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The Conspiracy of Us #3
The Ends of the World
The thrilling conclusion to the romantic adventure series that TeenVogue.com calls, a "Da Vinci Code-style thriller for teens."
Power balances on a knife's edge. Destiny is uncertain. And love is the most terrifying thing of all.
The Circle of Twelve is not who Avery though they were. Neither is Avery.
Her mother is dead. Betrayal and attraction and history have tangled the strings that bind her, Jack, and Stellan. And now, Avery and her friends must put aside their own problems and focus on putting a stop to the most dangerous conspiracy of all . . .
From London to Russia to Egypt, from the chill of underground crypts to the flash of paparazzi cameras, Avery West will finally have to confront whether her fate means salvation—or destruction.
From the Hardcover edition.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2017
117 people are currently reading
4360 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Hall
4 books973 followers**Please note: I don't check messages on GR very often. Please contact me through my website: www.maggiehall.com or on twitter @MaggieEHall
Maggie Hall is a traveling, decorating, champagne-drinking, USC-football-watching YA author. She is currently traveling the world for an indefinite amount of time with her husband, which means right at this moment, she might be on a beach in Thailand, drinking wine in Paris, or anywhere in between.
Her debut novel, a YA international thriller, is coming from Putnam/Penguin in 2015.
She is represented by Claudia Ballard at William Morris Endeavor.
Maggie Hall is a traveling, decorating, champagne-drinking, USC-football-watching YA author. She is currently traveling the world for an indefinite amount of time with her husband, which means right at this moment, she might be on a beach in Thailand, drinking wine in Paris, or anywhere in between.
Her debut novel, a YA international thriller, is coming from Putnam/Penguin in 2015.
She is represented by Claudia Ballard at William Morris Endeavor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
September 13, 2017
I was more into the first half of this book than the second half because the first half involved more of the clue chasing feel I loved about this series and also brought in some tomb raiding. The second half was more focused on resolving every little thing that had ever been brought up in the series, which isn't bad because I expect a lot of closure from series finales. There were a few moments where things we thought were true were proven to be wrong and watching the characters react was interesting. Overall, a good finale.
September 8, 2017
I actually really liked how this series came to an end. It was believable and real to the plot line of the rest of the books, plus even though it has a HEA, it is a realistic one. Everything isn't magically perfect or fixed like some books in this genre, which I appreciate.
July 27, 2017
Stellan...my love....parting for 1 year is such sweet sorrow
MY LIFE. I NEED. THIS. BOOK. NOW. PLS. *Cries*
Brb still recovering from Map of Fates
MY LIFE. I NEED. THIS. BOOK. NOW. PLS. *Cries*
Brb still recovering from Map of Fates
July 18, 2017
What a fabulous ending to the series! It has come such a long way since The Conspiracy of Us and I'm so glad I stood by it!
This was filled with action and twists and swoons and I adored every bit of it!
---
i may have made a little graphic for this book...
for, you know, purposes.
needless to say, i have a n e e d for this book.
---
IT'S LIKE SHE SAW MY WORRIES AND ANSWERED WITH HER NEWSLETTER.
because
she just
released THE TITLE
and the RELEASE DATE (well month)
AND THE "R-RATED" OF THAT SCENE WE ALL LOVED FROM MAP OF FATES.
guys i'm screaming. i can't say the title YET but OMG YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. IT'S PERFECTION.
---
OKAY BUT IM JUST EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THIS BOOK.
No title, no cover, no synopsis, not even a confirmed release date!!
I hope this doesn't get pushed back and that everything is okay :(
This was filled with action and twists and swoons and I adored every bit of it!
---
i may have made a little graphic for this book...
for, you know, purposes.
needless to say, i have a n e e d for this book.
---
IT'S LIKE SHE SAW MY WORRIES AND ANSWERED WITH HER NEWSLETTER.
because
she just
released THE TITLE
and the RELEASE DATE (well month)
AND THE "R-RATED" OF THAT SCENE WE ALL LOVED FROM MAP OF FATES.
guys i'm screaming. i can't say the title YET but OMG YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. IT'S PERFECTION.
---
OKAY BUT IM JUST EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THIS BOOK.
No title, no cover, no synopsis, not even a confirmed release date!!
I hope this doesn't get pushed back and that everything is okay :(
December 12, 2017
*3.7/5 stars*
“The way to solve violence is not with more violence.”
Damn, this was much better than I expected! I'm honestly so glad I decided to continue with the series after the, in many ways, quite bland first book. Each instalment only improves after that. I still think this series has its flaws (duh, three stars), but it was such an enjoyable ride and I did not expect that in the least! At the beginning, in book one, the heroine acted like quite the daft, clueless, naive girl. But now that I finished the series I can see huge character development on her part, and in the relationships she has.
