In this volume of The Unwritten, the War of Words arc is interspersed with side stories that highlight the power of words and storytelling - particularly those involving Wilson Taylor and Pullman, but also from the perspective of new characters. The only flashback issue I couldn't situate into the greater plot was that of the Prussian marionettes...it was disturbing, and I'm not sure how it enriches Tom Taylor's tale. Meanwhile, War of the Words finds Tom embracing his magical potential and finally confronting Pullman with several characters' lives seeming in the balance by the end of the book. This is a super violent volume. 
 Also, Yuko Shimizu's cover of Lizzie for Part V is the series is so super lovely!