Mirrored Heavens

 

Mirrored Heavens (Between Earth & Sky #3) by Rebecca Roanhorse (2024) 597 pages

There are reviews of the first and second part of this trilogy on this blog. After the middle part of the trilogy took the main characters to different parts of the world of the Meridian, it was great that this book has them all converging in the same climactic battle. This series is consistently full of intrigue as leaders and gods vie for power, characters try to understand cryptic prophesies, and they discover hidden magic within. Serapio, the Crow God Reborn, and Xiala are such captivating main characters. Balam is a great tormented villain hungry for power. Naranpa, Iktan, and Okoa are the major supporting characters, who are fully brought to life. I enjoyed that the world building is bigger than the city of Tova, which was the focus of the first book. I love that the characters continue to be three-dimensional with faults and heroic aspects. There is a lot of action, exploration of gruesome darkness, and also love stories. 

Yellow Brick War and The End of Oz

Yellow Brick War and The End of Oz (Dorothy Must Die #3 & #4) by Danielle Paige (2016 & 2017) 270 & 277 pages

I listened to the audiobooks on Hoopla narrated by Devon Sorvari. It was back in 2020 when I listened to part two of this YA series. This year I've been continuing many series I read years ago. I remember the main cast of characters and generalities, but find that I have forgotten many specifics. I wasn't acclimated for several chapters of Yellow Brick War. Ultimately I thought #3 was a weaker entry in the series. Even though I needed reminders of certain things, I thought this one became repetitive by going over plot points from books #1 and #2 too many times. The objective for Amy Gumm is the same as it has been through the first two books. She is working with the Order of the Wicked, who are the "good guys," to kill the tyrant Dorothy. Amy spends a good portion of the story back in Kansas reconnecting with her mom and getting to know her "reformed" bully. The Nome King, who appears several times in Baum's adventures and in the movie Return to Oz, is introduced, but his impact on the plot here is hazy. When Amy returns to Oz there is a bit of strategizing for the upcoming battle amidst her blossoming love for Nox. This epic war was not very exciting despite Amy turning herself into a dragon-like monster at one point. It was long and pointless. I don't mean in the sense of the futility of war. I mean that the battles have very few consequences on the plot and central characters. 

Book four was better. Dorothy is still not dead. Amy has a supernatural meeting with Lurline the past fairy queen of Oz, and that is a deep cut for Oz fans. About half the chapters are from the point of view of Dorothy as she is saved, imprisoned, and engaged to the Nome King. The threat of Dorothy's power combined with the Nome King's is more consequential. There are so many plans at cross-purposes. The other half involves Amy, Nox, and Amy's former bully Madison travelling from Oz to Ev, where the Nome King rules. Characters are introduced that people would recognize from the movie Return to Oz, but of course Ms. Paige adds a twist. The romance between Amy and Nox is taken to the next level. Amy and Madison clear the lingering tension between them further. The showdown and resolution between Amy and Dorothy is creative. The epilogue is fun too.