Strange and Ever After (Something Strange and Deadly Trilogy, #3)

by Susan Dennard

"Traveling to Egypt with the Spirit-Hunters, Eleanor Fitt must control her growing power, face her feelings for Daniel, and confront the evil necromancer Marcus--all before it's too late"--

• ISBN10: 0062083341
• ISBN13: 9780062083340
• Publish Date: 22 July 2014
• Publish Status: Temporarily Withdrawn
• Imprint: Harperteen
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I did not see that coming...

[Vicki]

3.5 stars

[ladygrey]

I was all ready to vent about the things I didn't like about this book, the things that were just ok, about what a stupid girl Eleanor was or how completely odd and out of the blue other things were. But then it ended very well.

And I like Susan Dennard quite a bit. Her blog is interesting and she has a lot of fun things to say and interesting ways to say them. So I was I bit disappointed that I didn't entirely love these books. There were a few things that should have clued me in, primarily the writing of her contemporaries and friends. But that aside, I still wanted to love it. And I ended up barely liking most of it. The covers are gorgeous! But I never felt emotionally invested in anything. It took three books (two for Oliver - he had such life compared to the others) to connect with the characters. The second and third books labored under the lack of motivations from the first. Reactions and emotions seemed to sometimes come out of nowhere and with no explanation. And even in the third book so many of Eleanor's thoughts and actions didn't make any sense to me. So as much action as there was, I found it a hard series to connect to.

And Dennard did something very bold in the end. Something unexpected and not only did she admirably commit to the choice, she handled it very well. The choice itself did not move me as perhaps it might have. But the aftermath resonated.

There have been a number of books that I like quite a bit until the end ruins them. Rarely does a book salvage itself in the ending, and this one does so quite well.

[Kim Deister]

As the last book in this trilogy, Strange and Ever After neatly wrapped all of the loose ends with a conclusion that was largely satisfying, although unexpected. The pace was picked up in this book, with all kinds of twists and turns that took the story into new and uncharted territory.

The book begins in Paris, but soon Eleanor, Ollie, and the Spirit Hunters find themselves in Marseille and finally Egypt. The book opens with sad news for Eleanor from Allison, who has come to France from Philadelphia. She quickly attaches herself to the group, despite Eleanor's every effort to leave her behind. Eleanor is feeling very alone at the moment, estranged from not only Allison, but from Ollie and the Spirit Hunters, too. Ollie no longer trusts her and the Hunters are still completely against Eleanor's use of her abilities. It has made her rather irritable and tired of having to constantly justify and explain herself.

While the romance was definitely kicked up a notch between Daniel and Eleanor, the relationship between Eleanor and Ollie was also a big focus of the story. His anger is almost palpable and he is downright exasperating. But as the story unfolds, we start to really understand him and why he is the way he is. By the end, after distrusting him for most of the series, I grew to love his character.

I think the only criticism I really have was the unexpected turn of events for a particular character. There is always loss in a novel, especially a concluding novel, but there are some losses that are more heart wrenching then others and that create a bittersweet and beautiful ending, more than a HEA.

My Recommendation: This a great series and I am sad to see it end! The steampunk theme is a big part of it and I love the mix of that and zombies! Unique and fun! I gave it 4.5 mugs!

[bookishzelda]

I have loved and adored this books from the get go and Susan Dennard has not disappointed in Strange and Ever After. How I love Susan’s writing, her characters and her plot. So excuse me while I gush a bit. Also remember this is the third book in the series so I will avoid spoilers for this book in particular but there might some from books 1 and 2 if you have not read them.

The plot was fantastic. I love the way that different mythology has been mixed in. Especially the egyptian part. I think this is my favorite setting that the books have taken place. The curtain and the spirit realm, the hellhounds and demons/gods. I loved it all! I admit though the Black Pullet freaks me out. It’s hard for me to picture it in my head but I think it’s because I don’t want to. It scares me!

Eleanor is different at the beginning of the book and it’s not a shock. We kind of saw how she was changing in A Darkness Strange and Lovely. The more she uses her magic as a necromancer the more it has begun to shape her. Ollie is of course there to point it out to her with his no nonsense way. Eleanor is one of my favorite main characters that I have read because she is tough as nails and has persevered through a lot of tough and crappy situations. She is also flawed though and I think some of those flaws are surfacing more as she is tapping into her power. I have loved seeing Eleanor change and grow through this series. Moments when she realizes wait maybe I’m being too judgemental and so forth. It’s amazing to see her development.

There are so many great characters in these books!! I love the spirit-hunter team and how they work together. I love Ollie of course, how can you not love your friendly neighborhood demon. Then there is of course Alison Wilcox, who is something else. Even Marcus the evil.

Each of the relationships are complex. I loved Eleanor and Daniel and how they could go from heat arguments to heated moments. They have so many things they have to accept about one another. I loved their story. Then of course there is Eleanor and Oliver, another complicated situation. They have a strange bond being that they are actually bonded through magic. Then of course Alison and Eleanor who have a tentative friendship, envying and judging. Through Jie and Joseph into the mix who are both steady and reliable and you have almost all bases covered.

I became so emotionally involved in this book. I suffered it all, heartbreak, betrayal, giddiness, more heartbreak. It’s one of those books that sometimes you want to hug Susan and sometimes you want to yell...why why why!!??? You are not just invested in one character you are invested in many.

The ending. the ending. the ending. the ending. I’m still wrapping my head around it. It’s both right and wrong.There is a part of me that wants to say it’s not perfect but I have to say it’s perfect. It was so well written, I’m just still lost in the feels.

I have to simply say that I loved the book. I loved the series. I can not wait for Susan’s new series Truthwitch.