You can’t save everyone…You can’t save those who don’t want to be saved…You can’t save your friends…You can’t save yourself.
When I finished reading The Minority Council, the fourth novel in Kate Griffin’s Matthew Swift series, I was left wondering whether the Minority Council was filled with misguided evildoers or with self-sacrificing individuals who had tried to teach Matthew Swift a much needed lesson in being the Midnight Mayor of London. The Minority Council is decidedly less depressing than The Neon Court. Yes, a number of people die, some horrifically. But, Matthew has a perky new personal assistant, and in this novel he is not tasked with saving London from some dread fate. In addition, Penny continues to be “student, savior, and punishment.”
Three people ask Matthew for his help. The first is Meera, a fairy dust addict. The second is Nabeela, who works for the regular Council and is trying to uncover the cause of one young man’s death and the disappearance of the souls of numerous other young men. The third is the Beggar King, who is concerned about the disappearance of a number of his subjects and warns Matthew not to trust anyone. Matthew soon learns about the existence of the Minority Council, composed of Aldermen who “carry on the tradition of what the Aldermen have been, of what the Midnight Mayor should be.” Matthew attempts to undo the wrongs done by the Minority Council and others, but will he pay a horrible price? Matthew definitely grows up as Midnight Mayor in this novel.
Some of the last sections of the novel introduce the reader to the characters who will take center stage in the Magicals Anonymous series. In a way I am sad to see the Matthew Swift series come to a close. While it was a bit dark, it also had some interesting character development and, of course, wonderful urban magic.
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