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bookishbette's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Solod conclusiom, very satisfied with it! I almost expected More, somehow, especially after how amazing the first book was and how the finale feels almost anti-climactic at the end, but I think it's done really well regardless, it felt like a natural course for the story, and I think it's a satisfying end! Very curious about how the empire is going to run with Scarlett in charge when she's never seemed the type to want or thrive in leadership and wasn't ever raised or prepared to take the throne, and what exactly happens to all the Fates that just disappear (like Jacks, who does not strike me as the type to simply allow Tella and Legend to be in love after all that work he put in), but such is life I suppose! Solid end to a solid series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Stalking, Kidnapping, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Pregnancy
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I want to feel love in its every form. I used to be scared of it, but now I think love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, It breaks rules that aren't supposed to exist, it's infinitely valuable. I can't imagine my life without it."
I wondered a million times what reading this again would feel like and the best way I can describe it is: magical and emotional. The entire Caraval trilogy is pure escapism and magic in the best sense, but Finale really takes things to a whole new level. At this point, all the characters have been introduced, you've grown attached to some of them and you're learning more about others. It follows both Scarlett and Tella's journies and romances, which I love because it really does feel like the culmination of the previous two books. They're both equally important in this story, as are their love interests.
One of the beautiful things about the Caraval trilogy is how it truly sucks you into the story. I can absorb an entire book in one sitting and barely recognize the time going by or the environment surrounding me. All I want is to know what will happen next. And one of the best parts about this reread was how, while I remembered some of the key elements, I didn't remember everything. So, there were a few moments where I gasped in shock during some of the plot twists and reveals! Even though I had already read this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
I can confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that Caraval is one of my favorite series of all time. Finale is one of the best series finales of all time. Overall, I give the trilogy five stars - EASY. And I'm already looking forward to the next time I reread it!
I wondered a million times what reading this again would feel like and the best way I can describe it is: magical and emotional. The entire Caraval trilogy is pure escapism and magic in the best sense, but Finale really takes things to a whole new level. At this point, all the characters have been introduced, you've grown attached to some of them and you're learning more about others. It follows both Scarlett and Tella's journies and romances, which I love because it really does feel like the culmination of the previous two books. They're both equally important in this story, as are their love interests.
One of the beautiful things about the Caraval trilogy is how it truly sucks you into the story. I can absorb an entire book in one sitting and barely recognize the time going by or the environment surrounding me. All I want is to know what will happen next. And one of the best parts about this reread was how, while I remembered some of the key elements, I didn't remember everything. So, there were a few moments where I gasped in shock during some of the plot twists and reveals! Even though I had already read this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
I can confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that Caraval is one of my favorite series of all time. Finale is one of the best series finales of all time. Overall, I give the trilogy five stars - EASY. And I'm already looking forward to the next time I reread it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Minor: Torture, Death, and Death of parent
folkofthebook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An excellent conclusion to this dreamy trilogy. It's so rare to feel this satisfied at the end of a series. I'm SO EXCITED for Jacks' upcoming book, AH!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Toxic relationship
frenchtoast_n_books's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is the conclusion of Tella and Scarlett's story. The end all after Caraval exposed them to love and magic, Valenda lost their Empress, and the Fates have been unleashed on the citizens. Does love and goodness conquer? Do Tella and Scarlett get a "happily ever after"?
Honestly, I was left frustrated by the frilly hyperbolic writing. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it if I were younger, but I couldn't take some sentences seriously. For example: "time was rushing faster than blood could pour out of a sliced artery." I work in surgery and I've seen how fast blood pours out of a sliced artery. It takes minutes for a sliced artery to kill or do irreparable damage . They had 4 days to stop a monster. I wouldn't call that equal comparisons. Now, maybe I'm being picky, but I just didn't like the hyperbolic writing.
Then we get into the relationships and I could not handle the possessiveness of the love interests and what Tella and Scarlett let them get away with after either a lack of an apology or a flimsy apology was presented. I also don't care if magical immortality strips you of love, that doesn't excuse your sleazy behavior. There was also a moment that Tella fought for a good 100+ pages on an issue, and when she finally accepted the issue she was immediately denied that issue because of the very reason of her protests for the pervious 100+ pages. I threw my hands up, laughed for 5 minutes, and put the book down for a day or so. I didn't get it. I thought it was unnecessary. It was completely pointless tension between the characters and frustrated me to no end. (Now finishing the book, I do "get it" but I still felt it unnecessary and pointless.)
A few other plot devices happened that I didn't care for, but they are too "spoilery" to mention here.
I will get nit-picky again in regards to the end. It felt like a bad soap-opera in execution. There were moments when characters did something and I could imagine them smacking a hand to each side of their face, look directly into the camera in shock and say their line. It was comical, and not in the good way.
I must mention that some writing comparisons hit the mark and gave me exactly what the author intended. The relationship between Tella and Scarlett are serious goals, and the discussion of parentage not defining who you are made me ever so happy. Also, the insult "Don't talk to me, you duplicitous disappointment of a woman" may just make it into my favorite insults vault.
Now, overall I did like the plot. I really love the world building and magic presented in the story. The fashion is mesmerizing, and I wish I could see the locations in real life, especially the Immortal Library. I did enjoy how everything wrapped up and how little hints of previous story elements made its way to the end. The story itself was a dream, the execution was just not my cup of tea.
I feel like a quote toward the beginning of the book adequately reflects my thoughts to the story:
"He was trying to dazzle her. But dazzle was a lot like romance - fantastic while it lasted, but it never lasted long enough."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
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