***The Starry-Eyed Revue***: finales

Title: The Beauty of Darkness
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Narrators: Emily Rankin, Ryan Gesell, Kirby Heyborne, Kim Mai Guest and a full cast
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, book #3
Length: 18 hrs 48 mins
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)/Listening Library
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Source: purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous - what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed.

Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens.

With previous books in this series, I had so many feels that I had to review them in GIF form. But since this is the final installment in The Remnant Chronicles, I'm going to try to be vague and non-spoilery. That doesn't mean that there weren't just as many feels where this book is concerned. Or that there won't be GIFs. But no one likes to have the final book ruined for them.

Which is likely why there are rarely early copies provided for finales. That isn't to say that there weren't some sent out. And that I wasn't at least a little concerned when some of those early reviewers were less than satisfied with this conclusion. But this is obviously a case of to each his own because I found this final book every bit as satisfying -- and thrilling and jaw-dropping and just utterly heartbreaking -- as the previous two books.

The Beauty of Darkness is long. Much longer than either of the other installments. But there is just so much left to resolve after the events in The Heart of Betrayal that it simply couldn't be any shorter. And honestly, I would have taken a few more chapters, just to get all my feels out there and savor them a little longer. This series has come so far, taken the characters to such great lengths, that to rush their story or compact it to any degree would have done them all a great disservice.

I'll admit. There were moments when I wanted to pull my hair out. When I wanted to smash characters' faces together and force them to work out their differences and quit being complete dunderheaded ninnies. But the sense of duty and loyalty in these characters is so firmly established, so deeply rooted, that no matter their past indiscretions, they must make things right for their people. And while it was frustrating to read at times, it felt right...even if it was completely at odds with my own desires for them.

My love for this series knows no bounds, so it wasn't necessary for me to re-read the previous books...even though I totally did. But if you're not quite as obsessed, I would heartily recommend doing so, just so that you get the full scope of what is at stake when you begin reading The Beauty of Darkness. And might I also recommend re-reading via audio? I've read the books and I've listened to the audiobooks and I couldn't tell you which I prefer, but for expediency's sake, I re-read via audio and it is superb, especially since it's narrated by a full cast. I wanted to experience this final book without fear of spoilers, though -- and without getting paper cuts in the process -- so I went the audio route this time, and the narration pulled me right back into the thick of things.

From the moment I read that first line in The Kiss of Deception -- "Today was the day a thousand dreams would die and a single dream would be born." -- I was enamored with this series. I can't believe it's already come to a close, that I won't be reading anymore of Lia, Rafe, and Kaden, but I can honestly say that I couldn't have asked for a better ending to their story. I already can't wait to re-read the series again!

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Mary E. Pearson is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of ten novels. Her works include her latest trilogy, The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, and the forthcoming The Beauty of Darkness which will be published in August. The Adoration of Jenna Fox, and the other books in the series have been optioned for film, and A Room on Lorelei Street was a Golden Kite Award Winner. She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband.

Find Mary:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Facebook

Labels: audiobooks, fantasy, favorite authors, favorites, finales, macmillan, mary e. pearson, reviews, the remnant chronicles

Penguin hosted a readalong for The Infinite Sea back in March, but I like for the previous books to be as fresh on my mind as possible before a series finale, so I decided to re-listen to The 5th Wave and The Infinite Sea the other day, even though I just did that back in November. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment.

I've also had the preview Penguin sent out with some other goodies for a few weeks and have managed not to sneak a peek so far. But my willpower is quickly diminishing the closer we get to the release...and especially now that I've re-read both prior books in the series.

I mean, c'mon! Yancey gives us just enough at the end of each book so that we aren't completely wracked with despair but that we also know things are going to get a lot worse before they get better...assuming that they ever do. And I'm more than a little curious to pick up where things left off in The Infinite Sea.

If you're curious, too, you can check out the preview below or at this link:

Less than two weeks till we get the answers we seek, but I'm starting to wonder if I want to know. I mean, what is the deal with the freaking rats, right? Is it like was explained before...how we send rats packing -- i.e. annihilate their sorry butts -- when we want to make a home where they're currently living? If the aliens really don't want to share Earth with us, why didn't they just do that? Why toy with us, taking out more of us with each wave, only to leave the toughest to survive and endure? Are the aliens even aliens?!? There were ships...

Can we really believe anything that happened between Ringer and Vosch there at the end? Were they really never here? At this point, I find it hard to trust anyone, but I want to. Evan keeps finding his way back to Cassie. And Ringer, of all people, found love.

So many have died already, and for what? We still know next to nothing about these supposed alien beings who want our planet so badly they're willing to kill for it. I think Ringer is the closest to the truth: they aren't here. They never were. Why would they download their conscious into us and then try to annihilate us, when they could've peacefully coexisted with none of us the wiser?

Honestly, I have more questions than I have theories. Seriously, if aliens were to invade, I'd be one of the first ones dead, right out of the gate. No way would I be able to keep my wits about me like these kids have. But the fact that they've made it this far must mean something, right? The aliens killed the adults. Used the really young children as bombs. And now we know that they've essentially been turning the teenagers into Silencers. So, what's next?

Evan's holding on to his own humanity, though he doesn't know that's what he's doing. Will Ringer be able to do the same? I think she may do as Vosch wants and track Evan down, but after everything she's seen and done, I don't think she can turn on her friends. And I know she's the last person to think of Evan as a friend, but he's helped her companions more than anyone would have expected, for someone who's from the wrong side of this war.

And what will become of Razor? I'm afraid if he goes with her, he'll only aide her in what she's supposed to do. He knows it's not right, but he's also scared of the truth.

Is it weird that this feels like it's gone from being Cassie's story of survival to Ringer's search for answers? At first, I didn't really ~~want to~~ care about Ringer or her backstory or any of it beyond how it affected Cassie, but after several re-reads and so much time spent in her head, I can't help but be drawn to her character now.

I'm very aware that this is unlikely to end with a happily ever after, at least in the truest sense of the word. Things aren't suddenly going to go back to normal once it's all over, assuming we get the answers we need and the alien presence is eradicated. I know who I hope makes it to the end and who I hope doesn't.

I'm ready for this finale. I am. But I'm also scared of it.

Since I've already re-read the books in preparation for the final book's released, I think I'll watch the movie adaptation of the first book this weekend. Can't be too prepared, can you?

You can check out more about the final book below. And you can check out my reviews of The 5th Wave and The Infinite Star for more analysis of the story thus far. Also, if you need a refresher and don't have time to re-read, I highly recommend the audiobooks. The narrators are fantastic and they get my heart going every time. This series just does. Not. Quit.

Title: The Last Star
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The 5th Wave, book #3
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 24, 2016
Preorder: Penguin

We’re here, then we’re gone, and that was true before they came. That’s always been true. The Others didn’t invent death; they just perfected it. Gave death a face to put back in our face, because they knew that was the only way to crush us. It won’t end on any continent or ocean, no mountain or plain, jungle or desert. It will end where it began, where it had been from the beginning, on the battlefield of the last beating human heart.

Master storyteller Rick Yancey invokes triumph, loss, and unrelenting action as the fate of the planet is decided in the conclusion to this epic series.

Have you already re-read the series in anticipation of The Last Star in a couple of weeks? Discovered anything new? Formed any new theories? I'd love to hear them!