The Last Emperox

This is the final book in John Scalzi’s Interdependency trilogy.

I quite enjoyed the first two books, but I held off reading the conclusion because some of the reviews were negative. I knew I’d get around to reading the story eventually, but the reviews made me wait.

Turns out, the reviews were wrong. I shouldn’t have waited. This book is just as delightful as the first two.

I get why people might think it’s a downer, though.

[SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. THERE ARE SPOILERS COMING AND YOU SHOULD NOT LOOK IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, OK? WE CLEAR? GOOD.]

Killing off a beloved character in an unexpected way can put a damper on the proceedings. And I was upset and sad when it happened. But I was also okay with the way it played out because Grayland II / Cardenia needed to ascend to a literal higher plane in order to save everyone in the Interdependency from a slow and horrible demise. It was a heroic act by a lovely character. And while Cardenia died in a biological sense, and while she didn’t get the happy ending with Marce we wanted, she still accomplished something remarkable.

Also, Kiva Lagos is one of my favorite characters–in this book, in the series, and pretty much in anything I’ve ever watched or read–because she can weave remarkable tapestries out of the most exceptional profanity.