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samrushingbooks's review
5.0
The newest book in the Stravaganza series is just as amazing as the rest of them. I have been drawn into this alternate version of Italy known as Talia and so wish that I could find my own talisman so I could stravagate back and be a part of it all. I honestly could not put this book down, and now that I am finished I find myself dreaming of the next one, and I truly hope that there will be a seventh book. There are 12 city-states in Talia and each book focuses on a different one so there could be 12 books, and I hope that becomes reality.
gemgem1101's review
5.0
AMAZING!!
Wow, Hoffman managed to pack in so many twists into one novel I am amazed.
First off, Vicky gets to Talia for Luciano’s wedding
Wow, Hoffman managed to pack in so many twists into one novel I am amazed.
First off, Vicky gets to Talia for Luciano’s wedding
amaldae's review
3.0
September 2014: The Finnish translation is now out.
You want to read it if the setting of this book interests you even a little bit and you don't mind some romance and drama in your books. Or if you have grown up with the series like I have. Or if you just know you like Hoffman's writing.
You don't want to read it if you would like these kids keeping their mouths shut about Talia or if you don't like badly executed human drama (the closer the ending, the stronger the drama) or if you're looking for interesting characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
You want to read it if the setting of this book interests you even a little bit and you don't mind some romance and drama in your books. Or if you have grown up with the series like I have. Or if you just know you like Hoffman's writing.
You don't want to read it if you would like these kids keeping their mouths shut about Talia or if you don't like badly executed human drama (the closer the ending, the stronger the drama) or if you're looking for interesting characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
leothil's review
2.0
This was easily the worst book in the series. The pacing was really off; it was like the author had tried to cram too much into the story and then had to cut half of it out. Lots of hints of character and/or story progression were dropped here and there, but then they went nowhere and were never mentioned again. I couldn't connect to the protagonist Laura at all, and her love story was one of the most unconvincing ones I've ever read (and that's saying something since I've read both Twilight and the Fifty Shades series). It recieves two stars purely because of the former stravaganti being in the book. For this to be a good story it should have been a twice or three times as long book, so that everything would've had time to evolve and actually felt realistic. I think the author tried to leave a similar open ending like in City of Flowers, but this one just felt forced.
daniella84's review
4.0
I thought this book was a great one to finish the series with. The siege was good, though I agree over a little too quickly for my liking, but the whole Ludo and Laura affair was interesting and so was the inner workings of the DiChimici family with Lucia.
I loved the ending, though the last paragraph was told from a cheetah's point of view and a bit cheesy, and thought that it neatly tied up all the loose ends and questions I had, though I did want to know a little more about the lives of the Stravaganti in modern times.
I loved the ending, though the last paragraph was told from a cheetah's point of view and a bit cheesy, and thought that it neatly tied up all the loose ends and questions I had, though I did want to know a little more about the lives of the Stravaganti in modern times.
photogcourt's review
4.0
I really hope that whatever happened, doesn't mean access to Talia is gone!
The end was kind of confusing... I do like that Ludo was taken to present-day England though.
There better be another one! I feel as if there are a few loose ends. Well... a lot of them.
The end was kind of confusing... I do like that Ludo was taken to present-day England though.
There better be another one! I feel as if there are a few loose ends. Well... a lot of them.
bookish_redpanda15's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cotokeet's review
4.0
Not the best in the series, but it managed to impress me enough that I changed my mind from 3 stars to 4. I can tell it will not be the last in the series.
amanda071's review against another edition
3.0
Het zesde en laatste deel in de Stravaganza serie. Wederom vind een jonge scholier een talisman waarmee ze naar Talia reist. Deze keer is het Laura. Weer moet ze een taak volbrengen om Talia te redden. Een spannend boek die een waardige afsluiting vormt van de serie.
viljaneito's review against another edition
3.0
Nopealukuinen, etenee edellisistä kirjoista tutulla kaavalla. Renessanssiajan Talia on edelleen kiehtova ympäristö. Eniten tökki Lauran ja Ludon insta-love. Ihan kiva päätösosa sarjalle.