I was about halfway through this one when I predicted it would be an 8 or 9 for me. It was a lot of fun to read with a great plot, but it didn't blow me away like the first one did. There were a lot of really well-done elements, such as what the tests actually were, how the characters manipulated them to win, and Japeth and Rhian's backstory, particularly Japeth and Aric's relationship. The ending was very clever, and it was finally Tedros' turn with the brain cell. However, the very last five or ten pages absolutely destroyed me and boosted this book up to a 10.

I won't lie—I bawled my eyes out when this was over. Not only was it a bittersweet yet perfect ending, but it was also the true end to the story of Sophie, Agatha, and Tedros. You know characters are well-written when it hurts to finish their story. In my opinion, this book perfectly rounded out their character arcs and provided a satisfying, if gutwrenching, ending. I couldn't have asked for anything better.