Week 1: All is Fair Read-Along

Our read-along of The Split Worlds series continues, and this month we’re diving into the third book All Is Fair! If you’re interested in joining this Read-Along, visit the SF/F Read-Along group for more information and to join the discussion.

With thanks to Coolcurry for the read-along banner!

Caught in the insidious designs of powerful puppet-masters and playing a life-or-death game for control, Cathy and her comrades face their greatest challenge yet: changing the balance of power in the Split Worlds.

Now at the heart of the Londinium Court, deceit and murder track Will’s steps as he assumes his new role as Duke. Faced with threats to his throne and his life, the consequences of his bloody actions are already coming back to haunt him…

Meanwhile, Cathy, wrestling with the constraints of the Agency and Dame Iris, comes to terms with her new status in Fae-touched society and seeks others who feel just as restricted by its outdated social rules. As Max works with Cathy to uncover the horrors that underpin Fae-touched society, he bears witness as the final blow is struck against the last Sorcerers in Albion…

Week 1: Monday 4th July, Chapters 1-6, hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Monday 11th July, Chapters 7-14, hosted by Hisham El-Far
Week 3: Monday 18th July, Chapters 15-22, hosted by The Illustrated Page
Week 4: Monday 25th July, Chapters 23-End, hosted by x + 1

We get to visit the Agency in more depth than before here. What are your thoughts/predictions on their shady goings-on after what we’ve been shown?

Mogsy: I’m not sure where this thread is going yet, but what is revealed here is very disturbing. It appears the Agency is a lot more nefarious than I first thought (and I thought they were plenty iffy already) and they have more power than I expected. So this is where members of the society disappear to when they are disgraced…

Will finally realises he may have made certain mistakes with all his assumptions… Do you think he’ll step up and correct them, or is it too late for him?

Mogsy: Too late. Even if he wants to make amends, what can he really do? A man is dead, and you can’t correct that. Bartholomew’s widow is also very angry (rightfully so) and whatever goodwill the Irises have earned has been flushed down the toilet when Will charged in with his half-baked accusations. Even if doubt is starting to creep up on him, he’s probably still too proud, too stupid, and too in denial at this point to admit he did the wrong thing. His belligerence when talking to Cathy about what happened is sort of proof of that.

“It’s nice not being called ‘puppet’ all the time.” Max and Cathy seem to be coming to a better understanding of each other and their situations. Max also seems to be coming around more to the gargoyle’s (more emotional) point of view. What do you make of their scenes here, and do you think he and Cathy can become true allies from here?

Mogsy: I had to give an ironic laugh when Cathy said that in the book. She might not like being called a puppet, but sadly a puppet is what she is whether she likes it or not, as long as she and her peers are all beholden to their fae lords and have to do what they say. This is why I’m reluctant to answer yes or no with regards to the question about Cathy and Max becoming true allies. I suppose they can be, until the next time their goals come in conflict with something Lord Iris or Lord Poppy wants from Cathy. If I were Max, I’d keep that in mind and only trust her as far as that.

Things take an interesting turn for Sam with Lord Iron, following Leanne’s funeral. Do you have any new thoughts about might be going on here after the discussion they have at Lord Iron’s house?

Mogsy: So maybe Neugent isn’t the diabolical killer villain Sam thought him to be. Hmm, I’m not sure if I have any new theories yet, but I’m so pleased we finally got to see this famed forge we’ve been hearing about!