I'm really bummed that this series got canceled by the publisher. The books can stand alone, but there was a definite cliffhanger at the end of this one.Not my favorite in the series (that's reserved for book #3), but definitely better than the first two. It was nice to get some real background on Marla the person, not just Marla the sorcerer. Mushrooms? Really? I found that whole plotline annoying and practically pointless. Sure, it roped her brother in. But I felt like it was some lame device to incorporate Marla's non-magical world (her brother) with her magical one (the shrooms). I'm glad Death made a cameo in this book. I loved his character at the end of book #3, and was looking forward to them interacting more.Hopefully the author will self-publish book #5, because I really need to know what's happening with B and Rondeau! As noted in the last book's tag, this is Marla Mason vs family. (As noted in the last book's review, I decided to drop this series. Then I changed my mind; so much for me.)This is distinctly better-written, or clashes less with my descriptive kinks, anyhow. Being more firmly grounded in the real world helps a lot. The series arc is (only now) kicking into full gear, as an unfriendly mushroom-wizard and Marla's no-good mundane brother roll into down on different but colliding roads. The no-good brother is the contrast we've needed to our no-good protagonist. I also appreciate that everybody plans and takes sensible precautions, and information gets screwed up *anyway* because you can't know everything.(Warning: the e-book conversion is *terrible*. It's a minefield of missing periods and spurious line breaks.)
What do You think about Spell Games (2009)?
Wow, that's really a lot of doom. And it was placed on the mantelpiece in book 1!
—sana
I am really, really surprised that Mr. Mushroom just ... left.
—Kirsten
