Rant: Finale by Stephanie Garber
BE AWARE!!!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
I have to say, I did like the book, but some of the authorial choices and the plot just seemed a bit rushed, and Garber just decided to do it cuz she wanted to do it, ya know?
I hated how Paradise was killed IMMEDIATELY in the beginning of the book. Like, there was no warning, it was so unexpected. I understand that may have been the point of it, but I just feel more could’ve been done with her character before she got killed off. And I know for a fact the only reason Paradise got killed off was because, 1. Garber was frustrated about writing her (said so by herself in the author notes in Legendary), and 2. Just to get the whole plot going. I feel that there could’ve been a better motivator for both Tella and Scarlett. Plus, it just felt like the whole second book was a waste. It’s like Percy Jackson, where the whole point of the second book was to get the Golden Fleece and bring Thalia back; everyone knows that book is a filler. This feels like the same situation to me, except Paradise gets killed. Although I have my problems with this decision, I can understand why Garber made the decision to kill off Paradise, no hate to her.
Something else I would’ve wanted is more Scarlett POV. Unlike most people, I don’t hate Donatella. I really appreciate her character and how it contrasts her sister’s, however, I really love Scarlett’s character and I would’ve loved to see more chapters in her POV. When reading I can tell there are SIGNIFICANTLY more Donatella chapters than Scarlett chapters. I also would’ve loved a bit more Scarlett and Julian scenes, but I loved the scenes they were in. I understand if nothing else could be added because of the circumstances the characters were in.
I kind of missed the magic of Caraval, but Garber was able to replace Caraval’s magic with the magic of Valenda and the Fated Places. I enjoyed the environments that were depicted in the Fated Places, especially the Immortal Library and the Vanished Market.
The ending was pretty good, I honestly don’t think there would be a better way to kill the Fallen Star, because I swear every single plan they made fell through, and I guess it was a bit satisfying to see how he died, by remembering his love for Paradise. I just think that the end was a bit rushed, and could’ve been more well thought out and executed.
On that note, another thing that seemed to bother me was the whole theme of “Love.” I liked the entire theme, and I think it was very cleverly intertwined into the plot, but I think it got to be a bit much at times, like how Donatella was ALWAYS pining over Legend. Like, I get it, she loves him, but I feel that every chapter Tella was thinking about him, I would’ve liked to see her separate from those feelings a little more, though.
All in all, this trilogy will always hold a special place in my heart. Filled with magic, and twists and turns, heartbreak, and romance. Although Finale wasn’t the best, I still loved it. I’m excited to read Once Upon a Broken Heart and more books from Garber.