A word of warning, Lost Acre is the third book in a trilogy. If you’ve not read books one and book two then I suggest you proceed with caution. It is entirely possible that minor spoilers may lie within.
APOCALYPSE NOW?
Geryon Wynter, the brilliant Elizabethan mystic, has achieved resurrection and returned to present-day Rotherweird. But after the chaos of Election Day, how can a stranger from another time wrest control? And for what fell purpose is Wynter back?
His dark conspiracy reaches its climax in this unique corner of England, where the study of history is forbidden and neither friend nor foe are quite what they seem.
The stakes could not be higher, for at the endgame, not only Rotherweird is under threat. The future of mankind itself hangs in the balance.
Lost Acre’s predecessors, Rotherweird and Wyntertide, were an absolute delight from beginning to end, and this final book in the series is the icing on a perfect cake. This series has been such a delight, I’m going to miss it. I will reign in my heartbreak, power through the grief, and endeavour to convey some semblance of professionalism. Please note however, that what follows is written by a broken man with a heavy heart.
When we last left England’s only isolationist independent city state, things were not good. The outcome of the mayoral election has left the town split down the middle. The meddlesome Guild of Apothecaries were in ascendancy, busying themselves by sowing the seeds of discontent. For your average Rotherweirder, confusion abounds. Apparently, country-siders, those living within Rotherweird valley but outside of the town proper, are no longer to be trusted.
Geryon Wynter has arrived and, using all his charm and devilish cunning, seized control almost overnight. Things do indeed look pretty grim. The various factions standing against the new ‘emergency’ mayor are struggling to keep up. Not a huge surprise really, Wynter’s nefarious schemes have been centuries in the making, so of course our heroes are on the back foot. The final battle for Rotherwierd has begun and it is up to a mismatched group of oddballs, eccentrics, shapeshifters and a permanently confused history teacher to save the day.
As you would expect from the final book in a trilogy, there are revelations a plenty. The author is obviously having a ball delivering his endgame. My advice is pay close attention. Clues about what is what and who is who are there if you look for them!
The narrative is peppered with some subtle, and not so subtle, allusions to the current state of the British political landscape. I’ve become more than a little jaded by all the madness we’ve experienced over the last few years so it’s a great deal of fun watching a writer lampooning it so mercilessly. The various forms of economic and political suicide our glorious leader is contemplating are completely nonsensical, it seems only sensible that it should be mocked at every opportunity.
There are rare occasions when I enjoy a series so much I get genuinely despondent when I know it is drawing to an end. This is such a case. I’m going to miss this weird little town. Rotherweird is such a blissfully unique creation. It manages to be strange and otherworldly but also familiar and comforting at the same time. I’ve come to the conclusion that Rotherweird is essentially a slightly skewed microcosm of the country I call home. The best and the worst of United Kingdom are captured in this satirical fantasy and it provokes a myriad of emotional responses. Caldecott proves time and time again through his subtle humour and insightful characterisation that he knows exactly what makes this stupid little island nation tick.
I know this trilogy isn’t going to be for everyone. Things are often surreal, and the premise is undoubtedly odd. The characters are somewhere beyond strange and far out the other side. Personally, I loved it.
I don’t really think there is much more I can say, I feel so bereft. If you’re contemplating purchasing Lost Acre, then chances are you have already read what has come before. You’ll know exactly what to expect. The good news is book three delivers at every turn. Lost Acre is the perfect swansong to the wonderfully executed series of books.
Lost Acre is published by Jo Fletcher Books and is available now. Highly recommended.
My musical selection to accompany Lost Acre has a suitably Elizabethan air. Lute Music for Witches and Alchemists by Lutz Kirchlof is just the right amount of atmospheric to ensure the good (and bad) citizens of Rotherweird have a proper send off. Sometimes you just can’t beat busting out a good madrigal or two.
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