Finale: Caraval Series Book 3 (Caraval, #3)

by Stephanie Garber

'Extravagantly imaginative and enchanting . . . Pure magic and escapism' Cecelia Ahern

Sunday Times and #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Garber takes us once again to the magical world of Caraval, where Scarlett and Tella Dragna must fight for their happy endings. . .

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun - with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything. Welcome, welcome to the Caraval's Finale. All games must come to an end . . .

Further praise for the Caraval Series:

'Enchanting . . . [I] never wanted to come out' Sabaa Tahir

'Immersive and engaging . . . destined to capture imaginations' Kirkus

'An enchanting carnival of dreams and nightmares . . . beautifully and vividly written' SciFi Now

• ISBN10: 1473666767
• ISBN13: 9781473666764
• Publish Date: 9 May 2019 (first published 7 May 2019)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 18 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 480
• Language: English

Reviews

[Emma (SCR)]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I recently caught up on this series after hearing people rave about it. I quickly got caught up in the magic of this world. The first book was from Scarlett's POV and the second from Tella's. This third one switches POV from chapter to chapter. I love books with multiple POVs as it gives a much more rounded story. I love getting into different people's heads and seeing the story from different viewpoints.

This story continues shortly after the previous book. The fates are free and are slowly regaining their strength. This time there is no Caraval and we are talking life and death for real. With this no longer being a game things were much more tense and I was on the edge of my seat worrying about the girls and their men so much in this book.

The fates were interesting characters and I loved hearing more about them. I loved learning about their powers and their back stories. Jacks is by far my favourite. I love his wicked sense of humour and the games he plays. On more than on occasion, I thought 'Oh Jacks you naughty boy!'

Both girls have different journeys that they need to undertake. Julian and Scarlett are more settled in their relationship while Tella and Legend are still quite on the edge. There is tension and lots of unresolved issues in their relationship.

This was an excellent end to the series and it really wrapped everything up perfectly.

[emruth13]

This was such a satisfactory ending to the Caraval series. I'm happy with how everything ended up and I loved the journey getting there!

[Brittany]

This book was even more amazingly detailed and mysterious than the first 2 but I only gave it 4 stars because I felt the ending was rushed and left a lot to be desired. I really don’t understand how this is only a 3 part series when there could so easily be a fourth book and it makes me so mad there’s not.

[kalventure]

"Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them, and this was one of them."

Reading this book was very much like the universe stretched out time and space for me... and all I can say is: Holy book hangover, batman! I was fully immersed into the world of Caraval for three days in a row, reading all 1,336 pages of this trilogy in three days. And I am a little conflicted here because while I really enjoyed Finale, there were some things that never got explained that kind of bother me (spoiler at the end of the review). But I am primarily here for these characters and was swept into this heartbreaking, beautiful, and magical end; a satisfying conclusion to a stellar trilogy.

This review is so hard to write because I was so invested in the characters and what their true endings would be. The writing is as lyrical and spell-casting as in the prior two books, Garber really has a way with words. I really connect with her writing and loved every second of reading this book. There are so many thoughts and feelings that I could share but they would spoil the magic of reading this book for yourself, and I really think that this is a book that should be experienced without too much knowledge going in.

"Every story has four parts: the beginning, the middle, the almost-ending, and the true ending. Unfortunately, not everyone gets a true ending. Most people give up at the part of the story where things are the worst, when the situation feels hopeless, but that is where hope is needed most. Only those who persevere can find their true ending."

Finale is told in both Scarlett and Tella's POV, which worked really well for me because each sister had their own journey towards their true ending. I will admit that I still was more invested in Tella's journey more, which could be a result of my relating to Tella more or that the central struggles for the latter two books in the trilogy center around her but it's kind of a bummer that Finale didn't feel more balanced for me. Tella became my favorite sister and Scarlett just faded into the background for me.

"Blood, time, and extreme emotions were three of the things that fueled magic."

The addition of the Fates in Legendary was a really interesting expansion on the world and mythology of this world, and I loved how our understanding of magic and its origins were explained in Finale.

This series has always been about the sisters and their relationship, and Finale really centers on that love the best. I enjoyed having more page time for interactions between them, and their unyielding love for one another.

"He didn't kiss her as if he'd simply just come back to life. He kissed her as if he'd died, been buried, and clawed his way out of the grave and through the dirt just to get to her."

The romances in this book set my heart on fire and I honestly had to continually put the book down because of FEELINGS. There is a love triangle in this book and if you like the characters and are invested in their romances, this book will be for you. I honestly was so invested in who Tella will choose... and having my desired endgame change about 7646 times.

"He might have been a liar and a villain, but he made both things look very good."

