The beginning of the book was a definition of 'meh'. We got AGAIN the same situation we had in book 1, Mal completely lost his personality, Alina was still a walking martyr and we got a chance to meet Nikolai who has problem with consent. Reading this book was the same type of frustration like with Hunger Games but with less charm. There was absolutely not a one character that wouldn't have problem with communication, who would show maturity and could be a moral hero of the story. Actually of all of them the Darkling is the best since we have so little of him. I don't know how I feel about the final scene. The battle description was entertaining and then solution was well thought. But the thinking is a problem. Alina overthinks EVERYTHING and it's just to much sometimes.