“Elodie raised her light to see farther down the passage. “You know what I used to tell myself when it would get bad?” she said. “You made it through this, and you survived. It’s way more than most people have been through. That means you can do anything. You’re a survivor. I’d never wish it on anyone, but you’re just like the rest of us now. Welcome to the world’s worst club.”
(source)
Jack, one of the love interests (the one who was way too present in book one for my taste), isn't my favourite. He was bland in book one, I was annoyed with him beyond reason in the sequel and here, I think, I kind of accepted him in a way but he still lacks any considerable personality in my opinion.
“He really was the perfect guy. He just wasn’t perfect for me in the way I used to think he was. I was weaker around him. And softer, and probably nicer. But that wasn’t who I was anymore, for better or worse. Sometimes, the story didn’t turn out how you thought it would.”
Especially when we compare him to Stellan. Which is laughable, because Stellan is actually and interesting and compelling character. I liked him from the beginning, but seriously started to adore him with the heroine somewhere along book two. I love how their relationship progressed through the series! And I especially liked his character, and the romance, here.
“I had barely let myself think these things, but now I couldn’t stop. You could say things in the dark that weren’t okay in the daylight.”
(source)
I'm just going to say that this is the second series that, in terms of the character development of the heroine and the romances, quite reminds me of The Vampire Diaries Tv Show. (The second series being Soul Screamers btw).
“Love and hate. Good and bad. Salvation and destruction. They weren’t opposites, either. We were both. I was both. Maybe everyone was. Maybe that was okay. Maybe we did what we could with whatever we were given.”
I loved the progression of the MC and the relationships here. I've really come to love the group of friends in this last book. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story and few little plot twists along the way. The setting was also interesting to read about.
“I know you’re afraid of falling, but sometimes you’ve got to let go.”
The Conspiracy of Us is like an entertaining mix of Indiana Jones and Gossip Girl.
Recommended as an adventurous, light series with few interesting twists and turns, pretty great group of characters and compelling romance.
(source)
“I pledge my loyalty. By blood and to the ends of the world.”
The Conspiracy of Us ★★☆☆☆
Map of Fates ★★★☆☆
The Ends of the World ★★★☆☆
----------------------------
Finally going to see how it will all end up.
I seriously need the other guy don't-even-remember-his-name to not be the endgame! (He was ok but bland in book one and I hated him in book two.)
P.S. More Stellan please!
“The way to solve violence is not with more violence.”
Damn, this was much better than I expected! I'm honestly so glad I decided to continue with the series after the, in many ways, quite bland first book. Each instalment only improves after that. I still think this series has its flaws (duh, three stars), but it was such an enjoyable ride and I did not expect that in the least! At the beginning, in book one, the heroine acted like quite the daft, clueless, naive girl. But now that I finished the series I can see huge character development on her part, and in the relationships she has.
“Elodie raised her light to see farther down the passage. “You know what I used to tell myself when it would get bad?” she said. “You made it through this, and you survived. It’s way more than most people have been through. That means you can do anything. You’re a survivor. I’d never wish it on anyone, but you’re just like the rest of us now. Welcome to the world’s worst club.”
(source)
Jack, one of the love interests (the one who was way too present in book one for my taste), isn't my favourite. He was bland in book one, I was annoyed with him beyond reason in the sequel and here, I think, I kind of accepted him in a way but he still lacks any considerable personality in my opinion.
“He really was the perfect guy. He just wasn’t perfect for me in the way I used to think he was. I was weaker around him. And softer, and probably nicer. But that wasn’t who I was anymore, for better or worse. Sometimes, the story didn’t turn out how you thought it would.”
Especially when we compare him to Stellan. Which is laughable, because Stellan is actually and interesting and compelling character. I liked him from the beginning, but seriously started to adore him with the heroine somewhere along book two. I love how their relationship progressed through the series! And I especially liked his character, and the romance, here.
“I had barely let myself think these things, but now I couldn’t stop. You could say things in the dark that weren’t okay in the daylight.”
(source)
I'm just going to say that this is the second series that, in terms of the character development of the heroine and the romances, quite reminds me of The Vampire Diaries Tv Show. (The second series being Soul Screamers btw).
“Love and hate. Good and bad. Salvation and destruction. They weren’t opposites, either. We were both. I was both. Maybe everyone was. Maybe that was okay. Maybe we did what we could with whatever we were given.”
I loved the progression of the MC and the relationships here. I've really come to love the group of friends in this last book. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story and few little plot twists along the way. The setting was also interesting to read about.
“I know you’re afraid of falling, but sometimes you’ve got to let go.”
