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A review by votesforwomen
Finale by Stephanie Garber
3.0
OKAY! I finally got to read the last 30 pages of this after returning it to the library and going on vacation in the middle of reading it (ugghhhh). So now it's time for an actual review!
Where even to begin?
I loved that the focus was back on Scarlett, and that she and Julian have an actual relationship in this one, unlike in Legendary, where I'm pretty sure they were only present to provide some background angst on top of Tella's foreground angst. I really, really did not like the second book in this series, and I think it's because I didn't really love Tella as a character. I mean, she's fine, but Scarlett is my favorite for sure, and I love Julian way more than I like Legend or Jacks.
Paradise was such a fascinating and compelling character, definitely my favorite part of this story, although I liked the Fallen Star as well. All the Fates were super interesting, if I'm being honest. Except for Jacks. I did NOT like the way he was romanticized--he was nothing but dangerous and evil and he's that sort of "love interest" that scares me because he's so controlling. It's definitely depicted as dangerous? But also he's SO HOT and he can manipulate Tella into thinking and feeling whatever he wants her to and I don't like that. At alllll.
I guess that's my biggest problem with this series--I don't love Tella. Just as a character. She's flighty and immature and the type of manic dream girl I don't like AT ALL. She's confident, but not in a good way. I just don't like her. We do not connect on any level. That's probably the real problem I have with this series as a whole. Also, her struggle comes entirely from her love triangle (Yeah, there's stuff about her mama, but we all know that the only plot Tella really gets is DANTE OR JACKS???!!! PICK A DANGER BOY, ANY DANGER BOY, IT'S ALL GOOD!)
*is not a fan*
Some smol things I did love though:
-Scarlett+Julian (yes please)
-The magic Fated dress
-The empress!
-The Fates are so interesting and I love them
-The aesthetic and the writing
-Time travel is weird as always
-The covers of this series are so prettyyyyy
-Good sister relationships
Overall? Perfectly fine finale (pun intended) to a perfectly meh series. Tella is a downside; I adore Scarlett and Julian both. I despise Jacks. I don't love Dante. I love Paradise. Everyone else? Meh.
Where even to begin?
I loved that the focus was back on Scarlett, and that she and Julian have an actual relationship in this one, unlike in Legendary, where I'm pretty sure they were only present to provide some background angst on top of Tella's foreground angst. I really, really did not like the second book in this series, and I think it's because I didn't really love Tella as a character. I mean, she's fine, but Scarlett is my favorite for sure, and I love Julian way more than I like Legend or Jacks.
Paradise was such a fascinating and compelling character, definitely my favorite part of this story, although I liked the Fallen Star as well. All the Fates were super interesting, if I'm being honest. Except for Jacks. I did NOT like the way he was romanticized--he was nothing but dangerous and evil and he's that sort of "love interest" that scares me because he's so controlling. It's definitely depicted as dangerous? But also he's SO HOT and he can manipulate Tella into thinking and feeling whatever he wants her to and I don't like that. At alllll.
I guess that's my biggest problem with this series--I don't love Tella. Just as a character. She's flighty and immature and the type of manic dream girl I don't like AT ALL. She's confident, but not in a good way. I just don't like her. We do not connect on any level. That's probably the real problem I have with this series as a whole. Also, her struggle comes entirely from her love triangle (Yeah, there's stuff about her mama, but we all know that the only plot Tella really gets is DANTE OR JACKS???!!! PICK A DANGER BOY, ANY DANGER BOY, IT'S ALL GOOD!)
*is not a fan*
Some smol things I did love though:
-Scarlett+Julian (yes please)
-The magic Fated dress
-The empress!
-The Fates are so interesting and I love them
-The aesthetic and the writing
-Time travel is weird as always
-The covers of this series are so prettyyyyy
-Good sister relationships
Overall? Perfectly fine finale (pun intended) to a perfectly meh series. Tella is a downside; I adore Scarlett and Julian both. I despise Jacks. I don't love Dante. I love Paradise. Everyone else? Meh.