one of the best first books in a series yet the finale fell short and landed in underwhelming. that isn’t to say i didn’t enjoy some parts and i was definitely looking forward to certain characters reuniting, but my main point behind my rating is how the plot drives the characters. it felt like the characters’ decisions did not come from within themselves, but because that’s the way the plot is going. it made the flow weird and is such an opposite from book 1. no memorable, impactful character deaths that felt right or moved the story along, everything felt convenient for our main characters, and there were no stakes high enough that got me on the edge of my seat. i will forever love serapio and xiala, but will definitely remember them most vividly in book one.

thank you to the publisher for providing me an arc for an honest review.