Hey all, I've just finished The Grave Thief, and I wanted to post some initial thoughts while I've still got them floating around. And yeah, spoilers and all that.

Firstly, Mihn's the Grave thief, I'm almost 90% certain of this. He's going to rescue - somehow - Isak from Ghenna. Furthermore, he won't be fighting his way in, but using his new stealth (and other unnamed powers he has since acquired but that Tom has not seen fit to bequeath to us just yet) to do so; we won't see him battling his way through hell to get to Isak, and I doubt we'll see Isak fighting his way back out without Mihn's help. I am curious as to whether he bring Bwyr back with him though.

How much more powerful can Kastan Styrax get? With two (or was it three, now four with Isak's) skulls, he's more than a match for the Gods in their current state - can a chosen be made a mortal-aspect too? Otherwise, I'm not entirely positive how he could be killed. My one thought is that Vesna - as the supreme duelist AND KarKarn's Mortal Aspect AND with a crystal skull (ostensibly used through Karkarn's magic and talent) could kill Styrax, but that might feel hollow if Isak doesn't get the vengeance the readers are going to crave.

And, by the way, how is that Tom's villains are as compelling, if not moreso, than his heroes? I love Isak and Vesna, and I really enjoy the gritty cunning displayed by Emin's Brotherhood types (particularly Doranei), but compared to the Vukotics? Styrax who really gets to shine in the third book? (even to the point of slipping dangerously from antagonist to someone the reader can admire) Aracnan, who (as the first immortal introduced in the series) HAS to have some hidden-yet-pervasive role in events? The Shadow Azaer? (using his primary weakness as a strength? Badass) The aspects of death, especially the Wither Queen? And, of course, my all-time favorite, Rojak. Words do that character no justice (well, perhaps Tom's do ;P)

This series is FULL of kick-ass bad guys. I mean, even the PROTAGONIST is borderline insane by normal standards: schizophrenic, permanently on the edge of a nervous breakdown throughout the third book, and who has to constantly clamp down on his boiling rage? Not your standard good-guy.

I'm excited to see where the series goes with the next book, and I'm very interested to hear more about the skulls. I'm very curious about the key of life, and how that works what with Life herself being dead.

p.s. what was that all about at the end, with the manifestation of the Soldier (death's aspect) on the battlefield shortly before Isak evisceration?

p.s.s. if anyone manages to finish this bible, I apologize now, at the end, after you've had to read through my ramblings

I agree on the bad guy front. It's refreshing to have an interesting baddie, instead of the standard "dark lord" sitting somewhere in a tower trying to take over the world.

styraxs is aiming for godhood!

It makes toms books more realistic, no good or evil just shades of grey.

Another thing I forgot to mention: White-Eyes are badass. Cool concept. I picture their eyes looking something like this http://df.spllogics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/white_eye_1.jpg but whiter with less of a grey effect. I like the extra size and the rage issues. also totally badass.

These ideas of Tom's would make an awesome movie or two; the books wouldn't really though. Too much would have to be cut to make it feature-legnth, or a movie would only cover a small portion of the overall series.

Nah. I think the eye is completely white, with only the little black pupil in the middle. Much scarier that way.

Yup, there's a normal amount of variation in the eyes, but Isak's are almost entirely white.