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3.6 AVERAGE


If I weren't so invested in the story already, this book would have gotten a MUCH lower rating. As it is, I'm left so... disappointed. Independent Study ended with the hope of making change without needless killing and rebellion as found in many other dystopian books. Well, Graduation Day took down that notion almost immediately.

There were simply TOO MANY THINGS going on in this book. Dealing with university classes (the whole Professor Lee thing was so interesting! I wish we got to see more of Cia's school life), their own testing (that could be a book in itself), the President's list (that got condensed into ONE NIGHT), and making change within the system.

As for Cia's own "testing," I found that so frustrating because she was willing to employ the same tactics as the Testing she had been put through. Wasn't the whole point for her to find a new way to learn how to trust people? Also, with situations like the greenhouse or random safety patrollers, I got annoyed by how some lives were so easily discarded while others were deeply respected and mourned for. It sends a confusing message — is each life simply a number, or do they all matter?

The ending was annoying because that's where I hoped the book would START — watching Cia become a leader and begin to make reform within the United Commonwealth. Instead, the book ended wide-open. The first two books were SO, SO good. This was a disappointing end to the trilogy.
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
adventurous challenging tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

3.5 stars. My hold for this came in right as I finished book 2, so there was no waiting to continue the story. Books 2&3 blend together a bit for me because of that. I did like the series, but am not sad it's done. I was a little tired of the "is this another test" thinking throughout the entire trilogy. Everything was a test it seemed. A little hard to keep track of who is "good", not that it is cut and dried. I think I'll remember the first book fondly, but the final two books just didn't have the same feel.

Gelungenes Finale!

Most of this book is focused on Cia asking herself if she can trust someone and constantly going back on her decisions. That and the constant retelling of the same plans to different people, charging those plans, and having to inform the same people of those changes one by one made me skim over bits of the story. For most of the story, Cia emptying and packing her bag is the most action that happens. Also, that bag makes no sense. She must have some superhuman strength to take all that stuff with her everywhere without it hindering her in the slightest. Besides being super strong, she also just knows absolutely everything without ever needing to ask for help or advise. Cua just knows how to make, repair, solve, and do everything on her own. She is supposed to be surrounded by the smartest people, but for some reason, only she realizes the bands contain tracking and listening devices.


This series had potential, and I really enjoyed the first two, but this one isn't good. The 2 stars are because I did like the series as a whole. 
adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

3/5 veel world building in het laatste deel vind ik vreemd en ook veel gebeurtenissen vind ik random en niet bijzonder leuk. Deel 1 en 2 vond ik het leukste.
Het Examen las wel lekker weg en blij dat ik de serie eindelijk uit heb.

I like overall where the story went, I just wasn't quite as engaged in this book as the first two. There were some long sections of expository, which made it not as much of a page-turner for me. I did not see where it was going, but I'm glad it went there in the end.

This book was a pretty great finale to the series. It did seem like there were too many subplots and they got a bit muddled, but it was enjoyable.