The Conspiracy of Us is like an entertaining mix of Indiana Jones and Gossip Girl.
Recommended as an adventurous, light series with few interesting twists and turns, pretty great group of characters and compelling romance.
(source)
“I pledge my loyalty. By blood and to the ends of the world.”
The Conspiracy of Us ★★☆☆☆
Map of Fates ★★★☆☆
The Ends of the World ★★★☆☆
----------------------------
Finally going to see how it will all end up.
I seriously need the other guy don't-even-remember-his-name to not be the endgame! (He was ok but bland in book one and I hated him in book two.)
P.S. More Stellan please!
January 12, 2019
4 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a great ending to a fun series!! My ship made it through and for that I’m extremely happy! I loved all the clue finding in the beginning, but I must say, the second half of the book was my favorite 🖤🖤 !! With a realistic ending, and all my questions answered- I totally recommend this series- especially to those who like things like, conspiracies- national treasure and secret societies with fun and historical themes mixed in!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a great ending to a fun series!! My ship made it through and for that I’m extremely happy! I loved all the clue finding in the beginning, but I must say, the second half of the book was my favorite 🖤🖤 !! With a realistic ending, and all my questions answered- I totally recommend this series- especially to those who like things like, conspiracies- national treasure and secret societies with fun and historical themes mixed in!
August 8, 2017
Really good ending to this series! I loved the mystery and the worldwide places this series took readers. The action was fast paced and the twists and turns were throughout the whole series. I look forward to more Maggie Hall books in the future!
December 6, 2016
*satisfied sigh*
April 18, 2017
I think I would have enjoyed this a bit more if I would have reread the other books.
I really enjoyed how much Avery has grown. She's definitely stronger and more sure of herself in this book. She thinks before acting and I've loved her quiet and fierce loyalty. And yes, there are boys and kissing and action, but ultimately, this series has been all about Avery and she shines in this installment.
It did feel more political and scheming instead of fast paced and action filled, but it was simple scenes with dialogue that had me captivated.
Overall, a great ending to the series.
I really enjoyed how much Avery has grown. She's definitely stronger and more sure of herself in this book. She thinks before acting and I've loved her quiet and fierce loyalty. And yes, there are boys and kissing and action, but ultimately, this series has been all about Avery and she shines in this installment.
It did feel more political and scheming instead of fast paced and action filled, but it was simple scenes with dialogue that had me captivated.
Overall, a great ending to the series.
November 10, 2017
Ah, so many cliches, but so enjoyable. Honestly, this series is one of my guily pleasures.
April 11, 2024
I loved this book so much. So much. It was definitely the best out of the 3. I'm really sad it's all over, but I was happy with the ending, so that made it better😂
Would totally recommend reading this trilogy! Perfect if you're a fan of secret societies.
Would totally recommend reading this trilogy! Perfect if you're a fan of secret societies.
August 2, 2017
I was here mostly for Stellan and he did not disappoint. ;-)
April 3, 2017
so i was lucky enough to have won an arc for this and i just finished reading. i'll write a non-spoilery review and a spoilery review below it so here we go!
um.... we all know i loved stellan but i REALLY loved stellan in this. i'm so glad we got to see a more vulnerable side of him and i loved seeing him interact with his younger sister (who, yes, makes an appearance).
i've always been a fan of slowburn so i really appreciated the building of the relationship between avery and stellan.
there were a lot of twists and turns that i didn't expect, especially near the end (my heart is still racing) but there's a happy ending!!! everything worked out!!! i think the series concluded wonderfully and would definitely recommend it to everyone else.
onto the spoiler-y section of the review.
um.... we all know i loved stellan but i REALLY loved stellan in this. i'm so glad we got to see a more vulnerable side of him and i loved seeing him interact with his younger sister (who, yes, makes an appearance).
i've always been a fan of slowburn so i really appreciated the building of the relationship between avery and stellan.
there were a lot of twists and turns that i didn't expect, especially near the end (my heart is still racing) but there's a happy ending!!! everything worked out!!! i think the series concluded wonderfully and would definitely recommend it to everyone else.
onto the spoiler-y section of the review.
April 19, 2016
Stellan, oh, my sweet sweet Russian man who has a little bit of Greek in him. Oh, my sweet. I shall miss every second with you. And your sweet little sister Anya, darling, I would be the sister she never had. Stellan, Stellan, Stellan. *dies*
November 17, 2018
The finale I needed. I don't know why I didn't pick this up sooner. You'll see the first book is on my AllTimeFavs list and I just totally forgot about this series but I loved this installment so much.
September 18, 2017
4.5 stars!
Such a great conclusion. Oh my god! The action was non stop! The romance! The intrigue! Just everything about this was so so great!!!
