Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for gifting me an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.

I adore Seanan McGuire, and everything she writes is gold. This isn't my favorite of the Up-and-Under tales she's written as A. Deborah Baker to build up the lore for the Middlegame world, mostly because the end left me dissatisfied, but it was still a great story. There were a few obvious reveals, and some things that felt rushed in this one. There was just a little something more I was left wanting.

Overall, a fun little adventure tale in four parts that I still highly recommend for fans of Alice in Wonderland or the Tales of Oz, fairy tale worlds, and really creative characters. Four stars from me!

Read UNDER THE SMOKESTREWN SKY by A. Deborah Baker if you love inescapable endings, authorial digressions, hidden identities, candles, elements, embers, amnesia, impossibilities, sacrifices, bittersweet partings, the spaces between real & unreal, and things that burn.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the conclusion of the Avery and Zib’s journey through the Up and Under.

“There is still the question of how this all ends”

Walking the improbable road to the improbable city they’ve seen much, experienced much. Avery and Zib are not the same children they were when they found the wall on their way to school one fateful morning. Seanan McGuire (writing as A. Deborah Baker) knows how to weave together whimsy and wonder into an intricate tapestry creating a lovely story.

I find myself wanting to go back to Alchemical Journeys now that this story is completed, knowing that this story played a role in that one. There’s also the allusion to other children ending up in the Up and Under and it wouldn’t surprise me if those children had found a door that asked them to ‘Be Sure’.

I highly recommend reading the Up and Under quartet especially if you’ve loved the Wayward Children or Alchemical Journeys.

Under the Smoke Strewn Sky by A. Deborah Baker



This 4th (and presumably final) book in the Up and Under series by A. Deborah Baker, Seanan McGuire’s second pseudonym, was a worthy conclusion to this series.

Once again, I will say that I love Seanan McGuire. (Note: I review a bunch of her books so I am copying part of some of my other reviews here to save time.). She has quickly become my favorite living writer and I feel very lucky that she is so prolific. I was first introduced to her work when her book Parasite, written as Mira Grant, was nominated for a Hugo Award. I loved it and quickly devoured the Newsflesh series before I realized that Mira Grant and Seanan McGuire were the same person.

I started reading her works under her own name, starting with Sparrow Hill Road, which is amazing, but I picked it because I was intimidated by her long running October Daye series. I had read some Urban Fantasy before, and I fondly remember Mercedes Lackey’s Diana Tregarde books, but my tastes run more to science fiction and then secondary world fantasy, so I was hesitant to dive into such a long series. I picked up the first book, Rosemary and Rue, when it was on sale as a kindle daily deal, and I found it somewhat disappointing compared to her other work. I reminded myself that it was her first published novel, so I cut it some slack. Then Incryptid was nominated for the Best Series Hugo in 2018 and I dove into that instead. I loved it! So I vowed to give Toby another chance. And I was so glad that I did! It is no one of my favorite series.

I really enjoyed Middlegame when it came out and voted for it as best novel on the Hugo Awards at the time. The writing there was lyrical and a little dreamlike in a way that was a little different from most everything else of hers (but reminded me of the Parisitology books a little).

One thing about Middlegame that especially reminded me of the Parasitology books was the excerpts from a children’s book included in the novel. In the world of Middlegame, A. Deborah Baker was an author who wrote the Up and Under Books. And Seanan McGuire, being the incredibly talented and prolific author she is, wrote out the entire book of Over the Woodward Wall as part of the process of writing Middlegame.

That was quickly followed by book 2, Under the Saltwise Sea, and book 3, Into the Windwracked Wilds.

In this final volume, some secrets are revealed that I truly did not see coming until about a page beforehand, but in retrospect made perfect sense. This is just another example of how excellent Ms. McGuire is at storycrafting and why I keep coming back. A wonderful conclusion to an unexpected companion series. Now, to just get more followups to Middlegame!

Within the world of the Up and Under, Avery and Zib continue to follow the improbable road in hopes of returning home. Along with their ragtag group of companions, the children will make the final leg of their journey into a fiery atmosphere where the fate of not only their lives but the whole kingdom of the Up and Under hangs in the balance. In a world where the rules are unfamiliar and the elements are ever-changing, Avery and Zib will have to rely on their instincts and the relationships they’ve formed to survive.

This is the fourth book in the Up and Under series, written by Seanan McGuire under the pseudonym A. Deborah Baker. I highly recommend starting this series from the beginning to fully appreciate the relationships between characters and world the author has created. The writing is creative, funny, and offers deep insights. I’ve really enjoyed this series and recommend it to any fantasy reader!

"Under the Smokestrewn Sky" by A. Deborah Baker brings the Up-and-Under series to a riveting and poignant conclusion. Written by bestselling author Seanan McGuire under a pseudonym, this series finale delivers a satisfying and emotionally charged ending that encapsulates the essence of friendship, sacrifice, and the uncertainties of life's journey.

As Avery and Zib continue their extraordinary adventure across forests, seas, and skies, they are confronted with ever-increasing challenges and confrontations. In their pursuit of returning home, they have encountered both allies and adversaries, with each encounter leaving its mark on them. The Impossible City, their ultimate destination, holds the promise of answers and resolutions, but the path to reach it is fraught with danger and heartache.

