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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Out of all of them, this is probably my least favorite. I still like the series, I like the diverse cast, it's an interesting premise over all, but the plot on this feels thin. Characters get introduced and are left alone except for a giant plot that we had to have told to us instead of shown. I appreciate the series, but this one wasn't great.
I've really liked this series, and I thought this last book was a pretty good ending to a pretty interesting series.
What I liked the most was seeing how much Lee's ability changed, and how she became more okay with using it. I also liked seeing her discover how to develop her ability, and how there are other people with abilities out there. I really wish we saw more of that, because I was surprised that other people had their own special abilities. I know the series is focused on Lee and what she can do but I still wish we saw more of what other people could do.
It's weird, though, I don't really see it as a historical fantasy series. I mean, even though there's Lee, who can sense gold, it still wasn't enough to make it a fantasy. At least for me. It was a lot more historical that fantasy, and there was enough going on that wasn't related to Lee's ability that I don't really see it as a fantasy.
We don't see any more of Lee's uncle, and I am curious about what trouble he's up to. Instead, we see a lot more of the guy that her uncle was working for/owed money to. I wondered if we'd see him again, and what role he would play in this book. He is not a good guy, let's just say that.
Lee and her friends really do go through a lot. I'm glad things worked out for Mrs. Joyner and getting her things, but of course, there are some bumps along the way. It really was sad she couldn't sign for her things, and that she had to rely on her father-in-law to come sign it for everything. I really felt for her and Lee (plus all of the other woman like them), who did everything they could to survive, but still couldn't get everything they wanted because they were women. Hopefully things got better for them, and that things calmed down for all of them after the end of the book.
I'm still not a fan of the romance between Lee and Jefferson. Even though it's been a minimal part of the series, and very much relegated to the background, I could have done without it completely. It felt like they had no chemistry whatsoever, and it really did feel like they were together because they didn't have anyone else. To be honest, I thought she had more chemistry with the college students than she did with Jefferson. Lee seemed happy with Jefferson, though, and that's important, even though I wasn't thrilled with their relationship.
My Rating: 4 stars. I didn't love it, and it was a little predictable at times, but I still really enjoyed it.
What I liked the most was seeing how much Lee's ability changed, and how she became more okay with using it. I also liked seeing her discover how to develop her ability, and how there are other people with abilities out there. I really wish we saw more of that, because I was surprised that other people had their own special abilities. I know the series is focused on Lee and what she can do but I still wish we saw more of what other people could do.
It's weird, though, I don't really see it as a historical fantasy series. I mean, even though there's Lee, who can sense gold, it still wasn't enough to make it a fantasy. At least for me. It was a lot more historical that fantasy, and there was enough going on that wasn't related to Lee's ability that I don't really see it as a fantasy.
We don't see any more of Lee's uncle, and I am curious about what trouble he's up to. Instead, we see a lot more of the guy that her uncle was working for/owed money to. I wondered if we'd see him again, and what role he would play in this book. He is not a good guy, let's just say that.
Lee and her friends really do go through a lot. I'm glad things worked out for Mrs. Joyner and getting her things, but of course, there are some bumps along the way. It really was sad she couldn't sign for her things, and that she had to rely on her father-in-law to come sign it for everything. I really felt for her and Lee (plus all of the other woman like them), who did everything they could to survive, but still couldn't get everything they wanted because they were women. Hopefully things got better for them, and that things calmed down for all of them after the end of the book.
I'm still not a fan of the romance between Lee and Jefferson. Even though it's been a minimal part of the series, and very much relegated to the background, I could have done without it completely. It felt like they had no chemistry whatsoever, and it really did feel like they were together because they didn't have anyone else. To be honest, I thought she had more chemistry with the college students than she did with Jefferson. Lee seemed happy with Jefferson, though, and that's important, even though I wasn't thrilled with their relationship.
My Rating: 4 stars. I didn't love it, and it was a little predictable at times, but I still really enjoyed it.
Resoundingly rewarding. An excellent ending.
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
Spoiler
I would never give you a book where the dog or the horse died or got permanently stolen away without warning you about it.
dnf. I read the other books and liked them but this one just couldn't hold my interest.
“Unique interpretation of American history.” That doesn’t bode well for this book. I’ll still give it a shot, though.
