Book Nine, "The Sweet Far Thing"

Book Count: Nine
Title: The Sweet Far Thing
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 819

Synopsis: It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father a laudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds. The Order - the mysterious group her mother was once part of - is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.

Thoughts so far: I've only read a few pages into this, but even without getting very far, I'm excited. I began to read the author's note at the beginning of the book, and her humor got me excited. She says,

They say it takes a village to raise a child. I've discovered that that's largely true. (Well, that and a truckload of M&M's). But to write the last book in a trilogy, it takes more than a village. At last count, it takes a great coffee shop; lots of caffeine and chocolate; Guitar Hero (curse you, "Bark at the Moon" on medium!); a drool cup; Kleenex; and many, many understanding friends, family members, editors, publishers, and other writers to nod and pass you the Ben & Jerry's and occasionally pull on the bungee cord of your self-esteem to snap you back from the Perpetual Night of the I Suck Abyss. (Perpetual Night of the I Suck Abyss- new band name. I call dibs.)

As I said, I'm really very excited and despite the page count I hope to have this done by the end of the week.