** spoiler alert ** A good finish to a solid series. There are many layers of action going on without it becoming confusing because it is so deftly written. There is a lot left open at the end, but with a sense of hope that things are going to get better (with a slightly sinister element, but I think that’s life in general—there are just people who take advantage of every situation). I like that it ends with Cathy unpacking in a new apartment. It gives a nice circular feeling to the series, a sort of resolution that at least Cathy is back where she should be. She’s very much wiser for the experience. Highly recommend this series. ( )

I'm kind of sad that this series is over but I'm reminding myself that I can enjoy it all again on a reread! ( )

A satisfying conclusion to the story overall, but I didn't enjoy the reading as much as usual - I found it clunky in places, and don't feel the secondary characters (notably Tom and Lucy) got the breathing space they needed to make their actions feel entirely natural.

That said, it's still an entertaining and emotionally satisfying ride - Emma Newman is to be commended for both neatly wrapping up her loose ends AND managing to completely surprise me more than once.

Full review

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review ( )

All Good Things is the fifth and final book in Emma Newman’s Split Worlds urban fantasy series. You absolutely must read the series in order! Seriously, you will be totally confused if you pick up this book without the context of the previous books. If you’re unfamiliar with the series but fae and feuding families sounds like something you’d be into, go check out Between Two Thorns. Oh, and avoid the rest of this review because this late in the series there’s literally no way I can avoid spoilers for Between Two Thorns.

Cathy has finally gotten away from Will, but she’s know dependent on another man, Sam (Lord Iron). When Bea offers to teach her sorcery, Cathy leaps at the chance. But that involves going along with Bea’s plan for the future, which is more disruptive than even Cathy could have imagined. Meanwhile, Will is under huge pressure to regain control of Cathy. His family’s grip on power is increasingly more tenuous, even as Iris continues to try and enact a mysterious plan. Max and the gargoyle need to figure out if working with Rupert is really the best way to keep protecting innocents. Does he really have interests other than his own at heart?

Back when I was doing the Split Worlds read along, I started keeping track of various questions that I had. For instance, one already answered question is “What is Cathy’s painting?” By All Good Things, we already know that Cathy’s painting is significant for containing the secret of Sophia’s existence. But many questions remain. Why is it so important that William and Cathy have a son within a year? What’s Lord Iris’s plan? Why would the Prince be angry at him? And of course, how can Cathy possibly succeed in improving human rights conditions within the Nether? All these and more are answered in All Good Things.

At the end of A Little Knowledge, I had no idea how Emma Newman could possibly wrap up the story arc in just one book. Overcoming a whole society is such a huge task! And every time it looks like Cathy could possibly have a success, she’s thwarted somehow. When she ran away from William at the end of book four (good!), she seemed almost farther than ever from her goals. How could Emma Newman go from the end of A Little Knowledge to a satisfying ending in just one book?

I don’t want to give any of the plot away, but oh my goodness, Emma Newman wonderfully succeeded with All Good Things. The book marks the definite end of a story arc, although I think there’s still more that could be explored if she ever decides to come back to this world. It’s a monumental ending that I will remember for a long time to come.

I hope that all other fans of the Split World series will find this ending as satisfying as I have. I really don’t think they’ll be disappointed.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.

I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review. ( )