you can see just how much leigh bardugo's writing has improved when u read both this and six of crows.

did i like this book? sure, it was okay.
did i love it? not really.
were there scenes in which i was cringing? yes, and these scenes mostly include those with alina interacting with the darkling, and even some scenes with alina and mal. those scenes just weren't believable for me.
do i want to continue on with this series? maybe? if i get bored enough with my summer, i'll probably read the other ones in this series.
do i still love leigh bardugo, though? definitely.