Wide-eyed wonder morphs into a composed and steady plot.
The transcendental adventure continues as Giels and his friends try to return to normal life after a forbidden journey into the Underworld. But what they thought passed for a normal life shifts into perplexing possibilities for both their future and their history. For Giels, the trip began as an excuse to spend time with his dear Cleo, and to nurture their fledgling relationship. His encounter with The Guardian from the first book in the series gave Giels a crash-course in adult responsibility along with some serious stress. His friends have taken a more progressive approach to the life-changing confrontation and are capitalizing on their newfound knowledge, throwing caution to the wind. Worried that his future is wrecked, Giels makes a series of decisions that could impact the whole of Deo.
Throughout this book, a few more brushstrokes are added to the canvas as E.A. Bagby reveals more to the grand picture hidden behind all the adventure. And although almost no time has passed from the first installment of The Feigned Moon of Entiria, the evolution of the cast feels light-years apart. Giels has found his voice and is a much more well rounded protagonist in terms of his overall self-awareness and the ability to make decisions. Each of the secondary characters helps to cement Giels as a true leader, despite his conflicted feelings. This spirited tale is packed with lots of lore and history, and these traditions add warmth and depth to the story while soliciting some profound questions. Wide-eyed wonder morphs into a composed and steady plot in the impressive follow-up to The Journey, Illyia.
