i keep telling myself that this is my favorite book that soman has written, but i keep lying to myself every single time. the first book — okay. the second book — more emotionally draining but full of good plot twists. and i only liked the third book because of the tagatha scenes.

this book? i can tell soman stepped it up and pushed the characters in a way they haven't been pushed before. but i still don't have a favorite book he has made in this universe. and for some reason, that makes me so sad because i would usually have one by now. and i don't. and i can't help but think that maybe it reflects how i truly feel about this series — that it's not good enough for me, that i only read them because of the fandom. and that sucks.

that isn't to say that i didn't enjoy it because trust me, i did — i really did. the number one thing i look most forward to coming from book four is sophie's character development. soman implied it when he wrote in that scene with sophie and agatha walking together in the snow to the lady of the lake.

"[...] But I'm starting to see why it is my quest. Because I won't let any 'Snake' get in the way of my best friend's Ever After, especially after I played that role myself for far too long. And if it means risking my life to get you and Teddy to that alter safe and sound... well, even the villain can play the hero sometimes."

this is the content that i wholeheartedly signed up for.

and then, impossibly, soman makes it better.

"Agatha's eyes grew wide. 'Did you really turn the Doom Room into a dance club on Saturday nights?'
'Complete with lava pit and monthly foam parties,' said Sophie. 'Why?'
'Just making sure you're the same girl,' Agatha said.
'Well, if you go on ignoring my letters, I'll buy every last dungbomb in the Endless Woods and stymph-raid your castle.'
'Definitely the same girl.'"

anyways, there's something about the way soman paces the story that doesn't appeal to me. there's instalove in here and there's weird moments where he tries to make scenes fun or thoughtful, but something they just don't work.

i'm still reading book five though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ gotta see my girl reunite with the thirteen for help

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reread: i've never read a book with so much indifference. i'm only rereading this to rejog my memory so i can finally read OTK and end this series. that sounds harsh, but i just want to know how everything wraps up.