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Tanglewood University #3
The Final Exam
A shadow looms over Tanglewood University.
It threatens the professors and the students. It threatens the dean.
I’m powerless to stop corruption that goes deep into the city’s underworld.
Professor William Stratford has the secrets we need. And I find inside me a strength that has nothing to do with escaping my family. It has to do with building a new one.
Can we reclaim the college? Can we forge a future together?
We need more than bravery to win, but it will mean nothing without love.
THE FINAL EXAM is the breathtaking final book in the Tanglewood University trilogy.
It threatens the professors and the students. It threatens the dean.
I’m powerless to stop corruption that goes deep into the city’s underworld.
Professor William Stratford has the secrets we need. And I find inside me a strength that has nothing to do with escaping my family. It has to do with building a new one.
Can we reclaim the college? Can we forge a future together?
We need more than bravery to win, but it will mean nothing without love.
THE FINAL EXAM is the breathtaking final book in the Tanglewood University trilogy.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2025
132 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
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January 3, 2025Available now!
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Amazon Kindle: https://bit.ly/4cx2OwL
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3zcD4Zc
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3XujjnL
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3Me22KC
Or order the e-book direct from Skye Warren’s shop:
https://bit.ly/3V0ZTXc
July 29, 2025
* 3.75⭐️4🌶️
* The final book in the Tanglewood University and boy did it not disappoint! Ugh Anne and Will. The biggest issue I had with this book was there was bad things that happened (check trigger warnings) but they were resolved so quick. Like horrible thing happened and no build up to it being resolved it was just boom resolved. It seemed sort of rushed to me. But the ending was perfect. I enjoyed this trilogy so much and can’t wait to read more from Skye Warren. I’m going to give the whole trilogy 4⭐️ with 4🌶️
* The final book in the Tanglewood University and boy did it not disappoint! Ugh Anne and Will. The biggest issue I had with this book was there was bad things that happened (check trigger warnings) but they were resolved so quick. Like horrible thing happened and no build up to it being resolved it was just boom resolved. It seemed sort of rushed to me. But the ending was perfect. I enjoyed this trilogy so much and can’t wait to read more from Skye Warren. I’m going to give the whole trilogy 4⭐️ with 4🌶️
January 2, 2025
I wanted more between the h and H. Finally, with this being the 3rd book, I thought we would get more than what I felt “bits and pieces”.
Want to read
February 17, 2025Didn’t realize this was out!! Going to finish this trilogy. Plot is not great but the chemistry and stream between H+h is amazing.
January 14, 2025
Skye Warrens stories and her characters always give the reader a wonderful experience and journey into the lives and chaos of them.
After the serious cliffhanger of book 2 i am afraid to give away parts of the story but rest assured you will absolutely love this finale of this series 💕
Wonderful ending to a fabulous series 🩷
After the serious cliffhanger of book 2 i am afraid to give away parts of the story but rest assured you will absolutely love this finale of this series 💕
Wonderful ending to a fabulous series 🩷
February 5, 2025
Possibly the worst trilogy I’ve ever read! Started off with potential but by the time you get to this book it’s incredibly tedious and off the wall! Hard to care what happens the characters. Could have been wrapped up on 1.5/2 books
September 3, 2025
2.75⭐️
i still don't understand why there's a (not so) secret society and every member doesn't even have a pang of empathy. their downfall felt a bit anticlimatic and how come everyone just accepted the fact that william rose from the dead? also we never see the members get punished or how they will be punished. the tempest award thing were brushed off as well considering this is a big issue in the previous book. they didn't even get to award it to the rightful winner—anne.
there's still so many questions left unanswered and i don't have it in me now to do my usual rants. but anyway, i hated that this has so much potential but the author failed to deliver.
i still don't understand why there's a (not so) secret society and every member doesn't even have a pang of empathy. their downfall felt a bit anticlimatic and how come everyone just accepted the fact that william rose from the dead? also we never see the members get punished or how they will be punished. the tempest award thing were brushed off as well considering this is a big issue in the previous book. they didn't even get to award it to the rightful winner—anne.
there's still so many questions left unanswered and i don't have it in me now to do my usual rants. but anyway, i hated that this has so much potential but the author failed to deliver.
January 8, 2025
“𝐼𝓉’𝓈 𝒶 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝒻𝓇𝒶𝒾𝒹. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓎.”
This is book 3 of the trilogy and yes you do need to read the first two to understand this one. This whole trilogy is amazing not to give anything away to those who haven’t read it.
This follows Anne and her relationship with her professor William, what does he teach you ask nothing other than Shakespeare. And let me tell you this trilogy has the drama, forbidden love and shock factor of a Shakespearean play.
We follow-up awhile after the events of book 2 and Anne is out for revenge. It follows her pain, her grief and anger. We find out who is Taglewood Tea and honestly I was shocked. The Daisy chapter was such a tease I am really hoping we get some more of her.
I do plan on going back and reading Dean Blake’s story as well Professor Miller’s, I am sure if I read those two prior I wouldn’t have been so suspicious of them.
~~What to Expect~~
📜Age Gap
📜Secret Society
📜Professor X Student
📜Forbidden
📜Suspense
📜Found Family
📜Forced Proximity
📜Academia
📜Small College Town
📜Revenge
~~Quote~~
🥀I don’t believe curses are real, humans cause enough evil without magic.
🥀When you’ve torn yourself apart over a man, he shouldn’t get to be a mystery.
🥀You should hate me the way I hate you. Hate me so hard it feels like love.
This is book 3 of the trilogy and yes you do need to read the first two to understand this one. This whole trilogy is amazing not to give anything away to those who haven’t read it.
This follows Anne and her relationship with her professor William, what does he teach you ask nothing other than Shakespeare. And let me tell you this trilogy has the drama, forbidden love and shock factor of a Shakespearean play.
We follow-up awhile after the events of book 2 and Anne is out for revenge. It follows her pain, her grief and anger. We find out who is Taglewood Tea and honestly I was shocked. The Daisy chapter was such a tease I am really hoping we get some more of her.
I do plan on going back and reading Dean Blake’s story as well Professor Miller’s, I am sure if I read those two prior I wouldn’t have been so suspicious of them.
~~What to Expect~~
📜Age Gap
📜Secret Society
📜Professor X Student
📜Forbidden
📜Suspense
📜Found Family
📜Forced Proximity
📜Academia
📜Small College Town
📜Revenge
~~Quote~~
🥀I don’t believe curses are real, humans cause enough evil without magic.
🥀When you’ve torn yourself apart over a man, he shouldn’t get to be a mystery.
🥀You should hate me the way I hate you. Hate me so hard it feels like love.
December 31, 2024
Phenomenal!!!!! This was such a amazing read!! And I finished it all in one sitting!!! I so loved the end of the trilogy and cannot believe that the trilogy is now over!! Spectacular writing, and of course, who doesn’t love the student and professor romance?!
February 17, 2025
Interesting story, terrible presentation. Forgetful author.
The series would have been better if maybe the author took more time on the details, maybe even took notes along the way so she didn’t forget so many of them. I don’t think I have seen so many inconsistent descriptions/movement details in not just one book but the entire trilogy before. I would think it was a fantasy book with how often eye colors, facial features and body structures changed throughout the book. Or paranormal with how in one sentence the MC is standing in one room and the next, pinned to the ground in another room. These, I am aware, are my own pet peeves and may not bug others like they do me but it detracts from the story IMO if you do notice them.
