If memory serves, Tom didn't expect it to work. He was trying to make points with Gia by making a show of offering to sacrifice himself. Not much of a change of heart, really.

First off, this whole sequence really got to me on a very deep level. Secondly, I don't think he was just "trying to make points with Gia", but rather, trying to make points with what he always longed for; he didn't know it at first, but I think his desire for Gia and her love was more about a longing for someone who could care for him, someone who could find something good about him and care for him in that way. Gia was sort of a semi-metaphor; by stealing the Stain, he ended up settling himself into a sort of peace in which he could comfortably feel like in the end, at least he did the - a - right thing by helping out the few people he felt close to in the world.

Just a heartbreaking, beautiful scene. Quite dramatic, F. Paul! Bravado!

So, I finished the book shortly after it came out, and I've been letting thoughts swim around in my head. I agree with a lot of what Aphew said, but at the same time, the book just felt ... unfinished. And not in a rushed, non-polished sense, but in the sense that it was just this one, last, stale evil breath before Hell is unleashed on Jack.

His spear now has no branches--at least not the blood relative kind. This book needed to happen to truly isolate Jack. He's got Gia. He's got Vicks. And he's got his baby on the way.

That's it.

I can't say it was my favorite in the series either--but I think it was an important entry into the series.

His spear now has no branches--at least not the blood relative kind.

Jack's baby would certainly qualify as a blood relative. And there have now been three attempts on the baby's life. First in The Haunted Air, when Tara Portman says that she was brought back to kill Gia. Then two attempts in Crisscross: a near miscarriage, and a near accident with a runaway truck. Something is trying awfully hard to trim that last branch.

Jack's baby would certainly qualify as a blood relative. And there have now been three attempts on the baby's life. First in The Haunted Air, when Tara Portman says that she was brought back to kill Gia. Then two attempts in Crisscross: a near miscarriage, and a near accident with a runaway truck. Something is trying awfully hard to trim that last branch.

Is it possible that the cause of Gia's near miscarriage was from a cause similar to the near miscarriages of "The One" in Reborn? I can't remember the events leading up to Gia's close call, but I should recheck.

Jack's baby would certainly qualify as a blood relative. And there have now been three attempts on the baby's life. First in The Haunted Air, when Tara Portman says that she was brought back to kill Gia. Then two attempts in Crisscross: a near miscarriage, and a near accident with a runaway truck. Something is trying awfully hard to trim that last branch.

I was conveniently ignoring the baby; I suppose I was referring solely to his external family. The child is, of course, the wrench in the works.

Of course, Infernal also has the baby coming into danger--Gia would naturally take the Stain to protect Vicky, which would kill the baby. Of course, events averted that fate.

I'll put it this way--Hosts got rid of one branch, and introduced us to the "Spear has no branches" idea.

We're comforted by a few books in between, with some attempts on this new baby's life--diverting our attention to the baby.

Then WHAM! This book comes along and trims two more branches. Our eyes were on the baby, and F Paul steps in to kill of Tom Sr., and surprisingly, Tom Jr. Both in one book. Now, our eyes are firmly fixed on the baby.

What will happen next?

I eagerly await that answer.

Even though this is a spoiler thread for Infernal you should have mentioned in your post that you had spoilers for Nightworld. Not everyone has read it yet.

Even though this is a spoiler thread for Infernal you should have mentioned in your post that you had spoilers for Nightworld. Not everyone has read it yet.

????

The only Nightworld spoilers I've seen are clearly marked. If you're referring to BrettM's post, he's only reiterating things that have been said in prior Jack books; that there's an old man out there who used to be a champion, and that the lady's are thinking that maybe Jack's the new champion (also reinforced in Conspiracies).

Otherwise, any other posts warn peeps that they'll be spoiling other stuff.

The only Nightworld spoilers I've seen are clearly marked. If you're referring to BrettM's post, he's only reiterating things that have been said in prior Jack books; that there's an old man out there who used to be a champion, and that the lady's are thinking that maybe Jack's the new champion (also reinforced in Conspiracies).

There was a post here that mentioned several spoilers in Nightworld. That's what I was referencing. The post no longer exists though so I assume it was removed.

There was a post here that mentioned several spoilers in Nightworld. That's what I was referencing. The post no longer exists though so I assume it was removed.

I saw it. It talked about Gia, Vicky, and the unborn child. It pretty much spilled the entire Repairman Jack future in Nightworld. Was a good post, but definitely needed a spoiler alert.

It was me!!!

Sorry about the confusion but I was pissed so I deleted it as I was too incapacitated to edit effectively. I should have left it up and done something re: spoilers

Steve