Reviews

The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young

firvida's review against another edition

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4.0

Hay algo en los libros de Adrienne Young que me cautiva: su escritura lírica, sus personajes pasionales siempre al borde del peligro, su tratamiento verosímil de temas que normalmente tienen que ver con las complejas relaciones familiares. Estoy segura de que, si la dejaran, sería una excelente escritora de historias para adultos, porque sus obras ya lo son, en realidad. Daría mi mano derecha a que son sus editores los que la guían hacia un mercado YA con sus personajes adolescentes pero que claramente navegan en un mundo de emociones adultas, un poco como le pasó a Bardugo con "Seis de cuervos". Si se liberara de esa cadena y se permitiera alcanzar su máximo potencial, creo que todos tendríamos que reconocer la realidad: que es una autora magnífica.

Dicho esto, "Legado" me ha gustado bastante más que "Fable". Hay, como decía, un tema que suele atravesar siempre las novelas de Young, presente en todas las que he leído suyas (a falta de "Saint" y "Hechizos para olvidar") y, por supuesto, central aquí: cómo forjar la identidad propia dentro o fuera del seno familiar. En "Después del deshielo", el tema central era la traición de Iri, el hermano que escogió otra familia, y la necesidad de Eelyn de asumirlo (que no de perdonarlo); en "La chica que nos devolvió el mar", Tova navega entre los secretos de su desconocida familia, intentando encontrar su sitio entre desconocidos que parecen haberla acogido (o, al menos, tolerado); en la bilogía de "Fable", esta intenta entender la traición, posición y amor de su padre hacia ella y hacia su fallecida madre. Entre medias, sus protagonistas se enamoran y, por lo general, ese enamoramiento viene a ponerlo todo en duda: su familia y su amor, preguntándose si son compatibles y, de no serlo, qué escogerían. Así que, como se puede ver, no son novelas precisamente superfluas. Sus temas son universales y muy fácilmente identificables.

En "Legado", los personajes están bien definidos y navegan en una bonita escala de grises. Los Roth son una especie de versión light YA de los Peaky Blinders, con lo cual se genera en el lector una sensación constante de desastre. Es una pena que la novela no sea más larga, porque creo que había tela para seguir cortando: Henrik y la familia, Ezra y Bryn podían dar aún más de sí mismos. Esto parece algo malo, y en parte lo es, porque quiere decir que la novela no termina de ser redonda y se queda a medio gas, pero, por otro lado, de un libro mal planteado no querrías leer 50 o 100 páginas más. Si lo quieres, es porque algo estaba funcionando. En este sentido, el final es muy apresurado, como siempre, y el libro termina cuando acaba la acción. Ni siquiera, porque Ezra y Bryn salen de escena sin que tú veas la conmoción del Gremio al ver la estratagema urdida por ambos. Una pena.

Con todo, confirmo a Adrienne Young como una autora cuasi infalible para mí. No me fascina, pero me encanta y me sumerge por completo en sus historias, que no es moco de pavo.

arcticgiraffe719's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

nena13's review

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious relaxing 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? It's complicated

3.0

madcat29's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

amiascah's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was a solid, enjoyable story that if it was any other book I think I would have enjoyed more but from the Narrows world I was upset there wasn't more.

'The Last Legacy' is the third book in 'The world of the Narrow's series but Adrienne Young. It follows the life of Bryn Roth after her 18th birthday. So far Bryn has been living with her great-aunt away from all her family but with her birthday comes the end of a deal between her great aunt and her uncle and she must return to Bastian and the home of the Roths. Bryn is eager to do this, she wants to prove herself and crave out her place amongst her family. She will do anything to avoid a life of being dressed up like a pretty doll and married off to the highest bidder. Her uncle, Henrik, however has plans for her with little to no care of Bryn's wants.

Spoilers

I miss the sea. What drew me in to this series was the swashbuckling privateering side of the books. The descriptions of being on the open waters, the details of life on a ship, the learning of the rules in a mostly ruleless environment. 'The Last Legacy' throws that most out. We still see the cut throat gem trade, the merchants posturing, but the grit and seediness of 'Fable' and 'Namesake' are missing. This doesn't even fully read like a fantasy book. Bryn could be any girl in history, pressured to act a certain way, marry above her station and basically just shut up sit back and do what she's told. Not that I didnt like her, it was an enjoyable journey watching her grow from the naive young girl that her aunt had raised in polite society to a cut throat member of a criminal enterprise. This felt more like a historical mob family novel. 

It read well it flowed nicely it just needed more and wasn't the world of the Narrows that I was hoping to visit.   

cjsowles's review

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5.0

i loved this series, i would never survive but i want to be apart of this world so bad

starlightfox's review against another edition

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challenging emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lexi_sadler's review

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5.0

There are still so many things left open-ended, so I really hope she continues this series! I will read anything set in The Narrows ⚓️

teachingbooklove's review

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5.0

I have loved all of Young’s book (Fable, Namesake, Sky in the Deep) and this was is no exception. This story takes place in the same world as Fable, but the time period after Namesake with all new characters (for the most part). I love how Young creates characters that you both love and hate. Bryn has been destined to be a Roth for her entire life, and it was not until her 18th birthday that she found out what that entailed. As she joins her notable family, she must make a choice, to stay true to her family or true to herself. Such a beautiful story that I hope is not over!!

abikale's review

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

That was really stinking cute. My only criticism is that the plot isn’t as well written as six of crows (they have a similar vibe). The schemes are so messy and nowhere near as clever as Kaz’s. I almost feel like I could have do e a better a job than Bryn. But love the world and love the characters.