My Review:I have been looking forward to the conclusion of the Price of Privilege Trilogy for some time. The series has an extremely unique feel to it. The whole series is not a light read. It can be very dark and at times quite depressing. I’m glad that the author added a character with enough humor that released at least some of the depression from entirely overtaking the plot of Price of Privilege. I really enjoyed this series in that I never knew what was going to happen next, or what the protagonist was going to think or do next. If you are a person who likes Gothic novels, then this series will certainly appeal to you.
Julia is quite one of the most complex characters I’ve ever come across. Or rather, I should say, the situations thrust upon her ravel themselves into complexities almost too tangled up to ever hope of figuring out. Indeed, even at the end not everything was solved. However, the biggest mysteries were revealed. I have to say that I was quite enthralled with Chance Macy at the beginning of this series. He is the villain in the story. I was hoping that this series would be a bit more like Beauty and the Beast. And…perhaps it is. I won’t give any spoilers, so you will have to read it for yourself to see.
I really grew to like Edward in this book. He was in a part of the first book in the trilogy, and almost never in the second one, so I didn’t really get to know him. However, he became perhaps my favorite character in this book. He revealed himself to be a true man of God, though his anger did get the best of him at times. He loved Julia the way that God loved her. Because of Edward’s example, Julia was able to draw nigh unto God through the greatest trials of her life. And believe me when I say she continued to face trial after trial! This series is the most convoluted one I’ve ever read. Yet it was truly fascinating and kept me wondering from beginning to end.
In some ways, the author went deeper spiritually than I ever see most authors go. Yet in some ways she didn’t. Julia did learn to trust in God and give everything over to Him, yet there was never really a time when she accepted Jesus as her own personal Savior. I’m not sure exactly what the author was trying to get across. However, at the beginning of this whole series, Julia was a staunch atheist. It was captivating to see Julia come to realization after realization about God and his grace and his love.
I will say that this series does end with a tragedy I was not expecting at all. The end brought tears to my eyes. However, not everything was lost in the end. The conclusion to this trilogy is like nothing I had expected. I am quite impressed with Jessica Dotta after having read her trilogy. It must have taken enormous planning in order to have to begin schemes and intrigues in the first novel, carry them through the second, and wrap them up (mostly) in the third. I would definitely want to read anything else she ever published.
I give Price of Privilege 4 out of 5 stars.
**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone**
PS: Oh, there's something I just noticed that I have to say as a reader I absolutely love! The dress that Julia is wearing on the font cover of the book matches a scene in the story! I really like it when little almost unnoticeable details like that pop up. Just thought I would share:).