The book definitely needed more editing. Elementary mistakes like the incorrect spelling of “They’re” or “THEN vs THAN”. Many misspelled or misused words/punctuation that could have been fixed with a couple more rounds of editing. Also another thing that detracts from the story IMO, especially in a book about literary education.
There were excellent topics of discussion and points made in arguments during class that had you pondering on for a while. I did appreciate those moments. It was the independent conversations between peers/teachers that tended to go sideways and get confusing or were just simply shallow and pointless.
The romance was very shallow. There was no build on that relationship and was solely based on lust. Any conversation/argument they had ended in a full or partial scene.
The series would have been better if maybe the author took more time on the details, maybe even took notes along the way so she didn’t forget so many of them. I don’t think I have seen so many inconsistent descriptions/movement details in not just one book but the entire trilogy before. I would think it was a fantasy book with how often eye colors, facial features and body structures changed throughout the book. Or paranormal with how in one sentence the MC is standing in one room and the next, pinned to the ground in another room. These, I am aware, are my own pet peeves and may not bug others like they do me but it detracts from the story IMO if you do notice them.
The book definitely needed more editing. Elementary mistakes like the incorrect spelling of “They’re” or “THEN vs THAN”. Many misspelled or misused words/punctuation that could have been fixed with a couple more rounds of editing. Also another thing that detracts from the story IMO, especially in a book about literary education.
There were excellent topics of discussion and points made in arguments during class that had you pondering on for a while. I did appreciate those moments. It was the independent conversations between peers/teachers that tended to go sideways and get confusing or were just simply shallow and pointless.
The romance was very shallow. There was no build on that relationship and was solely based on lust. Any conversation/argument they had ended in a full or partial scene.
January 16, 2025
Review covers whole 3 book series:
Book 1 drew me in. Skye Warren writes stories that flow and are super easy to read. I was interested in the lives of the main characters, as well as the secondary characters. The secret society had me intrigued.
Book 2 stepped deeper into the story but started to drag. I noticed discrepancies that took me out of the story. By the end I was trying to understand why the story hadn't wrapped up already.
Book 3 dragged me through more drama that felt forced, rushed, and unnecessary. The big events in this book could have been redistributed through the previous 2 books and left it a solid 2 book series.
I always enjoy Skye Warren books but this series felt off and stilted. It had so much potential but fell short of what I typically expect from her work.
Book 1 drew me in. Skye Warren writes stories that flow and are super easy to read. I was interested in the lives of the main characters, as well as the secondary characters. The secret society had me intrigued.
Book 2 stepped deeper into the story but started to drag. I noticed discrepancies that took me out of the story. By the end I was trying to understand why the story hadn't wrapped up already.
Book 3 dragged me through more drama that felt forced, rushed, and unnecessary. The big events in this book could have been redistributed through the previous 2 books and left it a solid 2 book series.
I always enjoy Skye Warren books but this series felt off and stilted. It had so much potential but fell short of what I typically expect from her work.
January 1, 2025
An intellectual dark romance. At least that's how it feels to me. Hot to read and thought-provoking to boost. Magnificent at times, too.
Academia, Shakespeare, forbidden love and thrills at your own peril in the corridors of ambition and greed.
It's the end to a trilogy that's original in spades and very atmospheric thanks to its wondrous prose. My favourite part is how Shakespeare applies to the inner workings of Anne's thoughts and to the undercurrents of the plot. Also, the beautifully moving writing style.
Back to Tanglewood after that shocking cliffhanger in book 2, I could really feel Anne's despair and her strength that still battles against enemies but never loses her bond to knowledge and learning. Secrets are spilled and there's a sense of loss and betrayal all along the book. The dark hero in her life remains a mysterious and alluring figure, more myth than man. A very horny man though. There's plenty of heat and passion inside the old walls of this university. Perhaps I'd have preferred more detail regarding the intrigue instead of so many scenes of physical intimacy. Others might appreciate exactly that balance :-D Some turns of phrases got a bit repetitive too. Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed the enigmatic society's antics and the menacing ambiance.
I loved Anne. She goes through so many emotions, so large an evolution of her self-knowledge. Chilling twists and dangers bracket this woman's odyssey through self-worth, identity and freedom, and her deep connection to Shakespeare's words and human drama. I loved her friends, her dignity, and the uplifting epilogue that puts many things into perspective.
I am very happy to have read this inspired trilogy. There's hope, I think, about more books to come in this appealing world. Those brothers...
Quote: We write silent poetry with every heartbeat.
Academia, Shakespeare, forbidden love and thrills at your own peril in the corridors of ambition and greed.
It's the end to a trilogy that's original in spades and very atmospheric thanks to its wondrous prose. My favourite part is how Shakespeare applies to the inner workings of Anne's thoughts and to the undercurrents of the plot. Also, the beautifully moving writing style.
Back to Tanglewood after that shocking cliffhanger in book 2, I could really feel Anne's despair and her strength that still battles against enemies but never loses her bond to knowledge and learning. Secrets are spilled and there's a sense of loss and betrayal all along the book. The dark hero in her life remains a mysterious and alluring figure, more myth than man. A very horny man though. There's plenty of heat and passion inside the old walls of this university. Perhaps I'd have preferred more detail regarding the intrigue instead of so many scenes of physical intimacy. Others might appreciate exactly that balance :-D Some turns of phrases got a bit repetitive too. Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed the enigmatic society's antics and the menacing ambiance.
I loved Anne. She goes through so many emotions, so large an evolution of her self-knowledge. Chilling twists and dangers bracket this woman's odyssey through self-worth, identity and freedom, and her deep connection to Shakespeare's words and human drama. I loved her friends, her dignity, and the uplifting epilogue that puts many things into perspective.
I am very happy to have read this inspired trilogy. There's hope, I think, about more books to come in this appealing world. Those brothers...
Quote: We write silent poetry with every heartbeat.
January 11, 2025
This is a gripping conclusion to the Tanglewood University trilogy. This final installment masterfully combines forbidden romance, suspense, and Shakespearean drama, mainly inspired by "Macbeth." Anne’s journey through grief, revenge, and courage is captivating as she faces a corrupt secret society threatening the university. Her connection with Professor William Stratford is intense, adding depth and emotion to the story. The plot is filled with twists, academic intrigue, and tension, keeping me on edge. I loved the use of Shakespeare throughout the story and the strong character development. While the ending was satisfying, questions about Daisy’s story left me eager for more, and this is a recommendation for fans of dark, romantic academia with suspenseful twists.
January 23, 2025
Skye does an excellent job of bringing her characters to life as you read. This finale was outstanding way to end this trilogy. I definitely recommend reading this series.
April 30, 2025
hell yes 🥹✌️ loved that ending so so much 😭
March 19, 2025
Let's do this review this way:
The Good:
-The ending. Yeah, I was cool with that ending for our MCs.
-The spice was good. The amount, the time in between. Our Professor is a dark horse in this one...and ready to go at the drop of a dime.
-There was an excellent set up for Daisy's books. I wasn't thinking about Cormac in this series but after his last introduction in the last book, I can see him as a dark hero for Daisy.
The Bad:
-The ending is at graduation which is fine. My big issue is in the Ugly section below but one thing that isn't that big of a deal, but I could have lived without, is all the waxing sentimental. Uggghhhhh. I know it's graduation but let's not try to be like a lame Hallmark/Disney movie of the week and weep all over ourselves wishing it never had to end. I did not have this experience when I graduated anything. I know of no one that had that experience. In real life, you're ready to go, you're excited, you want to celebrate. And Warren has Anne repeat herself endlessly with her moaning about university ending. If anyone should be happy it's over, it should be Anne.
