Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Return of the Thief

This is a fantastic wrap-up to the series. It's split into two "books", the first is much more similar in style and scope to the previous books, the second half is more keyed into wrapping up the whole series, though the two halves are still unified. I love Pheris. It was amazing seeing how a lot of the plot wrapped up and the themes and myths came back. It was a lot darker in tone, though it still had plenty of humor, and was quite emotional. It's written from a historian's perspective, so while it is the last book it is also probably the clearest look we have at all the characters and events of the past books. So much happened, I can't wait to go back and reread this book and the previous books to put the puzzles together.

There are a few things I do wish were different. I wish MWT was just a little more explicit about her queer ships. I don't think they're quite subtext, and certainly I think the one in this book is the most explicit she's been, but comparing the language she uses to talk about the heterosexual couples, it's just a little disappointing that she continues to use the word "friend" to describe the m/m couples, usually. (yes I know she finally used "lover" in this book, though she did still do it in a roundabout way.) I also wish in the later half of the book that Pheris wouldn't let himself bleed into the background in the narration quite so much. In the first half of the book it felt like he was there but just observing, whereas the second half felt like more of it was just a general 3rd person POV. Also there are some loose ends I wish she would've wrapped up, but hopefully she'll have some short stories about those characters and threads, since their inclusion wasn't really necessary to the ending of the book.

Content Warnings

macklin's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I binged this in a day. All the cleverness MWT has brought to her previous books she brings again though I must say it felt more like a inside joke with the reader instead of a mind boggling twist. I am very happy with how everything tied up. Gen remains one of my favourite characters ever written and I cannot wait to reread the entire series. I read this via audiobook and liked Steve West’s narration very much.

Content Warnings

stephblair's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I had this book on preorder for a year and I can’t believe it finally is here! As always, I had no idea where the twists and turns would take me but I loved it. And having a physically disabled main character was awesome. That’s something we desperately need more of in media. It did have me wanted to climb into the pages and beat some ableist bullies up for the first 200 pages though.

I’m sad the series is over now, but it was great ending.

Content Warnings

More...