Review: Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Redemption

Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Series: The Caster Chronicles, Book Four
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, 451 pages
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Source: Mid-Columbia Libraries

Synopsis: 
  
Ethan has wanted nothing more than to leave Gatlin behind forever. But when he is forced to leave everything he loves behind, he fiercely misses the place. After the events of the Eighteenth Moon, Ethan wants nothing more than to find his way back to Lena, Amma, and all of his loved ones. Meanwhile, back in Gatlin, Lena is doing everything in her power to get Ethan back. Even if that means trusting former enemies and risking her life and the lives of her family in the process. Because how can she continue living without Ethan? It seems impossible. Ethan and Lena have never been farther apart and they will have to somehow work together in order to be reunited. Will they be able to reach each other? Or is the distance simply too far this time?

My Review: 
 
Ah, the finale. There’s something so wonderful and so sad about the last book in an amazing series, is there not? This particular finale was breathtaking. We have seen how strong Ethan and Lena’s love is, but I don’t think we have seen just how strong their connection is until this book. They are worlds apart and somehow still together. The story weaved in Beautiful Redemption is proof that nothing can keep Ethan and Lena apart. Their love story is beautiful. There is no other word to describe it. Simply Beautiful, as the titles of all the books imply.

Ethan did the noblest thing he could ever do. He sacrificed himself for the entire mortal and caster worlds. Now, he is having a hard time accepting the consequences of his decision. He desperately wants to be back with Lena and his loved ones, but doesn’t know if it is even possible. Once again, Ethan’s love for Lena is put to the test. And once again, he proves that he will do anything for this girl. Determined, courageous, noble. These are all the words that best describe Ethan Wate. I love that Ethan has been a hero throughout these books, but he is the mere mortal among powerful creatures. Ethan truly is the beautiful creature in this series.

Lena has clearly evolved in this book. She has suffered loss before and almost completely succumbed to the darkness. But she is stronger now. I loved that we got to read from Lena’s perspective for part of this book. I have wanted to hear her perspective from the start. I think that Kami and Margaret must have known this was something their readers would want and I love that they appeased their fans. The only thing I didn’t like about it was reading her poems all the time. I guess I’m just not a big poetry fan, but the heartsick, emo poems she constantly is thinking of are depressing and got old really fast. Other than that though, I loved hearing from her perspective. Lena is as determined as ever to be with Ethan in this book and to change their fates once and for all.

Overall, I was really happy with this finale to the Caster Chronicles. Kami and Margaret tied up all the loose ends and I didn’t feel like they left anything out. The story was exciting and beautiful. I was disappointed with the scene with Abraham. I thought there would be more to it. That is probably my only complaint about the book though. This series was a captivatingly dark fantasy. It allowed me to slip into a world full of impossible creatures and supernatural things. Once I was sucked in, there was no escaping until the magnificent end to one of the most beautiful love stories I have read in a long time. 

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