Reviewed by Claire Stuckey
Following on the story of our team of young adventures
now back in the United Kingdom we find Simon and Baz continuing their rocky relationship.
Simon is struggling with his wings while Baz still privately seeks out those
animals that he requires to exist -- then shares the count with us. Their
relationship is marred by further family issues as Baz finds his father
struggling with step siblings in the wake of Daphne’s disappearance. Following
a trail of missing people, they find themselves aligned with Lady Ruth who
provides them with more clues and loads of cake!
Penelope in the meanwhile has returned with Shepard,
using magic to provide him with the necessary travel documents and flights.
Hoping to rescue him from the demon contract tattooed across his body, she
secures this “normal” at her flat away from her parents.
Agatha has been
roped in to assist at her father’s magical medical practice where she meets
Niamh. After some time, Niamh reveals that they were in fact at Watford
together. But Niamh has another side; she returns regularly to Watford to herd
the goats back to satisfy an ancient myth. Agatha returns with her regularly
and their relationship develops.
As the true nature of the cult status of Smith
Richard-Smith is revealed, the boys investigate further. Hoping to return
Pippa’s voice, Baz discovers that both Jamie, Lady Ruth’s son, and Pippa, are
hostages. Pippa reveals the real intentions of Smith, and the group returns to
Watford once more.
This is the conclusion to the trilogy, a book about defining
your relationship. Relationships are difficult in a world shared by vampires,
dragons, magical people and “normals”. The tile relates to the famous Queen
song. Does it really matter who you are? The epilogue provides closure for one character,
but I think that others may return in a different story. There are lots of
narrators in this title.
Almost every other character who appears joins in
which makes the flow difficult to read in places and does not always add to the
plot. The long and tortuous relationship between Baz and Simon is overdrawn in
scenes that are speech heavy. Although the main plot is readable and provides
the bones of a good story the changes between characters and constant
reflection made this novel much longer than it needed to be. This does make it
easier to pick up and put down, perhaps a holiday read? I think fans of this
author’s popular stand-alone novels might enjoy this.
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