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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
What is it about sibling dynamics that wins my heart time after time? I love these three siblings, I’m heartbroken that 1. They aren’t real. and 2. That this series is over.
The internal dialogue and prose throughout this book and the entire series is so “g$&d@#%” delightful. And I find myself thinking I’ll reread/relisten to them again because I find them containing equal amounts of comfort and laughter.
Coulson has reached golden narration status for me. He owns this story.
If you listen to YA audio, I highly (x3) recommend.
The internal dialogue and prose throughout this book and the entire series is so “g$&d@#%” delightful. And I find myself thinking I’ll reread/relisten to them again because I find them containing equal amounts of comfort and laughter.
Coulson has reached golden narration status for me. He owns this story.
If you listen to YA audio, I highly (x3) recommend.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Loved loved loved. A satisfying final entry to the series that draws on a lot of the strengths from the first book (read: lots and lots of Monty) but also brings a refreshing new viewpoint to the series with the addition of Adrian.
It’s also one of the best, most authentic depictions of OCD that I’ve ever read. Lee is able to communicate the exhausting repetition of intrusive, obsessive thoughts without it being a grating experience for the reader. I appreciated that she forgoes the “germ” obsession that is over written by so many authors that clearly do not have first-hand experience with ocd and instead opts for fixation on a more general contamination. I also appreciated that she lets the symptoms of anxiety and ocd blur together, rather than try to clearly define either. I could go on and on about the depiction of mental illness in this but instead will just say that this is a book and series I will hold close to my heart for a long time.
(Also impeccable audiobook narration from Christian Coulson as always!!!)
It’s also one of the best, most authentic depictions of OCD that I’ve ever read. Lee is able to communicate the exhausting repetition of intrusive, obsessive thoughts without it being a grating experience for the reader. I appreciated that she forgoes the “germ” obsession that is over written by so many authors that clearly do not have first-hand experience with ocd and instead opts for fixation on a more general contamination. I also appreciated that she lets the symptoms of anxiety and ocd blur together, rather than try to clearly define either. I could go on and on about the depiction of mental illness in this but instead will just say that this is a book and series I will hold close to my heart for a long time.
(Also impeccable audiobook narration from Christian Coulson as always!!!)
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
This might be my favorite of the series. I didnt expect the third book to be such a time skip to Adrian but honestly it provides a lovely view into how the characters I previously fell in love with continued in their lives. Though I wish there was ten more books spanning the time skip. Adrian’s experience with mental illness is explored in detail and how it affects him on their daring adventure. At times the descriptions were very intense and I had to put down the book because it was too close to home, but overall it was a fantastic portrayal of anxiety disorders and OCD. I am so proud of Adrian and I really enjoyed watching him develop in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Slavery, Vomit, Murder
A wonderful wrap-up to the Montague Siblings series that I didn’t know I needed (but fortunately, Mackenzi Lee knew).
19-year-old Adrian Montague is dealing with the recent death of his mother. When his father hints that it was something other than an accidental fall off of a cliff, and shares a box of her personal effects, including the fragment of a spy glass that she always carried around, Adrian knows he must learn more. His search or information leads him to a brother and sister he never knew of, the (now 30-something) Monty and Felicity.
Getting the answers he is so desperate for will require dangerous sea journeys and deals with even more dangerous pirates. These things are challenging enough on their own— add in Adrian’s crippling anxiety and an older brother who does not bother to hide his lack of enthusiasm about Adrian’s presence, and things do not look promising for our hero.
My favorite thing about this installment? Lee’s sensitive and knowledgeable portrayal of a protagonist who struggles with mental illness. And who slowly learns that he is so much more than his anxiety.
Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books and NetGalley for the electronic arc.
19-year-old Adrian Montague is dealing with the recent death of his mother. When his father hints that it was something other than an accidental fall off of a cliff, and shares a box of her personal effects, including the fragment of a spy glass that she always carried around, Adrian knows he must learn more. His search or information leads him to a brother and sister he never knew of, the (now 30-something) Monty and Felicity.
Getting the answers he is so desperate for will require dangerous sea journeys and deals with even more dangerous pirates. These things are challenging enough on their own— add in Adrian’s crippling anxiety and an older brother who does not bother to hide his lack of enthusiasm about Adrian’s presence, and things do not look promising for our hero.
My favorite thing about this installment? Lee’s sensitive and knowledgeable portrayal of a protagonist who struggles with mental illness. And who slowly learns that he is so much more than his anxiety.
Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books and NetGalley for the electronic arc.
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Vomit
Minor: Addiction, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt
I was skeptical of this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it much more than I expected. Adrian is a delightful character, and rounds out the Montague siblings rather nicely. Readers, beware: don't come for the adventure. Come for all the Montague sibling drama you've always wanted and nostalgic callbacks to the previous books.