Something Deadly This Way Comes

Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison

Madison Avery #3

I'm Madison Avery, in charge of heaven's hit squad . . . and fighting it all the way. 

When Madison died the night of her prom, she knew her life would never be the same. Now she has a powerful amulet, a team of rogue angels by her side, and the ability to flash forward into the future to see the shape of destiny. And of course, now she's finally with Josh—a perfect boyfriend who doesn't even mind that she's dead. 

But being dead has its disadvantages, too. Madison feels caught between the light and the dark, and between her real life and her timekeeper status. When Madison has the opportunity to get her body back—to be alive again—she faces her most difficult decision yet. If she claims it, she could return to being a normal girl—and have a chance at a real relationship with Josh. But would having the one thing she wants most in the world also mean giving up everything she's worked so hard for?

Ever since Madison was killed and thrust into leading the Dark Reapers as their Timekeeper on the side of Fate, her life has been one big chaotic mess. She would give almost anything to to change her fate and be just a normal girl again. However, she also realizes that the system must change, and she is just the girl for job. Well, the only girl that is. Everyone else seems content with the way things have been for a Milena or more. It's an uphill battle but one that she firmly believes in. Things get a little complicated when she finds her body and has the chance to step aside. Will she take that temptation to be normal again or will she step up and fight for what she believes in?

From the start of this series there has always been the looming conflict between fate and choice. Madison of course blurs those lines despite her fated role as the Dark Timekeeper placing her firmly on the dark side according to the Seraphs. She has a way of changing other people's (or reaper's) outlook on things. While she may think she is "ruining" them, I actually think in the long run she is helping them. By opening their eyes to new possibilities they are able to experience so much more than they ever did before. Of course the road is still very bumpy with plenty of obstacles in the way, but Madison just seems to be able to give them the "push" they need to get started. Heck, even her supposed exact opposite, Paul the rising Light Timekeeper, has been influenced by her. This fact, as well as many other things is what makes Madison a really fantastic character.

I really love the dynamic between the characters in this series. There is a whole lot of conflict between them, both external and internal. All of that comes to head in this book. I especially enjoyed seeing both Nakita and Barnabas start to accept their inner turmoils and turn those confused feelings into action and acceptance. Of course with Madison being the game changing influence that she is, they were bound to feel her influence. What does it mean when the Dark starts acting like the Light and the Light starts acting like the Dark? That is just one of the conflict the characters are dealing with. The important thing is not the actual changes, but the reasoning behind those new choices that will make all the difference.

As far as I understand, Something Deadly This Way Comes is the last installment in the Madison Avery Series. I feel it ending things rather well with a sense of completion. And yet... I also feel like there could be so much more as things ended not really with a resolution, but more of a clear path for the future instead. Personally I would love to see some of that future, so I'm crossing my fingers that in one format or another we will get more. This book took everything great from the series and combined it all together, ending in a very unexpected way. If you enjoyed the first two books, then this one won't disappoint.

Rating:

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Something Deadly This Way Comes (Madison Avery)

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Outdo Yourself
YA