Such a great conclusion. Oh my god! The action was non stop! The romance! The intrigue! Just everything about this was so so great!!!
August 9, 2017
The finale to this series just didn't do it for me like book two did and I felt it had all the bits I didn't like from book one.. plus some annoyances. I might be judging this a little harshly but it also reminded me of a YA political thriller series I read recently that drove me nuts. Saw a lot of similarities between the heroines. Too much of that, I think, and just too much overall convolutedness. I did like one of the male characters, and some of the supports, but overall it was just.. a lot of a lot of things and I couldn't suspend my disbelief anymore. Also I guessed the surprise near the end. Oh well.
August 11, 2017
*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The End of the World is the third and final installment in author Maggie Hall's The Conspiracy of Us trilogy. I have seen this series being called The DaVinci Code meets Gossip Girl. Since I never once watched Gossip Girl, so I shall let other's explain that comparison to me. I do, however, agree that there are a whole lot of similarity to this series and The DaVinci Code. That being sad, 17-year old Avery West's life has been a whirlwind journey from the beginning of this series, to the strange, and twisted ending that reveals a whole lot of what Avery, Stellan, Jack, and Elodie have been facing.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The End of the World is the third and final installment in author Maggie Hall's The Conspiracy of Us trilogy. I have seen this series being called The DaVinci Code meets Gossip Girl. Since I never once watched Gossip Girl, so I shall let other's explain that comparison to me. I do, however, agree that there are a whole lot of similarity to this series and The DaVinci Code. That being sad, 17-year old Avery West's life has been a whirlwind journey from the beginning of this series, to the strange, and twisted ending that reveals a whole lot of what Avery, Stellan, Jack, and Elodie have been facing.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
August 20, 2017
Don't let Goodreads confuse you. It says it took me 5 days to read this book; but in reality, it took me 4 days to read 80 pages and one day to read the rest.
I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this installment, clearly. I don't know if that was at the fault of me or the book. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for this story when I first grabbed it a few days ago, or if something felt off kilter about the opening 50ish pages. The novels in this series always start off with A LOT of action, so it definitely isn't slow to get into plot wise. Despite me having a rocky start, once I got into this final book, I WAS HOOKED. Like I said, I pretty much read it in one day.
I thought this was a very solid conclusion to this trilogy. The action was on point. The stakes were raised. The romance, oh man the romance. I swooned so hard for this couple. The love and loss and grief and friendships and relationships, all of it was at stake and all of it was heightened. Even though the treasure-hunting/quest aspect, which for so long had been my favorite part of this series, came to a head and ended in this installment, I really felt the characters and their connections with each other and the implications of their choices carried the novel to the end. It showed that, although the quest was fun and alluring, it wasn't the only thing carrying the novel forward. The absence of it deepened the bonds between our four main characters in a way I wasn't expecting I would love so much.
There is a very heavy presence of science in this installment that I found wasn't explained very well, but I got the gist of what the consequences of it were enough to realize that the outcomes were dire. I would have liked to see this plot line delivered in a more articulate way though. It became a little convoluted and nonsensical at times, just because of how the author attempted to explain the science behind it. However, it definitely wasn't distracting enough to take away from my enjoyment of the novel as a whole. As I mentioned, I was able to get the point of what the author was trying to imply.
In the end, I was extremely satisfied with the conclusion. I am happy with where our characters ended up and what paths they decided to follow. It made sense for all the individual characters and gave me enough closure to know what to expect from them after the final sentence. With that being said, I love these characters so much that I do really wish there was more to their story. I was satisfied but still want more. I just love Avery, Stellan, Jack, and Elodie too much to already have to say goodbye to them.
10/10 would recommend this trilogy. I cannot wait to see what else Maggie Hall comes out with in the future :)
I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this installment, clearly. I don't know if that was at the fault of me or the book. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for this story when I first grabbed it a few days ago, or if something felt off kilter about the opening 50ish pages. The novels in this series always start off with A LOT of action, so it definitely isn't slow to get into plot wise. Despite me having a rocky start, once I got into this final book, I WAS HOOKED. Like I said, I pretty much read it in one day.
I thought this was a very solid conclusion to this trilogy. The action was on point. The stakes were raised. The romance, oh man the romance. I swooned so hard for this couple. The love and loss and grief and friendships and relationships, all of it was at stake and all of it was heightened. Even though the treasure-hunting/quest aspect, which for so long had been my favorite part of this series, came to a head and ended in this installment, I really felt the characters and their connections with each other and the implications of their choices carried the novel to the end. It showed that, although the quest was fun and alluring, it wasn't the only thing carrying the novel forward. The absence of it deepened the bonds between our four main characters in a way I wasn't expecting I would love so much.