Baker's storytelling prowess shines in this final installment. The world-building is immersive, painting a vivid picture of the unique and fantastical landscapes that Avery and Zib traverse. The intricate friendships they've formed along the way are put to the test as the stakes escalate, and the tension is palpable as they navigate the uncertainties of their journey and the unpredictability of their fate.

What sets this series apart is its exploration of the human experience through the lens of fantasy. The themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the consequences of choices resonate deeply, reminding readers of the complexities of life's decisions and the strength of the bonds we form with others.

"Under the Smokestrewn Sky" is a poignant and beautifully written conclusion to the Up-and-Under series. It expertly captures the bittersweetness of farewells and the raw emotions of characters who have grown and changed through their experiences. This finale is a testament to Baker's skill in weaving a compelling narrative that engages both the heart and the imagination. Fans of the series will find themselves swept away by the enchanting prose and invested in the fates of the characters they've come to know and love.

A. Deborah Baker does a great job in creating the finale to this series, it had everything that I enjoyed from the previous three books and this might be my favorite of the series. The characters were what I was expecting and were written perfectly.

This is the fourth and final book in the Up and Under series, and what a journey it's been. I love reading books based in folklore and faery tale, and Baker/McGuire is so very adept at weaving new tales from these ancient ideas. In the Up and Under series (and the Alchemical Journeys by association) the main mythos at play is that of the Winter King and Summer Queen who are supposed balance each other perfectly as the wheel of the year turns, but as we all know, sometimes things can get out of balance, and that is where the stories come from. (Funnily enough, I have also just finished Terry Pratchett's Wintersmith, which features the same lore in a big way, so clearly this sort of thing is right up my reading alley)

In the first book of this series, Over the Woodward Wall, Avery and Zib climb an unexpected wall in the middle of a road and find themselves in an entirely different world. The rest of the tale is their journey to try and find their way back home, and the entities and friends they meet along the way. In this final leg of their tale, the Unexpected Road has a few more surprises to throw their way. We find our party journeying through a kingdom of fire, which proves to be a more treacherous road for some of our characters. The discussion about essential natures continues, and I'm looking forward to re-reading Middlegame with this new understanding of how the author interprets that idea of complementary essential natures, and turns that into the alchemical study that we see in the companion books.

The tone of this tale is more weary. Personally, I felt that it was fitting. It's been a long road, our adventurers are tired, and the end is in sight. I could see how for some readers this might make for a less engaging read, but for me, I like when the writing invites me to feel what the characters are feeling too. And it's a fact that not all journeys end with a fanfare, sometimes we are just glad that we survived a difficult season, and that felt very realistic. Like many fantasy readers, I often read as escapism, but I appreciate when fantasy helps give me perspective and tools for understanding my real-life feelings too.

One of the things I've loved about the Up and Under series throughout is that it's an excellent middle grade fantasy all on it's own, independent of its role as a companion to McGuire's other works. I would absolutely hand these books to a reader with an interest in fantasy and folklore, in addition to recommending them to fans of Baker/McGuire's other works.

Thank you to Tor & Netgalley for the ARC. This is an unbiased review.

And so the series ends, that felt old and new at the same time, that was an extension of an existing universe and could absolutely be read on its own to a child of the right age along with Alice in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth.

Even if this is all we get from Avery and Zib, I'm happy.

Up and Under and Out

We left the Up and Under with our heroes escaping the Queen of Swords to enter the land of the of Queen of Wands. Our company now consists of five: Avery, Zib, Niamh the Drowned Girl, the former Crow Girl whose name was reclaimed from the Queen of Swords, therefore now known as Soleil, and Jack Daw. The classic element with which the Queen of Wands and her land are associated is Fire. Fire is the last element Avery and Zib need to traverse before entering the Impossible City. Avery and Zib hope that from the Impossible City they will be able to return to the suburban neighborhood that is their home.

As in the previous books of the Up and Under, the characters are less than totally engaging. Zib is out of action for much of the book. And it is obvious that A. Deborah Baker/Seanan McGuire does not love Avery. Most of the other characters are personifications of abstract ideas rather than full-fledged humans, and therefore have little depth.

Under the Smokestrewn Sky is the final book of the Up and Under, and it does indeed wrap the story up nicely. There is, honestly, not much more I can tell you that would not be a spoiler.

I thank NetGalley and Tor for an advance reader copy. This review expresses my honest opinions. Release Date 17-Oct-2023.

Okay, so I'm a huge Middlegame fan. I have been really enjoying this series, from the first (which follows the story as told in Middlegame pretty closely). That said, this ending was...fine? I found myself frustrated with the changing stakes of the story (e.g. drowned girls can't go to the Impossible City, except this one way, except the fact that she's trying to go anyway is Impossible so therefore it's fine!) as well as the way that Seanan's metaphors have gotten so heavy handed and her prose so purple. A mediocre ending to a fun series.

I liked the writing and world building immensely and I loved our main characters. Their adventure was so much fun and I loved tagging along for the ride.

