Book Name: Finale
Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: 7th May 2019
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Welcome welcome to the Finale, All games must come to an end.
Oh, and what an end it is.
Spoilers ahead. Please read at your own risk.
The book begins with an invitation and ends in an invitation. What ensues in the middle is something I would have never even fathomed.
When I completed Legendary, I keenly awaited the third book of the series, Finale with the staggering cliff-hanger Stephanie had ended on in the former book. I was anxious as to what Finale would bring. What would happen to the Dragna sisters? Will their mother ever come back? What about the Fates that were freed and most importantly, what was Legend playing at?
Garber has satisfactorily answered all my questions and I am impressed by the work put into the plot and storyline. Not only was the story seamless with just enough of everything but the growth of each character genuinely makes me happy.
The book is divided into 4 parts, the beginning, the middle, the almost ending and the true ending. Trust me, I was gripped to my seat with how each part played out. The book is a dual story where we understand Tella and Scarlett’s narratives through their point of views. Finale begins two months after that last Caraval when we find out that Dante IS Legend and he has also taken over the throne of Valenda. I know right?!
Tell only encounters Legend is her dreams, where he poses as Dante who Tella fell in love in the last book. She knows its just a game that Legend is playing and should not trust him but tell that to her heart! Meanwhile, The Prince of Hearts, The Fate freed from the Decks of Destiny, Jacks is still pinning over Tella. So much for a love triangle, right?
With constant warnings from other mildly good Fates, Tella finds is difficult to stay away from the Jacks and is caught in the whirlwind of the lies and betrayal that the Fates are known for. Whilst Tella is fighting for her love and trust, Scarlet is fighting for her love between Julian and Count Nicolas D’arcy. Apart from the trials of the heart, the Fallen Star is avenging his and the other Fates’ royal status with an open blood war. The sisters not only have to face the trials and tribulations of their love lives but also prepare to fight the impending war that is to come.
Scarlett plays a major part in this book and takes over the rein to fight for what is right whereas Tella is the support that Scarlett leans on. What I love in this series is the love that Tella and Scarlett share for each other. Where Tella is impulsive and brutal, Scarlett is just as thoughtful and planned. They balance each other like yin and yang. Moreover, the history behind the Fates being trapped in the Deck of Destiny in addition to the involvement of the sisters and their mother Paloma is cleverly written. It brings out the right amount of suspense and thrill that we’re rooting for.
The series may have come to an end, but the story will live on with us forever. The right amount of magic, mystery, deception, love, and heartbreak is what makes the Caraval series effortless to appreciate. It ticks all the boxes that a fun-filled fantasy novel has, and I highly recommend it!