There is a very heavy presence of science in this installment that I found wasn't explained very well, but I got the gist of what the consequences of it were enough to realize that the outcomes were dire. I would have liked to see this plot line delivered in a more articulate way though. It became a little convoluted and nonsensical at times, just because of how the author attempted to explain the science behind it. However, it definitely wasn't distracting enough to take away from my enjoyment of the novel as a whole. As I mentioned, I was able to get the point of what the author was trying to imply.
In the end, I was extremely satisfied with the conclusion. I am happy with where our characters ended up and what paths they decided to follow. It made sense for all the individual characters and gave me enough closure to know what to expect from them after the final sentence. With that being said, I love these characters so much that I do really wish there was more to their story. I was satisfied but still want more. I just love Avery, Stellan, Jack, and Elodie too much to already have to say goodbye to them.
10/10 would recommend this trilogy. I cannot wait to see what else Maggie Hall comes out with in the future :)
July 18, 2017
This was a great conclusion to the jet-setting adventure of the first two books. This finale was slightly more grounded, definitely more politically motivated, and full of character growth for Avery and company. And though I could have used more of the steamy scenes that Maggie Hall is so great at, I'm thoroughly pleased that she didn't vilify the guy who didn't end up getting the girl. We got to see the vulnerability behind the masks in this novel, and it made me like the characters that much more. I'm sad that it's over, but I'm completely satisfied with this ending.
December 17, 2019
I felt like not a lot happened in this one until the end, and then everything happened at once it was kind of confusing. But I love the characters and the romance and that was great.
July 21, 2017
A great conclusion to the series. While it's not fast-paced, it feels as though the author had given enough time for the characters develop into their roles. I definitely thought this was stronger than her other books, even if it was not as exciting as Map of Fates or as intriguing as The Conspiracy of Us. The point is, the reader knows the story and what Avery has gotten herself into. I think what were all concerned about is the conclusion to Avery and Stellan's story. *winks
Notice how I don't mention Jack? To be honest, I never really cared for the guy. His character felt flat for me in the first two books. Fortunately, he had personality in this book. Eventually, he developed into the character I wished he already was in the first two books.
I was pleased with how the author dealt with the love triangle in this book. I think it became a love triangle in the second book (not in the first one). By the end of the book, Avery was able to choose between Stellan and Jack. It may or may not be obvious which team I'm on.
Needless to say, I was squealing with happiness!
Additionally, I wasn't entirely convinced with Elodie's character. She revealed something new about herself. It almost felt like an info dump (again) because she reveals about theOrder and its role. Sadly, the info dumping doesn't end there. Hence, it's not quite as fast-paced as one ought to believe. I mean, if you look at this book (and its premise), it sounded like a fast-paced, exciting, and adventurous book. But don't forget that Avery and her friends are solving some kind of puzzle and its involvement in the circle.
However, I do like the budding friendship between Elodie and Avery. I would say they trusted each other more in this book than the first two books. What I liked about this book is that there's a lot more female friendship in this book. It's not just female friendships though, FRIENDSHIP was a theme in general. There's a lot of reminiscing in the past and this in turn made the friendship stronger in all of them. For Elodie, Jack, Stellan, and Avery, it helped them get through difficult times.
This book was bloody and stressful, but it was totally worth it!
I couldn't recommend it enough.
Notice how I don't mention Jack? To be honest, I never really cared for the guy. His character felt flat for me in the first two books. Fortunately, he had personality in this book. Eventually, he developed into the character I wished he already was in the first two books.
I was pleased with how the author dealt with the love triangle in this book. I think it became a love triangle in the second book (not in the first one). By the end of the book, Avery was able to choose between Stellan and Jack. It may or may not be obvious which team I'm on.
“I can’t lose you. You have part of me in your hands, and you will take it with you. The best thing is to put it back.
Please. Put it back.
I thought it was warm in here, but I was getting cold. “Put it back,” I whimpered again.
“I can’t feel this way about you," said the voice inside my head, admitting it even to myself for the first time.
“I can’t not feel this way about you,” he answered. “I’ve tried so hard.”
Had I said that out loud?
Additionally, I wasn't entirely convinced with Elodie's character. She revealed something new about herself. It almost felt like an info dump (again) because she reveals about theOrder and its role. Sadly, the info dumping doesn't end there. Hence, it's not quite as fast-paced as one ought to believe. I mean, if you look at this book (and its premise), it sounded like a fast-paced, exciting, and adventurous book. But don't forget that Avery and her friends are solving some kind of puzzle and its involvement in the circle.
