Review: Three by Kristen Simmons - Ending to a fantastic dystopian trilogy

Title: Three (Article 5, #3)

Author: Kristen Simmons

Publisher: Raincoast

Publication date: February 11, 2014
Genre(s): Young Adult (Dystopian)

Source: Publisher

Format: ARC

Pages: 384

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Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a safe and quiet existence.

And all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the only thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

With their high profile, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amidst the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he never thought he’d see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about…a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance at telling the world her story.

At fighting back.

I am eternally grateful towards Kristen Simmons for writing such a fantastic last book in a dystopian trilogy. I've had my share of bad endings to dystopian trilogies and I was a bit scared for Article 5. I've read Article 5 two years ago when it first came out and I've been a fan since then. I loved the uniqueness of the world Simmons created as well as the road trip twist in the first book. Breaking Point was another fabulous addition but I didn't love it as much as Article 5. However, Three outdid them both. This book was just so freaking good. I honestly can not fault it. I loved every second of every single thing, whether normal conversation with the characters or action scenes that made my heart race. Three did not just meet my expectations, it solidified my love for this trilogy. 

I know I've had issues with how Ember always runs away from her problems in both Article 5 and a bit in Breaking Point. However Ember meets her demons, the corrupt government, and the hopes of millions of people head on in Three. Even with her decision to finally fight the government, she still had her insecurities and worries and even hopeless monologues. I appreciated that.. it showed me that Ember did develop as a character and human but she is still Ember. I also loved Chase here. Often do the love interest in books lose their footing and place in the main protagonist's world. Here, Chase was as strong as ever. They are my second favorite dystopian couple after Aria and Perry from Under the Never sky trilogy. They both were independent but leaned on each other when they needed to. They didn't see their need and want for each other as a sign of weakness but at the same time gave each other the space they need to sort out their own problems. I truly love them and I am so sad that their adventure, well the one I can witness, is over now the trilogy is complete. I would really petition for a novella if Simmons would right one <3

We've also got the memorable secondary characters, especially Sean and Rebecca. I loved that they stuck around to the end of the trilogy and I honestly loved the complicated friendship and relationship they all had with each other. Of course this book is not short on the action; There is action scene after another and the characters are never really given a break. I loved that despite it being 400 pages, the pages flew by. I can't recommend this trilogy enough and even if I did before, I now urge all the readers, especially fans of dystopian novels, to pick it up. I can't wait for Kristen Simmons' new work, I already have her upcoming novel on my tbr! 

Other books by Kristen Simmons: 

Article 5 (Article 5, #1)
Breaking Point (Article 5, #2)