The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Dude, I was really excited for this book. I fucking LOVED the first two books, although almost nothing made sense, because they made me want to know more and made me demand answers, damn it. And the romance between Mara and Noah=cheesy and kind of ridiculous, but swoon-worthy and so fucking romantic.

And I got answers with the third book…I think. Maybe. But ultimately, the third book was kind of disappointing. I gave it 4/5 stars because there were some parts I did enjoy, but a part of me thinks such a rating might be too generous and influenced by my love for the previous two books.

Possible spoilers ahead.

Mara seriously bugged the hell out of me. I managed to sympathize with her and even like her while reading the first two books because, although she did some bat-shit crazy (not to mention very, very, very wrong) things, I got the sense she didn’t mean to do them and she didn’t want to do them and she regretted doing them.

But god, during this last book…If she wasn’t talking about NOAH, NOAH, NOAH (who, by the way, didn’t show up until MORE THAN HALFWAY through the book), she was thinking of killing (and actually killing) people left and right with no remorse whatsoever. I understand that this book is called The RETRIBUTION of Mara Dyer, but she didn’t only think about killing people who wronged her; she thought about killing people who, yes, were undeniably shitty but didn’t deserve to die. Killing in self-defense, okay. Even killing for revenge, I get to a certain extent. But killing people because you deem them to be bad – no, no, no. With this mindset, you EASILY get corrupted (e.g. Light in Death Note) and more likely than not become seriously evil.

But whatever. Mara likes who she’s becoming. *wants to roll my eyes but doesn’t out of fear Mara will kill me with her mind for disagreeing with her*

And speaking of this retribution…

WHY DIDN’T SHE IMMEDIATELY KILL THE BIG BADDIE? IF YOU PUT RETRIBUTION IN THE TITLE OF A BOOK, I EXPECT SOME PROPER RETRIBUTION, BITCHES!

But whatever.

And Noah got on my nerves too. I understand his *affliction* gives him suicidal impulses and stuff, but he’s such a woeful poor little rich boy. “OH, I HAVE EVERYTHING I WANT, MY SISTER AND STEPMOTHER LOVE ME, I AM SUPER RICH NOT TO MENTION HOT AND BRITISH, ALL THE CHICKS WANT TO BANG ME, BUT I AM SO FUCKING SAD BECAUSE MY DAD DOESN’T LOVE ME.”

When his dad said Noah needed to grow the fuck up, I kind of agreed with the man (even though the man is evil BTW).

And can we talk about the sex scene, please? I admit, some of the prose was lovely, but a lot of it made me want to LOL, LMFAO, ROFL.

Sooo cheesy.

And a lot of the book was boring. Okay, if you aren’t giving me a whole lot of Noah, I expect action, surprises, suspense, etc. But no. I get riveting descriptions of going through files.

And why does no one give Jude a proper amount of sympathy? Yes, the dude was batshit crazy and did a lot of terrible shit, but he couldn’t help it. Scientists messed with his mind, man.

But whatever.