What an amazing finale!
The Revolution of Ivy starts with Ivy on the other side of the fence. Ivy's character growth and journey throughout The Book of Ivy duology is outstanding. Her life on the other side of the fence is not easy. She has to survive and make tough choices, but she's always been understanding, compassionate and self-aware. For the first half, , when Bishop came into the picture, she frustrated me, but her decisions and choices suited her character and her experiences. Ivy's no longer under the influence of her family and we see her becoming the person that she was meant to be.
We also get to meet many other characters - some new and some old. The scenes with Mark gave me so much stress. I also love Ash and Caleb. Although, they have few scenes, they're fully fleshed-out characters and I wish I could have spent more time with them.
And then there's Bishop, the catalyst for Ivy's changing perceptions. Bishop might not be perfect, but he comes pretty close and somehow still ends up seeming realistic. I appreciate the relationship between him and Ivy. There's a lot of love, understanding, respect and communication in their relationship , once Ivy decides to stop being so frustrating, and they have one of the more healthier relationships in YA fiction.
"That's what love is though, isn't it. You don't stop loving someone just because they disappoint you." (Ash)
The political intrigue and dystopian aspects aren't as strong in The Revolution of Ivy and more emphasis is placed on the characters and the romance. However, I didn't mind because I love the characters and the romance. I also enjoyed the subtle storytelling, the explosive moments, life beyond the fence and the themes related to family, forgiveness, trying to right the wrongs of the past and moving on.
I turned the last page of The Revolution of Ivy with a smile on my face and a feeling that the characters are going to be okay. They experienced suffering, pain, struggling and grief, but they also experienced joy, love, happiness and peace too.