(4) YA Dark Reflections Trilogy series. Translated by Elizabeth D. Crawford. Merle and her allies (including romantic interest Serafin) take the final, fearful steps necessary to save their beloved Venice from the marauding Egyptian Empire. Dual story lines sap tension, and attempts to connect the many plot strands of the previous books can be convoluted, but Merle and Serafin's reunion reinvigorates the narrative, propelling the inventive trilogy to a bittersweet end.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Dark Reflections Trilogy series. Translated by Elizabeth D. Crawford. With Venice overtaken by the Egyptian empire, orphan Merle escapes with a stone lion and a disembodied goddess to seek help from the ruler of Hell. Meanwhile, Merle's best friend Serafin joins a sphinx's plot to overthrow the Pharaoh. The alternation of narratives leaches tension from the near-constant action, but Meyer's strong characters effectively ground his deeply complex plot.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross