“Grave robbing was still viewed as socially inappropriate, and doing it when the sun was up was generally viewed as unwise.”

Enjoying the falls. St Columba Falls, Pyngana. July 2021.

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

I enjoyed the third instalment of this entertaining series of fantasy novels very much. Given that it is largely set in a 'nonsense' world, it is decidedly lighter in tone than the second book. That said, McGuire doesn't flinch from the grimmer side of life, and I remain impressed at the way she uses the fantasy setting to explore fundamental human problems and those of young people in particular.

One of the joys of this setting is how the author can bend and shape the contours of previous choices in the series to pursue closed-off plotlines. In this way, Yumi - murdered in the first book - returns as we journey with our ragtag bunch of misfits into the world of candy on a mission to save the daughter that was never born to their friend.

As with the previous books, Beneath the Sugar Sky features an inclusive, diverse group that never feels preachy or fake, with the setting again the perfect vehicle for the task. I'm looking forward to reading number four.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2