The Book of Dead Days: Marcus Sedgwick

I re-read this over the weekend since I have a number of friends who really liked it. But I still just thought it was ok – even upon re-read. I understand the idea of Boy not knowing anything about who he is – but I felt is was almost lazy to at least not give him a name. And Kepler and his role was a little too convenient. I don’t know – I am ok with having loose ends – story arcs that keep you moving from one book to the next. But I felt like I have no information to motivate me into wanting to read the next – I feel like I have none of the little tidbits that I should have at this point. To me, a good novel which is part of a series, gives me just enough of a tease as to what I might find out, that I really want to read what’s next. Here, not so much. I don’t know – I also expected – both reads – to learn more about the “Dead Days” – but it was like the mythology associated with them, which is set up by the beginning explanation of the varying cultures’ calendars – was totally absent. They were barely a passing thought. And that was disappointing the first time through. I was hoping I had just missed stuff or forgotten since the first read, but unfortunately, that was not the case. The ending was too neat – and not neat enough at all – all at the same time. I can’t even decide if I want to read the companion/sequel or not.