I was looking forward to the last book in this trilogy for a while already and finally last week I found the paperback on Amazon! And the last book did certainly not disappoint. Not only did we get those parts of the Cinderella tale that didn't make it into the first two books, but the loose ends were all tied up quite nicely too!
I'm not sure how many of the so called unexpected turns should have been unexpected. Most of them I already guessed and saw coming, although Haag did have a few surprises up her sleeve too. But, I actually don't mind it when storylines and character developments don't come out of nowhere. I like it when they're hinted at, when the reader can see them coming. It's a sign of a good build up and I really love those.
I also really love Eloise. She's an easy to connect and identify with character. She's in a way as powerless as Cinderella, but she also possesses determination and willpower. In a way she makes choices to shield as many other people as she can, and yet she also dares to take risks at times moving the story along. It's the combination of the beautiful and kind young lady with a fierce and strong streak that truly worked for me.
I have to admit that I'm not entirely sold on Kaven, but that's more because I think he deserved to get more time to shine on his own. He was now, just as the original prince, nothing but a side character in Eloise's story. I think I would have cared much more about him and their relationship if I had seen more of him, and not just through Eloises eyes. But, hey, you can't always get everything you want.
All in all, this was a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I can't wait to read Kellen's story, because it sounds like an amazing and interesting tale!