I honestly don’t quite know where to start with this review. On one hand I have felt….a sort of emptiness, for most of the day. I mean, who doesn’t feel a kind of loss after a beloved series that you’ve been following over several years comes to an end? Especially after an epic..~Finale~, if you will, lol. On another hand I’m left slightly wanting. Don’t get me wrong, this book was great. There was a LOT of page time for my ship of ships and most of the loose ends were tied up nicely. However, I almost felt like there was too many new things introduced for a final book. The conflict was intense and original, but also made me want to know more that we didn’t really get. The basis for the first two books was Caraval, a game and intense competition that was twisty, and interesting, and so very unique. I felt like this book should have incorporated something with that. It seemed almost wrong for them NOT to have played a game of that caliber. Of course there were many, many schemes that went on and games being played on a smaller scale between characters but it wasn’t the same.

I don’t want to spend this review talking about small things that I didn’t quite like, though. No. I’d much rather spend time talking about everything that worked. The first, and maybe most important is the writing. I honestly haven’t re-read <i>Caraval</i> since the first time around but I remember there was a bit more telling than showing. That changed BIG TIME in <i>Legendary</i>. Garber’s writing got more intense, more visual, darker—everything I could have wanted and more. This book held up to that very same standard. If I wouldn’t have had to work or take care of my family, I could have easily read this in a day. I wasn’t quite sure how it was going to work with perspectives but this one features both Scarlett’s and Tella’s. Seeing them in all of their sisterly glory was amazing. They love each other so much and would do anything for each other and that part of the story really shone through in this final book. It kind of seemed like we got a little more Tella than Scarlett (??) but that was kind of fine by me bc, DANTE.

Don’t even get me started on the love interests of this series. Holy wow. Julian was so perfect in this book. Everything involving him was pure perfection. And DON’T GET ME STARTED ON DANTE. He won my heart over immediately in <i>Legendary</i> and I can honestly say that love just grew more. He and Tella had some steamy scenes. The tension!!!! Delicious. Both of their endings were….just very satisfying. :)

I don’t really want to get into the plot at all but it easily had my attention. Every with the Fates was very interesting and original. The stuff towards the end with Paradise…..blew my freakin mind. I’m itching to say more but I won’t haha. Well maybe under a spoiler tag since I can’t help myself. --><spoiler>OKAY. What the fuck I can’t believe she died like right away??!?!? I was sure she was going to come back and we’d find out she was a fate…hahaha no.. she was just dead??!?!? After all of Tella’s strife in that last book over her and she. Just. Died. I was kind of annoyed honestly. BUT. The part where Scarlett goes back in time and sees her was amazing. At first I was like oh this is good with the whole concept of “don’t talk to anyone or change anything bc then life as you know it now might disappear” ..but in THIS case. Scarlett had to of told her mom everything in order for it to happen how it did and that just WAS SO COOL. So Scarlett was able to see that her mom truly loved her girls so, so much. Looooved it. Also….thoughts on Paradise having been Elantine’s true lost heir???? I think she was.</spoiler>

Overall even though I think Garber could now get away with writing an entire new series based off the new characters/things/places/events that she introduced in this book, I was very satisfied with the ending. Intrigued, but satisfied. I’ll definintely be re-reading these for years to come.

This book was received as an ARC from Flatiron Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was excited to see this installment of the Caravale series and when it said that it was the final book of the series, I knew Stephanie Garber saved the best for last and she most sure did not disappoint. Just when things were happening as expected, the book takes a whole new turn that nobody saw coming. When reading the series, I could not stop thinking that this book is a cross between Hercules with the fates and Alice in Wonderland with the deck of cards and the empires of caravale. Each chapter just got better and better and I could not wait to read on. A spectacular ending to a powerful series.

We will consider adding this title with the rest of the series in our YFantasy collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

The ending of this amazing series was everything I could have wanted and more. Stephanie Garber outdid herself in this lush world full of intrigue, drama, and exhilarating romance. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I honestly cannot wait to see it out in hardcover. Our teens will especially love being able to read a finished series!

What a rollercoaster this book will take you on! Each chapter will take your heart up and down every time! I must warn you, be sure that you've read the first two books in this series, or you will be lost as to what is going on.

I was so eager to read this book, to find out what has happened, and I was not disappointed at all. Does the Prince of Hearts return to claim his one true love? Does Julian win out and capture Scarlett's love one and for all? What about Legend, the most important puppetmaster of all??? Will Tella be able to sift through all the turmoil of her life and choose between a peaceful existence or one of excitement?

I have to admit, I fell hopelessly in love with Legend, and the second book just left me clamoring for more of him. When you read this book, you will be pulled in every direction on how you feel about Legend. Will he turn back to good, or just stay bad? Hhhmm....I can't spoil it, that would just be too evil.

I was very satisfied with this book, even though it didn't build up much of the worlds for me. Everything was put into the relationships between the characters and what was happening with them. Now, I'm not complaining by any means, but I would have liked to seen some depth to it that the first two novels had.

