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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 15: The Escape by K. A. Applegate

The Escape is a pool of grief, rage, and helplessness. It's about interrupted grief when loss changes from completely gone back to just out of reach. Discussing humor as a shield and coping mechanism, it describes its role and acknowledges its limits.

Marco is a jokester and a goof when viewed by his fellow Animorphs, but whenever its his turn to narrate his inner monologue is a lot darker than his exterior would project. He's kind of a foil for Rachel, who is outwardly tough but also deeply insecure. To be clear, Marco is also insecure, but he hides it by joking about it and deflecting deep thought away from it. The books engage with this dynamic in a way that feel real.

A boy (Marco) turns into a hammerhead shark

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