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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*4.5
this was really good. i didn't notice how much time had passed since i read the other books in this series, and i forgot quite a lot, but that didn't matter too much. i was immediately absorbed in its world again.
adrian is definitely the monatgue sibling i most relate to. i think the portrayal of his anxiety disorder and his journey to self acceptance are the best things about this book. it felt so very real, everything he said hit so close to home. it felt so much like what i remember from when i was little and struggled with this and i once more wondered how the hell i managed to outgrow something that was such a core part of my identity, yet caused me so much pain. i'm really greatful for that. looking at it from this angle, i guess i must be able overcome quite a lot of obstacles in life if i got over fucking anxiety disorder.
the story or rather, the mystery itself wasn't too great. i was hooked to a certain point, but the resolution was very underwhelming. i get that it was intentionally kept ambiguous, but it just wasn't satisfying.
the character archs however were great. many people noted that monty and felicity in particular still acted like teenagers and i think that was true, although it didn't bother me that much. however, the way the siblings grow to love and support each other, the understanding they have for each others struggles, the way they don't put pressure on each other and heal from their abusive upbringing was just beautiful. o god i cried so much.
i felt like there were too many secondary characters though, i wozld have loved to learn more about caroline and saad in particular. also, i understand that it was important for adrian to travel without louisa, but i also felt like it was a lost opportunity in a way. the politics thing stayed quite superficial and also i felt like the main characters' priviledge wasn't addressed or discussed enough. the ending felt a little rushed, a little unfinished. also, i find it astonishing how little the people in these books seem to mind losing body parts.
anyways, although i think i'm outgrowing ya fiction more and more, i still thoroughly enjoyed this and might even reread the first two books at some point.
this was really good. i didn't notice how much time had passed since i read the other books in this series, and i forgot quite a lot, but that didn't matter too much. i was immediately absorbed in its world again.
adrian is definitely the monatgue sibling i most relate to. i think the portrayal of his anxiety disorder and his journey to self acceptance are the best things about this book. it felt so very real, everything he said hit so close to home. it felt so much like what i remember from when i was little and struggled with this and i once more wondered how the hell i managed to outgrow something that was such a core part of my identity, yet caused me so much pain. i'm really greatful for that. looking at it from this angle, i guess i must be able overcome quite a lot of obstacles in life if i got over fucking anxiety disorder.
the story or rather, the mystery itself wasn't too great. i was hooked to a certain point, but the resolution was very underwhelming. i get that it was intentionally kept ambiguous, but it just wasn't satisfying.
the character archs however were great. many people noted that monty and felicity in particular still acted like teenagers and i think that was true, although it didn't bother me that much. however, the way the siblings grow to love and support each other, the understanding they have for each others struggles, the way they don't put pressure on each other and heal from their abusive upbringing was just beautiful. o god i cried so much.
i felt like there were too many secondary characters though, i wozld have loved to learn more about caroline and saad in particular. also, i understand that it was important for adrian to travel without louisa, but i also felt like it was a lost opportunity in a way. the politics thing stayed quite superficial and also i felt like the main characters' priviledge wasn't addressed or discussed enough. the ending felt a little rushed, a little unfinished. also, i find it astonishing how little the people in these books seem to mind losing body parts.
anyways, although i think i'm outgrowing ya fiction more and more, i still thoroughly enjoyed this and might even reread the first two books at some point.
Although it maintains the feel-good / hopepunk ethos and the commitment to marginalized historical voices of its predecessors, this final Montague Siblings novel never quite gets its hooks into me to the same extent. We've jumped forward a couple decades in order to follow the youngest brother Adrian, whose issues are primarily his anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and obsessive compulsive behavior -- all #ownvoices for author Mackenzi Lee -- as well as the unexplained recent death of his mother. In pursuing questions regarding the latter, he runs into Monty and eventually Felicity, his disgraced older siblings whom his parents have apparently relegated to a shameful family secret kept hidden from the lad.
I wish those returning characters (along with Monty's boyfriend Percy) were more present in the narrative, but I also don't buy them as forty-something adults, as they seem written essentially just as they were before with no sign of having gone through any meaningful change during the years when they weren't on the page. Moreover, the plot here is pretty heavy on its fantasy maguffin element, which per usual for this series is not my favorite. I think Lee is best at personality-driven storytelling, but the protagonist leaves all his known connections and responsibilities behind to embark on this adventure of the Flying Dutchman's spyglass, which somewhat dampens my investment in his arc. We're set up initially to care about this hero's relationships with his father and fiancée and how they will respectively affect his political future, so it's jarring that these concerns are then dropped for the majority of the tale.
I'd still say fans should go ahead and pick up this title, as it has some fun moments and is clearly a very personal project for the writer. But maybe don't go into it expecting to fall in love with a Montague all over again.
[Content warning for domestic abuse and suicide.]
This volume: ★★★☆☆
Overall series: ★★★★☆
Volumes ranked: 1 > 2 > 3
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--Or click here to browse through all my previous reviews!
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I wish those returning characters (along with Monty's boyfriend Percy) were more present in the narrative, but I also don't buy them as forty-something adults, as they seem written essentially just as they were before with no sign of having gone through any meaningful change during the years when they weren't on the page. Moreover, the plot here is pretty heavy on its fantasy maguffin element, which per usual for this series is not my favorite. I think Lee is best at personality-driven storytelling, but the protagonist leaves all his known connections and responsibilities behind to embark on this adventure of the Flying Dutchman's spyglass, which somewhat dampens my investment in his arc. We're set up initially to care about this hero's relationships with his father and fiancée and how they will respectively affect his political future, so it's jarring that these concerns are then dropped for the majority of the tale.
