A beautiful story about finding meaning after losing everything.
The story starts off with Wilhelm, a man who has essentially been in a coma for 500 years, only to come to with the realization that the old world he knew is essentially gone; Life on earth, after being nearly wiped out by Beasts which roam the earth and leave nothing but sand in their wake, have fled to the skies and now inhabit a host of floating islands.
In a world where humans (i.e. the featureless, as opposed to having wings, tails, ears of other races) were rumored to have created the Beasts, Wilhelm, the last human alive, faces a great deal of discrimination, and is forced to work odd jobs to cover his bills of his recovery, after which his life will lose all meaning.
Wilhelm is one day offered a job at a far removed island where his role is to look after weapons of war, which are used to protect the islands in the case of an attack. Wilhelm accepts the position, and begins his life as a caretaker of a household of fairies. He soon learns that the fairies he looks after are not what he originally thought, and that no matter where he goes, the past still follows him.
This is the story of Wilhelm's adventures with the members of the household, his coming to terms with his past and the meaning still left in a world that doesn't remember him.
From the first book, Wilhelm's character is very real and easy to empathize with. His feelings of helplessness and anger at his situation and his inability to directly fix anything, as well as his answers were very touching and thoughtful.
Seeing characters make the best of their situations and salvage hope from the depths of despair was really moving. Even after losing everything, when the world you knew is completely gone, there are still things worth protecting and cherishing.
Just like real life, the story was realistic in its outcomes and the portrayal of all parties. Things are never so easy as black and white. It's important to always have compassion for even those that you don't understand too well.
What Wilhelm taught me was that life's meaning comes from what you make of it. All of our lives are so short; You never know when it well end. So it's important to make the best of every moment.
All the characters were easily relatable and emotionally deep. The world-building was lovely and very well depicted. While the ending to me felt a bit unsatisfying and rushed, everything leading up to it was very well done.
If you're lost like me, and find yourself lacking answers to some of these tough questions, I would encourage you to give this book a try. It is honestly an unforgettable experience that will stick with you for a lifetime.
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