This is pretty much the penultimate book in the series. Which was somewhat surprising for me because there's still Volume 6!
The entirety of Volume 5 covers the Labyrinth Corps expedition into the Labyrinth, as well as their preparations for the final push to defeating the monster who's attacking Endalsia and saving their city. This volume is one LONG war arc basically. It's tense, and I wasn't sure who would end up making it out alive (other than the main characters, but that's somewhat of a given).The series has been pretty consistent in showing that Mariela is not a fighter in any capacity, but it had some interesting world-building regarding putting alchemists on the front lines (it makes sense, it's like having doctors on the front lines too, it's useful for recovery). Mariela worked her butt off making high-grade potions to use in the final battle, and the utility of that is clearly shown here.
Everyone that Mariela has met pitches in for the final battle, and it's awesome to see. There are numerous fight scenes that show how far everyone has come, and I was totally hooked once the war started.
It's the culmination of everyone's efforts that bring about a satisfying conclusion to the series. The main plot is tied up nicely, and Mariela finally achieves the Quiet City Life that she's dreamt of, no longer having to fear being the only alchemist in the city.
I was happy with the series ending here as it's a satisfying conclusion, but there's actually one remaining plot point at the end of the book that's left distinctly unaddressed regarding Mariela's master, Freyja, and her true goals. It seems like the next volume is an expansion of a short story that addresses that plot point, so I guess I'll have to see what that's all about.
Either way, I'm glad I stuck with this series. It was a fun ride, and an entertaining read.
