Official Blog Tour Review of Three by Kristen Simmons + Giveaway!

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I really enjoyed Three, in my belief the best in the trilogy, and one of the better series finishes that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. A big thank you to Book Nerd Tours, Kristen Simmons, and Tor Teen for giving me an ARC to enjoy, and for letting me be a part of this fabulous blog tour! My stop on the tour is a review and spotlight of the book, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post for your chance to win all sorts of wonderful prizes! ^.^

Synopsis

Kristen Simmons’ fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series continues in Three.

Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a safe and quiet existence.

And all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the only thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

With their high profile, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amidst the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he never thought he’d see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about…a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance at telling the world her story.

At fighting back.

Kristen Simmons

Kristen Simmons has a master’s degree in social work and is an advocate for mental health. She loves Jazzercise, her husband, and her precious greyhound, Rudy. Also chocolate. She currently lives in Tampa, Florida.

Links

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My Review

As I said when I started this post, Three is one of the best endings to a series that I have ever come across. The action is unceasing, the brief moments of rest for the characters are a chance for you to catch your breath before they dive back into the fray, and the hope of a better tomorrow keeps the reader going on just as much as those within the story.

In Three we see the main character, Ember, really grow up. In the previous two books, while she did some impressive things and started to prove her worth, she was somewhat of a tagalong, following Chase nearly blindly. Here, however, Ember starts to take control, coming up with a way to spread a message to those who might join the resistance with a little prodding. She constantly fights for what she believes is right, but without sounding high and mighty or appearing arrogant. I was so impressed with the growth that she showcased in Three, turning her from a good MC, to a fabulous one, a role model.

Then there is the romance. Ember and Chase have had great chemistry throughout the series, but in Three it is taken to a different level. It’s more passionate, more intense, deeper and tender, but also fierce. Their relationship solidified for me, it felt like not only could it last, but that there was no way it wouldn’t. Normally I’m not that into relationships taking up such a large portion of a book, particularly in dystopian, but with this series, and Three in particular, it felt natural and right. I can’t imagine the series, or this book without that bond.

Romance isn’t the only type of relationship that is strengthened in Three. Familial bonds, of blood and from a closeness and sense of trust, are represented. Friendships are made, some grow, and others wither, but for the most part the group really starts to rely on each other. They don’t just need each other to watch their backs or for protection, it is a matter of emotional support and strength, and Simmons has a way of making those ties seem natural and powerful.

This review, in case you haven’t noticed, is very character based, and that’s intentional. The characters and their relationships are what makes this book for me. Sure, I really enjoyed the action and the plot was very well done, with a whirlwind ending that left me speechless. However, as incredible as the world, the story, and the action were, it was the focus on those people that I grew to really care about that sold Three, and the series, for me.

As much as I love series, and the characters within them, I don’t tend to miss those people, or actively think about how I’ll never get to join them again for another adventure. Ember, Chase, and the rest of this cast is an exception. I already wish there was a book four, a companion novel, a novella of sorts, anything to stay connected with them, the feeling of loss is already here, and I know I’ll be re-reading this series for years to come. So thank you Kristen Simmons for writing these amazing books, thank you to Tor Teen for publishing them and sharing with us these wondrous creations, and thanks as always for anyone reading this.

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February 11, 2014 | Categories: Book Review | Tags: Article 5, Book Nerd Tours, Dystopian, Giveaway, Kristen Simmons, Official Blog Tour of Three, Three | 1 Comment