The Empty Grave (Lockwood & Co., #5)

by Jonathan Stroud

I just love the aspect of Lockwood & Lucy's relationship throughout the series. It wasn't a fast or obvious romance. Lucy never really came right out and said that she loved him...until EG, but to herself. And Lockwood wasn't obvious with his own feelings as well. I think for the both of them, they don't know how to display their affections, aside from friendship oriented feelings, anything further than that was lost on them. They both didn't have good family experiences: Lockwood lost all of his family, thus not having that parental or sibling guidance for relationships. For Lucy, she was the youngest of six other siblings, a mother who worked all the time, nor had the time or care to tend to her youngest, and even to the point, worn down on Lucy's confidence. Basically, Lucy's mother should have NEVER reproduced, nor should have had so many children to begin with. Then again, we wouldn't have had this amazing character that coincidentally came from this dud of a mother. (The father wasn't good either, considering how he died). Stroud brilliantly displayed all of the complicated stuff for L&L's slow-burn romance, with the will-they-or-won't-they kind of chemistry! I still would love a novella that covers them in the aftermath of the Problem, or even a glimpse into their adult lives. I just realllllly want a few scenes of L&L together for crying out loud, STROUD! Although, with how EG ended, it was very suitable and matching for their characters and build-up. I love it at the same time as I beg for more. I really feel the potential of this story and world continuing, maybe even into a next generation of characters? There are still some loose ends that should still be covered. And I can even think of many ways how Stroud could continue it. Like how he could take the Problem internationally years later, following some big bads that were actually the puppeteers behind both Marissa Fittes AND Bickerstaff. Those little voices who influenced these people to dive deeper into the Other Side to begin with, Big Bads that an be traced back thousands of years before, across many cultures and histories. I love this idea so much so, that I am tempted to write a series of fanfic-books based on my ideas!