This is another story in a mind-blowing concept of a universe where aspects of the universe can be embodied into people.  It's both about the bad guys hoping to cash in on the prospect, if only they can control those people, and the people who are created to be the vessel.  It's a sequel only in the sense it's set in the same universe; the characters from the first book make a cameo appearance but this is about new characters.  I've been mulling over the expected title for some months now; and I admit I was way off.  The word "tidal" had me thinking about creatures in the sea whose lives are controlled by tides.  Not where McGuire was going…

In this story, we are introduced to an entirely different set of beings; these are natural and not alchemically created.  They are incarnations of the Moon; they, as in lots and lots of them all over the world.  Their purpose is to shine the Moon's light over the Impossible City to keep it connected to reality.  As you might imagine from what we learned of the alchemists in the previous two books, this is of paramount interest to them.  These divinities have direct contact with and entrance into the Impossible City on a regular basis.  The alchemists would do just about anything to gain entrance to the Impossible City; something none of them have yet done.  Their idea is, of course, that if they could get into the City, they could figure out how to control it; and, by extension, the Universe.  So far, they have failed to capture, control or influence any of the major Moon incarnations; so they have a couple other ideas.

In many mythologies (and it doesn't hurt to be up on your mythologies before starting this series), the Moon incarnation has a partner or companion; for example, Diana - goddess of the Moon and of Hunting - was sometimes depicted with a small deer or hind as her companion.  So the alchemists thought that if they could create a being with all the characteristics of that companion, it would become the ideal vessel for that incarnation which would, in turn, draw in the divinity who should be able to be controlled through that relationship.  To that end, one of the alchemists created a perfect Hind in the character of Kelpie.  Kelpie lives and works in an alchemical lab as an assistant.  She knows she is bright orange with cloven hooves but she believes her mentor's story that she was altered in a lab accident and they are working to reverse the effects and restore her memory of being human.  But after a catastrophic event, Kelpie is forced to flee the lab and, for the first time, enter the completely human world.  Due to her nature, most humans see a perfectly natural-looking young girl; only incarnations or someone with ties to the Impossible City see her as she is.  With the unintentional help of a witch and her coven, and an introduction to the incarnations of Ethos (see first book), she begins to accept the truth that she is a creation meant to attract and trap a Diana.  She doesn't much care for the idea that she would be unwillingly bound to another person.

The other idea the alchemists had was to murder a lunar divinity and replace them with one of their own.  This plan is also in motion and discovered by a small group of lunar divinities in Berkeley; which also happens to be the workplace of Roger, half of the Ethos incarnation.  One of the lunars witnessed the dead body of another while in transition to his turn to be a Moon in the Impossible City.  The group of lunars attempt to recover the body in order to understand what happened but what they discover about the nature of their "job" overwhelms their current understanding.  But these discoveries lead to a deeper understanding of the nature of their function and their connection to the Impossible City.  But it doesn't lead them any closer to understanding how one of them was killed, who did it, and - more importantly - why.  They have to forge a new connection to other alchemical beings to help them see outside their one, singular, function: cue the Ethos and Chaos incarnation from the first book (Roger, Dodger and Erin) who may be the most powerful beings in the Universe.

The introduction of humans who have a minor perception of "magic" or a connection to the Impossible City in the guise of witches was inspired.  It gave McGuire the opportunity to give the reader a chance to connect with mostly-normal humans; the universe-changing abilities of Roger, Dodger and Erin were challenging to comprehend.

With a solid grounding provided by the preceding two books, this story was a great deal easier to navigate.  I thought McGuire had pretty much set up all the rules in this universe but she continues to surprise.  The depth of her imagination is staggering (see all her series).  I want to say that this series was presented as a trilogy but I'm not sure where I got that perception.  It's obvious that she has left a boundless universe to explore.

The worldbuilding is comprehensive, the characters motivations are sound, and the plot is imaginative.  And all this in the competent hands of a polished professional is always going to stun the reader.  I cannot emphasize enough that these stories are superb.   ~~ Catherine Book

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