- The spicy scenes were good but repetitive. There was a scene which immediately followed another scene on literally the previous page in which are heroes go at it in the EXACT same way with the EXACT same reactions and results. I would have preferred more scenes showcasing exactly why Will and Anne were in love instead of why they're in lust.
THERE COULD BE SPOILERS AHEAD:
The Ugly:
-Daisy is suddenly gone with absolutely no explanation in the final scene?? I mean, not even a hint?? This was my biggest problem during graduation. I was wondering about Daisy the whole time underneath rolling my eyes at the sentimental this-is-the-end blah blah and William and Anne's send-off. So distracting.
-Mary is very obviously only introduced to set up Daisy's books but she has absolutely nothing to do in this book which is highly annoying. I was ready for her to inadvertently cause some trouble, move the story along but there was absolutely no point to her in Anne's story. So many characters walk through this book with zero purpose. Or, they had potential but went nowhere, just fell out of the story without explanation or thought.
-But to back up, the whole of the first two books was building up to this massive battle against the Shakespeare Society. I was prepared to read some crazy stressful stuff. But there was nothing. One lame fake manuscript that was forgotten until the end. William mentions he won but what did he do? Anne never asks him and Warren never has Will say anything. Suddenly, the baddies are gone and we're moving on. We spend more time agonizing over who runs Tanglewood Tea and Anne trying to convince herself she has to leave Will because they're unequal. Which was some crap to fill in the drama for the third act. Instead, Warren could have just delivered the battle and let Anne prove to herself that she and Will were equal "warriors" and that they deserved each other.
-But I guess that's okay because we never really got into the Shakespeare Society anyway. We never learned its true origins, what they wants, what they really do.
-I know I mentioned this in one or both of the other books but the writing throughout the series has been horribly choppy. Every page seems to have a character doing one thing in one sentence, and then in the next, the character is across the room doing something else. Anne could be stark naked in one sentence and the next, she's magically covered by a mystery bedsheet that appeared out of nowhere. And the transitions are just not there. Perhaps it's Warren's writing style? Maybe produce less number of books and increase the quality of books?
-Anne spent the whole book waking up. Anne should probably have gotten Will to pay for some therapy for her because every five minutes, she's lying in bed hiding or waking up looking at the light coming through the window. How did she graduate when she spent the whole book sleeping or agonizing or having sex? This book was a disservice to what was once a strong female character.
So basically, this book was pretty disappointing. The strongest book is, I think, the first one. Such potential and it feels like Warren just wanted to end this as quickly as she could. I want to know what happened to Daisy and I'm even willing to give Daisy and Cormac's book(s) a chance if I was sure they would exist. Because I have no clue or hint that Daisy will get her own book and I'm leaving this series highly disappointed and annoyed.
The Good:
-The ending. Yeah, I was cool with that ending for our MCs.
-The spice was good. The amount, the time in between. Our Professor is a dark horse in this one...and ready to go at the drop of a dime.
-There was an excellent set up for Daisy's books. I wasn't thinking about Cormac in this series but after his last introduction in the last book, I can see him as a dark hero for Daisy.
The Bad:
-The ending is at graduation which is fine. My big issue is in the Ugly section below but one thing that isn't that big of a deal, but I could have lived without, is all the waxing sentimental. Uggghhhhh. I know it's graduation but let's not try to be like a lame Hallmark/Disney movie of the week and weep all over ourselves wishing it never had to end. I did not have this experience when I graduated anything. I know of no one that had that experience. In real life, you're ready to go, you're excited, you want to celebrate. And Warren has Anne repeat herself endlessly with her moaning about university ending. If anyone should be happy it's over, it should be Anne.
- The spicy scenes were good but repetitive. There was a scene which immediately followed another scene on literally the previous page in which are heroes go at it in the EXACT same way with the EXACT same reactions and results. I would have preferred more scenes showcasing exactly why Will and Anne were in love instead of why they're in lust.
THERE COULD BE SPOILERS AHEAD:
The Ugly:
-Daisy is suddenly gone with absolutely no explanation in the final scene?? I mean, not even a hint?? This was my biggest problem during graduation. I was wondering about Daisy the whole time underneath rolling my eyes at the sentimental this-is-the-end blah blah and William and Anne's send-off. So distracting.
-Mary is very obviously only introduced to set up Daisy's books but she has absolutely nothing to do in this book which is highly annoying. I was ready for her to inadvertently cause some trouble, move the story along but there was absolutely no point to her in Anne's story. So many characters walk through this book with zero purpose. Or, they had potential but went nowhere, just fell out of the story without explanation or thought.
-But to back up, the whole of the first two books was building up to this massive battle against the Shakespeare Society. I was prepared to read some crazy stressful stuff. But there was nothing. One lame fake manuscript that was forgotten until the end. William mentions he won but what did he do? Anne never asks him and Warren never has Will say anything. Suddenly, the baddies are gone and we're moving on. We spend more time agonizing over who runs Tanglewood Tea and Anne trying to convince herself she has to leave Will because they're unequal. Which was some crap to fill in the drama for the third act. Instead, Warren could have just delivered the battle and let Anne prove to herself that she and Will were equal "warriors" and that they deserved each other.
-But I guess that's okay because we never really got into the Shakespeare Society anyway. We never learned its true origins, what they wants, what they really do.
-I know I mentioned this in one or both of the other books but the writing throughout the series has been horribly choppy. Every page seems to have a character doing one thing in one sentence, and then in the next, the character is across the room doing something else. Anne could be stark naked in one sentence and the next, she's magically covered by a mystery bedsheet that appeared out of nowhere. And the transitions are just not there. Perhaps it's Warren's writing style? Maybe produce less number of books and increase the quality of books?
-Anne spent the whole book waking up. Anne should probably have gotten Will to pay for some therapy for her because every five minutes, she's lying in bed hiding or waking up looking at the light coming through the window. How did she graduate when she spent the whole book sleeping or agonizing or having sex? This book was a disservice to what was once a strong female character.
So basically, this book was pretty disappointing. The strongest book is, I think, the first one. Such potential and it feels like Warren just wanted to end this as quickly as she could. I want to know what happened to Daisy and I'm even willing to give Daisy and Cormac's book(s) a chance if I was sure they would exist. Because I have no clue or hint that Daisy will get her own book and I'm leaving this series highly disappointed and annoyed.
January 10, 2025
I was so looking forward to
The Final Exam
to finish off the Tanglewood University trilogy. I started reading immediately upon receiving it, and then I was stopped short by the events of chapter one. I was confused and decided it had taken way too long for book 3 to be released and I had forgotten some very important aspects of the story. So, I headed back to book 2 for a refresher. This is definitely one of my pet-peeves with Skye’s books – they are usually trilogies even though there isn’t enough storyline to warrant it, and there is way too much time in between books. I love a good trilogy when the story and the characters are engaging, but I find I lose my passion for both when too much time elapses.
I wanted to love this book. I wanted to see how Anne and William navigated the forbidden waters of a relationship between the two of them. Anne was such a resilient and independent woman ready to take on the world and conquer all obstacles in her way. I found the events in book three tore her down leaving her defeated and without purpose. I did however continue to love all the literary references the Skye brought to the pages. They weren't as prevalent in this book, but they were still quite interesting.
