Review: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Finale

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publishing Date: October 23, 2012

Pages/Format: 454, Hardcover

Will love conquer all?

Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.

Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.

But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.

As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Disappointed.

***This review contains spoilers, so beware.*

First and foremost, let me say this: if you're reading a book in a series and it's been a long time since you read the previous book(s) and you don't remember a lot, I suggest at least scanning the prior book(s). That said, I did not do that, and it affected my view of the book just a teeny bit because 1) I forgot, like, everything, and 2) I was reminded, by Finale, of how I may have felt when reading Crescendo and Silence. I had to ask myself, did I love the other books in the series? I can't remember. And that's why I should've reread/scanned the other books. Really, I don't quite know how I feel about this book or how I felt right after reading it.

As for Finale itself...I don't even know where to begin. I wouldn't say I didn't like the book. It was composed of several elements, but I guess nothing really wowed me. Maybe I was too hyped for the book and expected it to be amazing, but that didn't happen. I thought I'd cry and be left with all the FEELS, and I wasn't. And that sucked.

When I saw the trailer for Finale, I thought Nora was extremely annoying; I couldn't stand her. With that, I was expecting her to turn into some party girl. I'm disappointed that didn't happen. Several things happened in the book--the drinks with devilcraft, Nora getting stabbed, Nora getting kidnapped, the happenings at the party--that needed more to the scene. I like things to happen, and I don't like them to be quick. When Nora was stabbed, I wanted to feel Patch's panic, but I didn't. Instead, the chapter ends with her blacking out and the next one starts with her being fine. That's it?! I just feel like a thousand things happened and that each thing took up one page when they could've taken up, like, five.

I also wasn't loving the writing style. I don't remember how it was with the other books, but I was constantly rewording things in my mind. One of the biggest things that drove me crazy was when a conversation would be started with "I said." I don't know why, but I just couldn't stand that.

My biggest problem with Finale was probably Patch and Nora, or the lack thereof. Part of what makes me love these books is the steamy hot romance between these two, and there was pretty much NONE in Finale. They were together on several occasions and I'd get nothing more than a peck and barely any butterflies. This is the last book in the series; I want a lot of this! And then there's the end. Oh, the end. Now, I don't need sex scenes or erotica or anything--I'm nineteen, I'm too young for that! But after waiting four books for Patch and Nora to do the deed, I needed and wanted something. Instead, I was just told that they were going to do it. That's it. Nothing more. There's been a buildup to that moment through all the books, and to not get anything was just disappointing. (Also, Patch's letter. I thought it was going to be a love letter, not a letter saying he's in Hell, blah blah blah. BUT. There was one fantastic line in that letter, which you can see toward the end of this review.)

Now, the book wasn't all bad. Nora got a lot more kickass in this book, and Patch a bit more understanding and gentle. Sort of. I really liked Scott, and there were several shockers in this book. I'm very happy that Patch finally has feelings and can actually feel. The ending solved all the problems (I think), so now there shouldn't be anymore worrying about who's going to kill who. I liked that Nora did something badish for once and deviated from her usual self. I know there's more good from this book, but I'm totally blanking.

In the end, Finale just didn't do it for me, at least not the first time around. It had its ups and downs, yet ended up not giving me some of the things that I really wanted to see in the last book of this series. I was up until four in the morning reading it on a school night, and that says something. I did, however, love this line from Patch's letter:

"I may have fallen from heaven, but I fell for you."

This series still has and always will have a place in my heart and on my shelves. And I will always be in love with Patch Cipriano.

Did I like it? Yes.

Did I love it? I hate to say this, but I really don't think I did.

Would I reread it? If I'm rereading the whole series, yes. (Which I need to do, back to back.)

Would I purchase it? Already have it.

Would I recommend it? Yes, because the series must be finished--it's Hush, Hush!