2.5 stars
I am a playwright, a teller of tales whose words become reality.
I have flown and fallen, and I have swum deep and drowned, but there should be more to love than "I survived it."
~ Bertie
As per the previous two installments, Mantchev has a lovely style, some great imagery and language, fun and creative casts and sets, but it all lacks a certain internal logic and grounded realism. Too airy. Too insubstantial. All a dream and in no way can I pin it down. So many little things unexplained. Too many individuals who show up and have no story, no motivations. Things change as easily as sets being rolled off stage in time for the next scene, but that does not translate so well to a story.
I could not have cared less about who Bertie ended up with as I thought both Ariel and Nate were controlling, possessive and idiots. I would preferred Bertie learn who she was a bit more.
Content advisory: references to sex and contraception; kissing, etc. You have been forewarned.