Lights (Flicker #3)

Lee Capren’s life is complicated. She’s in love with a boy whose heart she broke to protect him, her home is wrecked—and she and her friends have just been arrested for practicing magic illegally.

With the evidence stacked against them, they’re given a choice: serve the Seattle Guild as apprentices, or serve time in prison. The decision seems simple, but the consequences will be greater than anyone can imagine.

Navigating Seattle’s magical scene is tough enough, even before the Summer King requests Lee as his emissary to the Winter Court—a request she can’t refuse. Suddenly, she’s entangled in a conflict brewing between two ancient powers. But there’s more to this faerie feud than meets the eye—and signs point to a shadow from Filo’s past.

The coming storm will destroy all that Lee holds dear, unless she sacrifices everything to stop it.

*May Contain Spoilers*

The trilogy of Flicker, by Kaye Thornbrugh, ends with Lights. It has been a journey full of love and hate, joy and pain, friends and family. This final installment begins with Lee, Jason, Alice, and Filo being tried by the Seattle Guild. After what happened in the second book, with the cursed island, they all stand trial to determine their fate after being labeled as illegally practicing magicians. Lucky for them, for us, and for the world, they're taken on as apprentices. 

Flicker was always Filo's home and now that it's gone, Filo has a lot to learn about how the world really works. He grows so much in this novel, for the better, that readers who have been with him since the beginning will feel overjoyed at his progress. Filo was a tangle of fear, apprehension, and servitude. With the help of his friends and some experience with the world outside of his shop, Filo learns that it's okay to trust and it's okay to love. This trilogy has revolved around Filo even though Lee was the spark setting everything in motion from the beginning. 

Lee has also grown so much over the last three novels. She surprised me with her fierce loyalty and sincere courage in this last book. As they say, it all comes down to this, and Lee fought harder than ever before to save her friends. It's in this book that Lee realizes that she has a family, even if it isn't the one she was born into. This has been something Lee struggled with consistently and readers will be happy to witness her revelation. The love story between Lee and Nasser also continues in this installment, adding a sweet side plot that evokes feelings of understanding and acceptance.

My favorite part in this novel was the reveal of Filo's sister. Filo was stolen by Neman and Morgan as a young child and barely remembers his life before them. But fates works in funny ways for Filo, and he is reunited with Dierdre. Though it's a rocky relationship lacking trust, readers will revel in this part of the storyline. 

The plot of Lights is based strongly on the Fearie Courts. After being accepted as apprentices at the Seattle Guild, a war begins brewing between the Summer Court and the Winter Court. Lee and Filo are requested as emissaries due to Lee's past with Umbriel, the Summer King. They're sent to negotiate a peace treaty, but things are not as they first appear. The Kings are not acting like themselves and refuse to listen to reason while the Guild Council refuses to listen to Lee and Filo. With the human world on the line, Lee, Filo, Jason, Alice, and Nasser must figure out what is really going on and stop it before the fight between the Courts bleeds over into their world with destruction and chaos. 

From the moment I first finished Flicker, I've been enthralled with the story of Lee, Filo, Nasser, Jason, and Alice. It's been a wonderful journey and I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy, fearies, and magic. 

Rating: 4.5/5Cups

Start from the beginning:

     

Books 1 and 2 of the Flicker Series

Poetry of WWI and WWII

A Treasury of War Poetry: British and American Poems of the World War 1914 - 1917

This book contains poetry from numerous countries all centered around the subject of war. Primarily British and American poems dating from 1914 to 1917 have been collected in this edition by the editor George Clarke. The subject matter of these poems encompass patriotism, courage, self-sacrifice, enterprise, and endurance. Authors included are V Lindsay, Galsworthy, Kipling and others.

***

Interesting collection of various country's poetry about WWI. With the poems either siding with patriotism or trauma, the book gives a well-rounded account of the war. It even included poets who fought on the frontlines as well as women who worked as nurses or sent their sons off to fight. There were a few well known poets intermingled with poets who I had never heard of before.

Poets of World War II

Acclaimed poet and World War II veteran Harvey Shapiro's pathbreaking gathering of work by more than sixty poets of the war years includes Randall Jarrell, Anthony Hecht, George Oppen, Richard Eberhart, William Bronk, and Woody Guthrie.

***

This book creates a stark contrast between WWII and WWI poetry. Most of the poets who are included in this anthology were members of the military and that fact alone gives readers an emotional connection. Whereas WWI poetry was more patriotic and focused on bravery and honor, WWII poetry is heavy in the theme of death. The poets are blunt, realistic, and honest in their fears. Reading this poetry was akin to hearing stories from war veterans. It's moving in a way that is also terrifying.

Rating: 3/5 Cups

What's Next, Wednesday (28)

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

I'm looking forward to...

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I finally got to borrow a copy of this book from a friend. I've been looking forward to reading it since it came out. Now I get to! When a man returns home for a funeral, he remembers his childhood and a special girl who promised to protect him. I'm really excited about the magical realism aspect this book promises. 

Teaser Tuesday (236)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm/Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers




Lights (51% Kindle)
   - Kaye Thornbrugh

The runes on the outside of Lee's cell shone scarlet for an instant, and the doorway reappeared. Davis pulled the door open.
In that moment, Lee looked very small to Filo, drowning in blood-red light, but there was no fear on her face, only determination.