I did like how many secrets were revealed, which I won't spoil for you. Because of this, I can definitely see another book, or spin-off series being done. No, this isn't even being hinted at out in the publishing world, but one can hope, right?

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who wants to be swept away into the wonderful, magical game that I have come to know as Caraval. But only if you dare.......

I didn't have high hopes for this one since I wasn't a fan of Legendary due to my hatred for Tella and her stupidity. I thought Finale was going to be a long read when I started since nothing happened in the initial chapters which take place from Tella's point of view. It took until just before the halfway mark until the plot thickened and picked up speed.

Tella was still annoying from start to finish, but I tolerated her towards the end which is a miracle since I've despised her from Caraval. I wish Scarlett had more chapters from her point of view and I hated her little Bachelorette game. It should have been left out since it lasted two seconds and her ex-fiance had zero purpose to the story after Scarlett and him meet. Literally. The first 25% felt odd when weighed against the rest of the book. It needs major editing to flow with the story since it was a mega-dump of facts we already knew that kept repeating each chapter.

The writing was beautiful as always, but some of the characters' actions felt forced by the author. Two twists were predictable and another occurring at the end didn't feel right. A minor editing could fix the transitions and remove unnecessary chapters that have no relation to the book. The summary also needs revision since it is highly misleading.

Despite feeling indifferent towards Tella, I hope the author continues on with the world she painted in this trilogy and that these characters will pop up again.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

All good things must have an ending. Finale by Garber is a masterpiece of a finish, immersive and impossible to put down. Even though things are tied up in a neat, prim box, I feel there is so much more just beginning and left to be explored. My fingers are crossed for more from these amazing characters.

3.75 stars rounded up, though I still think Caraval is my favorite of the trilogy.

Wow. I went back and forth in my mental rating for this so many times I wound up with whiplash. The story starts off a little draggy, but around the 25% mark (if you're reading the ebook) it starts to pick up, and then takes off like a launch coaster.

Tella still annoys me, she still makes stupid ass decisions, but I do think she grew up a little this go round. And her bond with Scarlett is still strong.

Scarlett is still my favorite because when she does a stupid, she realizes it pretty quickly and adjusts/changes/tries to fix her stupid herself.

There's a character that shows up physically near the end (he's more of a presence through most of the book) that I would love to have seen developed more, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Jacks is still a devious rat bastard.

What I find curious/interesting is that there's a question posed in Finale that's not really answered, so I'm wondering if there's going to be a sequel/encore/new trilogy that'll take place in this world.

If so, sign me up.

Thank you, Netgalley, for giving this greedy librarian an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An extremely satisfying conclusion to the Caraval series! Finale combines the viewpoints of both Tella and Scarlett fairly seamlessly; both fully come in to their own as independent, strong women who know what they want—and what sacrifices to make to get the ending they need. Garber comes through again with a story you want to live in and a book you never want to end.

This was one of the best endings to a trilogy that I have had the pleasure of reading. Getting to the end of this story was bittersweet to me, the characters have grown in my heart and I was not ready for it to end but seeing the growth of these characters and a satisfying end to their journey was beautiful to experience.

Every book in this series has been better than the last, so it fits that FINALE is not only the best of the three, but it’s also a supremely satisfying ending in general. It's more magical, more romantic, more thrilling, more MORE. Kudos to Stephanie Garber for taking several turns that even I didn’t see coming and giving all of the main players an abundance of growth. I was riveted from start to finish. I only regret how fast I devoured this! But hey, when you're so engrossed that time loses all meaning, things can't be helped. It's a sign of how good this book is.

At its heart, this series revolves around the fierce love of two sisters who would fight tooth and claw for each other. FINALE, thankfully, never lets you forget it for a single moment. It's been a ride not without pieces of criticism here and there, but I cannot deny that this is a world I will miss being immersed in and reading about for sure.

I've read Finale through Netgalley and here my honest review

I have never read a book as fast as i did with Finale. I just keep reading it with a stupid grin on my face xD The story was 'bigger' than the first two books. I feel like Stephanie has poured everything in it; emotions, magic, fear, blood, and LOVE. The author created a captivating and dangerous tale about the sisters who fight for their happy ending.,and nothing wrong with that.. You think that Legend or Jacks are the greatest villain? Wait until you meet the new villain, He was pure evil that i don't mind to sacrifice everything to cross through dimensions only to punch him in the face. Stephanie’s strong writing made me totally forgot that I was only reading a piece of paper. 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THIS GRAND FINALE!

"Be careful, Crimson."
"I'm always careful."
"I dont.t know..." he pulled away just enough for her to see his mouth twitch at the corner. "A careful girl wouldn't say she loved me."

Psstt… you will love Julian more here. Trust me.

I would say I’m surprised but that would be a lie. This book was an UTTER DELIGHT and what a resounding cap to this series. Magical, romantic, and everything I wanted it to be TBH (did I mention romantic because hi hello Tella, you go girl, is all I’m saying).

Just absolutely gorgeous and I’m aching to go back and reread already.