However, I do like the budding friendship between Elodie and Avery. I would say they trusted each other more in this book than the first two books. What I liked about this book is that there's a lot more female friendship in this book. It's not just female friendships though, FRIENDSHIP was a theme in general. There's a lot of reminiscing in the past and this in turn made the friendship stronger in all of them. For Elodie, Jack, Stellan, and Avery, it helped them get through difficult times.
This book was bloody and stressful, but it was totally worth it!
I couldn't recommend it enough.
April 14, 2017
rtc, i just went through so many feelings... i love a good trash book, and i would die for stellan korolev!
July 19, 2017
4.5 I never thought this series would be that deep but I went through a lot feelings at three in the morning, i love stellan korolev whew
April 10, 2019
I’m so sad I finished this. I wanted to live in this fictional world with these characters for forever. SO GOOD
January 2, 2019
Θα μπορούσε να είναι πολύ πιο ωραίο, αν δεν ήταν τόσο γρήγορες οι εξελίξεις (συνολικά στην τριλογία). Θα ήθελα περισσότερη ανάπτυξη των χαρακτήρων. Σε γενικές γραμμές όμως, περνάς καλά διαβάζοντάς το!
November 6, 2024
Read Completed 7/20/17 | 4 stars
That was such a solid ending of this series, and done just right, I think! I often times worry with series-enders because it’s so hard to wrap things up. I think THE ENDS OF THE WORLD was just the right amount of action, romance, resolution, devastation, and consequences all rolled into a solid conclusion.
I listened to the first two books back-to-back on audio and I almost wish I had waited until this book was out so I could have binged all three because I always forget a little bit from the previous books, so I did have a tiny bit of a gap in remembering exactly what happened! Fortunately it wasn’t a lot since I read them not TOO long ago, but it still did affect my reading experience just a tiny bit. What I really did love is that Maggie Hall kept all of her characters true to themselves. They really grew throughout the series and their decisions were normal and logical for everything that they had been through. Avery is a very different person from the beginning of the series and I loved how she said it herself — she’s definitely not the same but her experiences changed her and she grew from them. I really loved how the characters evolved but really stayed true to their personalities and beliefs. It happens all too often that things start to really stray from the first book by the time you hit the last book so I’m so happy that Maggie Hall kept a very cohesive feel to this series all around!
Being the last in the series, obviously things had to take some dire turns before they could wrap up! I really liked the amount of danger present in this book and the sacrifices that were made. It wasn’t always easy to read but everything resolved really well, I think, and it was a satisfying ending without being too cheesy. I loved the extra few sentences that stated that even though it was a positive final result, everyone had still gone through so much and it would take a long time for everyone to be okay, if ever. It really put that into perspective that these characters went through some STUFF and it’s not all fluff and cotton candy after it was all over. They have a long road ahead of working to put things back into place, sorting out a lot of political stuff, and working on relationships as well. It was great to see some reality brought into a happy ending while still feeling a little gooey about it.
Without talking about any spoilers, the plot did take a turn that I wasn’t so crazy about? Not bad in any way but I guess you could say it that was one step further that took things into more of a jump outside of reality that I just didn’t know if I could wrap my brain around it. It wasn’t paranormal or fantastical or anything like that but it was an added element to the story that really affected the plot and I was just like of like HMMM. How do I feel about this? I think it took one step past the international espionage and added almost a mild sci-fi element? Ugh, it’s hard to explain without giving things away but anyway, that was my one very small hang-up, and totally a personal opinion.
Overall, I LOVED this series and I love international thrillers like this! There aren’t a lot of really good YA espionage/modern political novels like this (I guess for lack of a better term, a sort of Da Vinci Code concept) and I would love to see more of this in the YA world! I’d absolutely pick it up. No matter what Maggie Hall is writing next, I am totally on board! I loved the details that went into this series, the feel and atmosphere were fantastic, the characters were strong, and the whole series stayed true to itself. Highly recommend and can’t wait to read more from Maggie Hall, whatever that may be!
That was such a solid ending of this series, and done just right, I think! I often times worry with series-enders because it’s so hard to wrap things up. I think THE ENDS OF THE WORLD was just the right amount of action, romance, resolution, devastation, and consequences all rolled into a solid conclusion.
I listened to the first two books back-to-back on audio and I almost wish I had waited until this book was out so I could have binged all three because I always forget a little bit from the previous books, so I did have a tiny bit of a gap in remembering exactly what happened! Fortunately it wasn’t a lot since I read them not TOO long ago, but it still did affect my reading experience just a tiny bit. What I really did love is that Maggie Hall kept all of her characters true to themselves. They really grew throughout the series and their decisions were normal and logical for everything that they had been through. Avery is a very different person from the beginning of the series and I loved how she said it herself — she’s definitely not the same but her experiences changed her and she grew from them. I really loved how the characters evolved but really stayed true to their personalities and beliefs. It happens all too often that things start to really stray from the first book by the time you hit the last book so I’m so happy that Maggie Hall kept a very cohesive feel to this series all around!
