Now there's something I thought I'd never see. I'd stopped looking at his LJ even. Have to re-read the first books when it gets close.

 

Christmas certainly came early this year. I did not think we would be getting this ever. An early 2019 start hopefully means before March. Will definitely start doing a bit of rereading to refresh myself as I haven't touched these since 2012.

 

Inverarity posted the prologue on their blog. It reads well and does some world building, which is all it really needs to do.

https://inverarity.livejournal.com/340265.html

 

First revision done. This is actually happening.

https://inverarity.livejournal.com/342406.html

 

Whelp, I guess it's time for a re-read.

 

Inverarity's said on their blog back in May that their beta's have all finished reviewing it and that they're still going over it but it's for certain going to start being released at the end of the summer. I already reread the series around March, so I might do a quick skim again before it's released.

So now that it's closer to the date it's time for speculation. I'm guessing that Jezebel back in the prologue was

Spoiler

a sacrifice for the Deathly Regiment and that Quimley was more sad about her passing then the General was, or that it was instead supposed to be Livia who was to be sacrificed and that's why he has such a grudge against Thorn

I'm also keen on finding out who exactly Claudia's mother was, or was that said already?

Spoiler: Alexandra's actions this book

I think that she'll probably head to one of the smaller charms schools and like what some people on the reddit said, this will probably be the book with peak asshole Alexandra behaviour, or she might've been humbled by what happened. I wonder if she'll get an apprenticeship eventually? Out of her determination to fix her mother she might try an start learning from someone experienced.

Also, I was hoping some Larry/Alexandra might come this book or the next. Probably not though because Alexandra is the reason why he lost some fingers/his hand pretty much. Alexandra being the shit that she is will probably blame him for messing up her plan because she's stubborn.

Spoiler: Thorn Circle drama/Plot of this book

So, I think Charmbridge will definitely be one of the schools taken down in this book, so we might see more of her friends after that happens. Besides that though this is the book where more Circle action should start to happen. I think Alexandra will probably be harassed more by agents and it'll certainly be darker then past books.

 

I really don't want more peak!asshole Alexandria.

 

Inverarity posted on July 7th that the theoretical last draft has been submitted to Betas. As it stands it's 59 chapters and around 1000 pages though that will fluctuate a bit after the edits. This is really happening.

 

Alexandra Quick and the World Away is done.

EDIT: Will start posting Mondays and Fridays in August

 

First chapter is up.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13353323/1/Alexandra-Quick-and-the-World-Away

 

That's great news!

Those who, after all these years, can't precisely recall who's who in Abe 'Stud' Thorn's intricate family tree, can re-read the four first books or perhaps take some abridged refresher course at the Quickipedia.

https://quickipedia.fandom.com

 

I cannot believe the day is here after so many years.

I re-read the series recently and two parts jumped out at me in the Stars Above. When she is conversing with the Stars Above, they prophesise:

And later, she says to her biological mother, Hecate:

Spoiler: This makes me think that

The two things taken together made me have the startling triumvirate conclusion

1. Alex will "take" a life - her own life, in order to save
2. Her mother's life - by restoring her memories - and this is necessary because
3. The only way to restore her memories is by losing her own for some reason.

Rather than literally dying, I think they are referring memory loss and gain. I think there is some connection between Hecate's memory and Alexandra. The Stars Above also say "But can't say what she knows." which lends to the idea that Alexandra has something in her head other than the Thorn Circle secret which she couldn't say either.

In particular, Diana says ""I don't have another sister, Alexandra. Not anymore." and "Hecate is gone, Alexandra. That... shell, that creature, that's not my sister. It's not your mother. Don't hope for anything from her; she's gone". Lending to the idea of total memory loss = death.

Or, perhaps Alexandra's simple, determined speech to her Mother just captivated me

(Also, can I just say how annoyed I was and am that Alexandra didn't murder Darla to save Max, which led to Darla trying to sacrifice Innocence, which led to Alex being fated to die, and then after all that Darla kills herself anyway.)

I'm also curious what the Stars Above meant by:

(Edit: My first post on DLP after 4 years - that's how much I missed this story!)

 

This is so exciting, going to reread the other books now. How often do we get this kind of follow through from fan fix authors?

 

Second chapter is up: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13353323/2/Alexandra-Quick-and-the-World-Away

Spoiler: Second Chapter Comments

I'm not particularly engrossed by Alexandra's love life (perhaps just grossed , but it's clear this is a subplot that is not going to be dropped.

I really don't think the appeal is going to work out in any way, but it will bring Claudia and Livia together in a magical setting and hopefully lead to more details about what happened to them. At least, I'm looking forward to more interaction between the three of them. I liked Alex and Livia's little adventure at the sweet factory in Larkin Mills in Stars Above.

 

Spoiler: Chapter 2 comments

Yup, same here.

A way Alex's trysts might be relevant to the plot is if later it is revealed that the Thorn line has some affinity with fertility magic, so they are naturally inclined to be promiscuous. After all, Abe's record is pretty impressive: six daughters and a son from four different mothers, as far as we know.

Otherwise, I suppose it tells us something about Alex as a person. However, I don't feel run-of-the-mill teen sex filler merits that much space in books I am reading for the fantasy, the magic, the world building... I can't get myself to care about it.

 

Sorta unrealistic for the teenage dude to be the moderating force.

Not a huge fan of teen romance scenes but it fits Alex's personality-- forceful, independent, does what she wants, etc.