These chapters provide information that Jared would never have access to, allowing for a deeper mythos than the first two books could have (I particularly liked Anita’s brusque and honest chapter).

Notably different in this book, in contrast to the others, is the use of interstitial chapters told from the second-person perspective of other characters (Jared’s chapters are third person limited), including Maggie, Wee’git, and Anita. While I wouldn’t say Return of the Trickster moves at a breakneck pace, it definitely builds towards the climax with an inexorable confidence. And so Jared must navigate increasingly violent threats with the assistance of all sorts of magical players, from his own mother to Chuck (a Wild Man of the Woods) and Neeka (an otter woman in human form). He returns to Vancouver and his aunt Mave’s place, but it’s not safe for him or any of his loved ones. On the less bright side, Jared still has many enemies gunning for him, including Georgina’s minions, the coy wolves. On the bright side, his Aunt Georgina is stranded in an inhospitable universe. Jared’s misadventures in Trickster Drift have burnt out his power temporarily. Jared now knows that Philip isn’t his biological father-that honour belongs to Wee’git, a Trickster, currently deceased but still all-too-capable of causing mischief and annoying the living, Jared included. Jared wakes up in a hospital in Kitimat, where he used to live with his mom, Maggie. Spoilers for the first two books but not for this one.

Trigger warnings in this book for alcoholism, blood, body horror, torture, death, murder, violence, sexual assault … a lot of stuff. Robinson delivers the closure we want and need-but of course, it doesn’t come easily.

This book had a more open ending, so I was very excited when I learned Return of the Trickster had come out. Trickster Drift followed Jared’s move to Vancouver, his attempts to stay sober, and his encounters with more threats both magical and mundane. Robinson could have stopped there-nearly did, by her account, not being much of a series writer-yet she didn’t. In Son of a Trickster, Eden Robinson introduced us to Jared Martin, a Haisla/Heiltsuk boy on the cusp of manhood and also learning about his magical heritage. It’s always satisfying when a trilogy comes to a full-stop close, loose ends wrapped up and most questions answered.

Son of a trickster series