in the slow cooker and whether it's coffee or tea to drink. I was just about able to keep the central core of characters straight in my mind — his mother, his aunt, his gran (or two grans?), his ex-girlfriend — but in the second half a whole new cast shows up — Eliza, Olive, Justice, Hank, Bob the Octopus — with hardly a hint of introduction. Look, I get it, I can't expect to jump into book III of a trilogy and know who everyone is, but this was confusing as hell, and the confusion was only amplified by our hero's habit of randomly losing and regaining consciousness.

There's one exciting sequence about a third of the way through but even there, I felt Robinson could have made much more of the gruesome torture method she came up with. I'm a total wuss when it comes to torture scenes but I hardly flinched at this one.

Then it's more communal dining (including a recipe for vegan meringues — great!) and repeated references to the status of the "teakettle" (does anyone actually call it that?) while the gang discuss in the vaguest terms the trouble they're in (Jared's other aunt the ogress operating from a distance). Just hanging out really. I'm sure it's great if you've enjoyed the first two books and have some idea who the hell these people are. But I could have used some action. And the climax, when it finally comes, is a massive let-down. I wish there'd been more shapeshifting and general anarchy and tricksterishness and less bleary teen moping and tea drinking. For example there was some sort of otter woman who I'd have liked to see throw down, and a pair of twins who I think were otters too? I did like the Wild Man of the Woods though, and it's always nice to read a story set in Vancouver. ( )

Jared is back. And so are all of the characters we know and love (or fear). Most welcome is the return of Sarah, sans fireflies, but still thoroughly entwined in Jared’s heart. Maggie, his mom, is still Maggie. But there are also new characters and an even wider canvas for Robinson to work on. And there is a lot of work to do because the ogress, Georgina, isn’t through with Jared yet even though she is currently trapped in an alternate universe. Her minions, the coy wolves, are busy working to bring her back, which they will manage even if it requires killing every single person Jared loves or cares about. Now would be the perfect time for him to go on a bender, wouldn’t it? Bad choices are bad choices are bad choices. Fortunately Jared has so many people who love him and who are willing to do what it takes to save him that the final battle, when it comes, could be rather apocalyptic.

Eden Robinson offers a pacy conclusion to her Trickster trilogy. It is busy and involved and, if you’ve been waiting two years for it to arrive, you might be wise to go back and reread Trickster Drift before jumping straight into this. Otherwise it can be a bit confusing trying to keep everything straight, at least at first. But still a satisfying adventure.

Enjoy! ( )