I'd still say fans should go ahead and pick up this title, as it has some fun moments and is clearly a very personal project for the writer. But maybe don't go into it expecting to fall in love with a Montague all over again.
[Content warning for domestic abuse and suicide.]
This volume: ★★★☆☆
Overall series: ★★★★☆
Volumes ranked: 1 > 2 > 3
Like this review?
--Throw me a quick one-time donation here!
https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--Subscribe here to support my writing and weigh in on what I read next!
https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
--Follow along on Goodreads here!
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6288479-joe-kessler
--Or click here to browse through all my previous reviews!
https://lesserjoke.home.blog
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Wow, that was an INTENSE first-person look into anxiety disorder. Oh yeah: and magical piracy in Morocco and Iceland. Mackenzi Lee makes no bones about divulging that Adrian's struggles with anxiety and OCD are inspired by her own experience. The narrative drive is pretty strong, but those passages where he suffers panic attacks are very dense and I had to muscle through them. Who knew there was an anxiety gag reflex? Anyway, I wouldn't recommend the book on its literary merits alone, but the deeply human way it brings those symptoms to life for its young readers is a big win.
I actually feel like I could cry I love this book and the whole series so entirely. I swear I burst into tears so many times near the end of this book because it resonated with me so much. Each of the books focus on different types of people that are so often overlooked in literature and media throughout history and seeing characters that I identify with in these stories made me so happy. I will never be over any one of these books, they’re truly my favourite things ever written.
I was actually scared before I began this book considering I loved the first two so much but I think this one may even be my favourite! Idk how each books manages to be equally beautiful yet better but i am suffering because of it and I’m not sorry one bit.
I loved the focus on mental health in this book and the reflection of this throughout the whole plot tied with myth, it was so fun and interesting to read! Adrian is maybe the most relatable person to ever be written, I swear it was like he was in my head sometimes and relating to his thoughts so much just made him that much more realistic. Also I am so entirely in love with him and I will protect him with my LIFE.
Literally every character was incredible! I’ve never read books where I love every single character, no matter how small, because they were written so well and in depth it felt like I knew them. Some characters weren’t even in it that much yet I was dying for them sjjsj AND SEEING OLD CHARACTERS COME BACK ACTUALLY KILLED ME I WAS GASPING FOR AIR HAVING A BREAK DOWN LOSING MY MIND AND WHEN NEW CHARACTERS AND OLD CHARACTERS INTERACT?!!???!?! I WAS GOING THROUGH IT THIS ENTIRE BOOK
I truly love the Montague siblings with my whole heart and I’ll continue to be so so so proud of them. seeing them all interact literally gave me life - the teasing and bickering and affection and the development of their relationships were all done so perfectly I may have cried. Oh. At the end when they were being playful and Adrian said it felt like they were children together in a way he never was… yeah that was so uncalled for I will be sobbing for the foreseeable future.
AND PERCY WAS ONCE AGAIN THE MOST PRECIOUS HUMAN ON EARTH
This whole book is so devastating and raw and heart breaking at times (like the other books) but in the best way possible that in the end always makes me feel happy and hopeful and empowered (like the other books!)
This entire series will always have a special place in my heart and I will always come back to these books, knowing they’ll make me feel better
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars.
Coming back to this world Lee's created was such a breath of fresh air and reminded me how much I loved The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue in 2017. Honestly, I can think of no better way to close 2021 than with such a profoundly touching book. I myself don't live with an anxiety disorder, but being inside Adrian's mind allowed me to better understand the constant struggle some people with mental health issues face; this was reflected in his character and the pace of the prose, the latter something I always appreciate. There was just so much I loved about Adrian: his voice and growth and acceptance of himself, the fact that we opened with him in a committed relationship and got to see that love without it being at the forefront of the story, and his relationship with his family. Monty and Felicity were a riot, and seeing them as adults who'd grown into themselves but remained flawed was one of the most rewarding reading experiences I've had in a long time. The blurry line between reality and the supernatural was unexpected but completely appreciated (and fits with the first book; I can't speak for Felicity's book since I only skimmed it, although now I'm tempted to give it a real go), and aside from a few smaller elements I would have liked to see explored (Saad's outcome after the incident in Iceland—and more of him and Sim in general), I was absolutely thrilled with how Lee closed this series.
Coming back to this world Lee's created was such a breath of fresh air and reminded me how much I loved The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue in 2017. Honestly, I can think of no better way to close 2021 than with such a profoundly touching book. I myself don't live with an anxiety disorder, but being inside Adrian's mind allowed me to better understand the constant struggle some people with mental health issues face; this was reflected in his character and the pace of the prose, the latter something I always appreciate. There was just so much I loved about Adrian: his voice and growth and acceptance of himself, the fact that we opened with him in a committed relationship and got to see that love without it being at the forefront of the story, and his relationship with his family. Monty and Felicity were a riot, and seeing them as adults who'd grown into themselves but remained flawed was one of the most rewarding reading experiences I've had in a long time. The blurry line between reality and the supernatural was unexpected but completely appreciated (and fits with the first book; I can't speak for Felicity's book since I only skimmed it, although now I'm tempted to give it a real go), and aside from a few smaller elements I would have liked to see explored (Saad's outcome after the incident in Iceland—and more of him and Sim in general), I was absolutely thrilled with how Lee closed this series.