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Series Review: The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk

Greetings and welcome to Reviews That Burn: Series Reviews, part of Books That Burn. Series Reviews discuss at least three books in a series and cover the overarching themes and development of the story across several books. I'd like to thank longtime Patron Case Aiken, who receives a monthly shoutout. This episode discusses The Kingston Cycle by C. L. Polk.  Full Audio Here    In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own. Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after...

Animorphs Book 7: The Stranger by K. A. Applegate

Rachel is offered a way out of her current life, and the Animorphs are offered a way out of everything when they meet the Ellimist. The nightmares and secrecy build a miasma of isolation that is gradually permeating the series.

This was the first series I read that dealt with divorce from the perspective of one of the children who was affected. I appreciate that it's part of Rachel's life without being the point of the book, let alone the point of the series. It affects her, but we mostly see it when she's the narrator instead of it being treated like the main trauma. It matters without sucking all the air out of the narrative.

I'm also really appreciating how much changes as the book moves on, I know 62 books seems like a lot, but they really have to handle a lot of moving pieces to get where I know the series ends up going.

A girl (Rachel) turns into a grizzly bear

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