Well, these chapters are rather predictable. Not just because I read the series before, but also because as most series go as it approaches the end, we are at a full circle moment.
Of course this doesn't make it less emotional or heavy, just a bit predictable. Although I am still surprised that this series has a full circle moment that's quite so blatant. When Darren had to fake his death all those years ago, it seemed that his human life was sort of over. For him to revisit it, is a bit strange and surprising frankly.
Still, as I mentioned, despite it being rather predictable, it's still pretty heavy. With my own life being beyond stressful, and changing soon, it definitely hits differently for me personally.
Two years have passed since 'The Lake of Souls' and again, the casual passing of time in this series is still so unique to me. I have lost track of time throughout the series but, I predict roughly seventeen years or so have passed since book one.
So Darren is really just a straight up grown man at this point, it's quite interesting.
He and Harkat have been traveling with the Cirque during these two years and the show is about to return to Darren's hometown.
Mr. Tall casually mentions that Darren can avoid the trip, and sort of just wait until the Cirque finishes up in the town but oddly enough, Darren impulsively decides he wants to revisit it, claiming it would be 'interesting'.
I clocked this moment/decision by Darren as direct influence by Mr. Tiny. It just seemed so abrupt and the use of the word 'interesting' feels very much like something Mr. Tiny would say. My theory seemed to be confirmed rather quickly as Mr. Tall seems disappointed by Darren's decision to return. Later, when Darren asks Mr. Tall if it would have been better if he had stayed away, Mr. Tall says yes.
Furthermore, I already pointed out how this full circle moment seems a bit, unexpected. Darren left this life completely many years ago, and he really didn't seem to contemplate his human life over the years very often.
I guess I'm just noticing more Mr. Tiny meddling more often than before.
I suppose a lesson here is to leave the past in the past. I'm not really sure.
I will say, reading these five chapters is tough for me. Darren reminisces on the past a lot, and his journey as a whole, and it led to me thinking the same about my own life.
I'm personally getting a bit older this is true. A lot older frankly. I'm not exactly ancient by any means either. I'm at the stage where many young people consider me old, and old people probably laugh at how I'm beginning to genuinely believe that I'm actually getting 'old'.
Whatever. The point is, these full circle moments sting no matter how I slice it. There's so many things I personally wish I could take back. But I also wonder how different life would really be. The decisions were made and I had my reasons. I suppose looking back too much is foolish. It's quite hard not to though, because as much pain as there is, there are some good moments too.
It's so wild how impactful these books are to me. I think this series officially clears 'The Inheritance Cycle' for me. I sort of always knew it did, but still.
These books just take me to a place I can't fully explain.