One of the loose ends from books one and two was the Shakespeare Society. I felt there was real potential there for an amazing storyline. But that didn't really come to pass. Their downfall was another thing that just gracefully fell to the wayside with no angst or suspense. I guess mu overall feeling was The Final Exam was all over the place. Many events just didn’t make sense to me and didn’t fit the plot. Some events seemed to have been thrown in out of nowhere to build up some suspense, only to quickly fade away and never really lead to more in the story.
There are many parts of this story that get started and never get an ending. I was totally confused over what happened between the time the scholarship funds were unavailable and graduation day. Anne was determined to make it on her own without any help (which was totally silly if you ask me.) How did those students manage to stay in school? What happened to that whole extra semester they had to pay for on their own? How did Anne navigate her life through this unexpected wrench in her path? If I missed this little tidbit, I apologize, but I don't recall reading it and I was somewhat shocked to suddenly be at graduation day before we learned more about how the school dealt with those stolen funds.
Another thing that bothered me is how it appeared no one ever faced any consequences for their actions. People were attacked, kidnapped, etc … and there was no real justice for the victims. The perpetrators never punished. I also wonder how someone who was clearly dead, returns from the grave an no one is shocked to see him, besides Anne of course.
I also have to agree with some other readers about the introduction of a relationship between two side characters. It came out of the blue and is totally a set up for another book. I am a big fan of Skye Warren, but unfortunately, this one didn’t even come close to my expectations for a conclusion for Anne and William. Most of the time if felt like the chapters were put together without much thought to how the story would progress. I’m not sure I’ve been enticed to read the follow-up story between Daisy and Cormac that seems to be happening. I’ve always wanted to find out how she escapes her cult family, so we will have to see how it all plays out.
I wanted to love this book. I wanted to see how Anne and William navigated the forbidden waters of a relationship between the two of them. Anne was such a resilient and independent woman ready to take on the world and conquer all obstacles in her way. I found the events in book three tore her down leaving her defeated and without purpose. I did however continue to love all the literary references the Skye brought to the pages. They weren't as prevalent in this book, but they were still quite interesting.
One of the loose ends from books one and two was the Shakespeare Society. I felt there was real potential there for an amazing storyline. But that didn't really come to pass. Their downfall was another thing that just gracefully fell to the wayside with no angst or suspense. I guess mu overall feeling was The Final Exam was all over the place. Many events just didn’t make sense to me and didn’t fit the plot. Some events seemed to have been thrown in out of nowhere to build up some suspense, only to quickly fade away and never really lead to more in the story.
There are many parts of this story that get started and never get an ending. I was totally confused over what happened between the time the scholarship funds were unavailable and graduation day. Anne was determined to make it on her own without any help (which was totally silly if you ask me.) How did those students manage to stay in school? What happened to that whole extra semester they had to pay for on their own? How did Anne navigate her life through this unexpected wrench in her path? If I missed this little tidbit, I apologize, but I don't recall reading it and I was somewhat shocked to suddenly be at graduation day before we learned more about how the school dealt with those stolen funds.
Another thing that bothered me is how it appeared no one ever faced any consequences for their actions. People were attacked, kidnapped, etc … and there was no real justice for the victims. The perpetrators never punished. I also wonder how someone who was clearly dead, returns from the grave an no one is shocked to see him, besides Anne of course.
I also have to agree with some other readers about the introduction of a relationship between two side characters. It came out of the blue and is totally a set up for another book. I am a big fan of Skye Warren, but unfortunately, this one didn’t even come close to my expectations for a conclusion for Anne and William. Most of the time if felt like the chapters were put together without much thought to how the story would progress. I’m not sure I’ve been enticed to read the follow-up story between Daisy and Cormac that seems to be happening. I’ve always wanted to find out how she escapes her cult family, so we will have to see how it all plays out.
March 1, 2025
“The son scorned, the father adored, the romance hath been thus foresworn.”
His hands cup my face, his thumbs brushing away my tears. His eyes burn into mine, their dark depths swirling with desperation and despair. “Then we’ll go. We’ll leave Tanglewood, leave the university, leave all this behind. I’ll leave behind the fucking money. I’ll leave behind my name. We’ll start fresh, somewhere new, somewhere you can feel safe.”
I stare at him, my heart pounding in my chest. It would be too much to ever ask of him, but even the idea… “You would do that? You would leave all this behind? For me?”
He nods, his jaw set, his expression determined. “I would do anything for you. Anything. I love you. I love you more than anything, more than anyone. I love you more than my life, more than my breath, more than my own fucking soul.”
I gasp, his words sending a shock wave through my body, through my heart, through my very being. “William—”
His hands tighten on my face, his eyes burning into mine. “I love you more than Shakespeare.”
“Shhh.” Except I don’t really mean it. He’s turned me, studious, serious Anne, into someone who giggles. I don’t know how it happened, but I also don’t totally hate it. It’s fun to be playful with a man, especially when that man is a handsome Shakespeare scholar.
There’s a mischievous glint in his eye. “I’d like to say that I don’t care who knows it, but that would be a lie. I do care. I want every single person on this campus, on every campus, in the entire world, to know that I love you.”
My heart swells, threatening to burst out of my chest. I look up at him, this man who has turned my world upside down, who has challenged me, infuriated me, loved me. And I know, in this moment, that I want the world to know it too.
I pull out my phone, holding it up to capture our faces. He presses his cheek against mine, his stubble rough against my skin. I snap the photo, capturing the moment, immortalizing us.
This is not goodbye. It’s a beginning, a promise of things to come. This is Tanglewood, and we shall be, forever bound, in love and memory.
‘Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.’
“I love you,” he whispers, his voice barely audible. “I have always loved you. And I will love you, forever and always.”
The tears spill over, streaming down my cheeks in a torrent of emotion. I can feel the weight of his words, the power of his love. It is a love that transcends time, that defies convention, that conquers all.
And in that moment, I know—this is not the end. This is not a goodbye. This is a beginning, a promise of things to come. This is Tanglewood, and we shall be, forever bound, in love and memory.
As the applause continues, I stand there, my heart full, my spirit soaring. The future stretches out before me, a blank page waiting to be filled. And I am ready, pen in hand, to write the next chapter of my story.
*it felt like a journey to read all the 3 books alongwith dean morris's duet, these were so good, it was as if i was seeing them physically in their life progress in their journey, now that its finished i really want more of it, like professor cormac and daisy's story, that and also some more of dean morris - erin and professor stratford - anne, i hope the author thinks about that hehe*
His hands cup my face, his thumbs brushing away my tears. His eyes burn into mine, their dark depths swirling with desperation and despair. “Then we’ll go. We’ll leave Tanglewood, leave the university, leave all this behind. I’ll leave behind the fucking money. I’ll leave behind my name. We’ll start fresh, somewhere new, somewhere you can feel safe.”
I stare at him, my heart pounding in my chest. It would be too much to ever ask of him, but even the idea… “You would do that? You would leave all this behind? For me?”
He nods, his jaw set, his expression determined. “I would do anything for you. Anything. I love you. I love you more than anything, more than anyone. I love you more than my life, more than my breath, more than my own fucking soul.”
I gasp, his words sending a shock wave through my body, through my heart, through my very being. “William—”
His hands tighten on my face, his eyes burning into mine. “I love you more than Shakespeare.”
“Shhh.” Except I don’t really mean it. He’s turned me, studious, serious Anne, into someone who giggles. I don’t know how it happened, but I also don’t totally hate it. It’s fun to be playful with a man, especially when that man is a handsome Shakespeare scholar.
