SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ CARAVAL OR LEGENDARY!!!!
I started Finale with high expectations. Caraval and Legendary managed to take me away to a magical place, and after finishing Legendary I couldn’t wait to start Finale. Now that I’ve read the last book in the trilogy, I’m happy to say that Finale definitely lived up to my expectations.
The story picks up a few weeks after the Fates have been freed from the Deck of Destiny and Legend claimed the throne of Valenda. Scarlett has been writing Count Nicolas D’Arcy while Julian was away. Donatella is being visited by Legend in her dreams every night, where Legend is urging her to accept her prize for winning Caraval. Meanwhile, Scarlett and Donatella are waiting for their mother Paloma (or should I say Paradise?) to wake up.
So let’s start with Legend. I didn’t know what to expect after Dante revealed himself as Legend. Would his personality change a lot? Is there a future for him and Donatella together? What will happen with Jacks? Well I don’t want to spoil anything, but all I’m saying that I wasn’t amused. To be honest, Finale definitely made me lose my interest in Legend. He didn’t have a mysterious aura around him anymore. Jacks on the other hand? Well I only started to love him more. Jacks is a wicked, complicated character and I love that. The way he handles things is thrilling, even though the things he does are horrible.
I believe Donatella stayed the same throughout the series. I didn’t notice any character growth, but I might be wrong. I still love her daring personality, willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish her goals. I didn’t enjoy reading how she kept going back to Legend, without barely any effort from his side.
Scarlett really did grow some balls after Caraval. I enjoyed reading about her again, after having a minor role in Legendary. I was definitely impressed when she announced the contest between Julian and Nicolas (even though she wanted to call it off later). Scarlett showed in Finale that she was more than willing to put herself in dangerous situations to save her loved ones and to keep Valenda safe from the Fates.
I would definitely recommend the whole Caraval series. It is one of the only series where I always feel sad after finishing each book, because I have to get back to reality. If you loved the magical world of The Night Circus but prefer a faster paced book, Caraval is a perfect choice!
Next read: The Hunt, by Frost Kay