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Glad to finish the trilogy before the television show airs - haven't yet decided whether to watch (so maybe it already has? I don't know, don't bother me. I'm very focused on making sure not to miss the Bruce Jenner special on Friday.).

Honestly, based on the ending to book two I didn't really have high hopes for the final book (although is it the final?). It's fairly impossible to review book three without some spoilers so, in an abundance of caution:

(view spoiler)[At the end of book two Ethan has, essentially, declared war against the mountain and Filcher. And, may I say again, that though I usually make it a point to be against kidnapping and such, I really do get Filcher's point.....when he reanimated the first group of people he and his staff were totally honest with them and they lost their collective mind - suicide, etc. So it isn't as if he didn't TRY to do it the right way (after the original kidnappings. Again, I get why they were pissed, but, um, it's thousands of years later AND, by the way IT'S ABSOLUTE DEATH OUTSIDE WAYWARD PINES, PEOPLE!) So I like to think that if the original inhabitants had given it a little time, taken some stock of the situation and tried to, I don't know, adjust, that the town and the mountain people could have lived and worked together (and, perhaps have avoided that little issue of the food crisis, maybe?!). But if the sappy song "One Tin Soldier" taught us anything (besides the fact that it sucked) the people of the valley and the people of the mountain will never live in peace (and, also, their idea of "treasure" leaves a lot to be desired).

So, here we are. Now, should Filcher have killed his daughter? Again, I'm coming down on "no" there. BUT. Ask yourself this. What is the life of one versus the lives of all? Again, remember that doing this the honest way has already failed. Why does Alyssa get to decide otherwise....and before you ask, Filcher has already answered that question when it comes to himself....."Because I AM YOUR GOD, you idiots! Without you, there is no me!" And, um, he's right.

Anyway, that's still no reason for Filcher to do what he does next, so he's still an appropriate villain - cutting off the electricity and opening the gates just destroys everything he ever worked his whole life (and sacrificed his entire family) for, for no other reason than a childish tantrum. I mean, he didn't respond that way when the original settlers revolted, did he? Makes no sense, unless maybe be had lost his mind. And it doesn't really matter.

So, book three goes back and forth between the massacre that begins immediately after the gates are opened and the creation of Wayward Pines AND the introduction of a new character, Tobias, a scout who is slowly working his way back "home" (you'll know who he is immediately). It's a good set-up because otherwise this is nothing but a great big book o' war with semi-zombies and I would not have enjoyed that book. However, since it wasn't, and given that I was interested in the story and the characters and that I really enjoyed the ending (didn't see it coming...but I could have definitely done without the last line in the book), it was a solid ending to a good series. (hide spoiler)]

Solid 3.5 stars leaning 4 for this book, 4 for the entire series.