Man, I used to love this series. I started falling out of love after [b:Fables, Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland|15791586|Fables, Vol. 18 Cubs in Toyland (Fables, #18)|Bill Willingham|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375405494s/15791586.jpg|21513205], and it hasn't really been the same since. He just seems like a kid breaking his own toys now.

The jumping back and forth between plots in this volume (and several before this) was just chaotic and frustrating. Although I liked a few of the wrap-up stories, particularly Briar Rose's, it was a messy way to tie up loose ends before the big finish.

There's only one left, so of course, I'll read it. If there weren't an end in sight, this would have been the last one for me. ( )

Wow, people are being hard on this volume. I loved it. I am sad to say goodbye to this universe, but the writers seem to be doing a good job of wrapping up the conflict that's been present since the beginning. I am excited to read the conclusion! ( )

Fables feels like it's been running for perhaps a bit too long. And things are certainly not Happily Ever After...

Bigby is back... ish.

Rose Red and Snow White are still at each other's throats, but at least we finally get a reason for why. Except why that wouldn't possibly have come up before now hurts it somewhat.

Jack... exists. Ish.

Ms. Spratt/Douglas is growing more and more Dark. Ish.

A lot of ish. I really fell more like they had to come up with one last conflict to finish off the series. I don't know if they didn't intend to run this long or what.

It's still a fun read and interesting enough, but it doesn't quite measure up to where I hoped the series would be 21 (39 with subseries) issues in.

So it goes.

Spoilers (also NSFW):



Magical dream time! So of course... no clothes?



Backstory of Rose Red/Snow White's mother! Apparently they always have daughters and they always kill each other? Bizarre.



Jack and Gary interlude! Tacos! A better conclusion than [b:Jack of Fables, Vol. 9: The End|9422029|Jack of Fables, Vol. 9 The End|Bill Willingham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375409804l/9422029._SY75_.jpg|14306426]? ( )

We're getting to the end of the Fables storyline, finally, and with the end of the story comes the real reason why Snow White and Rose Red are constantly fighting. I always wrote it off to typical sisterly behaviour and a clashing of personality, but their lineage is revealed to be tied up in an ancient curse which forces the daughters of a generation to fight eachother to gain the complete magical power of the family. This seems a bit violent, but is exactly in tune with the harsher fairytales (and the reality that they grew out of), where fighting your siblings for food/possessions/land would have made the difference between life and death. I've always been partial to Snow White more than Rose Red (I guess I'm more of a rule maker than breaker) even though I've seen the benefit to her rebellious ways and stubborn strand of Hope, but her behavior is becoming completely out of line. Being foolhardy enough to recreate Camelot in the last storyarc was a pretty risky move, but there was hope that it could be of some good. Yet now, she's actively amassing an army, has taken control of Bigby (seriously, stealing Snow's husband through magic is nothing less than petty and childish), and has turned herself into the Red Knight - all of which does not bode well. Snow might be playing the part of the Dark Knight with her black armour, but her intentions are far more pure than Rose's and the significance of Rose's blood red armour is a pretty obvious tip-off to her bloodthirsty nature.

While the main storyline is going on, there were a bunch of short stories - the Last Story of [whomever]-, which I thought was an absolutely charming way to wrap up some of the major (and minor) characters. Even though they might not factor in to the larger storyline, it's nice to know that they all get some sort of ending! ( )

It is easy. If you like graphic novels at all read the Fables series. Start at the beginning and enjoy the art and the story. The deluxe editions are the best, but in whatever version they are well worth the read. ( )