There’s a mischievous glint in his eye. “I’d like to say that I don’t care who knows it, but that would be a lie. I do care. I want every single person on this campus, on every campus, in the entire world, to know that I love you.”
My heart swells, threatening to burst out of my chest. I look up at him, this man who has turned my world upside down, who has challenged me, infuriated me, loved me. And I know, in this moment, that I want the world to know it too.
I pull out my phone, holding it up to capture our faces. He presses his cheek against mine, his stubble rough against my skin. I snap the photo, capturing the moment, immortalizing us.
This is not goodbye. It’s a beginning, a promise of things to come. This is Tanglewood, and we shall be, forever bound, in love and memory.
‘Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.’
“I love you,” he whispers, his voice barely audible. “I have always loved you. And I will love you, forever and always.”
The tears spill over, streaming down my cheeks in a torrent of emotion. I can feel the weight of his words, the power of his love. It is a love that transcends time, that defies convention, that conquers all.
And in that moment, I know—this is not the end. This is not a goodbye. This is a beginning, a promise of things to come. This is Tanglewood, and we shall be, forever bound, in love and memory.
As the applause continues, I stand there, my heart full, my spirit soaring. The future stretches out before me, a blank page waiting to be filled. And I am ready, pen in hand, to write the next chapter of my story.
*it felt like a journey to read all the 3 books alongwith dean morris's duet, these were so good, it was as if i was seeing them physically in their life progress in their journey, now that its finished i really want more of it, like professor cormac and daisy's story, that and also some more of dean morris - erin and professor stratford - anne, i hope the author thinks about that hehe*
January 5, 2025
For much of the book, I was sitting at a begrudging three star rating because despite the issues I had with the book, I didn't DNF it. For me, the characters were flat --William was particularly one-note for much of the book-- , the plot was uneven, and the last couple of chapters just didn't work. The introduction of a new character was obviously more of a set up for Daisy's book(s) and Anne's temporary solution for their situation (which she told Daisy about via text as opposed to asking if it was okay) was kinda careless and not really safe. Narrative-wise, there's one chapter late in the book that's told from Daisy's perspective. It doesn't further the plot of this book and is clearly only inserted to set up her book(s) (which I am assuming are coming based on the heavy-handed hints dropped in this book). Now, I don't mind an epilogue told from a secondary character's perspective if that character is going to be the focus of an upcoming book. Or maybe, in a pinch, if the author has to convey critical information to the reader that the main character wouldn't know. But how it's done in this book just interrupts whatever vague flow there was.
I also acknowledge that I am biased because I work in an academic library and so it was sometimes hard to suspend disbelief when compared to my many years in academia. However, what dropped the book to a 2 for me was the following paragraph, which I found to be ignorant, condescending and dismissive of librarians, the work that they do and their level of education:
"I can become a librarian. I would have to clean up bodily fluids from strangers and mother random children who are ignored by the system, but at least I would get to cover the books with protective plastic coating."
First of all, actual librarians have a master's level degree (yes, there are people who work in libraries and are called librarians, but sometimes that's just because it's easier for the general public than learning the difference between librarians, library technicians, and other workers). Second, you'd think Anne would have more respect for the small town librarian who helped and supported her for all of those years. Third, given all of Anne's time in the college library, you'd think she have a more well-rounded concept of the difference types of work librarians do. OK, getting off of my soapbox now.
I wanted to like this book. Instead, I was disappointed.
I also acknowledge that I am biased because I work in an academic library and so it was sometimes hard to suspend disbelief when compared to my many years in academia. However, what dropped the book to a 2 for me was the following paragraph, which I found to be ignorant, condescending and dismissive of librarians, the work that they do and their level of education:
"I can become a librarian. I would have to clean up bodily fluids from strangers and mother random children who are ignored by the system, but at least I would get to cover the books with protective plastic coating."
First of all, actual librarians have a master's level degree (yes, there are people who work in libraries and are called librarians, but sometimes that's just because it's easier for the general public than learning the difference between librarians, library technicians, and other workers). Second, you'd think Anne would have more respect for the small town librarian who helped and supported her for all of those years. Third, given all of Anne's time in the college library, you'd think she have a more well-rounded concept of the difference types of work librarians do. OK, getting off of my soapbox now.
I wanted to like this book. Instead, I was disappointed.
April 15, 2025
The FINAL EXAM is the long awaited-conclusion by Skye Warren.
And in true signature Sky Warren fashion this book didn’t disappoint, it wraps up the long awaited mystery about the secret society the conspiracies and the long awaited fall out from it all!
so prepare for mystery Secrets and lust as we go back to Tanglewood !
🎧📕AUDIOBOOK 📕🎧(ALC)
The Final Exam by: Sky Warren
Narrated by: Alexis Paige
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4🌶️🌶️🌶️
8.5🎙️🎙️🎙️
Professor William Stratford and Anne Hill saga continues!
📑
The story started with Annie in Mourning!!!
At first I was like WT… I couldn’t believe how what and why.
Annie was reeling from the list of her beloved William that threw her into a dark place .. she needed clarification and closure because she was basically banned from the funeral.. so this had her in search of his burial place.
But return she must to TangleWood, back to the place of secrets where she will face Professor Throne and others, the people responsible for Williams demise, only this time she won’t be protected she will ultimately be alone and powerless against any of them…
but is she really?
Will Annie be able to get answers she seeks about Professor William Stratford burial ground.. or will she have enough sense to give up the lure of finding out the secret of the Shakespeare society?
Or is she seeking to end up the same way as the Professor?
I’ve waited for the conclusion of this book a long time ..
Alexis Paige was the sole narrator on this .. and although I love her style of narration I kinda felt that this story would have been better with male and female Dual narration.
But needless to Alexis Paige did a good job on making the characters and story come to life and I enjoy it nonetheless.
In true Sky Warren fashion the story played out with intrigue angst and mystery with hints into other characters in the story .. this was a well awaited conclusion!
This book is full of surprises and twist!
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS AUDIOBOOK
📚Forbidden
🖋️Age Gap
✏️Student /Professor
💋Ex Boyfriend Father
✏️Secret Society
🖤Mine
♥️Mystery Dungeon
🤍He would do anything to protect her .
🖤Explosive chemistry
🖤Angsty
Definitely recommend listening series in order for greater understanding and experience!
Special thanks to Valentine_pr_ for the opportunity of listening the conclusion to this intriguing series!
And thank you all for reading my review and ratings, hope to catch up next time book bestie
One love 💕
@GEORGIOUS_ELEANORPB🦋
And in true signature Sky Warren fashion this book didn’t disappoint, it wraps up the long awaited mystery about the secret society the conspiracies and the long awaited fall out from it all!
so prepare for mystery Secrets and lust as we go back to Tanglewood !
🎧📕AUDIOBOOK 📕🎧(ALC)
The Final Exam by: Sky Warren
Narrated by: Alexis Paige
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4🌶️🌶️🌶️
8.5🎙️🎙️🎙️
Professor William Stratford and Anne Hill saga continues!
📑
The story started with Annie in Mourning!!!
At first I was like WT… I couldn’t believe how what and why.
Annie was reeling from the list of her beloved William that threw her into a dark place .. she needed clarification and closure because she was basically banned from the funeral.. so this had her in search of his burial place.
But return she must to TangleWood, back to the place of secrets where she will face Professor Throne and others, the people responsible for Williams demise, only this time she won’t be protected she will ultimately be alone and powerless against any of them…
but is she really?
