Aaaaand how did everyone enjoy this book? A wild, roller-coaster crazy crash course through time that messes up everything in a way familiar to anyone who has some knowledge of speculative fiction, but for many people it's their first glimpse into that genre of writing

Hitler's not Hitler! Washington never crossed the Delaware! TRAFALGAR WAS A MESS! (Okay, that one's technically true anyway)

And for our band of heroes in specific. They got into this knowing that one of them would have to die, but they didn't seem to truly believe in it until it happened, despite being more familiar with death than any kids should ever be. Probably worse because it doesn't happen during battle, it just happens

A fairly common theme in war stories of any sort is how "the end" is rarely glamorous, or filled with "honor," or any sort of last stand, especially since the advent of gunpowder and guns to supplant hand-held weapons like swords and maces. The kids always fight close in as animals, so they're sadly used to the latter sort of fight, without much acclimation

to the former. It's fairly telling how they all seem to go just a little bit mad after that

But oh we got some of the best scenes in the series out of this one. Cassie as a polar bear, anyone?

We'll be back with a full series discussion!

God, I absolutely agree fullstop that Cassie morphing a polar bear to threaten a racist was one of the best scenes in the ENTIRE SERIES

even when I was a youngling and didn't properly appreciate Cassie, I loved the shit out of it

Agreed