Review: An excellent start with a disappointing finish
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 8, 2013
This is a general review of the entire series, with a focus on the last book.  I want to start out by saying that I enjoyed the first two books.  I waited not-too-patiently for the last one, regularly searching for release dates, and very much looking forward to a really strong ending.The series created likeable characters, though I was put off slightly by some of the behaviors, it was not significant enough to diminsh my enjoyment.  I appreciated that they experienced highs and lows, worked together to create solutions, and failed at that task as well. They were human in a good way. The story wasn't completely realistic, but it's supposed to be a fantasy to some degree so I could accept that.  It was still engaging, interesting and entertaining.My problem is that I really disliked the last book.  A lot.  I was annoyed with so much of it.  The author seemed to want to turn it into a vocabulary lesson and it felt condescending. The romantic scenes were so over the top and campy as to make me alternatively cringe or laugh, which I'm sure were not the desired results.  After becoming quite fond of them in the first two books, I found myself surprised to say the characters actually devolved.  There was zero character growth or development, lots of whining, and frankly, I would not have ever expected this from this author or these characters.Even worse, so little got resolved.  Perhaps she is saving it for the new series, but this book was billed as the "ending" and it doesn't feel like one. There were so many loose ends, so many unfinished trains of thought I was left unfulfilled and unimpressed.  She 'jumped the shark' by introducing Kyle's father, nearly killing off Danny's dad, but then miraculously creating this magic relationship and a brother for Pete's sake!  None of it really made sense or really fit the story line.  It seemed as if the author was bored by the whole thing and wanted to move on so they just threw something together to introduce the new series.A truly disappointing way to end the series.