Pulse-pounding finale to the Vale Hall trilogy.

Vale Hall is an elite boarding school where a select few students (each plucked from troubled backgrounds) get to prepare for the future and colleges of their dreams. In truth, though, it’s a bit shadier than that. Vale Hall is really a clandestine training ground for con artists (run by Dr. Odin), and there is much that is expected of the scholarship students (among them, Brynn Hilder). Rule one: follow the rules.

Vale Hall is Brynn’s ticket out of Devon Park — a rough neighborhood that’s left Brynn with a childhood of emotional scars. It’s Brynn’s only shot at a future. And with so much at stake, the lines between right and wrong are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate — especially when the bad guys are no longer as clearly distinguishable from the rest of the pack. The question is: who and what is Brynn willing to sacrifice to protect her future, her friends, and to keep her mother safe? Brynn grew up running cons (learned the trade from her mother’s ex), but this con might just be the one to break her.

The plot twists are heart-stopping. The action is edge-of-your seat. There’s so much at stake here, not just for Sikawa City or Brynn, but for the entire cast of characters. Forever huggable Henry, morally gray Grayson, and the-first-boyfriend-we-all-wish-we’d-had Caleb Matsuki… and Charlotte and Sam, and, yes, even Geri! Simmons just has a way with characters — even her secondary stars get full-fledged character arcs! They glow on the page, making the dialogue some of the best I’ve read. Prepare to love, hate, care, and be emotionally invested. The Vale Hall trilogy is one of my must-read recommendations for all those who love YA suspense, mystery, a great heist story — or all three!

Kristen Simmon's book are always a fun time! I've been having such a great time reading this series and I am so happy to report that this trilogy conclusion was so great. Brynn has been on such a journey through all of these books and I really enjoyed following along on them all with her. I will definitely say that this is one of the more underrated trilogies out there and I wish more people would read these books!

Payback is a great finale to one of my favorite series of all time. Though it's not my favorite in the series, I still love this book with my whole heart. We got so many sweet Henry moments in this book. I'd literally do anything for him and I was on edge the whole time while reading this book because I was hoping that nothing bad would happen to that little cinnamon roll. I also found myself growing to love characters that I never thought I could care for in this book like Geri and Moore. Kristen Simmons always blows me away with her lovable characters and her ability to have a character change throughout the course of a single book.

This book started off quite a bit darker than the previous two books. It very much had Riverdale vibes, but it was much better written than Riverdale. There was no sex every two seconds and cringey one liners, but there was the intense plot twists and heart pounding suspense moments that Riverdale has.

One thing that I've found to appreciate about Kristen's young adult books is that in her spicy scenes, she goes above and beyond to encourage safe sex. Though it may seem like a simple thing to some people, making the effort to include safe sex practices in her books is an important step in normalizing condoms and other safety measures.

Overall I highly recommend this series to everyone. Each book will leave you craving for more and I guarantee you that you'll fall in love with the characters.

Payback is the third and final installment in author Kristen Simmons Vale Hall trilogy. The Vale Hall series follows Brynn Hilder who is from a poor and rough neighborhood called Devon Park. She has runs cons and odd jobs to stay afloat and alive, finally thinking she has a chance at getting out when she is recruited to attend a secret private school specializing in hustles, schemes and overall mayhem. The school is led by Dr. Odin, a mysterious and powerful man who will stop at nothing for what he cares about. But things are changing quickly and Brynn must plan the con of a lifetime in order to save her mother and her friends.

Now that Brynn knows the lengths to which Dr. Odin will go to maintain his power and control after watching her boyfriend Caleb get expelled and erased, she knows that it's time to take him down. The safety of her own mother who was given a job at Wednesday Pharmaceuticals counts on what Brynn does next. Brynn, Margot Patel, Caleb Matsuki, Henry, Catherine, and Sam set out to recruit both current and former students who have been erased by Dr. Odin so they can come up with a plan to reveal his true face to the world. It's the only way they can think of digging themselves out of the trap he's set for them.

Margot, the leader of the rebellion, is an ex-Vale Hall con artist. Brynn learns that Dr. O is one step ahead of the rebellion. Students that Margot & Brynn targeted for help against Odin, are slowly being removed off the board. If Brynn and her friends think taking down Dr. O is going to be a cake walk, they need to be prepared for anything. Dr. O is a slimy snake who has many irons in the coal. When it is announced that he is going to be Sikawa City's next Senator, Brynn knows her time is ticking down quickly before they need to come up with an unbreakable plan to get everyone out alive. 

I don't know how many times I've said I hated Grayson, but there are secrets revealed in this story that really explains who he is and the things he's had to do to survive. I dare say that the author doesn't spare any twists or surprises in this book. Especially when it comes to the adults who are actually on Brynn's side and not Dr. O's. Without offering a spoiler, I shall say that one in particular has been watching out for Vale Hall students even after they've been forced out of the school. There is a really adorable scene when Brynn finally gets her license thanks to this character.