One of my favorite things about reading this book is that I found myself questioning the motive of everything and everyone. I can't trust or take anything at face value because because they are all so adept at lying and games. It was a wild ride to have my own emotions and preferences shift as the book continued. Honestly, the notes that I took while reading are hilarious to read now.

The ending was not what i expected but I think it made sense for both of the sisters. The great thing about Garber's writing is that once a reveal is made, it clicks into place for you because she is so skilled at leaving breadcrumbs to justify what happens. I just wish the epilogue were a bit longer, I could spend an eternity with these characters and those pages were not enough. But in terms of wrapping up the series, I feel fairly satisfied even though the ending felt abrupt and a little anticlimactic.

Overall, Finale is a beautiful and satisfying end to a truly magical trilogy. I was swept away from the first page and fully invested throughout the book, but I will admit that my enjoyment was a little hampered by a few loose ends that I didn't see resolved. This may not have been an issue for me had I not read the entire trilogy in three days and had everything pretty fresh in my mind, but it was a bummer to get to the ending and have some things not explained. There are some things left open that could lend to spin-offs in the world, though. I definitely recommend this book and trilogy to anyone that adores the fantastical, lyrical writing, morally grey characters, and a good helping of romantic angst.

Things that I don't think were explained and it makes me sad (spoilers!). - why was Tella bleeding if she was Jacks' true love? His kiss shouldn't have been lethal yet she felt the affects. Was it just his magic playing a trick to get her to believe him, like pretending to give her a heart attack so Legend would restore his magic?
- how the hell did Jacks even escape from the cards to begin with?
- who imprisoned Paloma in the card?
- I wish I knew more about pre-Legend's magic life for Julian and Dante
- What happened with the whole Tella agreeing to give her future daughter's weakness to the sisters in the market?
- So Jacks what? Just left when Legend broke his spell? That was so anticlimatic

holy hell, what a magical end. I have a lot of thoughts, RTC once I sift through them!

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Finale through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It's hard to believe it, but the conclusion for Caraval is here! Finale is the third and final novel in the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber. If you haven't read any of this series yet, but have been debating it, I strongly recommend that you give it a chance!
Finale follows two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, as they each face their own set of adventures and dangers. Scarlett is trying to decide on who she should be with, while Tella isn't done playing games with Legend. Unfortunately for both of them, there's something much larger looming on the horizon.
I should confess that until recently I hadn't actually read the whole series. I had been meaning to since Caraval came out, but something else (usually another book) always got in the way). Well this week I sat down and read all three books in just as many days. And I have no regrets about it, other than perhaps wishing I had read them sooner.
This series has absolutely lived up to all of the hype I've heard, and then some. I'm so glad that I gave the series a chance. Though of course now I'm sad to see the series conclude...


Finale was the perfect end to this series, and in so many ways. It was everything us fans could have hoped for, and best of all it really held true to the core themes of the series. All the references and moments that the series have been building up to came to fruition.
I had high expectations of this novel, partially because of the binge session I had leading up to it. But I can honestly tell you that it lived up to those expectations. Just like the previous two held up to all of the hype.
Finale is different from the first two novels, and for a variety of reasons. For one thing, there are two main perspectives in this novel, instead of just the one. That's right, both sisters get to tell their story in this novel, bouncing back and forth between the two.
This technique changed the storytelling methods a little bit, but I honestly think it worked out perfectly. The pacing was controlled by a series of jumps from one sister to another, for one thing. And we got to get a chance to not only say goodbye to both sisters, but to see both of their plots come to a true ending (not just a false ending, as the series would like to have pointed out).
There were so many breathtaking moments in this novel, I don't even know where to begin. The threat level and intrigue in this series hit a peak during Finale. There was more at stake than ever before, but that didn't mean that the original problems were resolved either. Together – and separately – Scarlett and Tella had to find the solutions to everything around them. All while making some extremely difficult decisions along the way.
I really loved the inclusion of the Fates. I especially liked the thematic way they were all introduced, and the way they carried on with their known tropes and stereotypes. It was fascinating to see them out in the real world once again, interacting with both humans and other fates.
The twist with Scarlett and Tella's mother was...unexpected. But it also made sense, when I stopped to think about it. I'm not sure if there was any other way to handle it, actually. Not without having it end up feeling hollow. I think Stephanie Garber had this planned the whole way through, as the progression felt perfectly natural, if somewhat surprising.
The romantic subplots were everything I had hoped for. I'm sure by now everyone has their favorite ship, either Dante/Legend and Tella, or Julien and Scarlett. I was pleased with how both were represented in this novel, though of course for very different reasons. I won't say more than that though, as I think it's very important to see the story as Stephanie Garber intended it. Though I will say that my favorite, as with before, was Scarlett and Julien's side of the romantic subplot.
I'm sad that this series has come to an end. But I'm also looking forward to seeing what Stephanie Garber will come up with next. I don't see her giving up on writing anytime soon – she's got a knack for it, to put it mildly. Here's hoping she'll stick with fantasy, as I love the world she's created within Caraval.


