I really tried with this series, because it started out so well, but each book just got worse and worse. I think the author just tried to do too much, which created a lot of lose ends, and made other storylines feel rushed.

I will admit this series is probably better for boys, because I could just not relate to these prep school boys. I never went to prep school, and no amount of convincing by the author could make me identify with these characters. ( )

Actual Rating: 4.50

Minus points for saying "Depending on where you began the story" way too many times; for the entire existence of the Laumonier triplets who added literally NOTHING to the story; wasted pages about Piper and her super lame husband; the disappointment of what was in that final cave; and for a rushed feeling climax.

Plus point for Henry Cheng (bless his soul); the wonderful friendship of this group; the lovely, haunting writing; Ronan's whole arc; the openness for future books; the bird chasing scene; and that my favorite character (for once!) DID NOT DIE.

I'm looking forwards to a reread of this series at some point. Definitely a completely original, gorgeous series that I'm sad to see come to a close...but it feels right. ( )

I don't have a review for this that isn't full of capslocked screaming and spoilers, but I am open to private discussion with people when they finish it. ( )

It took me a while to get into this but once I did remember why I love the series in the first place. I wish there were more scenes with the women of 300 Fox Way and especially wish they had appeared in the epilogue. A reason I know why I didn't absolutely love this is just that I am not altogether too interested in Adam and Ronan as characters. I was also indifferent to their romance. But as a whole, the book wrapped up pretty good but could have been better. ( )

A satisfying and poetic ending to a YA series populated by characters who win your heart. Like the other books, it had its own aesthetic - in this case, "creepy indie horror film" (which I liked very much).

I'll have to reread all four books at some point, because some of the events of Blue Lily, Lily Blue slipped out of my head (or were never lodged there in the first place). So from the perspective of Plot, The Making Sense Of, this is no review at all. I enjoyed it anyway. I was occasionally surprised by which plot elements did or did not get further development and/or closure, but it's quite possible I'd feel differently on a reread.

ETA: I forgot to mention how much I flipped out about this passage: "He felt strange as he recognized where they were, near Delaplane, quite far from Henrietta now. This was a world of old money, horse farms, and politicians and tire-company billionaires. It was not a place of archaic wild magic."

I USED TO LIVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM THERE. Those few sentences sum up the area with devastating accuracy. (Actually my landlord was a paving company millionaire.) ( )