"The worm that destroys you is the temptation to agree with your critics, to get their approval."
 
Years after his escape, Hannibal has a new disguise living in Florence. On the other hand, Clarice doesn't have it so good when an FBI shootout goes wrong and she is suspended. Enter Mason Verger - a wealthy pervert left paralyzed by Hannibal years ago. He will pay anyone to catch Dr. Lecter and seek revenge.
 
This is going to sound like word vomit because I have so many thoughts and mixed emotions, and I don't know where to begin, and it may be spoilery so consider yourself warned 😂
 
The opening scene is action-packed, and shit hits the fan. I felt anger for Clarice because she's good at what she does, but then you get an asshole of a cop like Krendler that will do anything to take her down, leading to her suspension. During this time, she is introduced to Mason Verger who claims he has info on Hannibal.
 
Now we go to Italy, where Hannibal is literally living his best life as a composer. Like actually. It made me want to take a trip there to wine and dine with him 🥂 This is where the book drastically slows down because we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters - a washed up Italian cop, Mason's sister, and a bunch of guys all working for Mason for large sums of money. Oh, and a bunch of pigs that were continuously mentioned because someone needed to die by pigs 😂 I did not care for any of them. I feel like nobody really shined in this one besides Hannibal (he is a natural star, of course 💁🏾‍♀️), and I guess Mason in a way as he is seeking revenge.
 
I was not happy with the way it all ended. There could have been so many different outcomes that would have ended the series a lot better, but alas, it didn't. I won't say much more as to give anything away if you plan on reading the books, and I have no idea how the movies end 😂
 
This book isn't phenomenal compared to Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs, however it was still enjoyable. The action in the beginning and the end was definitely worth it.