I love the author and will read anything she writes, even a shopping list. I have read the previous books in the 'Up-and-Under' series and was delighted to get the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Under the Smokestrewn Sky" by A. Deborah Baker is the fourth and final book in the 'Up-and-Under' series, and it provides the perfect ending to the series.. A. Deborah Baker is the pen name for Seanan McGuire, who is also a character mentioned in the book "Middlegame" (which I read and loved).

The book continues from where the last book stopped and follows Avery and Zib on the last leg of their journey. An unplanned detour from home to school one morning brings Avery (who is always pressed and polished) and Zib (wild and unkempt) to the Up-and-Under world, where they encounter wise owls, crow girls, and other mythical creatures. They are on a quest to find the queen of wands, believing she is the only one who can help them get back home.

Their companions and allies are Niamh, the drowned girl, the crow girl, and Jack, the son of the Queen of Swords. While traveling on the improbable road, which is not always visible or reliable, they experience many adventures, meet new friends, and encounter many dangers. This time, their quest will lead them through the land of fire, where they will have to overcome a few obstacles to reach the impossible city, find a queen, and prevent war.

I loved the book. The series gets better from book to book, and this book was an enjoyable story and a good addition to the series. The book starts slow, but once the story kicks off properly, it becomes captivating and fast-paced.

I loved that the author recapped past events to refresh our memory, the direct address to the reader, and the way she made us feel part of the journey. The book wraps up well, and I loved the allusion that we may meet those characters in other adventures despite this being the final book in the series. There was a surprising twist toward the end that I did not see coming, and the ending was satisfactory.

The book focuses on friendships, loyalty, integrity, and the price for straying from the path. It has a great cast of characters, likable protagonists, good world-building, and an interesting premise and concept. I liked the way the author divided the world into four unique quadrants, each with a different setting, dangers, and elements. Each kingdom represents and controls an element and has its own owl. We have the King of Coins (Earth), the King of Cups (Water), the Queen of Swords (Air), and the Queen of Wands (Fire). I admire the author's imagination in the design of each kingdom.

The author gives the reader a wonderfully entertaining ride. If you didn't read the previous books, you need to start from the first book and read the series in order to fully understand the context and appreciate the story. I rate the book 4.5 out of 5 rounded to 5 due to the slow start. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys an imaginative and whimsical middle-grade YA adventure. Although it's written for a middle-grade audience, it will appeal to older readers as well and to anyone who loves quests and adventure books.

To finish with a quote (subject to changes after the publication of the book): "Sometimes we have to walk the improbable road long enough to make the impossible things possible." Jump in and travel at your own risk!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I loved the whole concept of this series. “I’m referencing a made up book that I’m then actually going to write” is genius. I love “A. Deborah Baker’s” books. I’d love to see more in the series.

Actual rating of 4.5 stars

I had been planning on reading [book:Middlegame|35965482] for a while, I had heard such great things about it from various readers, and it sounded like it would be my cup of tea, but I hadn't prioritized it. Then, I saw this slim little book, [book:Over the Woodward Wall|49247292], in my library, and decided I've give it a try, and really enjoyed it. I picked up Middlegame about a month later, and only then realized the series and the books were connected.

I thoroughly enjoyed following Avery and Zib and Niamh and Crow Girl on their adventures through the Up-and-Under, and I thought this brought everything to a nice conclusion. I'm certainly looking forward to rereading the whole series at some point, going straight through it with foreknowledge of what will happen.

I think there are writing conventions in this series especially that not everyone may enjoy, but I really liked the direct to reader narration when it came in, it felt very reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's <i>Invitation</i>, from the beginning of [book:Where the Sidewalk Ends|30119].

I hope we may get to see more of Avery and Zib, whether in the Up-and-Under, or maybe even in <spoiler>the Alchemical Journeys series? Honestly, I was half expecting them to somehow be revealed to be characters from that series, but I suppose their adventures are stories written by A. Deborah Baker in the mythos of Alchemical Journeys, not that it feels like that should stop the series from intertwining further.</spoiler>

Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for early access to this title!

Under the Smokestrewn Sky continues and completes the story of Zib and Avery’s first travels through the Up-And-Under. I was pretty sceptical in beginning this journey, since it spun off Middlegame — a great book, don’t get me wrong, but not one I really wanted to see a sequel or spin-off for, somehow.

Still, the series is not very related to Middlegame‘s story, and is self-contained and quite different in tone. This final volume wraps things up, bringing Zib and Avery to their final destination. The language remains playful and reminiscent of Cat Valente’s voice in the Fairyland books, and mostly avoids being too much.

As for the story, well, there are certain things that I found really predictable and others that I hadn’t been expecting. The narration made light of the first part, pointing out that Niamh also saw it coming, so just played into the whole meta-textual bit there — but still, I was a little disappointed that it had been obvious to me for so long.

It’s a mostly satisfying end, though I have lot of questions about where the characters other than Zib and Avery go from there. I suppose there may be more, since the last pages mention that Zib and Avery do return to the Up-and-Under… and I shall read it eagerly if so.