-I heard someone's theory that this was just a dream, which would fit except for the fact that Cassie remembers it too. Upon consideration, I think that's a more convincing argument. Maybe Rachel goes to angst about herself to Cassie (like she seemed to want to do in Dream #2)? And Cassie learns about it that way?
-Crayak wants Jake dead, and has for a while--here, we see him try and manipulate Rachel to get what he wants. Why doesn't he ever bother Ax (who defies Jake two books ago) or Marco (under the guise that it's the most logical way) at any point?
On the first point, the way Cassie talks in 50 makes me feel that Cassie was very much there too.
On the second, Ax didn't defy Jake to stop Yeerks, not entirely, he did it to avert a war amongst the humans. He felt terrible about it for a good while after it too. As for Marco, the way MM3 started, I still don't think he'd be willing to let Crayak have Jake. He never wanted his friend to suffer, probably a big contributor to why he went the end of 54
Don't totally agree, but that was a beautiful response to #1 XtheoniongirlX
And I thought Tobias and Rachel had a bit of a heart to heart at the end of 43 too.
1. This was kinda jarring. Because there were so many back to back it was hard to know when the plot was really beginning. I believe Crayak baited the dreams, for even though she doesn't idolize Jake, I thought she's come to terms with him as a leader by now. What I mean is that I don't think they were her subconscious desires: they were legitimate enough to shake her, but I don't think she ever intended or wanted to overthrow Jake and go full throttle in this manner.
2. I don't know that rats are immune to the plague, so I'm not sure how he planned to do that. More importantly, David coming back after Rachel is a good concept though the timing seems off-shouldn't be in the final arc. Even with a working plan, I don't see one rat boy conquering the world. What was interesting was that Crayak used him. I found it an interesting bit of psychological warfare to make Rachel face something she so hates, and probably fears. I can't forgive David for what he tried to do, but this time around, I pity him.
3. I don't think she killed him. I think she let him go, because she hesitated. If Rachel was going to kill him she'd have done it right out. But she stopped, and heard him out, and for her, the right thing was to let him go. I think I wouldn't have. I think I'd add this as another terrible sin, or at least take him back to the island, but in any event it wouldn't be in concern to his suffering. My security, the Earth's security, that's would be bought with David's life.
4. So I gushed a bit about the Ellimist powers recently, and I could do the same here. Much more comprehensible, much more intimate, but less elegant. A different type of control that would be harder to use perfectly. Would leave me wanting still more. But in my mind this is very good temptation, masterfully done, but I think I'd turn down the offer. Crayak give, Crayak can take away. If your power is dependent on another's grace than it was never yours. Wrong reason to pass, but it would work well enough.
5. Yeah, what the ***? That really sucks that they just left. I hate that, they had soooo much potential, and then we never really know what happens to them. That they have not further impact on that we see. So sad.
6. Rachel's the hardest to gauge because she jumps around a lot. Above all, I think this book tries to rein her in, bring her back to a less than over the top level. She's still the bruiser, but I like how she describes herself in this book. The one who does the bad things for the good guys. Nothing as crude as doing "dirty work", but the necessary evil it takes to protect, that's what she does, in her own way she keeps the others safe. Rachel deserves more than she was given, and though she's never been one of my favorites, I like Rachel. And that's all I have to say about that.