This book about the place that worlds go to die is lyrical in its handling of grief and anticipated loss, and making the most of life in the mean time. It works best when it focuses on the desperation of those in transition to hold onto the traditions and cultures and lands that they are about to lose. Their stories intersect with the journey of Last, a legendary long-lived guide, who seemingly has been able to transcend this existence of loss when no one else can. It is structured through a series of remembrances of him, since he hasn't been seen in awhile. Residents of the many worlds he has touched come together to tell stories about him and wonder whether this is his final demise. Despite all the stories told, he remains a man of mystery to the end, reminding us that we all have our secrets and joys that disappear with us. A poignant and beautiful story. ( )

A fascinating concept -- in effect, a black hole where all worlds eventually go to die -- but the story built on the concept is not particularly compelling. The story basically consists of linked vignettes, none of which ever last long enough, or seem to have much consequence, to really make much on impact. ( )

Driftwood is where worlds go to die. Last, the oldest survivor of a long dead world, begrudgingly worked as a guide for longer than any can recall. Delaine captures Last's ancient weariness, as well as the hopeful eagerness of newcomers who viewed Last as their final hope to save their worlds. With Last seemingly vanished from Driftwood, individuals from across worlds gather to erect a memorial and to tell stories of his impact. Delaine creates unique voices, ripe with emotion and reflecting morphology, for each speaker as they eulogize Last and their dreams of salvation. As each culture travels down the path to oblivion, some speakers show gratitude for Last's involvement while others evince only bitter rage that he survives while their world is forgotten. Delaine absorbs the listener in each thought-provoking quest, although Last, and Driftwood itself, remain enigmatic. Being caught in Driftwood leaves you seeking answers.

The improved review was published in Booklist November 1, 2020 issue. ( )

Series Info/Source: I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for review. This is a loosely connected series of stories and is a stand alone book (although I would absolutely loved to read more stories set in this world).

Story (5/5): This is a loosely connected series of stories all set in the world of Driftwood. I really enjoyed it a ton and would love to see a series of full length novels set in this same world. There is so much here to explore! The stories focus on the mysterious character Last, as he drifts from place to place and helps the denizens of Driftwood navigate their personal worldly apocalypses and the ever changing landscape of Driftwood.

Characters (5/5): Brennan does an amazing job of introducing characters that are intriguing and engaging in a small amount of page space. The main character that connects them all is Last, he is mysterious and intriguing and drifts from story to story and a bit of a hero to boot.

Setting (5/5): This series of stories is all about world-building. The world here is amazing. Driftwood is an ever changing place where the remnants of worlds end up. These remnant worlds start at the edge of Driftwood and eventually end up in the center in the Crush as they are slowly forgotten. The denizens of these worlds desperately seek to save their world against this inevitable destruction. It is an ever changing world where you never know what you will see around the next corner. As you venture to the center things get increasingly fragmented. It is an absolutely amazing setting and I wish I could go and visit in person!

Writing/Drawing Style (5/5): This is very well written. The stories are loosely joined together with interludes as people wonder over Last’s absence. While they wait they tell stories of Last and how he helped people in his wanderings. It is masterfully written and I loved every bit of it. My only complaint is that it was done too soon.

My Summary (5/5): Overall this was very creative and unique and had some amazing world-building. I enjoyed the mysterious character of Last and how he navigated the world of Driftwood to help people survive in this ever changing landscape. Driftwood is an amazing place and I would love to read more stories or even a full length novel set here. Highly recommended especially to those who enjoy amazing and wondrous worlds. This book made a huge impression on me and I constantly find myself thinking about it. ( )