The Foul Mouth and the Seismic Semester

No spoilers since I got to read an advanced copy, but I cannot begin to express how much I needed this book. Not only was this one the most well-written of the series, showing Raley's continued growth as an author, but it was also my favorite.

So many protagonists I've read in the past few years seem to be complete unlikable assholes. King Henry is the likable one, and it makes all the difference. I actively find myself hating all the other ones after I'm several books into the series because they just become insufferable, and who wants to root for a character that you wouldn't give the time of day to in real life? King Henry is abrasive and an acquired taste, but he has a heart of gold, and this book seems like it was literally made to showcase all of those facets together.

Hell, there is even a new character that is literally the epitome of what I hate in pretty much every other situation I've ever encountered this type of character, but I love her. She was almost my pick for favorite new character, just lost by a smidgen. And barely beat out another by a smidgen. So 3 new characters that I absolutely loved, and plenty more that I greatly enjoyed, they just couldn't be given as much screen time because then the book would be 5000 pages long. Which would have been ok with me.

The biggest compliment I can give this book, besides just the utter joy I felt when finally getting it my grubby little hands, is the sadness I felt when it was all over. Not because the book was sad, but because it was done and now I will have to wait any amount of time until reading more. More about these new characters, more about old characters, more about the world of King Henry. Even if that time was only to be a week, I'd still be a little sad. Since it will be longer than that, you see where my despair comes from. Perhaps it is time to do another total series re-read just to keep my spirits up.

If you love King Henry, you will love this book. You already know it, I shouldn't have to tell you!