"Whatever happens now, I can go content that we had this time together. And you'll remember me, so I'll always be with you. I love you, Alex. I love you more than life itself."
Whatever I might feel for Max was a poor substitute. Callum was my life too.

This post shall not be made known to the public as a whole, but only blog hoppers who actually bother to click the link to read my usual fangirl-styled book thoughts, because I cannot resist to have book thoughts without revealing spoilers. And I know S.C.Ransom doesn't like some to be spoiling the others, so, this is purely for my pleasure of penning down my thoughts!

SPOILERS WARNED

I completed this series in less than the span of one year, but there was still time when I have wait around for the final book to be released in Singapore. It was by browsing at Popular bookstore that I chance upon this wonderful novel, with this "Small Blue Thing" on the cover, and well, titled similarly. I read the description, and instantly, knew, it was my type. The type of supernatural-romance YA series for me. The type I would get attracted to. And so - the trilogy trail began.

Small Blue Thing trilogy (SBT, Perfectly Reflected and finale Scattering Like Light) centered largely over romance, unlike some other series where there were obvious large groups of villains that has to be fought off. SBT was more, in a way I would say personal. The story of this ordinary girl, Alex, walking by Thames, and finding a beautiful blue-crystal bracelet, what was called the amulet - which linked her to the not-so-ordinary "ghost" of Callum (last name, Bailey, which was learnt from the last pages of Scattering Like Light) and over hundreds of misery souls trapped between the stage of being alive and dead (after "dying" in the River Fleet of Thames) - "Dirges". Alex and Callum was instantly drawn to each other, when Callum had the image of Alex flashing through his mind when she found the amulet, and when Alex subsequently seeing Callum at St Paul (the place where Dirges gathered, lived.) and through mirrors.

The love between them was always one that I couldn't quite relate to because well, Callum isn't physically real when he was a dirge. But the author expressed it so well, that I could feel it, between 'em. Alex and Callum went through a lot, having Catherine, the evil sister, interfering with their relationship again and again in the first 2 books, but all these strengthen the relationship - and that was why Alex wasn't sure if she could ever survive without Callum again - even if it meant having him through looking at the mirror all her life, and only occasionally holding him real at the top of the dome at St Paul.

That was why when a normal guy, Max, enters the picture of Alex's life in Scattering Like Light, I could somehow understand the occasional humanly feelings Alex has for him. But on the other hand, I was so so so proud of Alex, for taking such a firm standing for the love of hers for Callum, no matter what happen throughout the book. She had to eventually come to the decision to release the Dirges with her power, and by releasing, it meant actual death. It was heart-breaking to see Alex coming to this decision - which was best for Callum and the rest of the dirges.

But I certainly DID NOT see the twist that was coming. Just when Alex was about to send the dirges off to their actual deaths, she came across the real and humanly Callum and Catherine, right infront of her eyes. She misunderstood the situation and caused Catherine to jump down the river - truth revealed, and that was why Catherine hated Alex and Callum so much. She was the one who caused Catherine to jump, caused Callum to jump as well to save Catherine - hence causing them their life, making them dirges, the half-ghosts. It was such a wonderful plot twist - Callum and Catherine were actually brought back in time, when they became dirges. I LOVE THIS ADDED ELEMENT. Honestly. And it once again highlights Callum's love for her, for he didn't even thought to blame or hate her, when the truth was revealed.

I would go on forever, so I wouldn't highlight any more on how the story progresses. But I'm glad, Alex's theory was right. And she did end all the misery of the Dirges, and at the same time brought Callum back to life. Back to his original self - with memory of being a dirge as well as his life before. With all the evil deeds she done, Catherine on the other hand, got saved as well, but awaking with the personality of Olivia (a young dirge who certainly, like Callum said, deserved a second chance more than Catherine does). This segment about how Olivia did that never did get explained, but I like how it was kept a mystery and we'll never know.

So, happily ever after! Callum finally got his life back, he really should - he and Alex deserve a real life together. I'm really, truly glad it ended this way. And not just simply ending it, but with the plot twist, the epilogue that addresses how the curse of dirges and the amulet came about - it was perfectly summed up, and breathtakingly awesome.

"There is only one love, Alex, only one love in both my lives."

It has been a fun trip with the dirges, with Alex, with Callum, through the trilogy. And I know that in that fictional world, the future has a lot to hold for Alex and Callum, for they have just began their finally, original, relationship. :)

Thank you Sue Ransom! For the beautiful, strange, intriguing Small Blue Thing.