Cliffhanger again!?! I’m not mad - I 100% want a sequel to this. I pictured it as a cartoon/anime style show in my head as I was reading it. Very clever, over too quickly, but I really enjoyed this one. If you like YA written in verse, outer space, summer camp, sci-fi, Latino rep, and queer rep - then check this one out.

I absolutely loved Gume Laurel III’s newest YA hi-lo novel! If you don’t know what hi-lo is, it means that the book is written to appeal to older teens, with the language being accessible regardless of a person’s reading level. Like his other YA books, it’s also written in verse, making it even more readable for teens who might be daunted by books with high text-to-page ratios. What really impresses me though, and this is true for all of Laurel’s novels, is how he truly packs his punches so concisely throughout the story. The Final Diadem is another study in how to have a 15-word sentence reveal several things. I’m spending all this time telling you about the language of the book because I find it fascinating and POWERFUL.
The story itself though is so fun and creative. I love a grump and Ariel delivers (we get to see him feel feelings though 🥲). The action unfolds at a fast pace and is exciting and clever throughout, and there are so many moments that tug at your heart. So many reasons Laurel is an auto-buy author for me and I want to see his books getting in the hands of more and more folks!

This was my first experience with a HI/LO novel. If you are unfamiliar with this term like I was, it stands for "high interest/lower reading level."
While I am not an expert, I feel like this book did a great job of being simple yet engaging. Because of the writing style, this was a really quick read. This novel was also told in verse, so there was never much text on the page, which made the story quick and easy to digest. One thing that did annoy me though about the writing was the dialogue tags. I'm used to books following the structure: "quotation," he said. Essentially the dialogue comes first then the tag. But in this book, the dialogue tag always came first then the dialogue. Every time this would happen, my brain would freeze up for a second before remembering the structure. This might just be a me thing though.
I was really impressed with how this novel was able to be simple without feeling like it was spoon-feeding the information. Instead of stating the characters emotions or feelings, the text just describes their facial reaction or gives a descriptive dialogue tag. Managed to embrace "show, don't tell" with not a lot of text.
Story wise, I found myself fully engaged from the start. I don't really have a whole lot to say about it, as it was pretty short and direct, but I still enjoyed it. I wasn't really the biggest fan on the ending though. As I mentioned, this book does a good job of not spoon-feeding information, but then it ended up having a long villain monologue at the end. I feel like that could have been done better to fit the writing style of the rest of the book. The ending was also a bit cheesy and "after-school special."
While I wasn't the biggest fan of the execution, I did still like the ending. I will likely check out more of Gume Laurel III's works when I'm looking for a quick read.

This was my first time reading a HiLo book and I really enjoyed it! It was fun to read, and for it only being 200 pages, I feel like it achieved a lot. There were parts where I felt it was a bit fast-paced and left me wanting more, but given the format of the book, I was okay with it. I feel like I would have liked to explore more with possibly a longer story, but given the ending, maybe there's a possibility for a sequel?

Overall, this was a fun read and makes me want to branch out into other HiLo books in the future. I liked the variety of characters we had, and I found myself truly liking Ariel as our main character and being in his point of view.

Let’s start with the cry rating
😭😭=This hurt my feelings a lot
🥲🥲=I am kicking my feet with the sweetness

Ariel is a precious baby and must be protected at all cost. I have so much anxiety about what is going to happen 🫠 I will just be a puddle of goo for the next 46 business days.

TL;DR
The vibes were perfect. I wish I could read this again for the first time. The MC’s are my personality now and I had so many feelings I will probably never touch this book again, definitely recommend!

'The Final Diadem' is a fast-paced verse novel that weaves together sci-fi, superhero lore, and LGBTQ+ themes. Ariel, a queer Latinx teen heading to summer camp, expected peace but gets tangled in a story of reincarnation, Mars heroes, and cosmic battles. The story skilfully changes tone from mundane camp life to epic space adventure. It’s a quick read, but one that packs a punch.

A hi-lo YA scifi novel in verse by @tx.author
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Ariel is struggling in Houston so when the opportunity to attend Camp Juniper for two weeks pops up, he’s all in. What he wanted was time to recharge and refresh in the mountain air. What he got was four teenagers who have been searching for him for hundreds of years. Ariel was once part of The Diadem, a five-piece superhero team that fought aliens on Mars, but was ultimately defeated by The Gemini. As they begin to unlock Ariel’s memories they realize someone else is looking for him too.
🪐
I can always count on Laurel to write fast-paced poetry novels that are high-interest and have great representation for our tweens and teens. Happy pub day, Gume! Grab this one from @west44books today!
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CW: violence, biphobia

Gume has done it again! He's written another magical story that grabs you and doesn't let go until it's done. It's a quick read, full of mystery and suspense from the first page. The depth of his stories are always so amazing. I read it in one sitting. I love the ease of reading the Hi/Lo verse style. It makes the story so engrossing. I had to know who Ariel really was and what was going on. And I wasn't disappointed.

