I have been waiting for this one to come out and I am not disappointed! An incredible edition to the series, we’re really beginning to see Angel’s whole crew coming together in this one, which is so awesome to see and read. 3rd person POV that switches through multiple characters so we really never miss a thing. The book as a whole is gearing up for the next book, which would never have worked if the world and characters weren’t already so well known and beloved. We get a combination of action and stakes, steamy moments, and beautiful moments that really bring together the whole world (an interlude for Dragon babysitting anyone?!)

If I had two qualms about this book: it would be the very last character introduced (because they’re out of the blue so that’s disappointing) and also that there are no official chapters. Each moment is broken up by who has the POV. But perhaps it was simply the way the kindle version was edited. Neither of these are major drawbacks though.


Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
So. Much. Yes. Absolutely.

 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book


CHARACTERS: As mentioned, the characters are simply stunning. Every one of them is so fleshed out and brilliant. I love that we really get a chance to follow all of them because they are very much a team AND a family. Having scenes from Eroch’s POV are also some of the best in the whole book. I appreciate the complexity in the characters as well, especially Angel. He’s so incredibly strong that he’ll break down and cry. You don’t get to see that very often in books with male protagonists. I adore the power balance as well, within and between the group and the couples. The dynamics are simply stunning. Reading scenes with multiple characters are just a joy to read (and as an author myself, I know how hard they can be to pull off!).


PLOT: The plot largely gives the sense that everything is ramping up for a final showdown. We don’t fully get that showdown in this book, but that doesn’t feel like a bad thing, because there is more to come. The pacing is moderate and draws a lot from the overarching tension because they’re all waiting for sh*t to hit the fan. There are wonderful moments that feel almost like interludes, yet remind us just why these characters are so brilliant and important. We see them living their lives as normally as they can, which is something that I personally loved. The conflicts and stakes are high and present, and at the same time, show just how perfectly WHY the Council wants to tamp down on the power. The showcasing of power in this book is truly stunning and a joy to read. I loved how each conflict was overcome. Nothing felt forced or unreal.


EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

4 out of 5, high. Not that the stakes are necessarily higher in this book than previous books, but at this point I am so emotionally invested in the characters and the world!



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

90%. There are a few moments near the end where I wished the scenes would have ‘stuck the landing’ a little bit more. This isn’t uncommon in books I read, where I wish we had a little more time in the resolution and finale phase, the denouement, the aftermath, before everything just ends. It’s very clear that more is about to happen and we’ve been set up nicely without any cliffhangers, which I appreciate.