For the record, this is my first read through and I just finished this book about a half hour before speed writing the reviews for the 2nd and 3rd book. When I was getting ready to read this book, after the darkness of the 3rd book fresh in my mind, I was really worried that this was going to go the way of the Song of Fire and Ice. "You think the worst had happened...well you thought wrong" sort of thing. I believe that Karen Miller did a spectacular job writing this book. She didn't just gloss over the fact that Reg2 replaced Reg, everything is hunky dory. Gerald was forced to ingest the grimoire magic, and who knows what could happen? This book started on a precipice...would things be able to go back to being normal? Or was everything going to fall apart?
And it also follows through with dealing with the Reg scenario of what makes you you. The moments that would happen and then you realize that this Reg didn't live through that memory of yours, and the awkwardness that ensues because up until that moment, this Reg was the Reg that started in book three. And imagine it from Reg's point of view...she feels like she is her own person and accepted, and then when those moments come up she has a feeling of just filling in. It was moments like that were I am sad because the original Reg is dead...she isn't coming back; and at the same time there is Reg who is trying to live and carry on with the people she cares about. Those moments when they touch on the fact that she isn't their Reg just made me tear up. And this major change in everyone's lives really isn't something a normal person can just push forward without a second thought. And I think Karen Miller portrayed that wonderfully.
And then Gerald...the fact that he knows he is changing and everyone can see he is changing. After the events of book three, even he is worried he could change into the bad Gerald. Especially after Alec made Jennison leave some of the grimoire magic inside of him to essentially become permanent. Gerald is trying to deal with this new aspect of himself, and is trying to NOT become that other Gerald. I think that in and of itself is what is going to save him. But also because he has his friends, who are hesitant right now, but have faith in him. This goes back to the second book where Alec sort of foreshadows that the only thing that is going to keep Gerald from becoming something no one can stop (and in a very bad sort of way) were those friends. And it is because of that he has allowed them to be so close, despite the first rule of being a janitor is to essentially isolate and separate those sides of your life (work and personal).
What was really nice about this book is that you see Monk and Reg start to bong and become closer than he really was to the original Reg. You also see that this Reg, probably through having to live with what happened in her world, allows herself to be a little more soft at the right moments.
It was also wonderful to see that every member of the group was equally involved with the scenario of trying to save the wedding before it can cause an international disaster, and finding out who is behind the plan to cause this disaster. And guess who "shows" their face? That stupid STUPID black market wizard is who. And he doesn't necessarily show is face, just his hexes. I cannot wait to find out who it is that is behind all of this.
Needless to say, I am now very upset the next book is not out yet, because I REALLY cannot wait to see how this all ends. I believe out of this series, this book is definitely the strongest (even though I personally think they are all amazing).
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