lisaluvsliterature's reviews
4115 reviews

This is a series I have adored and I was so excited to get this third and final book to see how it would all end. I wish I’d had time to go back and reread at least the last book before I started, because it took me a minute or two to get back into the story completely. Once I did though, I loved all the action and even the new types of nightmare creatures, or the new stuff we learned about them in this story. Of course since it was the final book in the series, we pretty much got all our questions answered. And there were a lot of loose ends to be wrapped up! So many things had to be figured out to understand what was happening and how to fix it.

This was an action packed story. Which unfortunately for me being as tired as I was the days I was trying to read it, I wasn’t able to keep up when I was falling asleep while reading, and had to reread some parts when I got up the next day to begin reading where I thought I’d left off. Again there was some of the humor/character interactions that I liked from before. Like when Winnie got a cell phone, an old model, and her texting conversations, especially with her mom, made me giggle.

A few things felt a little rushed or glossed over. Like I know that Jay disappeared in this one a couple times, but I feel like I needed more time with him and Winnie than we got. I did like that the author gave us some of that through memories or flashbacks. The end was just non-stop action it seemed. With Winnie having to figure some things out in the moment, again making it feel a little rushed or I would have to go back and reread parts because in my hurry I didn’t quite get what she’d figured out after a first read through.

Pretty much there was an HEA though, and we got several loved ones back that we thought were missing or might be gone for good. And even those who were gone for good got to come back for one brief moment and appear to their loved ones, so that was neat. Another thing I’ve said after the first two books that I still feel, is that I’d love to have an artist go through and create the compendium with all the drawings of the nightmare creatures. I know I imagined them based on the descriptions, but it’s always interesting to see what the author actually meant.

While this is the final book in the series, I feel like the little bit at the end means maybe there could be a branch off series? Which I’ll be here for!

This was a unique and thrilling story set in a world where wishes can be won whenever the Fortune’s Kiss shows up in your town. But it’s never known for sure when or where it will show up. Mayte and Luna are best friends who have planned to go and win together. As far as they know only two people can come out the winners. All the reasons they want to go get worse and worse until the day they are actually going, when both feel they are at the point with no other choice.

Once they are taken in and chosen, actually before they are chosen, they learn how steep the risks are. But both know the only way they can get what they want and hopefully be safe is to try. Not only are the risks high, but the games themselves are still basically games of chance. There isn’t really strategy and skill like other competition books, this is literally like a game of Bingo or the Loteria as they call it. Also both girls meet some handsome and mysterious helpers in the house. They learn that the past and how this game came to be, and must figure out how to use that knowledge to win the game.

Of course there are other people they know who show up, since it did come to their town. Some people that they know, respect, and some people that are dangerous or despicable in other ways. I liked the way the author wove both girls’ past stories into how the house worked trying to either help them or keep them from winning at times. A great story that had me speeding all the way through to see how they could win and save themselves as well.

I have loved all of this series so far, and this third entry did not disappoint. I was definitely looking forward to getting the background behind why Hemi hates Dallas so much. The story was what you’d expect in a way, childhood bully, or at least he seemed like a bully because he was friends with those who picked on her, and didn’t seem to help her in any way.

Hemi was a take charge kind of woman. She spoke up for what she knew was right, and made sure she was heard so that she could do the best job for the people she worked for. So when the fake dating got set up, it was understandable why she played along. Not only did it help her with her dreading going back to their high school reunion, but she also knew if she didn’t, she’d cause problems for the team and Dallas, etc.

I loved the arguing/banter between the two. And the way the story started out, Dallas’s anxiety boners cracked me up so much! They had amazing chemistry, it came off the page and I could feel it as I read those scenes. The emotions were real too, I was tearing up at certain scenes. As usual I loved all the family members we met, as well as all the friends we knew from the other books in the series so far. The book left of with an HEA for our couple, but gave us questions and a lead into the next story. I am ready for Flip’s story, but I believe we’re going to be waiting a bit for that!

Another book I couldn’t put down, hated doing anything besides being able to just read.

Not bad, just kind of bored.

The third person just didn't work for me and I couldn't get into it.  

Just wasn’t working for me 

Just wasn’t working for me.