Will Annie be able to get answers she seeks about Professor William Stratford burial ground.. or will she have enough sense to give up the lure of finding out the secret of the Shakespeare society?
Or is she seeking to end up the same way as the Professor?
I’ve waited for the conclusion of this book a long time ..
Alexis Paige was the sole narrator on this .. and although I love her style of narration I kinda felt that this story would have been better with male and female Dual narration.
But needless to Alexis Paige did a good job on making the characters and story come to life and I enjoy it nonetheless.
In true Sky Warren fashion the story played out with intrigue angst and mystery with hints into other characters in the story .. this was a well awaited conclusion!
This book is full of surprises and twist!
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS AUDIOBOOK
📚Forbidden
🖋️Age Gap
✏️Student /Professor
💋Ex Boyfriend Father
✏️Secret Society
🖤Mine
♥️Mystery Dungeon
🤍He would do anything to protect her .
🖤Explosive chemistry
🖤Angsty
Definitely recommend listening series in order for greater understanding and experience!
Special thanks to Valentine_pr_ for the opportunity of listening the conclusion to this intriguing series!
And thank you all for reading my review and ratings, hope to catch up next time book bestie
One love 💕
@GEORGIOUS_ELEANORPB🦋
June 11, 2025
I really liked the first two books but this book was hard to get through. At times the plot was hard to follow because you’d be reading one intense scene and then all of a sudden it jumps to the next scene where main character is somewhere else. (For example, she takes her final exam and turns it in, and the next line says something like she smells grass and Professor Stratford walking beaide her—but at no point does it mention she goes outside. Odd.
Also, the last couple of chapters were absolutely BRUTAL to read because of redundant phrases. In chapter 26, the phrase about the depth of Stratford’s sark eyes swirling with desperation and despair is literally used 3 times in less than a page. The ending line of the story was used several pages before, word for word already. It almost felt like it was written poorly by ChatGPT with all the redundancy.
Also, the plot became sooo confusing. They lost their scholarship, and could finish out the semester but couldn’t be assured money for the next semester or following years. Anne worries over this a lot. But then it jumps to the final exam—which is for the class in the current semester she was told she could finish out—and Anne’s stressing cause she has to pass this exam to graduate (according to her inner monologue). Then she graduates—not in following years, but in the same semester where all the drama went down. So like…what happened there? Why was she stressing so much about money when she was going to graduate that semester anyways? The timeline and drama don’t add up.
Honestly the whole story line felt rushed and not well thought out. There was lots of potential but it fell short. The spice was good which is why I gave it a 3. But after I finished reading, I was disappointed. And all that drama with the Society—and it ends sooo anticlimactically with no real explanation. And don’t even get me started on how there’s noooo way she would have gotten away from them every single time. Needless to say—It’ll be a little while before I pick up another book from this author.
Also, the last couple of chapters were absolutely BRUTAL to read because of redundant phrases. In chapter 26, the phrase about the depth of Stratford’s sark eyes swirling with desperation and despair is literally used 3 times in less than a page. The ending line of the story was used several pages before, word for word already. It almost felt like it was written poorly by ChatGPT with all the redundancy.
Also, the plot became sooo confusing. They lost their scholarship, and could finish out the semester but couldn’t be assured money for the next semester or following years. Anne worries over this a lot. But then it jumps to the final exam—which is for the class in the current semester she was told she could finish out—and Anne’s stressing cause she has to pass this exam to graduate (according to her inner monologue). Then she graduates—not in following years, but in the same semester where all the drama went down. So like…what happened there? Why was she stressing so much about money when she was going to graduate that semester anyways? The timeline and drama don’t add up.
Honestly the whole story line felt rushed and not well thought out. There was lots of potential but it fell short. The spice was good which is why I gave it a 3. But after I finished reading, I was disappointed. And all that drama with the Society—and it ends sooo anticlimactically with no real explanation. And don’t even get me started on how there’s noooo way she would have gotten away from them every single time. Needless to say—It’ll be a little while before I pick up another book from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The final instalment in author Skye Warren’s conclusion to Tanglewood University trilogy series is here with the story occurring after book 2 The Student cliffhanger. But with some time having past between then and where The Final Exam begins.
There was still quite a bit to explore within the storyline of The Final Exam, considering all the different aspects of the story that was still going on. And knowing that this was the finale, it meant rounding everything up once and for all, whilst finally divulging all the answers to the questions that had left us hanging throughout the series until now.
However again, author Skye didn’t make it easy, considering the plot twists she managed to throw in along the way. Some of which were expected, at least to me, whilst others were definitely surprising.
Safe to say the surprising ones definitely caught me off guard, more so once revelations came to light and all was revealed.
Ultimately making this narrative a bumpy ride, given the ups and downs being navigated throughout.
Although the story had its times with keeping me interested from the intriguing moments. It wasn’t without its issues for me.
One being there didn’t seem to be enough of Anne and Will, something the story had me wishing as well as expecting more of.
The fact that the trilogy was advertised as not only being Forbidden Romance given the Student/Teacher trope amongst other tropes. In The Final Exam all of that seemed to go out the window IMO, making it seem non-existent, mostly due to the other subplots of the story involving Academia and Shakespeare being pushed to centre stage with taking over the overall story. Something that unfortunately caused my attention to wane with not feeling connected to the story as much.
The other issue was and maybe it was just me, but it seemed like not everything was tied up in the end. Since the story left me with some hanging questions.
In the end, although Tanglewood University trilogy series as a whole was a good read. The Final Exam just wasn't it for me with being a decent read.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The final instalment in author Skye Warren’s conclusion to Tanglewood University trilogy series is here with the story occurring after book 2 The Student cliffhanger. But with some time having past between then and where The Final Exam begins.
There was still quite a bit to explore within the storyline of The Final Exam, considering all the different aspects of the story that was still going on. And knowing that this was the finale, it meant rounding everything up once and for all, whilst finally divulging all the answers to the questions that had left us hanging throughout the series until now.
However again, author Skye didn’t make it easy, considering the plot twists she managed to throw in along the way. Some of which were expected, at least to me, whilst others were definitely surprising.
Safe to say the surprising ones definitely caught me off guard, more so once revelations came to light and all was revealed.
Ultimately making this narrative a bumpy ride, given the ups and downs being navigated throughout.
Although the story had its times with keeping me interested from the intriguing moments. It wasn’t without its issues for me.
One being there didn’t seem to be enough of Anne and Will, something the story had me wishing as well as expecting more of.
The fact that the trilogy was advertised as not only being Forbidden Romance given the Student/Teacher trope amongst other tropes. In The Final Exam all of that seemed to go out the window IMO, making it seem non-existent, mostly due to the other subplots of the story involving Academia and Shakespeare being pushed to centre stage with taking over the overall story. Something that unfortunately caused my attention to wane with not feeling connected to the story as much.
The other issue was and maybe it was just me, but it seemed like not everything was tied up in the end. Since the story left me with some hanging questions.
In the end, although Tanglewood University trilogy series as a whole was a good read. The Final Exam just wasn't it for me with being a decent read.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2024
The Final Exam
(Tanglewood University #3)
By Skye Warren
Anne’s last year at Tanglewood University, but will it come to end before the Final Exam?
Anne has suffered from the backlash of last year’s events that brought the Shakespeare Society out of the dark and taking over the power at TU. The grief of losing William, the whispers she can hear in the wind, along with her parent’s who have never really given her a thought other than how can she make money for us is bringing her close to a breakdown.
