I like the way that West uses consistent themes that tie all of the Watcher sagas and series together. The first is destiny, which ties all of the Watcher books together, across time and dimensions. Each character and plot device plays a part in the overall grand design. The potential for redemption is another theme that spans the entirety of the Watcher universe. This book also draws heavily on Helena’s need for love and acceptance, especially by her father, and the consequences due to a the lack thereof. Jealousy, a problem with which Lucifer dealt for several millennia, is Helena’s driving force.
I do not particularly care for the way that West tries to develop so many different characters. I think that the main characters’ developments are hindered by the attempt to deepen so many. I am also not a fan of books written in multiple POVs. I don’t mind two, but a multitude of voices becomes a bit too divisive in a book that is under 300 pages.
I like the way that West ends the book. It is not necessarily a cliffhanger. Instead, it is a situation that requires me to imagine the many potential implications. It makes me think. I can appreciate a story that can do that. I am looking forward to the release of Enduring, the final book in this saga. Reckoning gets 4 stars from me.
While Anna and Malcolm anxiously await the birth of their twins, the universe is besieged by the complications of bringing a corporeal version of Hell into being. As Empress and Emperor of Cirrus, Anna and Malcolm must also deal with the politics of trying to unite those who live in the down-world with the pampered citizens within the cloud cities. Anna quickly learns that changing the way people think can be a daunting task, especially when the princes of Hell attempt to thwart her plans at every turn.
Once upon a time, a little girl was born on a cold winter morning in the heart of Seoul, Korea. She was brought to America by her parents and raised in the Deep South where the words ma'am and y'all became an integrated part of her lexicon. She wrote her first novel at the age of eight and continued writing on and off during her teenage years. In college she studied biology and chemistry and finally combined the two by earning a master's degree in biochemistry. After that she moved to Yankee land where she lived for four years working in a laboratory at Cornell University. Homesickness and snow aversion forced her back South where she lives in the land which spawned Jim Henson, Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey, John Grisham and B.B. King. After finding her Prince Charming, she gave birth to a wondrous baby girl and they all lived happily ever after.