Publisher: DAW
Publish Date: Out Now
Reviewed by: E
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher
When Auntie Catherine warns the family of an approaching asteroid, the Gales scramble to keep humans from going the way of the dinosaurs. Fortunately for the world, they’re wielding a guitar and a dragon.
The Gale family can change the world with the charms they cast, which has caused some supernaturally complicated family shenanigans in the past. So when NASA and Doomsday Dan confirm Auntie Catherine’s dire prediction, Charlotte “Charlie” Gale turns to the family for help.
But Allie is unavailable because the universe seems determined to have her produce the seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh son of a Gale. And the Aunties can’t help because they’re tied to the earth – although they are happy to provide their delicious, trademark pies. And in the end, all Charlie has is a guitar…
…and Jack. The Dragon Prince, and a Sorcerer.
But Charlie might like Jack just a little too much, and Jack might like Charlie a little too much in return. Actually, between Allie’s hormones, the Aunties trying to force her and Jack into ritual, the Courts having way too much fun at the end of days, and Jack’s sudden desire to sacrifice himself for the good of the many, Charlie’s fairly certain that the asteroid is the least of her problems.
The Gales are going to need more than pie to save the world from an incoming asteroid. But together there isn’t anything they can’t deal with – except possibly each other.
This blurb came from Goodreads
I happen to be a huge Tanya Huff fan so when the first Gale Women story came out Enchantment Emporium I read it several times and always hoped Huff would write more in this particular world. About three years I go after I learned she was writing a second The Wild Ways I scraped up the courage to ask if she would come visit us. I wasn’t sure Huff was going to continue because each novel provided closure, happily however I started hearing rumblings and then catching snippets about a third Gale Women. I was really excited when it arrived because strong women, dragons, science, magic, and a very complicated family are my version of catnip. Sadly Huff has stated The Future Falls is the final story in this world but she ended with a bang. If you are interested in trying this series I highly recommend you start with the first installment because past events lay the foundation.
Before I start on the story itself I have to admit something. I DETEST time-travel stories as a result of a horrible introduction to my HEA loving heart and a few other attempts. I enjoy But one thing I should have learned by now is the exception to the rule. Some people have the ability to take a trope and do something to it so not only does that trope become palatable but actually enjoyable. Huff managed to do that to me with time-travel.
Charlie and Auntie Catherine have always had a love, hate, respect, resent relationship. Both are considered Wild by the rest of the Gale women and as a result they were loved, slightly feared, and no one was sure if they really wanted to try to keep their power in the family or let it naturally die off. What the Gales called Wild would probably really scare anyone else because Wild ones had unusual talents and tended to be loose cannons. Above all they remained loyal to the family even if their methods and casual disregard for Gale proprieties were a cause for concern. Auntie Catherine had been banished from one part of Canada by Charlie’s cousin Allie but that had not stopped her from manipulating things, namely Charlie and Jack, in the last installment much to Charlie’s displeasure. So when Auntie Catherine started showing up in Charlie’s life actually saying straight ford things again she knew something unpleasant was going to happen.
Jack, the half-Dragon Prince half-Gale many times removed has spent the past several years learning how to fit in as a Gale Boy in the human realm. But at heart he was still a dragon with extremely powerful innate magic who didn’t quite accept he had to follow rules which made no sense to him. One of those such decrees was the 7 year rule. Within the vastly extended Gale family, not only did they keep track of bloodlines but they also insisted any experimentation on compatibility were only allowed if both individuals were within seven years of each other’s age. In the Other Realm and especially around Dragons age was never considered a limiting factor so he refused to accept his mutual attraction with Charlie was forbidden. Well forbidden until the Aunties decided on a last ditch effort to save the earth he and Charlie should be involved in ritual because they needed every bit of power possible.
The Future Falls was as much about self-sacrifice and paying to get what you really want as it was about trying to figure out a way to save the world, not just saving part of the Gale family line. Both of those two main challenges involved a lot of family interference. The Aunties did their best to keep Charlie and Jack separate to the extent of refusing to let them take an active part in ritual because they were outside the 7-year list and extremely attracted to each other. Charlie helped by leaving to wander as often as she could and trying to shut Jack out of her business while Jack would get all moody and take off for a long flight both of whom caused Allie to worry and want to keep them closer to home. I really enjoyed learning the reason behind the 7-year requirement and why it was enforced to such an extent even though I thought in this particular case Charlie and Jack were an exception to the rule. I also liked how Huff dealt with the rules she had established in her initial world-building and solved conflicts without hand waving.
Both Charlie and Jack had a role to play in saving the world. Each used their various connections and understanding of how different realms worked as they looked for solutions outside of the Aunties’ ideas. Jack handled most of the interactions with the Others sometimes using his innate magic while Charlie dealt with humans and Auntie Catherine. I loved how everything they did separately ended up being tied together along with various other events from previous installments to come up with a solution, as tenuous as it was. I liked how everything hung on what Charlie and Jack were willing to sacrifice and endure out of hope for a future.
While this trilogy fits firmly in the Urban Fantasy arena Huff provided me with enough romance especially forbidden romance throughout the series to keep that aspect of my reader’s heart happy. I really enjoy the world-building, the science/logic mixed with magic, and the crazy Gale family. I thought Charlie matured nicely as she was forced to face her feelings and seeing the changes in Jack from his first emergence through the end just increased my love for dragons. I did wish I could have seen the better part of Jack’s uncles interact more with the world after their appearance in The Enchantment Emporium because **shivers** they had real potential. However, their lack did not mean The Future Falls felt like it was missing any elements. Once more Huff has proven why I continue to eagerly look forward to her new releases and reread her backlist.
I give The Future Falls an A/A-
I was absolutely thrilled when I learned that there was to be another book featuring the Gales, especially Charlie and Jack. I can’t wait to read this. I have to admit, I didn’t read your review because I want to go into the book not knowing what to expect, but I’m glad you reviewed it since that will hopefully encourage others to pick up this trilogy.
@JenM: I really hope you enjoy it and I am glad to meet another fan of this trilogy. Like you I also hope others give it a try.