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doahdancer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Murder, War, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence
wordsareworlds's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This was a roller-coaster of a book, with a small intro to get you prepared (or lulled into complacency) and then it takes you on an absolute ride until the end, where it crashes and burns.
Cat is the heroine I most relate to in the trilogy, and I think a lot of people will feel the same way. She's the youngest sibling, and thanks to that, the ditzy persona she's cultivated, and her own secret, she's underestimated by everyone. Including her siblings, which serves to undermine her confidence in herself. Throughout the book she grows into her skin and deals with doubts and pressure in an touching way. I teared up several times as she fought through those feelings of inadequacy and need to find others who understood who she truly was.
Alex was by far my favorite hero, and the one I'm most disappointed we got so little backstory for. He's so caring and careful, giving Cat agency throughout the book instead of taking it to satisfy his desire to protect her. I kept feeling like there was more there to explore, but we never got to it.
Plot-wise, the book takes a major left turn from the previous two and we finally figure out why the trilogy is called the Consortium Rebellion. This is where the book ultimately failed for me. Mihalik works here to make the current generation of characters seem different from the previous, but Cat sending bi-weekly shipments to street children does not systemic change make. We've seen how the three High Houses have control over everything in the universe, and trying to make them more sympathetic by adding some vague lines about how the VH children are trying to change things without ever referencing that in the trilogy to date feels like a too little, too late. There is also a specific scene that is supposed to highlight a conflict between Cat and Alex that exemplified how a person who has faced systemic abuse is often forced into the role of comforter to a person of privilege within that system. It's supposed to bring them closer together (I think) but it reflected poorly on Cat and the author's understanding of how privilege works.
In the end, (major plot spoiler) the new generation takes over but there is literally no change to the actual, major problems with this society, with no plans talked about to make things better
Several elements of both the second book and this one are left unresolved, which led me to believe Mihalik might write additional books or novellas, but they could as easily be dropped threads.
Ultimately, while I adored both the heroine and hero of this book, I found it the most disappointing of the three and a sorry way to end the trilogy.
Cat is the heroine I most relate to in the trilogy, and I think a lot of people will feel the same way. She's the youngest sibling, and thanks to that, the ditzy persona she's cultivated, and her own secret, she's underestimated by everyone. Including her siblings, which serves to undermine her confidence in herself. Throughout the book she grows into her skin and deals with doubts and pressure in an touching way. I teared up several times as she fought through those feelings of inadequacy and need to find others who understood who she truly was.
Alex was by far my favorite hero, and the one I'm most disappointed we got so little backstory for. He's so caring and careful, giving Cat agency throughout the book instead of taking it to satisfy his desire to protect her. I kept feeling like there was more there to explore, but we never got to it.
Plot-wise, the book takes a major left turn from the previous two and we finally figure out why the trilogy is called the Consortium Rebellion. This is where the book ultimately failed for me. Mihalik works here to make the current generation of characters seem different from the previous, but Cat sending bi-weekly shipments to street children does not systemic change make. We've seen how the three High Houses have control over everything in the universe, and trying to make them more sympathetic by adding some vague lines about how the VH children are trying to change things without ever referencing that in the trilogy to date feels like a too little, too late. There is also a specific scene that is supposed to highlight a conflict between Cat and Alex that exemplified how a person who has faced systemic abuse is often forced into the role of comforter to a person of privilege within that system. It's supposed to bring them closer together (I think) but it reflected poorly on Cat and the author's understanding of how privilege works.
In the end, (major plot spoiler)
Several elements of both the second book and this one are left unresolved, which led me to believe Mihalik might write additional books or novellas, but they could as easily be dropped threads.
Ultimately, while I adored both the heroine and hero of this book, I found it the most disappointing of the three and a sorry way to end the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Classism
Moderate: Medical trauma and Sexual content
kisahofswords13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
More romance in space lol this was my favorite of the three
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
beccaand's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Man, what a fun conclusion to the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Violence
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