Review: Finale (#3) by Stephanie Garber

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It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has seen Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own. Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.
Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finaly, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.
Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win…and those who will lose everything.

I feel so torn about this ending to one of my favourite series at all time. I still really enjoyed this book, it just let me down slightly once again when I compare it to Caraval. I have been reading this series alongside Alex, and we’ve had some really interesting discussions about these books. Alex mentioned how these books feel like the author had an amazing idea and gave it all to the first book, meaning the other two are slight let downs and feel slightly forced.

However, I did still enjoy this a lot and I did enjoy it ever so slightly more than Legendary. Legendary was told from Tella’s point of view, after Caraval was told from Scarlett’s. However, Finale has both of the sister’s points of view, which I really liked. Throughout reading Legendary, I wasn’t aware I missed Scarlett’s narration. However, when I started Finale, I found I had missed Scarlett’s narration and the quirks that came with it.

Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. 

I enjoyed the plot of this one, although it did still lack a little something that Caraval had. I also felt that the two sister’s had kind of similar plots and explored similar themes throughout this book, which felt a little confusing and fell flat for me in places. Although I did enjoy reading both of their plot points, I just wish they had a few different elements to tell them apart more clearly.

I loved the setting of this one and I did find it a little more vivid than Legendary. It definitely did feel slightly reminiscent of the first one and the magical, captivating setting of the game of Caraval. This one did have a similar atmosphere that I appreciated, but was still a little lacking in comparison to the first book.

I really love the sisters as strong female protagonists throughout these books, and I also love how Stephanie Garber manages to write character’s and then completely change our opinions of them as the reader. I also want to point out how easy all of these books are to read, which is great for fantasy!

Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.

Overall, these books are honestly brilliant, and I am so sad this one wasn’t on par with Caraval. However, I still love this series so much and the first book is one of my favourite books in the world. These are brilliant introductory fantasy reads with strong female characters who I really adore!

★★★★
4 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: Finale (#4) by Becca Fitzpatrick

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Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank’s absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels – destroying Patch.
Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.
But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.
As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for. 

I swear I have a severe problem with immediately forgetting most of what happens in these books. I read this one again so quickly that I seem to only remember chunks of it. This was the big finish, the war between fallen angels and nephilim. It was meant to be the big finale, but it just felt like small repeats of events of the previous book, over and over again. But I have to admit, it is action packed, albeit mediocre action. Again, I read the physical version and I couldn’t put it down.

Nora has definitely changed and matured over the series. She has gone from being quiet and self conscious, to kick-ass and manipulative. I quite like how she has developed and how her relationship with Patch has grown too. The thing that hasn’t changed about Nora, however, is her decision making. This girl just cannot make a good decision, and continues to be reckless and irresponsible.

“I want to take care of you, cherish you, and love you in a way no other man ever could. 

Patch is also highly problematic, down to the point of putting a tracker on Nora. I actually think this happens in Silence, but I was reminded of it now and I needed to mention it. The way he acts around Nora sometimes is concerning and very up and down. It’s definitely not an ideal relationship (or one I would want to be in), but I do like how they have grown throughout this series.

Marcie actually became a really interesting character, and I quite enjoyed reading more about her life and her personal problems. I have no idea, however, why and how Nora’s mum took Marcie under her wing, despite some weird guilt about Hank’s death. And maybe guilt about Hank, as a whole. I might be wrong, but I don’t think this was explained at all and felt very contradictory to the rest of the story. Like a lot of things in this book!

I want to spoil you — every kiss, every touch, every thought, they all belong to you. I’ll make you happy. Every day, I’ll make you happy.”

I felt like this was a disappointing end to a disappointing series. I really wanted this to be another improvement on the series, and for this to be the big, action packed finale I was looking for. But unfortunately, it was a let down again. The best thing about this series was the pacing, as I flew through these books so quickly. I can see why they are widely enjoyed, and it feels like a guilty pleasure series as a whole.

★★★★
3.5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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