FINISHED 1/3/2018 - I'm glad I read this, though it did feel like a chore sometimes. Still too much presentism running rampant in the story to make it truly enjoyable, but it was still a nice read.
I knew Jim wasn't really dead. It's a heist story. There has to be lots of misdirection. And since faking a death is the biggest misdirection of all, why not?
Anyway, if you're a huge fan of this series, great. For me, the whole thing was kind of "meh." Which is typical of YA fiction lately, sadly. I read all three books, so there is an accomplishment there (of sorts).
FINISHED 1/3/2018 - I'm glad I read this, though it did feel like a chore sometimes. Still too much presentism running rampant in the story to make it truly enjoyable, but it was still a nice read.
I knew Jim wasn't really dead. It's a heist story. There has to be lots of misdirection. And since faking a death is the biggest misdirection of all, why not?
Anyway, if you're a huge fan of this series, great. For me, the whole thing was kind of "meh." Which is typical of YA fiction lately, sadly. I read all three books, so there is an accomplishment there (of sorts).
I always enjoy the works of Rae Carson and this was no exception. The villain was a bit less intriguing than the earlier books in the series, and it almost felt like a less compelling shadow of what had come before. Other than that, it was a nice conclusion to an excellent series.
3.5
3.5
4.4/5 stars, full review to come! I do just love this trilogy a lot, so it's hard for me to totally critique this book when the characters and the lore are so close to my heart. I think there were a few weak points in this finale (the plotlines of the POC characters, for one, and the slightly sloppy "reveal" of how the mission was pulled off in the end) but it certainly did not ruin the series for me. I love Leah so so soooo much as a main character, and I love her whole "The world is not fair, so it's our job to make it fair" mentality. It was also really important to me that in this book she had friends explain to her (and also some realizations of her own) that sometimes how you go about helping people is more important than your good intention, because doing so the wrong way can only cause more trouble. Also: the romance!!!!!!!!
Plot: 4/5 stars
Characters: 5/5 stars
Pacing: 4/5 stars
Writing: 4/5 stars
Enjoyment: 5/5 stars
Plot: 4/5 stars
Characters: 5/5 stars
Pacing: 4/5 stars
Writing: 4/5 stars
Enjoyment: 5/5 stars
This was an excellent historical fiction series. It did an excellent job of NOT glorifying the California Gold Rush. The author really takes care to acknowledge the countless atrocities committed against African Americans, Native Americans, and Chinese immigrants by white Americans and Europeans and who stole the land, freedom and lives of many people. Her author’s note thoughtfully documents her research and writing choices and suggested further reading which I feel is really important.
This was a good final book to the series but I think it would’ve been better if the perspectives had been split. The heist is mostly told to the reader after the fact which takes a lot of the suspense and fun out of it.
This was a good final book to the series but I think it would’ve been better if the perspectives had been split. The heist is mostly told to the reader after the fact which takes a lot of the suspense and fun out of it.
Probably one of the best books I've read this year, and one of the best series I've read, ever. It talks about privilege, and handles it in a really good way. Lee, the main character, sees the privilege that men have over her, but especially in this book but throughout the whole series, she sees the privilege that she has over black and Native peoples. It's a really well timed message to put in a book, but it doesn't get super preachy either. It's really well done.
James Henry Hardwick is also a dead ringer for Trump, although I would say Hardwick is actually smart when it comes to business. He was an interesting villain for this book, and not exactly what I was expecting. Definitely an interesting and risky choice, but I think it payed off in the end.
This book felt like it went by really quickly, and I guess I did read it really quickly, but like the actual story felt like it rushed by. Thinking back on it, there wasn't really a subplot of any kind. All of the plot points flowed from one to the next, but never did they overlap, if that makes any sense.
I can't wait to see what Rae Carson writes next.
James Henry Hardwick is also a dead ringer for Trump, although I would say Hardwick is actually smart when it comes to business. He was an interesting villain for this book, and not exactly what I was expecting. Definitely an interesting and risky choice, but I think it payed off in the end.
This book felt like it went by really quickly, and I guess I did read it really quickly, but like the actual story felt like it rushed by. Thinking back on it, there wasn't really a subplot of any kind. All of the plot points flowed from one to the next, but never did they overlap, if that makes any sense.
I can't wait to see what Rae Carson writes next.