#31: Seanan McGuire, Seasonal Fears (Alchemical Journeys #2)

[kareila]

I reread Middlegame and enjoyed it more the second time, but I ended up mostly skimming this book because I could not get invested in Harry and Melanie's quest. However, there's an interlude about halfway in (starting with "Farmer's Market") where they encounter the heroes of Middlegame, who infodump a recap of what feels like their missing epilogue. That section of the book, pasted on as it felt, was the only part of the story that held my interest. ( Spoilers... )

Tor has announced that there will be three more books in the series: Tidal Creatures in 2024, Inkpot Gods in 2026, and Asphodel in 2028. The first two of those sound like more minor diversions, but I'll definitely be interested to see how it wraps up when the time comes.

#32: Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods

[kareila]

Riordan's publisher has made things confusing by promoting this as the sixth book of the original Percy Jackson series, but it takes place much later, after the events of the Heroes of Olympus series (but before the events of Trials of Apollo). Moreover, it's implied to be the beginning of yet another trilogy - Percy has to collect three divine letters of recommendation to attend New Rome University with Annabeth when he finishes high school, and this story only contains his quest to receive the first of those letters. It's merely low-stakes fluff for readers who just want an excuse to spend more time in Percy's world.