The Stone Sky

Tough going. You're going to read it anyway, because you loved the first two so much, but you're going to struggle through the first four-fifths. The characters will seem hollower, their motivations somehow more mechanical; the Dei ex Machina more handwavy. You will find yourself stumbling more than you expected. You will be rewarded with infrequent jewels—beautiful sentences, powerful sentiments, moments of recognition of your life and your world—and you will be invigorated. You will espy glimpses of the ending, but no, you will not expect it. Not really. Your breath will catch as you get to the finale. And it will be worth it.