I love to read. Largely because I love books more than I like people. The other reason is that books kept me alive in both a literal and figurative sense. I loved it so much that I pursued a degree in it despite knowing that a degree in a STEM-related field or future career would be more beneficial. When asked why it was an easy answer. It was because I know that the humanities; Art, Music, Theater, and Literature are the things that ensure humanity stays human. It connects our mind, body and soul. This book, hell this whole series, is an example of that.
I am always floored by an author that can make something tainted with so much darkness and yet polish it to its utmost beauty. This book reminded me that even with constant despair surrounding us, (current times throughout the world and especially in the United States) that there is still hope. These characters and their stories both separate, collectively, and as a club show that not everything is black or white. Sometimes darkness has a purpose.
This wasn't an easy story not that any have been in this series. Yet, there was something to Jagger and Caroline that spoke to my heart. Jagger, as strong as he was also was plagued with guilt and demons. He lost part of himself and I wasn't sure he was going to get it back. Caroline. This might be one of my favorite characters to date because while fearless still was so fearful. She was betrayed. Yet, she risked everything to try and learn from the pain that she felt. I cheered for her successes and felt sad when she faced doubts. For both of these characters, they knew what it felt like to have lost love.
The book made me question a lot of things. Her style was impeccable as always and brought many emotions into play. She tied up all the loose string from this series and ended it with some pretty amazing cameos and insights from former characters. This made my heart do a happy dance and it also made me tear up. It also made me posit whether the fairytales that we grew up on were more harmful than realistic. I always grew up with this notion that it needed to fit into this perfect image but maybe I had it wrong all this time. Maybe, something needs to be broken first in order to truly appreciate what happily ever after should mean. I'd like to think that because if it was perfect then how boring would that be. It wouldn't show the scars or tears, both happy and sad, nor would it show the resilience it took to become whole.
I think that is what I am going to take away from both this author and this amazing book. Even in damnation there is a chance of redemption.
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