You should definitely read these books in order, or, since all three books are now out, it would be an excellent time to bind read all three of them. The Vale Hall series, takes place at a school called Valhalla Hall, based on Norse Mythology, which to the outside world appears to be a prestigious boarding school with top notch academics. But Vale Hall is really a place for con artists who are told they can have anything they want if they follow the rules. This is a series of cons and intricately woven sub plots. This final story has so many twists, that the ending will blow your mind. Outside of her mother, Brynn has never had a solid family. Brynn makes the statement that she’s finally found her family, and that’s exactly how it feels when you discover friends who offer unconditional support through some harrowing and life-threatening situations.

Payback by Kristen Simmons is the 3rd book in The Vale Hall trilogy, and another great story. Brynn Hilder is a very smart teenage girl who is an expert at conning people, when she is recruited to attend the elite Vale Hall, a school for con artists, she jumps at the chance. At Vale everything is provided for, education, food, clothing, etc, as long as you do your assigned job. This book is a three part series, and I suggest you read them in order. Nothing is what it seems, I loved these books. It had me hooked from book one,  page one, it was so exciting. I strongly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed.  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A definite conclusion to an epic 3 part series woven with deceit, masterful cons, and secrets that are always brewing to be spilled at any moment, and the results could spell disaster.   I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book, heck, this whole series.  Sometimes I thought I knew what the truth was and how things would play out, then wham another plot twist.  Vale hall is a school for con artists, but things are not always what they seem. Who is the con artist?

An amazing ending to a great series, it definitely ended it with more than a bang.
I should admit that after I read the first book I said that while I did really enjoy it, I had been hoping for a few more twists and this one gave me exactly that and more. One of my favorite things about this series it's that it's always had a "who can you really trust?" mystery to it and that is what makes it so great you never know what to expect.

Payback is the third and final novel in Kristen Simmon's Vale Hall Trilogy. If you love following the actions of young con artists, then this series is perfect for you.

Brynn Hilder hit the jackpot when she was offered entrance to an exclusive school. One that not only accepted her past as a con artist, but encouraged her to continue with that life. Now, she's learned that when something looks too good to be true – it's because it isn't.

Her life, the life of her family and friends, are all on the line. And will continue to be in danger for as long as Dr. David Odin has power. He may be training a school full of hustlers, but that's only because he's the best of the best when it comes to deception and power plays.

It's going to take everything Brynn has – every single one of her allies – in order to take him down. And even then, the fight will almost certainly cost them.

“Time's ticking. I can feel the rush in my blood, urging us to hurry.”

Guys, Payback is the absolute perfect ending to this trilogy! It leaves no open plot arcs. It's all perfectly wrapped up, with a neat little bow on top. All while throwing some seriously shocking twists out along the way.

It was easy to get invested in Brynn's story, right from that very first book. Ever since then, I've been rooting for her, alongside all of the other readers out there. Well, Payback helped to push her character to new heights.

It also, somehow, managed to raise the stakes even higher. It was impressively done, all while leaving plenty of room for surprise and suspense. It's everything I could have hoped for in this finale, and then some.

Really, my only regret is that we won't get to continue following Brynn's adventures. As we all know that she's going to find a way to get herself in more trouble in her path through life. It's sort of her wheelhouse, at this point.

* I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the author in exchange for an honest review*

Epic conclusion to an amazing series! These books are definitely underrated and I hope that with Payback’s release, that more people pick them up. There were so many twists and turns, and definitely some surprises! If you like a good mystery, you definitely want to binge this series.

Vale Hall is a school for con artists and things get even more complicated in this conclusion. I often found myself on the edge of my seat, hoping for the best for these characters I’ve come to care so much about. Together, Brynn Hilder and her friends must overcome doubt, lies, and betrayal to unearth the truth. They must take on the biggest con artist of them all, the man who’s responsible for bringing them all together in the first place.

This book wrapped things up perfectly, and even better than I expected. Please do check it out! It’s releasing on February 2, 2021, so be sure to add it to your TBR. There’s still a little time left to preorder or request at your local library as well.

Payback was so intense and so good and OMG I love these character so much!!! I love Brynn and I love how much she's grown from book one and how by the end of Payback, she's really become the person she wants to be. There were some slip-ups in this book and she lost her way/forgot to trust her people, but in the end, she grew from it. I loved all of the twists that Kristen Simmons threw in- there were some I saw coming, but so many that I had no idea were on their way! In general, I love the idea of Vale Hall and not only teaching students the necessary core subjects, but having them learn all about the art of the con in order to move forward in the world. David Odin was so slimy in all of the books, so having Brynn and her friends work to take him down was so compelling and made me keep wanting to read. There was never a point in time in this book where I wanted to stop reading or put down the book- it was all so good and so perfectly paced! If you haven't read Payback (or any of the Vale Hall books really), you should pick it up ASAP!

