It looks like nothing else stands between Scythe Goddard and absolute power. Now that the Thunderhead is silent, the question remains: Is there anyone left who can stop him? (Goodreads).
It is lucky for Shusterman that his writing is as good as it is, because this conclusion takes the more fast paced style of the first two and turns it on its head, leaving readers with a type of slow-burn political drama that only succeeds because of how well Shusterman writes. The poignancy of the trilogy increases by a mile while the action decreases disappointingly, but the entirety of it is dictated so well that one can hardly complain, or even get bogged down. The amount of plotlines just barely teeters on the edge of complexity without becoming too convoluted. New additions to the cast are lovely and the pre-existing mains stay developed and engaging, though one or two might have benefited from more air time. For all its buildup, though, the final climax is a bit of a letdown, and perhaps ends too quickly, but everything pays off nicely in the end. Overall, this conclusion is consistently satisfying and, while paced slow, remains engaging and has enough twists and turns to be a true thriller. It is also able to resonate somewhat with surprising political poignancy: "Only idiots build walls." 8.1/10