A new year begins and Professor Thorne is almost promising Anne no matter how well she does on the exam she won’t be graduating…but our girl Anne still has a plan and she is just waiting for the right time to set the trap.
Macbeth is front and center this year and if you’ve heard anything about Macbeth you are waiting for the appearance of the three witches, the violence that happpens and about the paranoia and guilt that result in even more violence.
I’ve loved every moment of this series, you can relate events to what you know about the Bard!
Just when you think everything is going to go downhill with the Society now in charge; one thought lost returns, while others are making plans to remove the Society members and begin to rebuild the reputation of TU.
A kidnapping, a sword fight fit for the 1600’s and a grand gesture by our favorite Professor takes both Anne and William right up to the day of The Final Exam.
The spice, the lies, the theft all add to this story of The Professor and The Student to an amazing ending….except I have one question…where is Daisy? This series has been a five star read for me. As always I can’t wait for the next story by this Author!
(Tanglewood University #3)
By Skye Warren
Anne’s last year at Tanglewood University, but will it come to end before the Final Exam?
Anne has suffered from the backlash of last year’s events that brought the Shakespeare Society out of the dark and taking over the power at TU. The grief of losing William, the whispers she can hear in the wind, along with her parent’s who have never really given her a thought other than how can she make money for us is bringing her close to a breakdown.
A new year begins and Professor Thorne is almost promising Anne no matter how well she does on the exam she won’t be graduating…but our girl Anne still has a plan and she is just waiting for the right time to set the trap.
Macbeth is front and center this year and if you’ve heard anything about Macbeth you are waiting for the appearance of the three witches, the violence that happpens and about the paranoia and guilt that result in even more violence.
I’ve loved every moment of this series, you can relate events to what you know about the Bard!
Just when you think everything is going to go downhill with the Society now in charge; one thought lost returns, while others are making plans to remove the Society members and begin to rebuild the reputation of TU.
A kidnapping, a sword fight fit for the 1600’s and a grand gesture by our favorite Professor takes both Anne and William right up to the day of The Final Exam.
The spice, the lies, the theft all add to this story of The Professor and The Student to an amazing ending….except I have one question…where is Daisy? This series has been a five star read for me. As always I can’t wait for the next story by this Author!
January 2, 2025
The perfect conclusion to a memorable story.
The final instalment of this awesome trilogy is finally here! Anne and Professor Stratford’s story promises all the angst and literary references goodness the author had us used to in the previous books.
I was so excited to dive in into this final opus, imagine my surprise and utter joy when I stumbled upon the chosen play for this book! My absolute favourite Shakespearean play offers the perfect background for this last act. Besides being engrossed in this adventure I also recalled my past days as an undergraduate while I worked on my final dissertation, whose main focus was, you guessed it! On this very play! I’m not giving you the name of the play because I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Trust me you won’t be disappointed with the choice Skye made! I believe it fits perfectly the whole vibe and subject matter.
You may notice I’m not lingering on the plot either, and you will know why once you read it. The story opens on a very distraught Anne while she deals with her pain, she keeps fighting the Society, the threats warning her to stay away keep coming but her courage and determination are stronger…
Among all the twists and turns pained in beautiful Shakespearean hues a very anticipated cameo awaits you in these pages. I knew it was happening and it threw me right away in a re-read mode.
I was so happy to start my reading year in such a fashionable manner. The student teacher tropes is one of my favourite, Skye does an amazing job with the added bonus of gifing us our beloved Bard.
This is book 3 of a trilogy so make sure you read the previous books before going in, the good news is they are all out now! Happy reading my fellow readers!
The final instalment of this awesome trilogy is finally here! Anne and Professor Stratford’s story promises all the angst and literary references goodness the author had us used to in the previous books.
I was so excited to dive in into this final opus, imagine my surprise and utter joy when I stumbled upon the chosen play for this book! My absolute favourite Shakespearean play offers the perfect background for this last act. Besides being engrossed in this adventure I also recalled my past days as an undergraduate while I worked on my final dissertation, whose main focus was, you guessed it! On this very play! I’m not giving you the name of the play because I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Trust me you won’t be disappointed with the choice Skye made! I believe it fits perfectly the whole vibe and subject matter.
You may notice I’m not lingering on the plot either, and you will know why once you read it. The story opens on a very distraught Anne while she deals with her pain, she keeps fighting the Society, the threats warning her to stay away keep coming but her courage and determination are stronger…
Among all the twists and turns pained in beautiful Shakespearean hues a very anticipated cameo awaits you in these pages. I knew it was happening and it threw me right away in a re-read mode.
I was so happy to start my reading year in such a fashionable manner. The student teacher tropes is one of my favourite, Skye does an amazing job with the added bonus of gifing us our beloved Bard.
This is book 3 of a trilogy so make sure you read the previous books before going in, the good news is they are all out now! Happy reading my fellow readers!
January 28, 2025
Felt rushed, there were some holes that were slightly bothersome,
Like why tf does she keep comparing Brandon's looks to will. Will told her previously that Brandon wasn't his, so looks wouldn't obviously matter. And the fact that daiseys fam wasn't mentioned and there was no closure for her story or for Mary's story was a huuuuuge hole for me. Why wasn't she graduating? Pissed me off. And the whole time she was worried about the scholarship because she was a junior or maybe senior but she still had a semester left and then in the last chapter it seemed like it didn't matter. Like poof final exam graduation.
And the sword fight with andini and will was comical. It was a few paragraphs and nothing more than a cat fight.. slightly too dramatic even for a secret Shakespearean society. And then the Macbeth witch scene where she was supposed to kill Brandon? It just seems like it was thrown into a chapter for no reason. And her "plan" to dethrone throne was so dumb because of dean morris' comeback, which just didn't make sense to me. All of it seemed rushed. Even the spice scenes
And the random one chapter from daiseys pov gave me nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just another one of the brothers being a predator
And another thing, I wish there was anything else left about her fucked up family. There's no closure there either.... what a waste of a great story line in the first book....
And him making out with her at her graduation after she gave her speech and he gave a speech? Why tf was that normalized the Professor/student relationship?
Like why tf does she keep comparing Brandon's looks to will. Will told her previously that Brandon wasn't his, so looks wouldn't obviously matter. And the fact that daiseys fam wasn't mentioned and there was no closure for her story or for Mary's story was a huuuuuge hole for me. Why wasn't she graduating? Pissed me off. And the whole time she was worried about the scholarship because she was a junior or maybe senior but she still had a semester left and then in the last chapter it seemed like it didn't matter. Like poof final exam graduation.
And the sword fight with andini and will was comical. It was a few paragraphs and nothing more than a cat fight.. slightly too dramatic even for a secret Shakespearean society. And then the Macbeth witch scene where she was supposed to kill Brandon? It just seems like it was thrown into a chapter for no reason. And her "plan" to dethrone throne was so dumb because of dean morris' comeback, which just didn't make sense to me. All of it seemed rushed. Even the spice scenes
And the random one chapter from daiseys pov gave me nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just another one of the brothers being a predator
And another thing, I wish there was anything else left about her fucked up family. There's no closure there either.... what a waste of a great story line in the first book....
