Concluding Claudia Gray’s The Firebird Trilogy is A Million Worlds With You, a novel that is action-packed, intriguing and multi-layered beyond expectations. It brings the imagination and creative settings of various worlds together and the possibilities within these worlds and the overarching action and romance plots of the trilogy to a gritty, engaging conclusion. To put it simply, it is crazy good and well worth the read.

The fate of the multiverse rests in Marguerite Caine’s hands. Marguerite has been at the centre of a cross-dimensional feud since she first traveled using her parents’ invention, the Firebird. Only now has she learned the true plans of the evil Triad Corporation and that those plans could spell doom for dozens or hundreds of universes. Paul Markov has always been at Marguerite’s side, but Triad’s last attack has left him a changed man. He struggles to overcome the damage done to him, but despite Marguerite’s efforts to help, Paul may never be the same again. So it’s up to Marguerite to stop the destruction of the multiverse. Billions of lives are at stake. The risks have never been higher. And Triad has unleashed its ultimate weapon: another dimension’s Marguerite – wicked, psychologically twisted, and always one step ahead. In the conclusion to Claudia Gray’s Firebird trilogy, fate and family will be questioned, loves will be won and lost, and the multiverse will be forever changed. It’s a battle of the Marguerites and only one can win.

As far as plot goes, there are some obvious routes and points that are met in A Million Worlds With You. While I won’t get too specific or spoil anything, I will say that the way these points are addressed makes the reading process fun, interesting, and incredibly immersive. The stakes are the highest they have been and even when the sense of what is unfolding truly hits, you don’t feel bored by it. The methods or situations Marguerite jumps into are incredibly dangerous, and their repetition makes them no less exciting to read. As far as endings go, it isn’t the most climactic thing there could have been, but this is a YA sci-fi romance book so I am more than happy with the end result.

The full circle moment has come with character development and insight, and I am glad it did. A Thousand Pieces of You showed us a glimpse into Theo, then Ten Thousand Skies Above You focused on Paul. Now, in A Million Worlds With You, Marguerite comes to terms with her own darkness and the endless possibilities within, both good and bad. It is grounding, both for her as a character which helps her with other tensions and conflicts she’s going through in the book, but also as a reader. Bringing an introspective look to this novel, we have the concept of choice when it comes to good and bad. One of our favourite Pauls mentions that he chooses how to act and control his urges regardless of the pressures on him, both external and internal. This is something we can – and should – take away from this novel. We always choose how to be and how to act, no matter what our past or backgrounds may say. Choosing to do go, to be good, is a conscious effort.

I love the explorations into new worlds and the possibilities that we are still able to see brought to life in this novel. I think the multiverse and the various worlds we are introduced to may be my favourite aspect of this trilogy – I mean seriously, who couldn’t read about all these universes and get giddy? There is such a brilliance in the world building and fleshing out of lives – what about if they did this? what if they lived here? What would happen if this was their situation? – and it makes for such an entertaining read. The firebird trilogy has sparked a sci-fi story in my brain and I cannot wait to see how it blossoms.

I highly encourage readers of romance science fiction, YA romance, YA science fiction, and general YA books to give this series a go. It is easy-going, beautifully imagined, and brings some interesting and thought-provoking concepts to the forefront as you read. A Million Worlds With You is a whirlwind of a finale for the firebird trilogy and a novel you do not want to miss out on.