Being the last in the series, obviously things had to take some dire turns before they could wrap up! I really liked the amount of danger present in this book and the sacrifices that were made. It wasn’t always easy to read but everything resolved really well, I think, and it was a satisfying ending without being too cheesy. I loved the extra few sentences that stated that even though it was a positive final result, everyone had still gone through so much and it would take a long time for everyone to be okay, if ever. It really put that into perspective that these characters went through some STUFF and it’s not all fluff and cotton candy after it was all over. They have a long road ahead of working to put things back into place, sorting out a lot of political stuff, and working on relationships as well. It was great to see some reality brought into a happy ending while still feeling a little gooey about it.
Without talking about any spoilers, the plot did take a turn that I wasn’t so crazy about? Not bad in any way but I guess you could say it that was one step further that took things into more of a jump outside of reality that I just didn’t know if I could wrap my brain around it. It wasn’t paranormal or fantastical or anything like that but it was an added element to the story that really affected the plot and I was just like of like HMMM. How do I feel about this? I think it took one step past the international espionage and added almost a mild sci-fi element? Ugh, it’s hard to explain without giving things away but anyway, that was my one very small hang-up, and totally a personal opinion.
Overall, I LOVED this series and I love international thrillers like this! There aren’t a lot of really good YA espionage/modern political novels like this (I guess for lack of a better term, a sort of Da Vinci Code concept) and I would love to see more of this in the YA world! I’d absolutely pick it up. No matter what Maggie Hall is writing next, I am totally on board! I loved the details that went into this series, the feel and atmosphere were fantastic, the characters were strong, and the whole series stayed true to itself. Highly recommend and can’t wait to read more from Maggie Hall, whatever that may be!
January 19, 2018
Ugh. This book is such a disappointment after really enjoying the first and liking the second. This book felt so damn unnecessary.
What I liked:
...
...
I actually rated this book at two stars until I began writing this review and realize that there was literally nothing I like about this.
What I didn’t like:
1. Too much science talk. This story is about a plague that manifests when the blood of two people mixes together. Let’s forget for a moment how asinine that is. I can suspend disbelief to some extent if the story is supposed to be supernatural in nature. But then to try to explain it in a scientific way is just absurd. I was listening to the audiobook and all of the scientific talk just went in one ear and out the other because it was ridiculous.
2. The romance. 🤢
I don’t get the Stellan/Avery hype. First of all, the love triangle was sloppily handled by the author. If it happened organically over the course of the theee books that would be one thing. But it felt like the obstacles thrown in front of Avery and Jack were just plot devices created to drive them apart and put her and Stellan together. To be honest, I kind of forgot about Jack for the majority of this book because he doesn’t do anything. When she finally breaks it off with him it was so devoid of emotion that I just didn’t care.
And the intimate scenes and romantic scenes between Avery and Stellan are cringy as hell. I am not one of those people who dislikes romance. I LOVE romance in the books I read. But this was so poorly done. I can’t directly quote the text because, as I said, I listened to this on audio, but it went like this:
Avery (thinking): Oh my, I love him so much. I love you. I want to say it. “I love you.” I say. And I do. I love him. “I love you.” I say again. I don’t know why I never said it before. I love you, I think to myself. “I love you.”
Stellan: “I love you, Kuklachka. I love you. I have loved you since I had to share oxygen with you. I love you.”
Avery: “I love you. Ever since we woke up tangled up together lying next to my ex-boyfriend. I love you.”
🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢
The dialogue was so so bad. Yes, that is a slight exaggeration, but not by much.
3. The pacing. Dear God, this book was so damn slow! I listened to the audiobook on double speed and it felt like it would never end. NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS BOOK. NOTHING. There is one big reveal that happens near the beginning of the story that should be a big deal, but I just couldn’t be bothered to care about it. But the second half is so drawn out. Then as we’re approaching the ‘climax’ of the story, and the author could have built up some tension and momentum, she takes a break for who knows how many pages (it felt like forever) to throw a birthday party for Avery where they all hang out getting shit-faced and making out in The Louvre. It felt utterly ridiculous.
4. The audiobook. I listened to all three of these on audiobook. I appreciate that the author had several different characters with several different accents to do, and I think her accents were, for the most part, good. But for some reason her Stellan and Jack voices really rubbed me the wrong way. Especially Stellan. I don’t think it was why I didn’t like the Stellan/Avery relationship, but it sure didn’t help it.
