Factotum, book three of the Monster Blood Tattoo series, finds Rossamund Bookchild settling into life with Europe in her home in Brandenbrass. He has a much to worry about, including the accusations that question his origin and what he is, as well as the life of violence killing monsters he has signed up for as Europe’s factotum.
While his life in the household is comfortable, he feels threats all around, and when he once again comes to the aid of the powerless, he is targeted by a powerful nemesis intent on destroying those he loves.
While I ultimately enjoyed this installment of Rossamund’s story, I found it a bit slow to start, with a lot of what was to come being set up in the first couple of hundred pages, but not much action in that time. Also, the use of terms specific to the created world sometimes strung together in ways that made it difficult to follow. I would have preferred simpler language throughout.
That said, once action picked up I enjoyed the story and felt that the trilogy came to a satisfying closure for Rossamund, or it raises the possibility for his tale to continue in another direction. Either way, I think the fantasy series takes readers on a fun ride through an imaginative world, while having them ponder the question of what makes a monster.
The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
