NO SPOILERS
I eagerly awaited the arrival of this volume, as this series has become my new favorite! I ran into a little disappointment, but not much.
The new hardcover is just as lovely as the last ones - glossy details on a matt background. The front endpapers show illustrations of keys from previous volumes, while new keys are on the back endpapers.
The opening story, "Sparrow," focuses mainly on young Bode. What makes this episode special is that a potentially horrifying series of events is toned down by the clever use of humor and artistic style. Some of the episode is drawn the same way as the rest of the series, but for most of it Rodriguez uses a "Calvin and Hobbs" style, and Hill adds pertinent, funny dialog. The illustrative styles are interspersed. Very cleverly done. The episode, "February" shows small calendar pages next to the events pictured, helping to connect short events that happen in quick succession. Only a scene or several are necessary for these bits, and without some bridging the episode would have been a muddle.
The only thing I disliked about this volume was that several keys were introduced in too quick succession, without the details of their discovery or the details of their use. A frame or two is all provided in a couple of cases. As the book moved on, though, I could see how this was necessary to avoid slowing the plot to a crawl. Still, I wanted to know more!
Hill also addresses the stick subject of racism without becoming preachy. He moves the plot along well, revealing more on the mystery surrounding the black key and the missing teens. The last episode was sure to end in a horrifying manner...and it did, but not how I expected! In addition, he manages to bring some major events to a head while simultaneously throwing the main characters into a new morass of confusion. And they don't even know it!
How will I survive until the next book?