If I hadn’t already read the first two, I would’ve DNF’d this book. Honestly, I could’ve read a spoilery summary of this and called it good, because almost nothing actually happens in this book. I’m not sure how that could be, since this is supposed to be an action-adventure type story, but it just did not work for me.
What I liked:
...
...
I actually rated this book at two stars until I began writing this review and realize that there was literally nothing I like about this.
What I didn’t like:
1. Too much science talk. This story is about a plague that manifests when the blood of two people mixes together. Let’s forget for a moment how asinine that is. I can suspend disbelief to some extent if the story is supposed to be supernatural in nature. But then to try to explain it in a scientific way is just absurd. I was listening to the audiobook and all of the scientific talk just went in one ear and out the other because it was ridiculous.
2. The romance. 🤢
I don’t get the Stellan/Avery hype. First of all, the love triangle was sloppily handled by the author. If it happened organically over the course of the theee books that would be one thing. But it felt like the obstacles thrown in front of Avery and Jack were just plot devices created to drive them apart and put her and Stellan together. To be honest, I kind of forgot about Jack for the majority of this book because he doesn’t do anything. When she finally breaks it off with him it was so devoid of emotion that I just didn’t care.
And the intimate scenes and romantic scenes between Avery and Stellan are cringy as hell. I am not one of those people who dislikes romance. I LOVE romance in the books I read. But this was so poorly done. I can’t directly quote the text because, as I said, I listened to this on audio, but it went like this:
Avery (thinking): Oh my, I love him so much. I love you. I want to say it. “I love you.” I say. And I do. I love him. “I love you.” I say again. I don’t know why I never said it before. I love you, I think to myself. “I love you.”
Stellan: “I love you, Kuklachka. I love you. I have loved you since I had to share oxygen with you. I love you.”
Avery: “I love you. Ever since we woke up tangled up together lying next to my ex-boyfriend. I love you.”
🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢
The dialogue was so so bad. Yes, that is a slight exaggeration, but not by much.
3. The pacing. Dear God, this book was so damn slow! I listened to the audiobook on double speed and it felt like it would never end. NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS BOOK. NOTHING. There is one big reveal that happens near the beginning of the story that should be a big deal, but I just couldn’t be bothered to care about it. But the second half is so drawn out. Then as we’re approaching the ‘climax’ of the story, and the author could have built up some tension and momentum, she takes a break for who knows how many pages (it felt like forever) to throw a birthday party for Avery where they all hang out getting shit-faced and making out in The Louvre. It felt utterly ridiculous.
4. The audiobook. I listened to all three of these on audiobook. I appreciate that the author had several different characters with several different accents to do, and I think her accents were, for the most part, good. But for some reason her Stellan and Jack voices really rubbed me the wrong way. Especially Stellan. I don’t think it was why I didn’t like the Stellan/Avery relationship, but it sure didn’t help it.
If I hadn’t already read the first two, I would’ve DNF’d this book. Honestly, I could’ve read a spoilery summary of this and called it good, because almost nothing actually happens in this book. I’m not sure how that could be, since this is supposed to be an action-adventure type story, but it just did not work for me.
January 18, 2018
Finished reading: January 10th 2018
"You're a survivor. I'd never wish it on anyone, but you're just like the rest of us now. Welcome to the world's worst club."
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
October 3, 2017
This was a very good conclusion to this extremely well done trilogy.....
Well, these 17-year-olds did more in a month than I have done in my entire life, but it is fiction so you suspend reality... even the romance at times was much more mature than the age of the characters, not in their actions but in their words.... but putting all that aside, this was very good and definitely different from the usual young adult book.... it kind of had the plot of a fantasy but set in our own contemporary world..... The characters were so enjoyable throughout, and I couldn’t believe some of the twist that were revealed in this book, wish there could be more, but I guess this is it for this trilogy.....
**** Narration:Julia Whalen is one of my absolute favorite narrators, and she did an amazing job with this book, her accents and her male voices were just so extremely spot on, she is a narrator that can make the difference between me purchasing a book or not, definite asset to the story!
Well, these 17-year-olds did more in a month than I have done in my entire life, but it is fiction so you suspend reality... even the romance at times was much more mature than the age of the characters, not in their actions but in their words.... but putting all that aside, this was very good and definitely different from the usual young adult book.... it kind of had the plot of a fantasy but set in our own contemporary world..... The characters were so enjoyable throughout, and I couldn’t believe some of the twist that were revealed in this book, wish there could be more, but I guess this is it for this trilogy.....
**** Narration:Julia Whalen is one of my absolute favorite narrators, and she did an amazing job with this book, her accents and her male voices were just so extremely spot on, she is a narrator that can make the difference between me purchasing a book or not, definite asset to the story!
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