Como siempre con Gume, I am obsessed with this book! Gume Laurel’s The Final Diadem is a fast-paced, queer, hi-lo novel that is incredibly accessible and a mind-bending, heart-pounding adventure. The premise is pure genius: a boy escaping his past on Earth while going to Summer Camp, only to discover his actual past is on Mars, where he was a part of a five-piece superhero team. The fate of The Diadem rests on his shoulders, and you can't help but be completely invested in his journey to remember his power. Laurel has a gift for creating immersive, queer adventures that you can get lost in and think about long after you've closed the book. Highly recommend his catalogue for queer teens and everyday readers who look for fun, easy reads with queer representation and entertaining plots!

“The Final Diadem” by Gume Laurel III was such a fun and fast read, perfect for younger readers or anyone looking for a quick sci-fi adventure. Written in verse, it’s super easy to follow and tells the story of Ariel, a queer Latinx teen who goes to summer camp and finds out he’s part of a superhero team from Mars in a past life. What starts as a simple getaway turns into an action-packed journey full of powers, aliens, and big discoveries. I loved how exciting and fast-paced the story was, and the characters were all so cool and interesting. The queer and Latinx representation made it feel really special, especially in today’s world, and it was so nice to read a story where someone like Ariel could be the hero.

This was my first foray into HiLo Verse, and this book had turned me into a fan! This book was such fun and a the twist at the end was something completely unexpected but the best way to leave the story open for future exploration (which I would very much appreciate). The exploration and establishment of Ariel's character was well done, and I was immediately drawn to him. The plot played out like an episode of a superhero TV show, and while the pacing was something I enjoyed, I would have liked to have seen the action play out a little longer. But overall, a wonderful story about a boy finding identity and friends, and of course, his cosmic powers.

The type of text, as verse, was original i have to admit it. But it didn´t make me be all in the story, yes it was fast and that sometimes is so good, but in this moment i don´t think i kind of like that rhytm.
Although the book was good and i enjoyed it.

Ariel heads to Camp Juniper to find peace from his home in Houston, hoping to do the normal camp stuff. He meets four other campers that latch on to him, mostly because they’ve been searching for him for hundreds of years and multiple lifetimes. In a past life, the five were known as The Diadem, a superhero team from Mars that was defeated during an invasion by The Gemini. Ariel is understandably skeptical at first, until he sees that the other four have supernatural powers - and aren’t the only ones that have been searching for him.

I admit this deviates from the typical books I read, but after reading Gume Laurel III's #SolarPunks and being exposed to YA novels written in verse, I knew I had to read this one too! It’s such a fun Hi-Lo novel with queer and sci-fi themes that are equal parts creative and captivating. There’s so much jam-packed into this concise work: queer and Latine representation, world-building, twists and turns, and so much more! The author is truly an expert in doing so much storytelling in so few words. Even if you’re not a huge sci-fi reader, the themes and storytelling in The Final Diadem will resonate and its construct will leave you in awe.

Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to West 44 Books for the opportunity to read and review.

Read this book if you like:
🪐 found family from outer space
🌠 star-crossed lovers (literally) and superheroes
📝 Hi-Lo verse with a beautiful story


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This review will be posted to Instagram @AutobiographiCole on or around the release date!

It was very fun to read a story written in verse. Felt like a speed-date, but for books (speed-book? speed-read?)! The page background was also very pretty.
The story is told by the MMC, a teenager on his way to summer camp to get away from his family for a while. His family does not support his sexuality, and we first meet him in the car with his aunt on the way to camp. At camp he connects with several other campers, but goes out of his way to keep to himself. 
This is a story of found family, queer joy, aliens and teenage superheroes. It is fun and fast and entertaining. It feels like a story told by the camp fire. Loved the feel, the vibe and the characters.

Heartfelt, Fun, and Full of Surprises.

From the very first page, I was hooked!
This Hi-Lo Verse is packed to the brim with action, shocking twists, and high-stakes adventure. Gume truly knows how to blend bold storytelling with jaw-dropping surprises.
The pacing is fast and thrilling, layered with heartfelt drama and laugh-out-loud moments. Ariel’s journey is a rollercoaster of rediscovered powers, powerful new (and old) friendships, found-family vibes, and even a spark of romance that makes your heart flutter!
That ending, though... I did NOT see it coming.
If you’re looking for a fun, emotional, and adventurous read, this one’s a gem!