I loved this series and this one definitely lived up to the others! All the characters were still awesome especially Brynn and Caleb. I loved seeing how each character grew throughout the series and found their way. It had an amazing plot as they tried to take down Dr. O. with all the great, unexpected twists and romance as well suspense you can always expect from Kristen. The romance was sweet and wonderful. The writing was well done and still sucked me in from the start. I was thrilled to see how each character ended up and will be sad to see this series go, but it was the perfect conclusion of this series!

Seriously good! So many twists I didn't see coming and a very satisfying ending to a trilogy about cons and lies and friendships and love. These books have so much going on and now that book 3 is out in just a few days, I highly recommend reading them all back to back. If you liked Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Naturals or Fixer series, you should read this. If you like books about crimes, boarding schools, and whodunits with a strong focus on friendships and coming-of-age, you should read this series. My least favorite part was the small bit of a love triangle in the second book because I hate love triangles, but the drama was necessary to the overall plot.
This whole series is very well done and everything in this last book has escalated to a higher level of danger and intensity with so many loose ends getting tied up in this finale. I really wasn't sure how it was all going to come together and how many of my favorite characters were going to make it out but I'm very happy with the conclusion. These characters have been through so much and have been given time to grow and develop and make mistakes and overcome them and the whole journey was very worthwhile. This is one of the more underrated series I've read and I really hope more people will pick up these books.

Whew! That was a wild ride! It’s so hard to explain this book (and series) without spoiling everything, so I’ll just go with this: pick this series up if you’re looking for a exceptionally written series that’s filled with fantastic (and not so fantastic) characters, a truly exciting plot that keeps you guessing, and so many twists and turns that it leaves your head spinning.

This really was an excellent finale to a great trilogy.

A rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. I could not put it down. I loved every moment of this conclusion to the final book in the Vale Hall series. With so many twits and turns, you never knew what was truth and what was a con. I read the first two books a year ago and was worried that I would forget, but I was drawn right back into the story at top speed. I have read nearly everything Kristen Simmons has written (one book to go) and would read pretty much anything she writes. I am so glad I had the chance to read and review this book. If you have read the first two books, this final installment is a must read. If you haven't read any of them, time to get started...

A dramatic conclusion to an amazing series!! it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!!!! I loved the story and the characters so much!!

What an amazing end to a wonderful series!  Simmons delivered on a twisty, turny series that will have you second guessing what you think is going to happen next! 

The characters, the plot, the writing - all amazing and I can't recommend this series and author enough. 

I'm really, really looking forward to whatever Kristen writes next!

A solid conclusion to a very twisty trilogy! Payback wraps up all the plot threads we've been working up to in a satisfying way, and you get a solid dose of the romance you've probably been wanting more of as well.

It's hard to say much this far into the series, but while the beginning was a little slow to get going and the pacing occasionally could have been tighter without so much of being in class at Vale Hall, overall I thought it was great and had some twists I was not expecting. For much of the book I was on the edge of my seat, worried whether my favorite characters would make it through alive or unscathed! The danger levels are high, but it's time for payback. If you haven't tried the series yet, I definitely recommend it. Vale Hall is a school for teen con artists, but things get very complicated...

I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Now that Brynn knows the lengths to which Dr. Odin will go to maintain his power and control, she also knows that she and her friends need to take him down.  Their safety and their families' safety depend on it.  They set out to recruit both current and former students so they can come up with a plan to reveal his true face to the world.  It's the only way they can think of digging themselves out of the trap he's set for them.

This third volume of the Vale Hall series is as fast-paced and as fun as the first two.  From the start, Brynn and her friends are hard at work planning and lying their way toward freedom.  They remain as lovable as ever and their relationships as excellent in the face of changing obstacles and suspect loyalties.  Sure, sometimes the world's logic is a little silly, but the story and the characters are engaging nonetheless.  I love stories filled with twists and turns, con artists, and strong relationships.  This series delivers.  I'm sorry to be done with it, but I know I'll revisit!

Payback is another great Vale Hall story. I have enjoyed the evolution of the characters and I liked the addition of old students at Vale Hall into this book.

Can Brynn and her friends pull off the ultimate con and get out with their lives? In this thrilling conclusion to the Vale High series, Brynn and her friends are tested to the limit as lives are at stake and they all have to come together to con the ultimate man and beat him at his own game, the man who brought them all there together and holds all their lives in his hands, Dr. Odin. The book is a constant thrill ride of cat and mouse games and attempts to take down Dr. Odin all while maintaining their covers. Friendships, romances, and trusts are all tested, but with a few surprising turns people can surprise you. I had such a blast reading about Brynn and her friends, I loved all of them, even Geri who grew on me. The story was a great conclusion to this amazing trilogy. I can say happily that this is a must read for anyone who enjoys action, cons, and life staking stories that have friendship and romance in them. Brynn has been a character I’ve liked since the first book and seeing her grow into someone who is accepting love and building relationships and having a family of her own was a wonderful experience. 

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*