I think 2020 will set up a soft reset. Now with the current story ended, reintroduce the core walkers. The tricky part is who the Core walkers will be. I feel like Jace and Chandra are probably a given. Liliana, Ajani, and Nissa would probably be the most likely guesses. But the story team might try mixing things up a bit as well.
It would make sense to maybe focus on the lingering thread of Liliana, but I somehow think that will be in the background for a little while.
Ok I just read the book. I think a lot was lost without the Prequel. There was so much story we missed. The attempted Niv Mizzet ascension and death; the lighting of the Beacon; Vraska getting her memories back and then betraying them; Kaya killing the Obzedat and taking their debts; etc.
Overall I think the story was very satisfying. All of the POV walkers had good moments. There were several satisfying arcs with Dack, Liliana, Teyo, and Gideon. I like how their was progressive tasks that were needed to stop Bolas to fill out the 2nd Act, and yet it was still difficult to beat Bolas. The careful machinations of Ugin. How Bolas laughed at how he tricked the walkers, and didn't realize that Liliana was slowly gaining the courage to sacrifice herself.
As for the aftermath, I like it. We have some interesting plot-hooks hunting down the remaining Bolas Aligned walkers. Vraska hunting a blind foe, Ral hunting Tezzeret as a fellow scientist of sorts, and then Kaya the death killer vs Liliana the necromancer. Liliana has a lot of potential now. She is hated by most of the current walkers adding inherent conflict when she appears. There is internal tension in the gatewatch with their complicated history with Liliana. And she has her own internal conflicts with her sacrifice and Gideon sacrificing himself for her. Plus you have the Onakke and Raven Man.
The other 2 don't have a major plot hook aside from Tezzeret and New Phyrexia. But now each can branch out into their own plots. And you still have Ob Nixilis who also disappeared to plot.
Another strong moment was seeing the various complex interactions. The various Ravnican walkers, Angrath with Arlinn and Huatli, Dack with Nixilis and the others, etc. Apparently Kiora seems to be part of Tamiyo's story circle, which actually makes some sense.
Finally a shoutout to my man Sarkhan. He played a key role at points and Ugin points out that Bolas pissed him off a lot. He also apparently has a history with the Wanderer who is almost definitely not Elspeth.
It would make sense to maybe focus on the lingering thread of Liliana, but I somehow think that will be in the background for a little while.
Edit: Scratch that last part. Forsaken is said to not be tied to 2020 or Archery. https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/184357948213/will-the-followup-novel-that-takes-place-after-war
Just seems to be a follow up on the Rat/Teyo/Kaya plot thread from War.
Overall I think the story was very satisfying. All of the POV walkers had good moments. There were several satisfying arcs with Dack, Liliana, Teyo, and Gideon. I like how their was progressive tasks that were needed to stop Bolas to fill out the 2nd Act, and yet it was still difficult to beat Bolas. The careful machinations of Ugin. How Bolas laughed at how he tricked the walkers, and didn't realize that Liliana was slowly gaining the courage to sacrifice herself.
As for the aftermath, I like it. We have some interesting plot-hooks hunting down the remaining Bolas Aligned walkers. Vraska hunting a blind foe, Ral hunting Tezzeret as a fellow scientist of sorts, and then Kaya the death killer vs Liliana the necromancer. Liliana has a lot of potential now. She is hated by most of the current walkers adding inherent conflict when she appears. There is internal tension in the gatewatch with their complicated history with Liliana. And she has her own internal conflicts with her sacrifice and Gideon sacrificing himself for her. Plus you have the Onakke and Raven Man.
The other 2 don't have a major plot hook aside from Tezzeret and New Phyrexia. But now each can branch out into their own plots. And you still have Ob Nixilis who also disappeared to plot.
Another strong moment was seeing the various complex interactions. The various Ravnican walkers, Angrath with Arlinn and Huatli, Dack with Nixilis and the others, etc. Apparently Kiora seems to be part of Tamiyo's story circle, which actually makes some sense.
Finally a shoutout to my man Sarkhan. He played a key role at points and Ugin points out that Bolas pissed him off a lot. He also apparently has a history with the Wanderer who is almost definitely not Elspeth.