3.5 stars

This is consistent with the previous two books, which is nice because you know what you're getting into but also bordering on monotonous at this point: it's constantly

Spoiler

being in and out of some kind of custody, leaps of faith, betrayals and lies by omission, new plot threads that aren't fully developed, pre-revolution vibes

.

Unfortunately the ending felt totally anticlimactic, a lot of build-up just to be let down by

Spoiler

pretty much a best-case scenario

which stretches disbelief and even undermines previous developments and themes. (For example, the issue of

Spoiler

the vaccines that prevent most of the US population from growing up to stay hybrid

is brought up at one point but never even hinted at being resolved or re-addressed.)

So as with the previous two books, this is a pleasant enough read but not a very exciting one. The trilogy does bring something new to the table [setting aside the fact that it's backlist], though, so I would still recommend it to anyone intrigued by the premise.

content warnings:

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major character death(s), panic attacks, trauma, past bullying, on-page car accident, xenophopbia & racism, mass shooting

rep:

Spoiler

biracial major characters (one is a love interest), central African secondary character

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CONVERSION: 9.65 / 15 = 3.5 stars

Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 6 / 10
Development / Flow: 5 / 10
Setting: 7 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 2 / 5
Memorability: N/A