Crucible Zero (House Immortal, #3) by Devon Monk

The national bestselling author of Infinity Bell returns to her “fresh and unique”* world where the truce between the ruling Houses has shattered and chaos now reigns. Only one woman has the power to save the world—but she could also destroy it...
Matilda Case never thought of herself as a hero. But because she is galvanized—and nearly immortal in her stitched, endlessly healing body—she doesn’t have much of a choice. Even if she doesn’t want to save the world, she’s the only one capable of traveling in time to do so.
But her rescue attempt hasn’t gone as planned. She’s stuck in an alternate universe, and her world is in danger of disappearing. Worst of all, an unfathomably powerful man who can also travel through history doesn’t want her to put things to rights. He’s willing to wage bloody war to stop Matilda, unless she surrenders control of time to him.
Now, with the minutes ticking, Matilda must make impossible decisions, knowing that one wrong choice will destroy her—and any chance of saving everything she loves...
*A Book Obsession

Hm.

Well, hell.

As most of you know I’m a diehard Devon Monk fan, and though I liked these last two books the least of any of hers – with this one being the very least, I’m still flying my fan flag high. I just happened to not connect with this particular story that much.

For me this book was a little too boring, a little too neatly finished, not enough oomph with the characters, and a hefty dose of off-ness that I couldn’t shake. Matilda made it through the Wings of Mercury insanity of the last book but now she’s in a different time and everyone she knows is different, even if they’re sort of the same. I really came to enjoy the characters the way I’d come to know them from reading the first two installments in this trilogy so having different personalities was a little meh and off – I got used to it, but still. I didn’t fully connect with this story as much as I did the first, or even the second, and it makes me sad. I liked seeing Foster be different in the way that he was, and I could get behind the tension between Matilda and Abraham, but it wasn’t enough for me. Also: [View post to see spoiler]

We really just went on a long road trip with a sudden “excitement” right at the end. Even though I was able to read the whole thing I didn’t pick it up right when I woke up and I felt too removed from the majority of the story.

I wanted much, much, much more of Neds, and I had hoped to get some insight into the tease that was both his personal history and the history shared with Sallyo (as well as what both of their special traits were [View post to see spoiler]. I wanted to know her history, too, but there was absolutely nothing. The other galvanized were barely present in this book, and while I did enjoy having more Foster, it was annoying to have gotten used to them for two books and then only see them for about half a scene.

I’ve been waiting to read this book for a long time (school got in the way) and it’s a big disappointment that I wasn’t blown away, but oh well. Other people might connect and have a great time with these people so if this is a genre you’re interested in I’d still recommend giving it a shot.