Book: Avow by Chelsea Fine

Published December 2012 by Smashwords|220 pages

Where I Got It: I own the e-book

Series: The Archers Of Avalon #3

Genre: YA Paranormal

Scarlet remembers. Everything. Her past lives, Tristan, Gabriel, Nate: she remembers it all–including how to get to the Fountain of Youth. But time is running out.

Heather and Gabriel have been kidnapped by Raven, while the curse that has plagued Scarlet and Tristan for centuries has shifted, putting the star-crossed lovers in more danger than ever before. Water from the Fountain of Youth is the only thing that can save Scarlet and her loved ones. But the water comes at a price.

With lives–and hearts–at stake, Scarlet leads her friends on a dangerous journey to the Fountain of Youth. Where eternal life is possible, but death is certain.

I liked Avow!  It’s a pretty good end to the series, and while I didn’t love it like I thought I would, I still liked it!

I think why I didn’t like it as much as the previous books is that some of the magic and mystery those books had weren’t in Avow.  We do see all of Scarlet’s memories, and her past lives, which is interesting but also made the book drag a little, because I really wanted to see what was going on with everyone else.  It was repetitive, and I wish past and present were alternated, instead of being two big chunks.  In some ways, it made me feel like I was reading two different stories.

There is a happy ending, which wasn’t surprising, but what was surprising was that Avow was more predictable than the other two stories.  I was surprised with how Nate’s story was wrapped up, but after thinking about it for a minute, it really wasn’t that surprising.  I really liked Gabriel and Heather in this one, and I’m glad Gabriel was able to move on from his relationship/issues with Scarlet.  I’m also glad that Tristan’s relationship with Scarlet no longer has the angst it used to.  Not being cursed definitely helps with that.

I was surprised that there was no mention of Scarlet’s guardian in this one.  For some reason, I was expecting at least a mention of her, but we never got it.  If getting to the fountain was hard, then how were Scarlet’s relatives able to get there and make a map, and not be able to go back to it? That was never explained, which was kind of weird.  Actually, I can’t remember if they bought the water or if they found it, but either way, that whole part of it was a little weird.

Oh and the end!  Things are wrapped up, but I am intrigued with how the book ended…with a new tree potentially growing.  There’s no possible way for there to be another book in this world (although, it is possible, but I doubt it), but it is very interesting indeed.

3 stars.  I wish past and present were woven together a little bit better, but I’m still glad things worked for the characters, and I really have liked the overall premise of the story.