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A review by rebelbelle13
Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson
4.0
Into the Bright Unknown is a satisfying ending to a surprisingly entertaining historical fiction/magic trilogy. I did not realize going into it that it was a heist story, but it became apparent about halfway through the novel. It felt very "Ocean's 11" to me, in the sense that there were many players (not all of whom were aware of everyone else's actions), there was solid recon and relay of information, and there was an explanation at the end as to how the heist was accomplished. This isn't to say that it wasn't well done, of course- imitation is the highest form of flattery, after all. I found it easy to follow the chain of events, and anyone who was paying attention could figure out Jim's part. However, I don't believe that 'figuring it out' lessens the enjoyment of seeing the plan play out and Hardwick and Dilly get what's deserved. In Dilly's case, his comeuppance has been three books in coming. Leah's growth in her abilities is believable as well. It's taken her a long time to accept and learn to control her gold powers, so the climax and what she can do makes sense.
This type of story would not have worked in the first or even second installments, since there are so many working parts and the digestion of the plan and the story relies heavily on our knowledge of the characters and their growth arc, and their strengths and weaknesses. Had we just been thrown into a historical fiction/fantasy heist story without knowing what has led up to this moment, there would be less of a reason for us to invest in Leah and her friends, less of a feeling of wanting them to succeed. All of the cast members have a purpose in the story, and each lends their own color shade to the tapestry. Every character's story had a satisfying conclusion, and it's rather obvious that the adventures of the citizens of Glory, California have come to an end. My feelings may be slightly mixed, but on the whole, I'm happy that I read this trilogy, but conversely, I'm also happy that it ends here.
This type of story would not have worked in the first or even second installments, since there are so many working parts and the digestion of the plan and the story relies heavily on our knowledge of the characters and their growth arc, and their strengths and weaknesses. Had we just been thrown into a historical fiction/fantasy heist story without knowing what has led up to this moment, there would be less of a reason for us to invest in Leah and her friends, less of a feeling of wanting them to succeed. All of the cast members have a purpose in the story, and each lends their own color shade to the tapestry. Every character's story had a satisfying conclusion, and it's rather obvious that the adventures of the citizens of Glory, California have come to an end. My feelings may be slightly mixed, but on the whole, I'm happy that I read this trilogy, but conversely, I'm also happy that it ends here.