Cat has been forced into an arranged marriage with William – a situation that comes with far more strings than even she could have anticipated, especially when she learns of his family’s intentions for them both. 

Meanwhile, Max and the gargoyle investigate The Agency – a mysterious organisation that appears to play by its own rules – and none of them favourable to Society. 

Over in Mundanus, Sam has discovered something very peculiar about his wife’s employer – something that could herald a change for everyone in both sides of the Split Worlds.

Today is the final week of our readalong.  Such a lot of surprises this week.  The schedule is below and a link to the Goodread’s page here.  Feel free to jump on board or join in with the comments and if you haven’t read the book please be aware of spoilers below.

After her meeting with Miss Rainer, Cathy is determined to tackle the Agency and bring feminism to the Nether. What are her odds of success? Is Lucy a trustworthy ally?

Aww, I was so gutted for Miss Rainter – I hope that something can eventually be done to help her.  In terms of Cathy – it has given her a renewed purpose and dI think she stands a very good chance of success and I certainly think Lucy is trustworthy – which adds even more to my conviction that change is possible.  After all, I don’t think it will take too much to garner a lot of support from some of the other women in this society – particularly those not used to such privileged positions.  I really like that Cathy is finally embracing the world in which she has been born and trying to change it rather than simply run away – not that I blame her for wanting to run away – but having now been in the position to live in her world and ours I think, more than a lot of the other women in her world, she has a good idea of what she wants and the unfair situation in which they all live.  I predict a riot!  Of lace and frills and bonnets, but nonetheless a riot!

Will wants another chance at a happy ending for him and Cathy. Thoughts? 

I’m very unhappy with a lot that has taken place with Will but I don’t believe in cutting my nose off to spite my face.  That being said he’s got a lot to do to gain back some ground.  I thought we got to really see how powerful the charm was that has been used on him – which was interesting – was the charm used early on to ensure his desire even?  Not sure. It also served to highlight that he doesn’t really have strong feelings for Isabella because he wasn’t interested in staying with her, in spite of her best efforts, until she used the charm again.  As to his ending with Cathy we’ll have to see what happens to be honest.  They will both have to start to be a bit more honest and maybe make a fresh start.  I think that overall Will could become an ally for Cathy and help her to make changes, maybe slowly, but he’s also been to mundanus so perhaps he can be persuaded to help.  If they start to have feelings for each other then so be it.  I think Will possible has the makings of something different in him – at the moment he does seem to be running around like a headless chicken and he seems a lot more easily manipulated than Cathy.

Do you think Lord Iron is to be trusted? Is Sam making the right move by joining CoFerrum? Any thoughts on his wife’s death?

No, I don’t think he’s to be trusted.  I don’t know why but if something smells bad – then it usually is bad.  I really don’t know why Lord Iron got my back up tbh – just something about him offering Sam such a good deal – a job, a decent salary, the chance for revenge, an attractive relocation package, it all smacks of him really being prepared to offer Sam anything in order to lure him in.  And, you can’t help wondering that the things he is offering Sam just so happen to coincide very nicely with Sam’s own desires.  Hadn’t he, just literally seconds earlier, been thinking he would sell the house and move?  Isn’t he out of work?  Wasn’t he thinking of revenge?  Something is rotten in Denmark I think – could be wrong of course but I just don’t trust Lord Iron at the moment.  Plus, the whole attack in the park – it’s like Sam was being played – throwing railings like an Olympian, having his injuries plugged up with Iron – and wasn’t Leanne trying to call him at the time?  Maybe she figured out something was wrong and was trying to get in touch.  She didn’t die at the same time as the attack in the park but later.  Maybe whatever happened to Leanne will now happen to Sam too – or maybe that’s the intent.  I don’t know, I’m running off at all sorts of tangents.

Do you think Mercia is behind the deaths of the Sorcerers? If so, what sort of deal do you think he struck with Lady Rose?

I don’t know about all this now.  I’m starting to think that Ekstrand is a bit of a funny onion.  He called a moot that he didn’t attend – and then everyone died and coincidentally and happily for him – he’s still alive.  He comes across as ridiculously dotty but I’m just remembering his original appearance at the end of the last book where he came across as anything but dotty in fact quite impressive when he was wielding his sorcery – and you can’t help thinking that there are now very few sorcerers left – so, you have to look at motives and survivors.  At the moment it seems that there may be two sorcerers left?  Perhaps they have a deal – or perhaps they’re at loggerheads and have great ambitions to be the only one?  Or perhaps I’m crazy.

What are your predictions for the next book?

I think the next book has the potential for a lot of excitement.  Apart from what’s going on with Cathy and her own personal endeavours I think that there is something much bigger at the heart of this – I don’t know what it is to be honest, perhaps it’s a way for the fae to break out from their exile, maybe they’ve made alliances?  I don’t actually fully know what to expect but it seems that there is definitely something bigger at stake here.

As an aside, did anybody think anything odd about Sophia – when she was at the park and all the other children went home crying.  As though she was maybe being very cruel to them all?  Makes me wonder if she’s not what everyone thinks.  We know the fae massively use their families – could Sophia have been enforced upon the family?  There was the whole discussion about children from the last book and I thought it was very odd that Will’s family would so blatantly flaunt the rules – especially when they have such a domineering Lord who controls them so microscopically.  Could Sophie have been placed with them – is she a changeling of sorts?  I don’t know but that scene in the park made me wonder about her.

The other thought I had concerned Lord Poppy.  I couldn’t help wondering in the dual at the end – the boon he gave to Will meant that his opponent was drugged and his reactions massively slowed down.  The boon that Lord Iris gave to Will just stopped him feeling anything through the first few strikes, it didn’t stop him from being struck  – it just seems that Lord Poppy gave the most useful boon in that situation which makes me think that he’s maybe pulling the strings here more than I originally thought.  I just have to look at the motivation, who stands to gain. I’m really not getting a full grasp on the situation at the moment but it’s certainly intriguing.

We will be reading the final book in the series as a readalong so any interest in joining let me know or check out the Goodreads pages.  An announcement to follow shortly.