Graduation Day- ♥♥♥♥

Cia is put in several difficult situations here. They are so much different than the ones she faced in the first two books. Setting out to kill someone is a lot harder than taking a life in self-defense, which she also had to do.

Michal’s loss weighed on her the entire book. It’s hard for her to believe that Symon was the one to end his life even though she saw it firsthand. She is kind of slow to make decisions, but I can understand why. She isn’t just making choices for her. Whoever she trusts, and whatever she decides, will impact the entire country.

I had wanted her to be able to trust the president for a while, but I knew that wouldn’t be smart. It’s still hard to say if it was a good choice. Going to her office was a pretty big risk. She seemed to be n Cia’s side. Between letting her staff think Cia was just a silly university girl, and talking to Cia about shutting down the testing, I got excited for a minute. It didn’t last long before I started to wonder how this would play out. It wouldn’t be hard for her to make a lot of trouble for Cia after she started making good on the list. I had my doubts that the president was on Cia’s side.

Tomas was pretty questionable to be in this book. He was there for Cia for sure, but his level of hesitation and constant second guessing annoyed me. It was probably normal. I imagine that’s how it would work in the real world, so it isn’t a writing issue it’s just a weird thing that bothers me. The attack in the lab he really came through for her though. As hard as it was for him to rig up a deadly trap, he did it. He saved them both.

Zeen was hard for me to read. Some of it was probably because exposure was limited. I hoped he would pull through for Cia’s cause. He did in some ways, but failed in others. Being in that camp must have been difficult, especially because he was alone there.

Raffe made me nervous a lot during the course of this book. Even though he heled her a few times, it was hard to say how far he would go and how much he would help. I was glad that he turned out to be trust worthy. I liked him.

Stacia was always a bit of a wild card. She wanted to help to further her chances of success in the future. Although, she does say she knows Cia is reasonable and cautious so if this is an action she is willing to take it must be necessary. She grew on me throughout this book, but I was still a little wary of her. After what happened with Enzo… even more so.

Enzo was set up by Stacia. I don’t think she intended to get Cia into trouble. I think she was assuming Enzo was one of them and could be trusted. The test she set up for him didn’t even prove he wasn’t. I haven’t been able to decide how I feel about him. He should have gone to Cia instead of breaking into her room, but I know he felt like he was being left out. His is just another mystery.

Ian was surprisingly helpful. I wasn’t sure he would turn his back on the rebels. Cia didn’t have much in the way of proof. It would have been understandable. He helped her though. He let her get out. That was the start of the plan, the true start.

Will showing up at the house with Raffe and Stacia was an expected surprise (if that makes sense). I knew he would show up somewhere, but I wasn’t expecting it to be there. Letting him take the charges was a big risk. One I wanted to have faith in. He did some awful things, but I just couldn’t hate him. I tried… I just couldn’t.

Ok, while the scene with Raffe’s dad was emotional and hard, I’m going to skip over it. As Cia is trying to get back onto campus it seemed like she didn’t have as many issues as she should have. When she got there, the reason is apparent. Dr. Barnes helped her. This twist was expected. What I wasn’t expecting is to be left unsure of how things really happened, and how things will continue in the future. I like mysteries. I like puzzles. I like trying to solve them before you’re supposed to. What I don’t like is being left without a sense of understanding. Yes, Dr. Barnes had truth serum. Logically that means he was telling the truth. However, why was this deal made, why the rebels? There is just too much here I don’t feel comfortable leaving. I don’t really have a choice though… the book series is over.

The ending… Zeen’s death was hard but his burial was fitting. Tomas and Cia going home was good. They recued Gill and Emille. Most of the end was good. I didn’t like to be left wondering if Tomas was going to go back to university with Cia or not, but it is what it is.

I did really like the series. I just wish the ending was stronger.