Well we know that this one was a long time coming. We got hints of this in the last couple of the graphic novels. We follow Dream to the end. I loved how this was set-up and how Gaiman ended things. The next volume was very good and it answered some questions I had about a lot of things that were still unclear (who was Dream’s last lover, why was Daniel so important, what happens to the Endless as time marches on, etc.)
“The Kindly Ones” finds Dream in a kind of a fugue state. He does not seem to be part of things in this one. After killing his son Orpheus in the last novel, Dream seems to know that an end is near. Due to some of his enemies setting him up in this one, Dream finds himself targeted by the Furies (The Kindly Ones) and goes about making sure that those he loves (though he will never admit it) are kept safe.
Ahh Dream. That end with him and Death. Enough said.
Nuala was heartbreaking. So was Matthew. There are so many characters I have grown to love who love Dream and who he cares about/loves though he would be loathe to say it.
Lyta just unravels throughout this story. Having Daniel go missing you can see how it leaves her hollow and how easy it was for revenge via the Furies to sneak in.
I was totally baffled by Thessaly in this one and then I read the next novel and things became clear.
The writing of this one was done very well. I saw another review saying that Gaiman writes this as a Greek tragedy and he does. If you have read any of those you will get the rhythm of this novel and also that point where you realize things have gone terribly awry and there’s nothing anyone can do.
The illustrations made everyone seem so cartoonish at times. They do not appear as they have in prior versions. Either people looked short, or too tall, too wide, etc.
The ending leaves us Dreamless, but only for a short while.