Outcasts

September 1, 2023
The conclusion to the Ferryman Trilogy sees its protagonists realizing that there's no cheating death. Dylan and her boyfriend, Tristan, find their new lives in the world of the living falling apart as the balance between the real world and the wasteland continues to crumble. The veil between worlds shows signs of degeneration, and wraiths are increasingly intruding into the living world, leaving them to deal with the guilt of being responsible for this fracture. Everything changes when the souls of Dylan's mum and dad are taken by the Inquisitor: "You have upset the balance, and it is my job to reset the equilibrium. I made a bargain with you, and I will hold to it." The lovers are offered a chance to make things right--but this means crossing the wasteland and surviving all its dangers, knowing that in the end they will be separated forever. Meanwhile, ferryman Susanna and Jack, the soul she must escort into the afterlife, have grown closer and are hoping to survive their own harrowing crossing. In doing so, however, they discover something that should have been impossible. This novel features high stakes and examines ideas of accountability and making amends for wrongs, but these elements are undermined by the difficulty of sympathizing with the four protagonists, given their self-absorption. The worldbuilding feels flimsy and, disappointingly, seems to change to accommodate the characters' needs. Main characters read white. Returning fans may be satisfied with this series closer. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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