And him making out with her at her graduation after she gave her speech and he gave a speech? Why tf was that normalized the Professor/student relationship?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2025
I enjoyed the story, but it was repetitive. I would read a scene and then a few pages later it was almost copy and paste. As a reader I felt like the author copped out on some scenes and it either fell flat on the explanation or descriptions on what was happening throughout this whole trilogy. I felt like it could have been more. I did like how Shakespeare was always a center point between the main characters, but it should have been more than just there love a devotion for Shakespeare. Then there is the Shakespeare Society. I felt like there should have been more about this 'secret society' and it was really rushed. If it was so secret, why were students talking about it. You know? Then you have an evil guy be the president that just seem it wasn't thought out. Why was he so butt hurt, you know? Why was he so evil that we wanted to rule the whole of Tanglewood University or the city? Why was his son so afraid of him? Why would his son say that he has people of higher power on his side? But nothing happened. Also did he get taken into custody? What happened after the FMC left the basement? Besides the ambulance coming to check on her. When the evil guy kidnaps her, which was anti-climactic, he tells her that he can leave or access his money, but the authorities are looking for him and he has been in his home the whole time?
Then at the epilogue the FMC only mentions that the evil guy may be living somewhere overseas with his son. Like that's it... nothing else. But I did love the concept of this story just wished it wasn't rushed.
Then at the epilogue the FMC only mentions that the evil guy may be living somewhere overseas with his son. Like that's it... nothing else. But I did love the concept of this story just wished it wasn't rushed.
January 1, 2025
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
This is the final book in the Tanglewood University Series. You have to read The Professor and The Student before reading this book. At the end of The Student we were really left hanging and with our hearts broken. Now we come to the finale of this series and I was so excited to have it in my hands. We are back with Anne and she is really going though it. My heart broke for her so badly. I think that I felt her pain turning the pages of this book while I was reading. But don't give up on Anne and Professor Stratford and we are about to learn a whole lot all while rooting our girl on to take down this horrible group at Tanglewood University. I don't want to go into the story because there is a lot happening and I really feel like I could spill some spoilers. But, I could go on and on about this book. However, I will say that I loved every single second of this book. It holds some moments that make you wanna lay the book down and get up out of the seat and dance for joy. Moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. And certainly moments that will have you swooning all over the place. If you have not started this series then you are missing some great reading. Now I just hope that we get to read the story of Daisy and Cormac. There is a great story there. I just know there is and I so want to read it.
This is the final book in the Tanglewood University Series. You have to read The Professor and The Student before reading this book. At the end of The Student we were really left hanging and with our hearts broken. Now we come to the finale of this series and I was so excited to have it in my hands. We are back with Anne and she is really going though it. My heart broke for her so badly. I think that I felt her pain turning the pages of this book while I was reading. But don't give up on Anne and Professor Stratford and we are about to learn a whole lot all while rooting our girl on to take down this horrible group at Tanglewood University. I don't want to go into the story because there is a lot happening and I really feel like I could spill some spoilers. But, I could go on and on about this book. However, I will say that I loved every single second of this book. It holds some moments that make you wanna lay the book down and get up out of the seat and dance for joy. Moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. And certainly moments that will have you swooning all over the place. If you have not started this series then you are missing some great reading. Now I just hope that we get to read the story of Daisy and Cormac. There is a great story there. I just know there is and I so want to read it.
February 6, 2025
Wow, after the high of book one of this trilogy this series ended up being a huge disappointment. As I detailed in my review of book two, development of several introduced ideas and characters that started in book one (and some randomly started in book two) was very badly done or ended up being not explored at all, almost like book two was written by a different author.
I had hoped there would be some redeeming of that in this final book but alas, that trend continued. Nothing already introduced prior in the series was really explored further (beyond a few things done in a very surface manner) and new ideas were started that didn't complete (or petered out lamely) by the end of the book/series. In addition to these major issues in story, there were minor inconsistencies that just added to the poorly finished series.
It's extra maddening considering how much I enjoyed the first book and how pretty a lot of the writing is. A lot of the ideas are good and the Shakespeare analysis (much less than in book one) fun and interesting, but with nothing developed beyond a surface level or plot threads dropped completely after one scene, it just makes it worse to know the potential was there to do these things right.
A secondary (and tertiary) couple are set up but after this downfall I don't really want to take the chance on them.
I had hoped there would be some redeeming of that in this final book but alas, that trend continued. Nothing already introduced prior in the series was really explored further (beyond a few things done in a very surface manner) and new ideas were started that didn't complete (or petered out lamely) by the end of the book/series. In addition to these major issues in story, there were minor inconsistencies that just added to the poorly finished series.
It's extra maddening considering how much I enjoyed the first book and how pretty a lot of the writing is. A lot of the ideas are good and the Shakespeare analysis (much less than in book one) fun and interesting, but with nothing developed beyond a surface level or plot threads dropped completely after one scene, it just makes it worse to know the potential was there to do these things right.
A secondary (and tertiary) couple are set up but after this downfall I don't really want to take the chance on them.
April 25, 2025
I really loved the first two books but this one felt a bit unnecessary. It resolved the issue without much work at all making it seem like that could have been done from book 1.. This series could have been two books.
Favorite Quotes:
“Touch me,” he says, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine. “Feel me. Punish me if you have to, anything but leave.”
Favorite Quotes:
“Touch me,” he says, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine. “Feel me. Punish me if you have to, anything but leave.”
“Don’t you fucking dare. I will apologize every day for the rest of my life, if I have to, but don’t you dare talk about us as if we’re over.”
“I understand that you’re mine. And I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”
“I would do anything for you. Anything. I love you. I love you more than anything, more than anyone. I love you more than my life, more than my breath, more than my own fucking soul.”
I gasp, his words sending a shock wave through my body, through my heart, through my very being. “William—”
His hands tighten on my face, his eyes burning into mine.“I love you more than Shakespeare."
A shaky laugh escapes me. “Don’t.”
“I didn’t devote my life to the study because of goddamn iambic pentameter. It was only ever to describe what I felt inside, what I dreamed about, the love I felt for you before we even met.”
January 2, 2025
I loved this take on Shakespeare! The suspense, secret society, power plays, never knowing who to trust, and the forbidden relationship made this series addictive!
Anne and Will were an emotional and entertaining couple to read! I thoroughly enjoyed this series!! All that Anne & Will went through was heartbreaking but I was so happy for these two to get their HEA unlike the tragedies they studied!! Each book mirrored a play which added to the intensity.
I hate to say that Book 3 did not live up to the other two books which was a little disappointing! The first 25% of the book dragged on for obvious reasons but then after that it felt like we jumped from one event to another with very little transition and key information left out.
Even though I enjoyed the sweet ending I was left wanting more! Their story doesn’t feel over!
I do have some specific gripes with this book but I think some of it will be remedied IF there are more books about side characters (looking at DAISY) and glimpses into the future for Anne & Will! ☺️🥰😉 I’ll add specifics later as not to spoil!
Anne and Will were an emotional and entertaining couple to read! I thoroughly enjoyed this series!! All that Anne & Will went through was heartbreaking but I was so happy for these two to get their HEA unlike the tragedies they studied!! Each book mirrored a play which added to the intensity.
I hate to say that Book 3 did not live up to the other two books which was a little disappointing! The first 25% of the book dragged on for obvious reasons but then after that it felt like we jumped from one event to another with very little transition and key information left out.
Even though I enjoyed the sweet ending I was left wanting more! Their story doesn’t feel over!
I do have some specific gripes with this book but I think some of it will be remedied IF there are more books about side characters (looking at DAISY) and glimpses into the future for Anne & Will! ☺️🥰😉 I’ll add specifics later as not to spoil!
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