In the final chapter, we find ourselves exactly where we started: at the scene of the Allgoods' imminent executions. Gulp. As the first book in a five-part series, the end strikes a suspenseful note. It's a cliffhanger, for sure, but it's not entirely bleak; Wisty seems confident that she and her family will find a way out of this mess. Is that a witch's intuition? Or is it just regular hope? Though we can't say for sure, this much is clear: The One Who Is The One has said the Allgoods' execution is Prophecy Five… but he's also said that Whit and Wisty will be around for Prophecy Six. Food for thought as you prepare to continue the series.
In the last paragraphs, Wisty leaves us with a message of carpe diem:
Listen, please: seize the moment, however worried you may be about what's coming next. It's your brain, it's your life, it's your attitude…. Go out there and fill up with sights, sounds, and ideas that are bigger than yourself. We all know from history—to say nothing of this current reality—what can happen if we stay quiet and just do what's put in front of us. (104.12)
It's a call to action for readers to be engaged, politically and otherwise. Think of it as something to do while you wait to get your hands on the next book in the series.