My Thoughts: The Speed of Darkness, by Catherine Fisher

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Hachette Children's (May 3 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1444926322

ISBN-13: 978-1444926323

Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 2.5 x 19.7 cm

"A great storm brews out at sea and batters the Devon coast, flooding vast swathes of land. At Wintercombe Abbey the preceding weeks have been spent in a ferment of experimentation, as Jake Wilde's father, David and Maskelyne work furiously on Operation Leah. They have been practising changing tiny events in the past, in preparation for the rescue of Venn's wife Leah from death, the culmination of their work with the Obsidian Mirror. But in the aftermath of the storm, the Abbey is a drowned house. Where is the Mirror? What has happened to the two halves of the Janus coin? Whose is the mysterious boat wrecked up on the nearby beach? And what plans of mischief and mayhem lay in store for Halloween - the day chosen for Leah's return? Riddles and mysteries unfold in the spellbinding conclusion to The Obsidian Mirror quartet." - Goodreads

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The Speed of Darkness marks the end of series that expertly blended Sci-Fi, with historical fiction, and folkloric fantasy, in such a way that fans of either come away with the story they want. But as with the conclusion to any story involving time travel, the real question is how well did the author handle inherent time paradoxes? 

The answer is, indirectly as possible. Its obvious after finishing the the Chronopitka Quartet that time travel runs more on an "emotional" logic, than actual scientific logic/rules. A fact that may send some sci-fi purists into rage-induced fits of book shredding. Though for me at least, the delightfully vivid writing of Catherine Fisher distracted me from a considerable amount of the plot's shortcomings.

"It is not wise for a mortal man to gaze too long into the darkness. He comes to see strange shapes and cold imaginings. He comes to doubt all that he once held true."- SOD

Quibbles aside, The Speed of Darkness was a entrancing read, with many detours (Or "Scenic routes" I Should say) that were at times equally or more interesting than "Operation Leah". Through these deviations the reader gets to witness the End times with the likes of Jake Wilde and the Venn's, which are some of the books most visually intense moments.

We also receive a back story for Janus, finally, and I can say its every bit as shocking as I hoped it to be. The reveal really ties into the general theme of the Obsidian mirror, which of course, I now can't say without spoiling the surprise!

It's sad to say goodbye to such an engrossing series, but its much easier when you feel all the loose time threads have been tied up - When you feel satisfied that whatever tale you've purchased has been given a proper sendoff. And for that peace if mind, I have to thank the author.

My Rating: 4.1/5

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