*spoilers for the final gambit*
okay look
I went into this with the absolute lowest, underneath-the-ground expectations ever. The Final Gambit was one of my most anticipated releases last year (maybe even ever- at least in the top 10) mostly because I hate unresolved love triangles. And usually, I am happy with the eventual resolution, because as a general rule, I am never wrong. About anything. Most especially, love triangles.
I have never been disappointed by a love triangle because I am always on the right team. The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Vampire Diaries, fucking Twilight, you name it. Because I knew how this sort of thing played out, right? there was always a distinct difference between the one you like and the one you marry. I was always right.
Until I wasn't.
Or, in other words, until I read the final gambit.
Naturally, this hit me hard. On top of disliking the general plot, the inconsistent pacing, the overall existence of Eve, and the constant mentions of Jameson's full name ( Jameson Winchester Hawthorne, I'll be reciting that in my sleep), she didn't end up with Grayson??
What I thought was the finale left the series with a bitter taste in my mouth. I couldn't not think of it with disdain. Not only did A Very Risky Gamble end up with Jameson, but the author completely left Gray's character hanging. Not a whiff of a happy ending, alone or otherwise, in sight.
Then, this book was announced. My initial reaction was something along the lines of 'What in the fucking cash grab is this? Absolutely not, get lost.
Alas, the voice in the back of my mind saying this, finally this is where Grayson gets his happy ending, where he makes a comeback hotter, smarter and richer with a new love interest who doesn't make heart eyes at his brother got too loud and I succumbed.
Nevertheless, I went in expecting nothing because to quote Jameson Winchestor Hawthorne “Nothing hurts unless you let it”.
I was pleasantly surprised.
*spoilers for the brothers hawthorne below*
Don't get me wrong, this was far from a literary masterpiece. Don't let this 4-star rating fool you; it was rated based solely on how much I enjoyed it and is still very much subject to change.
The story alternated between two separate plot lines, told from Jameson's and Grayson's POV respectively.
Unsurprisingly, Jameson's was my least favourite of the two. Not only because he and Avery read like a badly written wattpad fanfic what with those godawful nicknames and code words they had for each other. Give. Me. A. Break.
Also, his plot wasn't particularly interesting until the end, and even then I couldn't really see how it connects to the overall story. Was there even an overall story? Huh.
Grayson's POV, however..now that's where this is at. I loved the introduction of his family, especially Gigi. Oh my god, she's just what he needs and I adore her. I love Savannah too, and I love how he can gets to view himself from an outsider's perspective through her.
I am not looking forward to whatever that bitch Eve has planned. (I am not even going to start talking about her. She makes my blood boil.)
In regards to Grayson's character...he did not come back particularly hotter, smarter or richer. This was not his 'ultimate comeback' book. I fear I may have to read The Inheritance Games #5 for that.
No, this book was Gray's healing journey. And he did. We get to see Grayson from his own point of view for an extended period of time, and we get to see him slowly come to terms with the events of the past and open up to the possibility of a happy future. Seeing him grow to understand that he wasn't doomed for a lonely, miserable life, he doesn't have to carry everything on his shoulders and that if his brothers had allowed themselves to find happiness, why not he? was rewarding and lovely and almost made up for the butchering of his character in The Final Gambit. But not quite.
Honestly, I feel a little silly talking about the characters in a mediocre YA series at such length (seriously, where is all this thinking when I read something that actually requires analysis??)
The wait begins for the next book. In which I better get that fucking comeback because, yeah, healing and all is nice, but I'm not gonna tolerate that again. I will be given the hotter, smarter, richer Grayson comeback that I deserve or you can keep the damn book.