" This installment of The Tales of Alvin Maker primarily concerned itself with Alvin's trial in Hatrack with a small side story concerning Calvin's journey in Europe. This isn't the only book by Mr. Card that makes me feel this way but I feel like I get through a book and hardly anything's happened. One obstacle was overcome, one marriage occurred, one curse was lifted, and one villain gained power and killed another. But pretty much everyone is in the same place they started off in. I'm just left dissatisfied as a whole. I'm going to get to the end of this series and realize that Mr. Card isn't finished. He's got another book left to finish it. That isn't a nice thing to do to fans. I understand that there is usually 1 or 2 years between installments in a series, but it's been 8 years since The Crystal City was published. Get on with it already! Toss your fans a bone and finish the series you started 23 years ago. "
— Dan, 1/20/2014