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I have a problem. Well, okay, I've got two problems. First, the normal "how does one even write a review of the last book in a series?!" problem. But my bigger one is this: "How does one even begin to do the last book in a series justice when it is this freaking good?
But I desperately need to figure out how to answer those questions. Because Lion Heart is that freaking good.
If you haven't read Scarlet and Lady Thief, and you're curious whether this concluding volume does the series justice, and whether you should pick up the first book...
...the answer is, unequivocally, you should.
Everything amazing about the first two books in this series -- the characters, the emotion, the plot -- all comes together, and it basically amounts to an entire book of OH GOD PLEASE LET THIS TURN OUT OKAY's and YES OMG FINALLY's. Lion Heart is the culmination of so much hard work, so much heartbreak and sacrifice, and it is pure payoff.
Scarlet earned her spot as one of my favorite characters of all time before I even finished reading Scarlet -- which might have been jumping the gun a little bit, because she only ever got more and more amazing as the series went on. And Lion Heart continues this trend. Here is a girl who has been through things that would have ended many people, or made them give up and take the easy path out -- but not Scarlet. She's smart, fierce, she knows what she wants and how she (and her people) deserve to be treated, and she won't let anyone else make decisions for her.
Scarlet gets so many shining moments of strength and clarity in Lion Heart -- how could she not, with that title? The baddies in this series have been truly horrible, and they continue to be; but watching Scarlet face them in this book was just... glorious. Yes, there's the usual OVERABUNDANCE OF FEELS, and bad stuff happens (ow, my heart), but there were also so many moments when I just wanted to stand up and cheer, because Scarlet is just... ugh. Utterly flawless. I mean really, this book and its formidable ladies (not just Scarlet)... I cannot even.
"You think I shouldn't act for one boy?" I demanded. "You think that England is some higher thing? One life is England. Every life is England."
ARC, pg 35
And of course, I can't not talk about Scarlet and Rob... or as I call them, ROBLET (capslock is required). These two are my EVERYTHING. They went through so much pain in the first two books, and I won't lie, everything is not all sunshine and rainbows for them in Lion Heart. They are both scarred, literally and figuratively, from all they've been through, and neither of them are exempt from their own fears and self-doubts. But everything they've gone through, everything they've worked for, everyone and everything they've fought to protect... it's not for nothing. They are both such driven, idealistic, almost-isn't-good-enough sort of people, and this is absolutely reflected in their achievements in this book, and in their relationship, in the best way possible.
Rob's and my love had always been made in the cracks, the jagged little edges that came from the ruin of something else. It were a place that weren't supposed to be filled with love, but that's how it had always been. Our love filled the broken bits and made us whole again. There weren't no perfect time to love him, not ever, and it had always been with the threat of death and hurt hovering round us. And we'd love each other anyway. Sure, and true.
ARC, pg 61
I can't say much about the plot of Lion Heart, because it would imply spoilers in the preceding titles; however, I can say that I was absolutely glued to this book from start to finish. It was excellently balanced between the excitement and action that we've grown to expect from these adventures, and slower, sweeter, character-driven moments that are no less gripping.
No matter what was happening, I was a mess of emotions.
In conclusion...
"There is no safety to be had. Death has walked this far with me as a shadow just behind me, and all I've ever had, chained in a dungeon or hiding in the forest, is my ability to fight. To never give up. To never let this awful world win."
ARC, pg 82
I can't even explain to you guys how amazing this trilogy is. I mean, I've tried in these reviews (I'VE TRIED SO HARD omg). But with the great ones, you always end up feeling like you've fallen short. There's always something you just can't explain until someone has read the books -- and even then, the "explanation" usually goes something like, "Oh my gosh, right?" "RIGHT?!" "Seriously."
These books are like that. They'll make you smile and cheer, laugh and cry. They'll rip your heart into a million pieces, try to tape it back together, stomp on it some more, add some more tape -- and then it'll be over. And, yeah, your heart might be shaped a little differently after all that; but really, it's just made room for all the love you've developed for these characters and their stories.
And it is so worth it.
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There were books involved...