For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[bookishzelda]

Finale was the perfect finish to the world of Caraval. It’s definitely a series where the books just keep getting better and better as they go along.

I loved how much this final book brought out the details of the Fates, Fated Places and Fated Items. We get to learn so much about these different pieces of the Deck of Destiny and it also is of course, very magical. Before when it was just Legend’s Caraval it felt like the magic was contained. The Fates, however, don’t have a script to follow and when people die, they stay dead. It gives it a bit of a thriller feel to the book as Tella and Scarlett find their own ways to restore order.

Tella and I continue to have a very love/hate relationship. Her character is so interesting in so many ways. I’m glad that parts of her still didn’t change. We see her very selfish moments, as well as, her very loving moments. The tug and pull of her emotions over choices she has to make are very interesting. She stays pretty strong in having faith in the thing that at the beginning of the series she might not have.

I love Scarlet. I’m not sure why, maybe because she is safe but also determined. Just because she isn’t reckless doesn’t make her weak. Her steadiness is what makes her strong. She is the compliment to Tella’s personality. They are kind of the ying and yang of sisters. They probably could be their own card in the Deck of Destiny. Now I’m picturing what the card would look like.

I thought the plot was really really good and was perfect way to finish the series. I don’t want to accidentally give anything away but there was something that I suspected and felt like the series as a whole had dropped clues about it. Little Easter Eggs. I was found the story fast pace and satisfying. Again I love characters who develop but in the natural way so they don’t lose who they are.

Ahh the book is just so amazing!!! I don’t want to say to much! So get out there and enjoy it!

[bgsbooks18]

I really loved this book. Every book just got better and better. The trilogy as a whole was really good. I just couldn't stop. I would highly recommend.

[cornerfolds]

Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

I can't believe Caraval is over! This is a series I was totally out of the loop about when everyone else was super hyped for book one. I stumbled into an ARC of that one and have been completely obsessed ever since. There was a moment when I didn't think I'd have the chance to read this one early, but a friend made it happen and now... it's over. And that makes me sad.

Finale is a much different book than Caraval and Legendary. In both of those books, the game of Caraval is a key plot device and each book has one sister as a main character. Here, the game is officially over and both Scarlett and Tella must work together to save everyone from the fates who have been released.

In Legendary, Tella became my favorite character. I loved her romance with Dante and even liked the love triangle that included Jacks! This book was no different. I still liked Scarlett, but Tella is by far my favorite. I love how fierce she is and how far she was willing to go to save those she loved. Scarlett is fine, but something about her held me back from truly loving her like I did in Caraval. Some of that may have had to do with the ridiculous game she started between Julian and the Count. Thankfully, that didn't last long.

Of course, (of course!) there's romance. Julian and Scarlett are still amazing together, but I was LIVING for the love triangle between Tella, Legend, and Jacks. I can't believe I'm saying I loved a love triangle, but here we are. It's just so convincingly written and both love interests are so magnificent in their own way. I was pleased with how it wrapped up in the end as well, although I really hope the other character ends up with his own book in the future.

The plot here, as I said, does not revolve around the game of Caraval, and that created a very different tone for this book. While the first two had a very clear sense of urgency, this one did not feel quite the same. I loved the game and the magic it brought to the world. While there is definitely still magic in Finale, it just felt different. I thought the Fates were interesting and I did like the way everyone was forced to work together to solve the problem they presented, but it did almost feel like a different series at times.

This book was again set in the same location as Legendary, but the world was fleshed out quite a bit more. Instead of being mainly set in a couple districts, this time there was a lot more exploration, even into hidden, fated places. I loved the extra lore of the Fates, the Fated Place, and Fated Objects! I'm all about complex mythologies in fantasy and I think Stephanie Garber did a good job with this world. I really hope there are spin off books so that even more can be explored.

I did love Finale! The Caraval magic was lacking throughout a lot of the book just because the game wasn't a part of it, but there was still magic there. The romances all did all get the attention they deserved as well, which I really appreciated, and I also enjoyed the additional lore and world building. The ending of this book is wrapped up nicely, but also leaves the possibility for more and I really hope we get it! There are so many stories waiting to be told in the world of Caraval and I can't wait to see what Stephanie Garber writes next!

Actual rating: 4.5 stars