My favorite of the series so far, which is saying a lot, because I loved the first three books. ( )

My terrible internet ate my review of this book (thanks, Comcast. I hope Catherynne Valente reinvents you as a horrible, inept beast-thing.)

Valente takes this moment to take a hiatus from the plot and September. It's an odd choice in the penultimate book of a five book series. It works in that by backing off to a new character, she recaptures some of the wonder and joy that makes the Fairyland series so special. And by sticking her Changelings into the Real World, Valente gets a chance to play with a different kind of fantasy, which is a great deal of fun. But I must admit I was less invested for the absence of September. Also, great swathes of this book feel quite rushed; it reads more like a novella than anything else.

The summation of my opinion is of course heavily swayed by Valente's bottomless imagination, which is still on full display here, with a post office staffed by Benjamin Franklins, delivering changelings; every type of tree imaginable, a knitted combat wombat and much more. Valente is a true master...but, as much as it pains me to say it, the early parts of the series were better. ( )

Very little September, but a lovely visit to Fairyland just the same. Funny in a way that the previous books aren't. But I am super excited about the next (and last!) book. ( )

"It was Spring that day, one of the very first warm days, when the sun seems to be trying Summer on for size, turning this way and that, blushing and helming and hawing and opening its top button, just to be daring."

Valente's writing is like maple syrup - languorous sweet amber. I'd pour it on anything.

"Oh, September. My best girl. I shall tell you an awful, wonderful, unhappy, joyful secret: It is like that for everyone. One day you wake up and you are grown. And on the inside, you are no older than the last time you thought Wouldn't it be lovely to be all Grown-Up right this second?" ( )

Gosh. I love this book. I love this series. I love Valente, and everything she touches. This book made me laugh and sigh and think during every chapter. I ended up worrying over and gnawing on turns of phrase and delightful shifts in narrative all through the days during the periods when I couldn't be reading or listening to more of it. I love that we met more characters, and learned about "changelings" and then that eventually returned to our favorite people by the end.

Given the endings -- sorry, no spoilers! ( )