The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3)Author: Michelle Hodkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 480 pages
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
From Goodreads:
Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.
She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.
She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.
Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.
Retribution has arrived.
Review:
I love love love this series and this was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Just when you thought it couldn't get any darker….
Most of the book is spent searching for answers. And searching for Noah, who Mara doesn't believe is dead. I can't say much more about the plot without spoiling it, but suffice it to say that the book provides answers to most of the questions. About her powers and where they come from. About who is behind Horizons. About the motivations of Dr. Kells. About the relationship between Noah's mom and Mara's grandmother. I still have questions that weren't answered, and there are a couple of things I'm confused about, but for the most part, the author does a good job. The ending is a bit open, however, but I didn't mind. Too much.
Although it was a strong conclusion, I did miss certain things. The first is Mara as an unreliable narrator. That's what made the first two books so amazing, because you never actually knew if what was happening was really happening. They messed with your mind in such a fantastic way. The second is that I missed Noah Shaw. He will forever rank as one of my all time best book boyfriends. It made me realize how much of what I loved about the first two books was Noah. His relationship with Mara. Them together. M.A.D.N.E.S.S. Honestly, the book just wasn't as good without him in it. I'm not saying whether Noah is alive or not, but just know that this book is focused on Mara. It's her story. And she is different. Becoming someone different. A bit dark, a bit scary, a bit creepy.
The dedication by the author and the quote at the beginning of the book pretty much tell the story:
"For the bad girls, and the boys who love them"
"What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil."
Still loved it, but I didn't LOVE IT.
Posted by: Pam
Man, oh man. I cannot wait to get my copy of this book. I just need to have it. Great review!
ReplyDeleteReading your review I realized I HAVE to reread the first two books because I just don't remember enough about this story to get the most out of this conclusion. I have no idea when that is going to happen though and I don't feel in any real rush. I liked this series, but getting this conclusion isn't a MUST for me probably because I read the first two books SO long ago that my feelings have faded. I'm still glad you gave me a heads up though that this is Mara's story so I won't expect different. And I'm sorry you didn't totally love it, but glad you still loved it ;)
ReplyDeletePS: I love those quotes!!!!
I missed Noah too. :( The last 150 pages were easily my favorites. But overall I'm satisfied. I'm still confused about some things, but I like how clear Noah and Mara's love is for each other.
ReplyDeleteBut I do agree - I was very iffy on the path Mara was heading down. She made some questionable decisions, and I wasn't expecting her to become such an antihero/villain.