Like the first two books, this one took a bit to get into. By this point, my investment level was actually pretty predictable. First 20-30 pages, I'm skimming... by the end, I'm crying. Well, tearing up, at least.

This book surprised me in a good way by revealing things I hadn't even realized the first two books were building towards. Like Selene and Damien's opposing arcs in relation to each other. He starts out strong, she's confused and frightened. As she rises out of darkness, he actually begins to sink under the weight of his own fears, guilt, and empathy-related self-absorption (as an empathetic-wired person who also deals with wanting to help and has asked myself the very question of why I have to care so much, I understand and relate to his arc quite a bit). Her discoveries bring her into a stronger understanding of the Light than he had before, and it's her turn to rescue him.

Cry of the Raven also surprised me at several turns along the way, just when I was thinking, "Well, here we go again," by swinging in a quite different direction which provided MOAR ANGST character growth and pleased me greatly.

Also I REALLY like what happened with Raoul and I lowkey want to adopt him?? More than anybody else in the book? He needs some mom-ing *grabs Raoul and moms him sternly*

All in all, while this series is not in my favorites, it's satisfying and thematically beautiful and I'm glad I own it.