A latine, queer hi-lo verse novel with superheros that met all my expectations!

I read this in one sitting. ✨️ The pacing is excellent, it moves quickly but still answers questions. There is a little plot twist at the end that I really enjoyed too. 😌

I could read a prequel and a sequel, which is how you know it's good!

Gume was my introduction to hi-lo verse novels and I am really enjoying them! This one was a YA, sci-fi novel. Easily digestible and a fun read! 🫶🏼

THE FINAL DIADEM by Gume Laurel III

Ariel expected a quiet summer at Camp Juniper, not to be told he’s the reincarnation of a Martian superhero. But when four fellow campers reveal strange powers and a shared past, he starts to wonder if they’re right—and if he’s the missing piece of The Diadem, a team once defeated in an alien war. Now, with old enemies stirring, Ariel must uncover his past before it’s too late.

I picked this one up without even glancing at the synopsis—because when it comes to Gume Laurel III, I don’t need a map, I trust the ride. I was expecting a quiet, earthy little bonding story set at summer camp, with a gentle Gume-style supernatural twist. You know, nature, stars, a bit of longing, some queer teens discovering themselves in the woods. Cue mosquito bites and emotional breakthroughs. Well. That is not what I got.

Instead? Martian reincarnation. Alien threats. A mysterious camp director with secrets. Five teens with the fate of a planet on their shoulders. A superhero team called The Diadem. And a boy named Ariel who just wanted to escape his mum’s disappointment and maybe make a friend or two (preferably the cute kind). And I was not mad at it, not in the slightest.

Told in Gume’s signature verse style, The Final Diadem is sleek, sharp, and fast-paced, but never shallow. It somehow balances pulpy sci-fi goodness with genuine emotional depth. Found family, queer joy, and some mandatory chaos wove together in this extraterrestrial story featuring superpowers from Mars.

Ariel is a darling protagonist—funny, vulnerable, prickly in just the right way—and his bewilderment at the situation feels so grounded, even as the plot blasts off into the stratosphere (quite literally). The group dynamic is charmingly messy; you can feel their tentative bond beneath the teenage awkwardness.

Laurel continues to push the limits of what hi-lo fiction can be, and The Final Diadem might be his most ambitious offering yet in terms of continuity. It’s Power Rangers meets Sailor Moon meets Latine queer coming-of-age, but make it verse. There’s romance, action, identity, legacy, and more than one twist that promises answers in future instalments.

If you’ve ever wanted your summer camp novel to end with a cosmic showdown and some gloriously nerdy heroics, this one’s for you.

And as always, I’ll be eagerly watching the stars (and the release calendar) to see what Gume Laurel III gives us next in this new universe—nunca mejor dicho.

The Final Diadem is a whirlwind of a novella, told through an inventive format that propels you straight into a planet-saving quest led by a band of resourceful teens. Its brisk length leaves little room for deep backstories, yet the author still sketches characters vivid enough to make you root for them. If you’re after a quick, refreshing read that delivers high stakes in under an afternoon, this one’s well worth the detour.

Laurel's writing was my introduction to Hi-Lo verse books, and he's been an automatic read for me since Samson & Domingo. I love that he gets a little more ambitious with each new work, especially as he's transitioned from fantasy to sci-fi. The Final Diadem is easily Laurel's most ambitious work to date, showing how much complex world-building and intriguing plot you can pack into a concise format. Ariel's story of rediscovered powers, Martian mysteries, and alien threats is a thrilling, quick-hit adventure. It's perfectly suited for young, new, or reluctant readers, especially those looking for a fast-paced, action-packed, comic book or anime vibe. And Laurel's consistent dedication to inclusion, particularly with strong queer and Latine representation, always makes his stories shine.

Thank you, Rosen Publishing Group | West 44 Books and NetGalley, for this arc.

The Final Diadem is written in verse, so it’s super quick to read, but still really powerful. Ariel goes to summer camp to escape the chaos back home, but instead of peace and quiet, he finds out he might be a superhero from Mars, in a past life.

The other campers are weird and awesome, and they have powers that make Ariel start to believe maybe this whole “you used to fight aliens on Mars” thing is real. And now the whole team is depending on him to remember who he used to be.

And the verse format? So good. It makes the story quick to read and easy to follow.

If you’re into:
✅ Queer sci-fi
✅ Verse novels
✅ Found family
✅ Camp with a side of cosmic fate
✅ Secret pasts and future battles
...this book will be for you!