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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
I was kind of worried about this book because I absolutely love this series but I've been very much over YA books recently. This was absolutely great though. I mean I knew it would be good because everything that Lee writes is good but I think for me personally the addition of Monty and Felicity as adult characters really helped as well as Adrian already having a fiance he was very much in love with so there was none of the classic YA relationship drama [not that there was really much relationship drama in the first two books either though so I guess that shouldn't be surprising].
Really liked Adrian as a character and I thought he seemed like a really good representation of anxiety that you don't often see especially in historical fiction. This one was slightly less magically-focused than the first two which was kind of disappointing but I understand why she did it given the plot and Adrian's character. Don't want to give too much away but the ending is really great and *adorable*. Definitely a great end to the series.
Really liked Adrian as a character and I thought he seemed like a really good representation of anxiety that you don't often see especially in historical fiction. This one was slightly less magically-focused than the first two which was kind of disappointing but I understand why she did it given the plot and Adrian's character. Don't want to give too much away but the ending is really great and *adorable*. Definitely a great end to the series.
Full Review To Come -- Some Thoughts for Now
I really enjoyed this book. Some have said it is the weakest of the series, but what the book sometimes lacks in pacing or, truth be told -- plot -- it makes up for in characterisation that I really enjoyed. It was amazing to read what is essentially dialogue I have with myself every day on the page. Adrian was relatable, and though sometimes I find it annoying to have a character think the way he does as it can be draining to read, the way Lee balances this with humour and characters we are already familiar with makes this far easier to read than some other books with anxious main characters. Overall I felt it was a well-rounded final book to a series that I have read more for fun, rather than artistic prose or some hidden deep meaning.
Ok Why Has Nobody Said This???
Look, I really enjoyed this book. But something about the ending is really getting to me and I haven't seen anyone else mention it at all. The final few lines (no spoilers here, they are mostly inconsequential) seem a little familiar...
This is actually (basically) the exact words used in Rilke's 1905 poem 'Go to the Limits of your Longing' which contains the lines:
I'm not here to shame the author for taking inspiration from this poem, it's one I only recognised as those lines have helped me immensely with my own anxiety. But I expected at least a mention in the author's notes, but there was nothing. Not the least to mention it was written in 1905, long after the Montagues' time. Simply something I noticed that struck me as an interesting choice, that nobody else seemed to be talking about.
I really enjoyed this book. Some have said it is the weakest of the series, but what the book sometimes lacks in pacing or, truth be told -- plot -- it makes up for in characterisation that I really enjoyed. It was amazing to read what is essentially dialogue I have with myself every day on the page. Adrian was relatable, and though sometimes I find it annoying to have a character think the way he does as it can be draining to read, the way Lee balances this with humour and characters we are already familiar with makes this far easier to read than some other books with anxious main characters. Overall I felt it was a well-rounded final book to a series that I have read more for fun, rather than artistic prose or some hidden deep meaning.
Ok Why Has Nobody Said This???
Look, I really enjoyed this book. But something about the ending is really getting to me and I haven't seen anyone else mention it at all. The final few lines (no spoilers here, they are mostly inconsequential) seem a little familiar...
"I will let it all happen to me, beauty and terror and love and hate and ugliness and anger and fear. I know that no feeling is final, and that fear only wins when I stop fighting."
This is actually (basically) the exact words used in Rilke's 1905 poem 'Go to the Limits of your Longing' which contains the lines:
"Let everything happen to you / beauty and terror / just keep going / no feeling is final."
I'm not here to shame the author for taking inspiration from this poem, it's one I only recognised as those lines have helped me immensely with my own anxiety. But I expected at least a mention in the author's notes, but there was nothing. Not the least to mention it was written in 1905, long after the Montagues' time. Simply something I noticed that struck me as an interesting choice, that nobody else seemed to be talking about.
I thought I wouldn't like this installment as well, because it's simply not as thrilling, but Adrian grew on me. He had great character development and a fantastic narrative. It was an interesting story, although not quite as interesting as the past two. Definitely the weakest of the series, but when it comes to this series, that's not a bad book! It's a great conclusion and I was happy to meet Adrian and see him grow.
The only thing keeping me from rating this 5 stars is that I wish Louisa was in it more
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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:
Complicated
“Sometimes the only way I feel I can define myself is by the darkness. I understand what it’s like to feel you’ll never see the sun again. But you can learn to see in the dark. Or, if not, you trust that night doesn’t last forever. There are light-soaked days ahead. I promise.”
this booked tied up the montague siblings series in a perfect bow. it left the characters all in wonderful spots, with their lives going on and more to look forward too. i appreciate so much how alive these characters feel- how they keep making mistakes, but they keep trying, and keep doing better.
i’m going to miss them
this booked tied up the montague siblings series in a perfect bow. it left the characters all in wonderful spots, with their lives going on and more to look forward too. i appreciate so much how alive these characters feel- how they keep making mistakes, but they keep trying, and keep doing better.
i’m going to miss them
3rd reread of this book and I still bloody love it as much as the first time.
It was an amazing book, just like the others in the series.
Admittedly going into this I don't know what I was expecting, and while I wasn't expecting what did happen, it was a decent surprise.
I did immensely miss Percy, though. The Monty content was great though, and I especially loved the part where Monty and Adrian are talking and Adrian is like "dude just like, marry Percy already" that was amazing of him because someone needed to tell this gay boy to grow up
AND THEN THEY GOT MARRIED and ten out of ten moment, ate, love it and I will never recover
I also loved the part where Adrian is like, a political writer, because that's amazing and I love that every single Montague child threw the middle finger at their father and ran for the hills
Admittedly going into this I don't know what I was expecting, and while I wasn't expecting what did happen, it was a decent surprise.
AND THEN THEY GOT MARRIED and ten out of ten moment, ate, love it and I will never recover
I also loved the part where Adrian is like, a political writer, because that's amazing and I love that every single Montague child threw the middle finger at their father and ran for the hills
I love Adrian with all my heart, well all of the Montague siblings tbh. Nervewracking and sad sometimes to read Adrian’s thoughts and behaviours. Felt very connected. Storywise wasn’t very exciting but Adrian’s whole (mental) journey was very interesting!
Okay, so, first of all, an apology for my update at 56%. I thought about it as I kept reading and I realized that my dislike of the portrayal of the MC is my problem and not a flaw of the book. The book, as it turns out, was just wonderful. It was interesting and witty and layered and so sweet as a romance and as a sibling story. I am really glad I held out until the end of the series.