Challenge Corner discussion

Welcome, welcome to Finale, the third and final book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series!

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...all games must come to an end.

It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has seen Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own. Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finaly, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win...and those who will lose everything. . .

chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ I am so uncertain about who Tella will end up with. I really like Jax (Jacks?) and kind of think he would be better for her. I don't think Scarlett's game is a great idea, but we'll see. And the Count is too inconspicuous. Maybe he's a fate? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ So I was way wrong about the Count, sad he died like that. It sucked that the mom came alive just to be killed right away and nothing came out of it. I wondered about Scarlett being the Star's daughter once we knew he had been with their mom. This book is really keeping me guessing (hide spoiler)]

chapter 48 (view spoiler)[ I felt bad when Tella rejected Jax, but I hope he can find someone else to love him. I think the best solution would be for Legend to become mortal and then he and Tella can be together. Excited to see how this ends! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Okay so that was interesting. I was sad that Jax tried to force Tella to love him and ran off at the end. I hope he finds someone who will care for him, maybe in another book? I'm glad Legend is human and with Tella and Scarlett is emperor and with Julian. The ending wrapped up pretty well. Good audio (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts after I finished (view spoiler)[ Those sisters told Tella she would have a powerful daughter and she has to find her weakness and betray her or die. I hope this means there will be another book is this world about Tella and Legend's daughter and maybe Jax? Like Tella was almost his true love but chose Legend, so maybe her daughter is Jax's true love? That would be kind of cool, but Idk. Anyone else? (hide spoiler)]

25%: (view spoiler)[her and jack are cute but her thinking about kissing dante.. while kissing jack was just weird. (hide spoiler)]

54%: (view spoiler)[GASP! HE IS ALIVE. (hide spoiler)]

84%: (view spoiler)[oh fuck me sideways. I like her and Julian so much 😭😭 (hide spoiler)]

100%: (view spoiler)[low-key happy that these two sisters are happy and with the love of their lives but not happy about what the hell happened before they got to that. forcing someone to love you is just sad. then the whole dad/mom thing was a bit weird. idk man. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1-15
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Ugh. Scarlett's idea for the love triangle game makes me gag. How about making your own decisions based on experiences with these men and stop being so obsessed with marriage. *huge eye roll*
haha!
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Chapter 16-24
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I can't believe we came all this way for Paloma to just escape and get herself killed. Needed her to not be FAKING (apparently) being asleep and at least talking to her daughters for a few scenes. So bummed.
Tella was hurting so badly after that, but I didn't think it was wise to let Jacks take her feelings away. I wonder if that will hurt her later.
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Chapter 25-33
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I liked the Menagerie scene and the Vanished Market. So sinister and magical. I wonder if Tella gave up more than she should have, but what choice does she have? They've got to stop the Fallen Star. The foreshadowing about Tella's daughter makes me hopeful for a spin off series. I won't complain!!
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Chapter 34-36
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Why can't Tella or Jacks or Legend be showing up in Scarlett's dreams... writing and delivering a note?! C'mon.
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Chapter 35-45
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Also really liked the library, and enjoyed the part where you were magically forced to be quiet. Really basic but I chuckled.
Interested to find out what the Fallen Star's other weakness is... but as far as I can tell, Scarlett's plan is really their best hope. We will see.
Obviously, Tella got tricked into marrying Jacks... knew there was something ulterior going on there. But it's an easy fix out of this one it seems. Almost not worth happening, I guess, except to try and show us that Jacks really is obsessed with Tella still. And you almost feel bad that his "one true love" doesn't love him back.... If you can ignore how wishy-washy he's been...
But also why did Tella stop reading there? Does the book only keep history or did she really just stop reading even though it would have her future in the book? O.o
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20%- (view spoiler)[I agree with Patty about the marriage game. This whole courtship game thing seems so out of character for Scarlett. It's both cruel to the boys and kind of egotistical on her part for having them fight over her. I just can't get behind it. Also, did they really just kill off Paloma? All this build up for finding her, and she's killed a chapter after waking up? Come on. Idk, for some reason I'm not as into this one as the others. (hide spoiler)]

Saige wrote: "20%- [spoilers removed]"

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I'm finding more things to complain about or roll my eyes over, but I'm so here for this ending haha... I loved the first two books and I hope this third book doesn't do me like GOT finale ;)
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58%- (view spoiler)[Ok, Tella needs to stop swooning over a man who she KNOWS will never love her. Make a decision girl. At least Scarlett has figured it out and called off the dumb game before it really went anywhere. Now I'm just wondering who the hell is gonna kill Gavriel, and will Scarlett ever become ageless so she can be with Julian? I've been rolling my eyes at this book a lot, but I still really need to know how it ends. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
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Overall, I still enjoy this series a lot. The ending was lovely... the steps it took to get there, I enjoyed some of it like the Library and the Menagerie, even some of the fates and the Assassin.
The idea that Scarlett could impersonate her mother and get the upper hand on Gavriel was really stupid to me, and I saw it coming early on when they were mentioning how similar Scarlett and Paradise looked. But I mean, that just doesn't seem like it's enough of a way to 'best' the bad guy.
*Shrug*
I'm happy none of my faves died and the note at the end to Legend, was cute as can be.
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Finished: (view spoiler)[Eh, this one really didn't meet my expectations. I'm glad Tella ended up with Legend, but it seems like nothing that happened with Jacks ever had any stakes. I mean, if his magic could be broken so easily, did she really sacrifice anything? I was just underwhelmed. (hide spoiler)]